Ex-GR Nav, Wg Cdr (Retd) Paul Smyth, to run for Parliament
I am also rather hesitant to get involved in an anonymous debate about politics and personalities and it is appreciated that Ms Gardner has come on here to defend her position, but....
That is not bigging up one's CV, that is quite simply a lie to make her look more important. Ms Gardner, you were not "in charge", you simply were part of a very large team involved in the day to day running of some operations with responsibility to senior officers above you for that management role. Like many other posters on here I have, in the past, programmed, phase run, been duty authorising officer with direct responsibility for day to day flying on a Sqn (oh, and occasionally flew too!). In no way would I ever say I was "in charge" of a Sqn despite arguably having more direct control over the assets "under my command" than you had.
While other parts of your "CV" could be excused as being slight hyperbole, that part above is simply an untruth and leads me to question your integrity (not that integrity is in any way a requirement for a Member of Parliament).
I was in charge of all RAF transport and refuelling assets worldwide at the time of 9/11
While other parts of your "CV" could be excused as being slight hyperbole, that part above is simply an untruth and leads me to question your integrity (not that integrity is in any way a requirement for a Member of Parliament).
I'll be writing to my sister in Gloucester and asking her to vote for Sophy Gardner as a matter of principle.
If you are doing this just because she was in the military that makes you equally silly in my opinion.
As for another poster's "not being a Gloucester voter then her political views are of no interest to me" - I would strongly suggest that they are! If Ms Gardner gets into Westminster then her views will have a voice that could affect every single one of the UK population, especially if we head towards another 'hung parliament'.
The B Word
Chris Kebab
Re: anonimous posters
The issue is that Queen's Regulations (QRs) specifically exclude those serving from having an identifiable political view in public - so if our personas go public as you suggest then we would be guilty of breaking QRs!
As iraven eluded to in post #29, the military has had to be non-political since the times of the end of the English Civil War - as he says "thems the rules".
Now that Wg Cdr (Rtd) Gardner is retired she is now free to spout her political views and also post whatever nonsense she likes on her own webpage - that is the beauty of our free country that the military we all serve/served in protects.
Make sense?
The B Word
Re: anonimous posters
The issue is that Queen's Regulations (QRs) specifically exclude those serving from having an identifiable political view in public - so if our personas go public as you suggest then we would be guilty of breaking QRs!
As iraven eluded to in post #29, the military has had to be non-political since the times of the end of the English Civil War - as he says "thems the rules".
Now that Wg Cdr (Rtd) Gardner is retired she is now free to spout her political views and also post whatever nonsense she likes on her own webpage - that is the beauty of our free country that the military we all serve/served in protects.
Make sense?
The B Word
Last edited by The B Word; 1st Feb 2015 at 14:58. Reason: Spelling!
Well I live in Gloucestershire but will not be voting for Sophy.
But before anyone springs to the defence of any political party over military matters, tell me one party in the last twenty years that have ensured that the defence of our nation is safe. Since Mrs Thatcher, we have never had anyone who had had any idea of military matter (amazingly she did, but only listening to those who were in the know). Billions of pounds have been wasted!
I have just had the new notice of where my taxes are spent... twopence on defence, billions on welfare and oversea aid. Where would we be now without politicians like Churchill who not only understood the importance of defence, but had some experience?
Chamberlain or Churchill; you choose!
But before anyone springs to the defence of any political party over military matters, tell me one party in the last twenty years that have ensured that the defence of our nation is safe. Since Mrs Thatcher, we have never had anyone who had had any idea of military matter (amazingly she did, but only listening to those who were in the know). Billions of pounds have been wasted!
I have just had the new notice of where my taxes are spent... twopence on defence, billions on welfare and oversea aid. Where would we be now without politicians like Churchill who not only understood the importance of defence, but had some experience?
Chamberlain or Churchill; you choose!
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Sophy, if Labour wins the general election in May, what can the Armed Forces (realistically) expect to see in terms of personnel and equipment increase? How many front-line flying Squadrons could the RAF realistically see, from each aircraft discipline? Apart from the new (or relatively new, depending on type) aircraft that have already been planned and ordered (and even delivered), realistically, how many more aircraft could also be implemented in to service? What other aircraft types (such as Gripen, F-15SE, for example) are also being considered for potential service, by Labour, as replacements for the Jaguar force? Again, what would the realistic likely numbers be?
I am asking you this here, because I am yet to see anything interesting with regards to defence, from all of the main parties.
I am asking you this here, because I am yet to see anything interesting with regards to defence, from all of the main parties.
Sophy,
My advice, for what little it is worth, is that, while you are perfectly at liberty to do so, you are wasting your time posting on this particular website.
In attempting to become a UK member of parliament (for non UK readers) you have chosen to join a profession, that of full time politician, that I believe is generally held in very low regard (perhaps even contempt would be accurate) by both members of the UK armed services and the UK population as a whole.
I also believe that, with the possible exception of Harrier pilots (that is an attempt at humour!) most members of the UK military are generally quite modest about their accomplishments while in the service. Exaggerating, or "bigging up", ones CV might be standard practice, or even a necessity, in the "real world", but it doesn't sit well with military readers.
Finally, once again in my opinion, your politics themselves are not natural bedfellows with the majority of serving members of the UK military.
Thus, in summary, I consider you are on something of a hiding to nothing on this particular website. Perhaps you should take a leaf out of your party leaders approach to this election, and stick to your core vote rather than trying to persuade anyone.
I wish you neither good nor ill fortune in your quest to become an MP. I suspect that since you seem to ideally fit the Labour Party's criteria, especially in times of all female selection lists, that if you don't succeed in your first attempt then you will be parachuted into a safe Labour seat in the next year or two. Thus it is likely to be a case of "when" you become an MP, not "if".
Time will tell.
My advice, for what little it is worth, is that, while you are perfectly at liberty to do so, you are wasting your time posting on this particular website.
In attempting to become a UK member of parliament (for non UK readers) you have chosen to join a profession, that of full time politician, that I believe is generally held in very low regard (perhaps even contempt would be accurate) by both members of the UK armed services and the UK population as a whole.
I also believe that, with the possible exception of Harrier pilots (that is an attempt at humour!) most members of the UK military are generally quite modest about their accomplishments while in the service. Exaggerating, or "bigging up", ones CV might be standard practice, or even a necessity, in the "real world", but it doesn't sit well with military readers.
Finally, once again in my opinion, your politics themselves are not natural bedfellows with the majority of serving members of the UK military.
Thus, in summary, I consider you are on something of a hiding to nothing on this particular website. Perhaps you should take a leaf out of your party leaders approach to this election, and stick to your core vote rather than trying to persuade anyone.
I wish you neither good nor ill fortune in your quest to become an MP. I suspect that since you seem to ideally fit the Labour Party's criteria, especially in times of all female selection lists, that if you don't succeed in your first attempt then you will be parachuted into a safe Labour seat in the next year or two. Thus it is likely to be a case of "when" you become an MP, not "if".
Time will tell.
Whilst trying to hold down my Sunday Lunch I thought I would see what Paul Smyth has written about him - as Biggus so righly points out 'less is more' when it comes to bio/cv writing.
LJ
Paul Smyth will be trying to oust Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss from her seat at the 2015 elections after he was selected at a party meeting in Thetford.
Mr Smyth was unanimously selected by party members.
A former RAF Tornado Navigator, Mr Smyth spent 25 years in the air force and retired at the rank of Wing Commander.
He undertook two tours of duty at RAF Marham and worked for a defence think-tank, RUSI, after leaving the forces.
Mr Smyth joined UKIP in 2013 and was elected as Norfolk County councillor for Swaffham the same year.
He is Chairman of the County Council’s cross-party Communities Committee which has oversight of 13 Service Delivery areas including the Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service, Libraries, Trading Standards and Public Health.
Mr Smyth was unanimously selected by party members.
A former RAF Tornado Navigator, Mr Smyth spent 25 years in the air force and retired at the rank of Wing Commander.
He undertook two tours of duty at RAF Marham and worked for a defence think-tank, RUSI, after leaving the forces.
Mr Smyth joined UKIP in 2013 and was elected as Norfolk County councillor for Swaffham the same year.
He is Chairman of the County Council’s cross-party Communities Committee which has oversight of 13 Service Delivery areas including the Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service, Libraries, Trading Standards and Public Health.
Irrespective of the politics they may represent, if these two people were standing in my constituency, I know which one I'd vote for. (and I've managed to hold down my supper...just).
If the Labour spin doctors had written the same press release it would have read like this (probably):
Allegedly...
LJ
Mr X will be trying to oust David Cameron's Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss from her seat at the 2015 elections after he was selected at a party meeting in Thetford.
Mr X was unanimously selected by party members against the hardest of competition.
A former RAF Tornado Directional Consultant Mr X spent 25 years in the air force and retired at the incredibly exalted rank of Wing Commander. He has saved the planet on a number of occasions and was God's right hand man against the evil dictatorship of Kraplakistan for which he recieved an OBE.
He undertook two exceptionally high pressure tours of duty at RAF Marham where he was in charge of everything and his intellectual prowess was essential with his leadership of the defence think-tank, RUSI, after leaving the forces.
Mr X joined the Party in 2013 and was elected as Norfolk County councillor for Swaffham the same year with an incredible majority.
He is Chairman of the County Council’s cross-party Communities Committee which has oversight of 13 Service Delivery areas including the Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service, Libraries, Trading Standards, Public Health, kittens and crochet. In his spare time he rescues disabled children that have fallen into the Fens, he gives all his wordly wealth to any charity that will take his cash and has a 3 legged greyhound called "Trotski".
Here is a picture of Mr X whilst in charge of everything in his normal working dress
Mr X was unanimously selected by party members against the hardest of competition.
A former RAF Tornado Directional Consultant Mr X spent 25 years in the air force and retired at the incredibly exalted rank of Wing Commander. He has saved the planet on a number of occasions and was God's right hand man against the evil dictatorship of Kraplakistan for which he recieved an OBE.
He undertook two exceptionally high pressure tours of duty at RAF Marham where he was in charge of everything and his intellectual prowess was essential with his leadership of the defence think-tank, RUSI, after leaving the forces.
Mr X joined the Party in 2013 and was elected as Norfolk County councillor for Swaffham the same year with an incredible majority.
He is Chairman of the County Council’s cross-party Communities Committee which has oversight of 13 Service Delivery areas including the Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service, Libraries, Trading Standards, Public Health, kittens and crochet. In his spare time he rescues disabled children that have fallen into the Fens, he gives all his wordly wealth to any charity that will take his cash and has a 3 legged greyhound called "Trotski".
Here is a picture of Mr X whilst in charge of everything in his normal working dress
LJ
this forum has been so important to me (re Nimrod and Chinook in the past most importantly where this forum was instrumental in campaigning) for what it can achieve.
A clear politician in the making: smoke and mirrors in spades!
It's a great pity that someone who aspires to one of the most important roles in our democracy has no shame in posting a CV like Ms Gardner's. She clearly held a number of reasonably useful, if not exactly critical positions in the RAF and as far as the public is concerned it should only be necessary to know some salient facts about her past. An ex RAF officer with management experience in assisting operations.
I thought I'd read the CV of a new prospective candidate for my local constituency.....a thumbnail sketch that says he's an economics graduate and worked as an accountant, involved in local politics as a councillor before telling me about his pastimes. Seems like a decent bloke but he's not trying to big himself up and I'll make my decision to vote for him on his politics, not how he audited some company accounts.
I thought I'd read the CV of a new prospective candidate for my local constituency.....a thumbnail sketch that says he's an economics graduate and worked as an accountant, involved in local politics as a councillor before telling me about his pastimes. Seems like a decent bloke but he's not trying to big himself up and I'll make my decision to vote for him on his politics, not how he audited some company accounts.
That video is so beyond utterly cringeworthy.
"hi Ed, I'm Sophy Gardner (PPC!) just in case anyone doesn't know me and I love you and really love her. This is great, I love it here!"
"Sophy, you're great too and we love you more!"
People disconnected from reality.
"hi Ed, I'm Sophy Gardner (PPC!) just in case anyone doesn't know me and I love you and really love her. This is great, I love it here!"
"Sophy, you're great too and we love you more!"
People disconnected from reality.
Irrespective of the politics they may represent,
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At the end of the day, who votes for the individual in a national election? You vote for the party. Look at my last UK constituency, Witney, yes I know, I call him Dave in the pub. When Douglas Hurd retired, Shaun Woodward took over. When he defected even if he was a good guy (doubt it) do you honestly think that the Chipping Norton set would vote Labour. They would prefer to run themselves over with their Range Rovers or hang from the beam of their 17C farmhouse by their Armani scarf.