Answer: None of the above.

I just can't stand weasley, half-truth telling champagne socialists - but not so keen on weasley, half-truth telling 'job for life' PPE at Oxford spin-merchants either!

The world would be better off without a profession where there are no real qualifications and all you need to do is is lie and connive in order to save one's chosen job, when you don't really believe it. :mad:

All party colours seem to have them (even UKIP :eek:)!

iRaven


:D:D:D

Hmm, wouldn't vote for a labour candidate even if I were married to one. Can't say I wish anyone good luck just because we once worked for the same company, hope she crashes and burns.

Whoa there tiger. I am not a tory voter, but i think you are spouting some particularly vile labour spin.

What possible 'recent' history could you be referring to? The 80's?

This is a man who had to stand and watch with dignity as the terrorist who disabled his wife was released early.

I might be mad to post this but...
 

Hi. I don’t have much time to look on the web these days, but I saw this thread and thought it was worth answering because 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. Popped in for a look and saw this about me. Which is a bit weird but fair enough considering I’m a candidate for the General Election.

I wanted to say a couple of things about the comments. In the spirit of PPrune I will probably (definitely!) get a hard time for this - but the RAF is the most formative part of my life so mad though I might be, thought I should…

Air Operations Officer - that’s there because people understand that better plus that’s the title I had in the joint roles I had in my time in the RAF. Flight Operations is fine with me too.

At the time of 9/11 I was OC ASCOT (we all now how unpopular that makes you) and I was the person sitting on the end of a phone trying to sort out where all our assets were and what we needed to do on that morning (I was in the US that day) and subsequently. As you know, the only air assets in Afghanistan for sometime after then were AT/AR assets - and did an amazing job despite a total lack of defensive aids (don’t get me started on that) - and I was the person overseeing that - alongside great planning and tasking squadrons. Clearly, there were many other fantastic people working in the same HQ - I think they would also concede that I was the one mainly on-call 24/7 for ASCOT for several months then.

Re Milosevic - even my bosses didn’t know about that - there were only a handful of people in the UK who were aware - and so I was not just ‘there’.

Re working with military charities - I have done lots of that work free of charge and have been asked to work (paid) at times.

I chose to be member of the Labour Party and so there is no way that I can be accused of ‘other parties won’t have me’. Many of you may not share my politics but those who know me know that I have the same principles and politics I had 20 years ago.

What’s wrong with South London? - Well I’ve not lived there for 26 years and I don’t belong there anymore - I am happy to be living in Gloucester as the first home I have not been posted to. It’s a great place in case you haven’t been here.

How’s it going on Defence issues? We need more people in Parliament who understand the military and will stand up for the people with whom we have served. I am on different sides of the political divide from some, but I love the RAF and will do my best to represent the RAF that gave me the most brilliant experiences of my life. There are MPs on the Conservative side that I am glad to see are ex-RAF and do the same.

I know many of you won’t agree with my politics but I genuinely think we need more of us (RAF/military) involved in politics to stand up for serving military and veterans. Give me a shout if you want to discuss any issues.

With the very best wishes

Sophy

Sophie,

I think people here should be pleased that you responded. Good luck - whatever anyone else says, you are prepared to stand for something you believe in and I wish you success in this endeavour. Whatever happens, it will be a bit of a roller-coaster experience, I'm sure.

MPs work for corporations, not the electorate. It doesn't matter whether they're self centred sub-human tories or labour, the outcome will be the same.

Same ****, different coloured wrapper.

Just let the MP pricks get on with it, one day soon it will all unravel and they'll be the first to feel the consequences of their nefarious dealings with the corporations and war machine, unless X-factor is on TV that particular evening.

I wouldn't say mad, deluded perhaps, like most politicians. Some of us read your webpage. What a waste of time that was. As I said in my earlier post, full of BS and hyperbole. I would like to wish you luck as an ex member of the RAF, but I won't. Not for as long as you associate yourself with the likes of Miliband, Balls, Harperson, Cooper etc

S-D

What a load of rubbish. What next "Directional Consultants" and "Driver Airframe" for Nav/Pilot? If you really love the RAF as much as you claim then you would use the correct title of your branch and be proud of it. :ugh:

I'm sorry Ms Gardner but your Bio/CV would appear to have more spin and 'sexing up' than I care for - did you take advice from Comrade Tony? :E

No wonder there is such a swing towards the gurning Mr Farage away from both main parties; people are plain fed up with the whole politics piece. The latest I'm hearing is that Mr Shapps (Chair - Con) has been sexing up his CV too with conveniently forgetting his lacklustre performance at Watford Grammar School that led him to the local technical college instead of 6th form (unlike the new Global CEO of McDs and also ACAS who went to the same school around the same time). Why can't politicians just be themselves? Which I suppose is the current attraction of Mr Farage.

Thanks for the debate, though! :ok:

iRaven

PS - here is the piece on Mr Shapps http://www.theguardian.com/politics/...ikipedia-entry

I wouldn't bother with the diatribes, polies have skins like rhinos.

I believe that Guy Gibson was prospective Tory candidate for Macclesfield.

Er... isn't he a part of the whole politics piece? Nicely esconced in Europe enjoying all the perks that office entails. At least the man is fairly straight forward about being a chancer.

Sophy

Gutsy move to come on here, but I can't help thinking the disection of your web page has forced you to. I also feel compelled to disect your latest post as well:

So now it's OK to tell the whole world what only a handful of people knew? Did you get clearance to release this or did you not have an extant non-disclosure agreement of what sounds like a need to know op? If it was so very "hush-hush" then I am suprised to see it on your CV! Or is it convenient that no one knew about it?

Thank goodness you have the 2 Eds at the helm of your chosen ship - if it were his brother David and Alan Johnson then I would be worried!

LJ :cool:

I've just noted that the quote by iraven at post #29 is different to what is posted now on your web-page:

About - Sophy4Gloucester

Why is that? No mention of Air Operations Officer, either?

I've also found another little nugget of yours:

I am sure there is a Harrier Sqn OC and some Flt Cdrs that would beg to differ on who was "in charge".

Also, I noted "The RAF led that operation" - that's not really true either. Yes, it was Air Marshal Stirrup but he was appointed the UK National Contingent Commander by PJHQ which is a joint operation. There were quite a few assets from 40 Commando and others actually taking the bad news to AQ and the Taleban whilst the RAF provided AWACS and AAR assets. So even though I am light blue, I wouldn't be so bold to state "The RAF led that operation"!

LJ

Taking you at your word, Sophy.


Please explain why Labour's top 3 priorities (Education,Education & Education) caused a drop in PISA rankings in Science from 4th in the World to 20th?
And why, for the first time in history, every scientific institution in the UK put aside their differences and united in opposition to Labour Government policy, joined by the Select Committee on Education of the House of Lords?
If you can't, I can.

Please explain why Gordon Brown decreased the Defence budget 4 times during wartime, then lied about it.
If you can't, I can.

Please, please, explain what happened in Rotherham?
If you can't, I can.

I now know what Air Operations Officers (read Flight Operations) do...

http://mhpccom.wpengine.netdna-cdn.c...hy-gardner.jpg

...they stand in front of the Visual Control Room Staff and get in the way so that the the Tower Controller can't see the aircraft.

Genius!

CPL Clott

I was there as a PFOM when the Flight Operations Officer role was introduced and they initially received no training on how Operation rooms, Squadron Ops etc went about there business. Little surprise then they generally floundered when expected to supervise a Station Operations room etc. What ever training they had in my experience had also made them adverse to learning about the workings of TG9 and the role of a AATC within it, the very people they were supposed to supervise.
Fast promotion was available in a new trade, I have no idea of the criteria but the more "experienced" IE failures from other trades did appear to be the ones promoted first.
I remember the prospective Candidate for Gloucester well, not surprised she has chosen to describe herself as a "Air Operations Officer" because she ticked all of the above boxes and then some, libel laws prohibited me from posting what i actually think about her performance.

That looks uncannily like our Gazza with the headset on...

Skeleton,

while you are perfectly entitled to your opinions, including those on the introduction of Flight Operations Officers, your second paragraph is quite odious and indicative of the worst aspects of the casual casting of aspersions that internet anonymity enables. An individual who is courageous enough to come on this forum overtly and is prepared to argue their case, is to be given at least a modicum of respect, whatever you think of their politics or how their CV (which no doubt is trying to be all things to all men) is written.


You say you are unable to speak freely due to libel laws, a poor excuse to attach to the insinuations you are willing to anonymously put into the public arena. As I understand it, you state that she "ticked all of the...boxes" (your words not mine) of:

• no training
• generally floundered
• averse (I presume that's what you meant, no "d") to learning

I've no personal axe to grind here (a Flight Ops Officer myself, you and I would no doubt agree on a wide range of issues about how the specialisation was introduced and subsequently (mis)managed). That said, I never served with Sophy and I know nothing of any detail about her career (and as I'm not a Gloucester voter her political views are of no interest to me), but I do know that she became OC Ops at RAF Valley. Not a bad achievement for someone you suggest had no training, who generally floundered and was averse to training.
MB

The disappointing thing about US politics is it has become so polarized that civilized discourse is no longer possible. No sooner has candidate A made some announcement, regardless of whether they are a Republican or a Democrat, before Candidate B's media team hit the media with actual pictures of the pig they had carnal knowledge with, the dope dealer they used in high school, and the defrocked priest they shared a summer cabin with.

It's all very tedious and predictable, and as a result, the country is now a run like a 3rd world festering ****ehole, while the DC politicians frantically fiddle over the flames of Rome.

How uplifting it is to see that back in blighty politics is still the arena of well considered dialogue, careful and analytical dissection, and non-partisan support from lofty intellectuals who always play the ball, not the man (or woman).

I'll be writing to my sister in Gloucester and asking her to vote for Sophy Gardner as a matter of principle.

Before you do that - you might want to take a look at the useless dipsticks in charge of the Labour Party - they are atrocious :)

And before anybody says it - I am not a tory fan - I have been screwed by tories and labour all my life - I have an extremely low opinion of most politicians !
However to vote for somebody just because they are ex 'something' would be a little naive - having said that politicians of all parties rely on naivety from many voters LOL

When some of us vote we probably vote for whom we believe will do the least harm to our country rather than whom we believe will be the best.

Our previous 'leaders' (Broon and Mandy) were absolute shockers :(

Well I still won't be voting Labour, but congratulations to Sophy for stepping into the lions' den. A mauling was predictable knowing the political views on PPRuNe which generally range from slightly left of centre to barking mad hard right.

By the way, K & C is being strangely silent on this! Maybe he doesn't look at Military Aviation?

Hmmm
 

Regardless of the politics I do find it rather unedifying seeing those having a pop for whatever reason doing so by hiding behind a shield of anonymity whereas at least Sophy had the balls (metaphorically speaking) to post under her real name.

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).

And there was I thinking that Mrs Pankhurst's Suffragette's had won a hard fought battle for women to have an independent vote! :rolleyes:

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

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!

Well aware of that B-Word me old. I simply called it unedifying, that's all. And I still think it is.

CK

That is, all well, if the poster is of course 'Sophy Gardner' - it could be someone joshing with all of us! Ah, the pitfalls of a bulletin board! :ok:

The B Word

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.

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.

Anyone got a bag, I think I'm going to be ill...


...I don't who is the bigger sychophant, 'the leader' or 'the led'? :eek:

CPL Clott

Putting the sicko into sycophant, eh?

Thanks for doing the dirty work, Cpl, saving the rest of us the bother.

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

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 :cool:

Funny, then, that your earlier post on this thread is your first, and still only, post on PPRune.

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.

After watching the video and being tweeted the picture below, I don't think I'll sleep for the next 90-odd days. :eek:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B8ciRDLCEAEo6D2.png

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.

Untrue.








Characters added to make up the requisite number

I really hope that when you go to the polls you won't be voting for anyone "irrespective of the politics they may represent". No matter what sort of top bloke the wing commander was when serving (and the fact that he was a nav gets him brownie points in my eyes!), I nevertheless would rather tear up my voting slip than vote for a UKIP candidate.

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.