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Friends and readers. Pilton Sucks has received more by-election material,this time a leaflet from independent candidate John Loughton.

On a purplish background Mr. Loughton tells us he is a local lad and an independent voice. So far so good,although he fails to explain his party piece in the recent copy of the NEN.

An independent candidate is just that,independent of all political parties or organisations,on this point given his piece in the NEN he falls down badly on the later point.

On the plus side Mr. loughton is young and keen but he must remember That in itself is not enough to win the trust of the voters or as he tells us on the back of his leaflet winning Big Brother Celebrity Hijack.

Mr. Loughton also tells us what he believes in and it is an honest and honourable message,but we cannot help but think that given his youth and inexperience he could become a beacon for the crumbling Labour cabal.

But that aside he gives us 5 campaigning priorities and we cannot argue with any of them.

All in all it is a colourful leaflet with a positive message,and young people like Mr. Loughton should be encouraged to get involved in what’s going on around about them.

On the negative side,it was a huge mistake to put a piece in the NEN so close to the election and this yet may have repercusions. This showed Mr. Loughtons inexperience to allow himself to be put in such a compromising situation,and we wonder who prompted him to do so.

Lets hope the next edition of the NEN has all or none of the candidates in it. 

We award Mr Loughton 5 0ut of 10 for content 6 out of 10 for his local views and 5 out of 10 for leaflet design,giving him a grand total of 16 0ut of 30,a creditable effort on his first attempt.

Unfortunately we are deducting 20 for his mistaken foray into the NEN,meaning Mr. Loughtons total goes to -4. We do hope he learns from his mistakes.  

Friends and readers.The Forth Ward by-election is coming towards its final week and the push is on for each candidate to make their case.

The first of the hustings has taken place at the Muirhouse Millenium Centre,with the notable exception of the Lib Dem candidate. With her literature concentrating on trying to frighten the voters and her absence from the hustings,a poor show indeed and this may well have put the final nail in her chances of winning the election.

The report we received was that the hustings meeting was well attended and vigorous with six candidates present. We are told all candidates put their case although the person representing the conservative candidate failed to make an impression and looked uncomfortable. 

It did seem at one stage we are told that the SNP candidate George Gordon would be the only candidate answering questions,letting the others off the hook. Mr. Gordon was put under close scrutiny but we are told he handled himself well even though one or two of the points made bordered on personal. 

So the election bandwagon rolls on to Royston/Wardieburn Community centre on Thursday and we hope for a good turnout with local issues taking prominence.

Out and about in the Community you can taste the anticipation of the voters as they make up their minds on who to place their trust in and elect to serve the Forth Ward.

The feeling that Pilton Sucks is getting,is that the earth has not opened up and swallowed us since the SNP Lib Dem coalition has been in charge,and a number have people have written to Pilton Sucks saying that a breath of fresh air has swept through this community since Labour were removed,with the old guard and cabal having their wings clipped.

Of course the charge of a Labour cabal has always been denied,but all anybody had to do was read the NEN to know differently.

We have scored the candidates on the information we got and the people we spoke to and this has left has with a clear picture of relief that Labour were removed from office and local jobs for the boys mentality was stopped in it’s tracks,well at least slowed down.

Big disappointment at the lack or complete absence of any local involvement in the new Waterfront development,after being promised by the previous administration that there would be opportunities for local people to get real jobs not just picking up someone else’s shit.

This did not happen nor did the promise of affordable homes come about either.

This community was lied to and mislead and as the cold wind of recession bites this community as has happened in the past will feel the full force of the economic slow down.

We needed a change to get rid of what was seen as a few people benefiting and the many left to question,What about us?.

Our own scoring system which of course is not a scientific study has put the SNP candidate George Gordon out in front,particularly with the second leaflet the SNP produced.

Mr. Gordon like one or two of the other candidates is a local person and can speak with some knowledge about local issues.

Our personal feeling is that Mr. Gordon is best placed to deal with local issues and our scoring reflects that. We are not  saying how people should vote but merely how Pilton Sucks sees the situation.

Should Mr. Gordon be elected he will as anybody else would be, scrutinised on what he does in office.

There is still over a week left to make up your minds and for the candidates to persuade you that they are the one to place your trust in.

Pilton Sucks is of the view that of this moment Mr. Gordon offers the best opportunity to take this community forward,but as we say there is still a week or so left,and it could all change.      

Friends and readers. Our associate Anne received Labours second election leaflet titled Muirhouse an Salvesen Update.

Based much the same as the first leaflet,but thankfully without the covering letter,someone must be listening to Pilton Sucks advice. A double sided A4 leaflet,edited we are told by the candidate himself even though it is still in the South side of Edinburgh.

Mr. Day starts off on the front page by telling us that after research he has found out that the residents of both Muirhouse and salvesen are facing nearly £1 million worth of cuts.

Surely that in itself is inaccurate since any potential cuts would face all of the ward and not just part of it. If he had done his research properly he would have known that.

Mr. Day also tells us a little bit about himself and his passion for the community or in his words people like you-interesting use of words.

He does however redeem himself by mentioning a couple of local issues on the back of the leaflet,better late than never.

All in all better than the first leaflet but still a poor effort from the party defending the seat.   

Friends and readers. We have been informed that a second hustings is to take place on Thursday 30th October in the Royston/Wardieburn Community Centre at 7pm.

This will be the second of two hustings taking place and the excitement is to much for mere mortals to take. Never the less we hope that as many people as possible forget about Eastenders that night and go along to Royston/Wardieburn to watch some real life drama. 

At this time we are not sure of what the evenings entertainment will consist of but that’s part of the surprise we suppose. So get your woolly hats on for both hustings,the first being as we have already reported, on Monday 27th October at 7pm in the Muirhouse Millenium Centre,and now we have another delight to tickle your fancy on Thursday.

What more could you ask for it’s like Xmas coming early,but who will be the Santa Claus on the night and who will be dragging the sleigh.

Friends and readers. It was some time ago in the dim and distant past that we brought you the story of a new community centre to replace the crumbling monolith that is Royston/Wardieburn.

Well today dear friends we can bring you the news that this crumbling monolith a present of sixties architecture is still with us alive and kicking although it’s knees are a bit dodgy.

As you know this centre has produced some good work and continues to do so although the boiler still needs a lot of coal to heat the building. Although there has been much talk of a new super duper pasteurised centre along at Royston school nothing has yet transpired.

Why not then do the obvious. In this time of economic restriction would it not be better to spend a little capital dosh on the existing centre rather that spend a lot of dosh on a cut down sized new one.

Seems obvious to us and it would save our hard pressed city fathers spending an ever decreasing budget on a new centre which no doubt would be a pale shadow of the existing one.

The people we have spoken to like this dated centre and we do as well. It reeks of history and one or two other less pleasant things but it all goes into making this centre a rich tapestry of community life.

Would a new centre offer these things very doubtful and like the North Edinburgh Arts Centre would no doubt be hi-jacked by those that don’t live here or have anything to do other than earn their salary here.

In these days  where many people no longer feel wanted or are discarded if they cannot be of any use,Royston/Wardieburn Community Centre stands as a testament of all that was good and some not so good in a community,but still delivers a service which we have heard is as good if not better than anywhere else in the city. 

Friends and readers. From time to time rumours reach us about this and that some good some not so good,but the one we recently heard is to good to pass on.

Out and about as we are during this by-election campaign,one of our associates was in the Prentice centre having one of their bowls of home made soup.

She happened to be sitting next to a couple of people who were talking about our current MSP Malcolm Chisholm. According to our two friends Malcolm has or is becoming disillusioned with the Labour Party and is seriously considering standing down at the next election,with guess who—–wait for it——— none other that the fashion queen herself Lesley Prada Hinds waiting in the wings to pounce.

Lesley is desperate to further feather her nest against the economic slowdown and what better that a cushy well paid plus expenses number in the Scottish Parliament.

As you all know Lesley has put her well manicured toe in the water before only to have it muddied by the dirty waters of the labour selection meeting. Edinburgh East being the classic example where she threw her lot in with the hierarchy of the Craigmillar mafia,but ended up on the wrong side of a drubbing.

Lesley of course now sits in the leafy suburbs of Inverleith where the charity shops only sell designer labels and killer heels. Our catwalk queen sees her self as the answer to Leith and North Edinburgh’s prayer should Malcs jump ship to write his memoirs and spend more time with his family.

Our Lesley who dreams of the fashion houses of Paris and Milan and wears most of them would be able to visit these places should she be selected and then win,in fact she could go on a fact finding mission twining us with both fashion houses,and then go one step further,not only would we have the catwalks of Paris and Milan but possibly a catwalk in Pilton,we have a few community centres that could be used for such a prestigious event,and the local punters could forget for a short while high unemployment, poor housing,and all the other delights of inner city living and enjoy the flavour of high fashion as brought to you by Lesley Prada Hinds.

Friends and readers. It’s getting towards voting time in the Forth Ward by-election,and Pilton Sucks will try and sum up the story so far.

The Lib-Dems got off to a flying start with their candidate Sanne Downie. Ms.Downie claimed to be a local person but did not refer to any of the local happenings,rather she preferred to concentrate her efforts on frightening people into voting for her by using crime as a hammer to hit people with.

Ms.Downie was badly advised and would have been better off trying to inject some of her own ideas into this by-election. There are many other issues in this community as well as anti social behaviour,something which is not unique to this community,and Ms. Downie failed miserably to address any of them. So off to a good start but by the second leaflet it became obvious she knew little of what was going on in the community and threw away a good opportunity to make an impression in this by-election.

Electoral chance 2 out of 10.

The Labour candidate Cammy day who is employed by a local project should have had all the local knowledge at his fingertips but again failed to hit the mark,we feel relying to much on a traditional Labour vote which is shrinking before our very eyes.

Labour have had a lack luster campaign to date which is suprising since they are in reality trying to hold on to a seat within the Forth Ward. One leaflet from Labour and a covering letter which we felt was unnecessary. It almost feels like Labour have given up hope of holding this seat which is a sad reflection of the current state of the party.

Electoral chance 4 out of 10.

The SNP candidate George Gordon a baker to trade has cooked up a decent campaign so far rightly concentrating on local issues and telling us some of the local work he is currently involved in.

Mr Gordon was the victim of mischief making in the Evening News recently with reporter Alan[Labour]Roden writing an article on Mr. Gordons dress sense and hair style,we wonder where he got his information from,maybe we should ask someone from the NEN to comment.

It was a cheap shot and the article was mis guided when it should have been concentrating on local issues instead of what somebody wears or their choice of hairstyle.

Mr. Gordons second leaflet was the real deal and did what the other candidates should have done concentrate on local issues.

Electoral chance 8 out of 10.

We have received no other literature from any other candidate so we cannot comment on their electoral chance,except for the NEN backed and independent candidate John Loughton.

Mr. Loughton sees himself as the great white hope but he has a lot to learn and winning a second rate TV show does not do it for us. Supported by the NEN and what is left of the Labour cabal,Mr. Loughton would be better off sticking to being a z list celebrity,as politics is way out of his league,and he is in danger of being a play thing for the dying embers of the Labour party.

Electoral chance 0 out of 10.

So as we enter the final few rounds of this contest,will we have any surprises thrust upon us? things in politics as you all know can change very quickly.

We give you four defining moments in this contest.

1] Labour lost it from the start by their hasty and inappropriate selection procedure.

2] Lib Dems never got past trying to frighten the voters

3] SNP got the message and concentrated on local issues

4] The interference of the NEN and their backing of a candidate.

There you have it as Pilton Sucks sees it, but it’s up to you come November 6th. One day after fireworks night,will there be fireworks on the 6th or just a damp squib,we shall see.     

Friends and readers. We have received some more political literature this time from the SNP. This is the second leaflet we have received from the SNP and what a refreshing difference it is.

Titled Forth Election News  with the candidates name at the top,it concentrates on local issues and whats going on.

On four pages Mr. Gordon tells us what he as an individual has been doing within the community and what he intends to do if elected. This is exactly the type of literature that the other candidates should have put out but failed to do so.

Pilton Sucks suggested that local issues be the order of the day and Mr.Gordon and his party have delivered precisely that.

This is a no punches pulled leaflet aimed at highlighting concerns and issues and it reaches the parts that the other parties leaflets did not.

On the back  of Forth Election News is some testimonies from a couple of local people as well as Councillor Cardownie and First Minister Alex Salmond.

All in all an excellent product and one that treats the voters with respect instead of trying to frighten them as the Lib Dems have done or say little or nothing as the Labour party did.

All three of the major parties had an opportunity to push home the local angle and tell us what they would do to improve the punters lot.

It would seem only the SNP are taking this election seriously if their election literature is anything to go by.

Mr. Gordon for content receives 10 out of 10. For attention to detail we award 9.And for overall presentation we award 9. A grand total of 28 out of thirty which will be added to his first score which we will announce  on Monday 3rd November,along with the total scores for the other candidates.

This will give us our sporting odds winner. Of course this is not a scientific poll only the opinion of Pilton Sucks.   

Friends and readers. We at Pilton Sucks believe in fair play and we have to say that although we do our local newspaper the NEN does not.

We strongly object to a candidate in the Forth Ward by-election being allowed to have his words of limited wisdom printed in the NEN.

This is bang out of order and they know it. For our local newspaper to support one candidate is not on and betrays the democratic principle. Either let all the candidates have their say or none at all.

We are saddened that the NEN has decided to interfere in this election and support a particular candidate,the other candidates have a justifiable right to lodge a complaint with the chief executive of the city and we hope they do.

This is nothing short of a disgrace and surely cannot be ignored. The NEN should be ashamed of itself.   

Friends and readers. Pilton Sucks here with it’s by-election special.

First things first. For all interested there is a hustings at the Muirhouse Millenium Centre on Monday the 27th at 7pm. We urge all interested to attend and put their points and questions to the candidates.

As you know Pilton Sucks has been running a sporting odds bonanza on the Forth Ward by-election,and we have been marking the candidates literature as a marker for the big day on the 6th November.

Labours material was reasonable but was let down by an unnecessary covering letter and none of the material was printed locally.

The Lib-Dems seem to have put a lot of work in but have tried to win votes by fear using crime as the major issue in this campaign. We can tell them it is an issue but there are many more issues just as if not more pressing,so they have shot themselves in the foot.

Nothing from the Conservatives which just about sums up their chances. Also nothing from the smaller parties or independent candidates which shows how seriously they are taking this election.

The literature from the SNP was the only material which mentioned local issues in depth and let us know about some of the various committees that are working in this community.

The marks we gave reflected our thoughts and although not a scientific study we gave the SNP candidate our top mark so far. 

Of course there is still time for more literature to come through the letterboxes so they are still marks up for grabs.

Our final tally up will be on Monday 3rd November when we will announce the overall winner of our sporting odds. 

So our advice to the candidates for what it is worth,is concentrate on local issues and let the voters know what you will do to try and improve this community.

We advice the Lib-Dem candidate to move away from trying to frighten the voters by using crime as a weapon to get votes.

We advice the Labour candidate to show his commitment to this community something he tells us he has plenty of ,by at least using a local firm to print his material,that’s if he has any say in it.

We advice the SNP candidate to enlarge on what he has already said and to continue the local angle.

As for the rest if you can’t be bothered then neither can we.