BEDFORD: Politicians - they're all the same

Fuck, I hate politicians.

You're talking to them, and you can see them get that far away look that says 'there is something in this for me'.

And few of them have any concept of a fair fight.

Take the Lib Dems in Bedford. [Please! Ba da boom! - Ed, sorry]

Our hero, Barry Monk, announced to the BBC on the 18th of September that he was standing for parliament and had set up a political party, Save Bedford Hospital.

Now the Lib Dems have their eyes on this key marginal for the general election. In 2005, Labour's Patrick Hall just held it against Tory Richard Fuller (17,557 votes vs. 14,174 votes). Although the Lib Dem, Michael Headley, came third with 9,063, there was about a 6% swing in votes from Labour to the Lib Dems, which followed a similar 3% swing in 2001.

So, they need a 10% swing to take the seat in the next election. That makes Barry Monk a godsend to them (and the Tories) because, by taking unhappy Labour votes, he makes a larger swing more likely.

But of course, he might do too well, and take Lib Dem votes too.

Dr Rant was googling for Save Bedford Hospital to research Deadford Hospital - every patient can go fuck themselves, and was surprised to find that all the top results seemed to lead to Lib Dem web pages like this one.

What was going on? Was this great minds thinking alike?

So I decided to follow the domain names. A quick search shows that all of the main 'save bedford hospital' domain names have already been registered.

Let's start by putting savebedfordhospital.co.uk into whois:

Domain name:
savebedfordhospital.co.uk

Registrant:
Tim Prater

Registrant type:
UK Partnership

Registrant's address:
16 Riveria Court
Sandgate High Street
Folkestone
Kent
CT20 3RP
United Kingdom

Relevant dates:
Registered on: 18-Sep-2006
Renewal date: 18-Sep-2008

Registrant Tim Prater? Who's he? Turns out Tim Prater is a Liberal Democrat Town Councillor for Cheriton, sitting on Folkestone Town Council.

Notice the registration date - 18th of September. That date sounds familiar. Looking back in my notes, I see it is the date the BBC announced that Dr Monk had registered the political party 'Save Bedford Hospitals' and was planning to stand for parliament.


Let's try another:

Domain name: savebedfordhospital.com

Registrant Contact:
dynamoo.com
Conrad Longmore (dynamoo@spamcop.net)
+44.1234325328
Fax: +44.1234000000
192 Wilstead Road
Elstow
Bedford, ST MK42 9YD
GB

Status: Locked

Creation date: 18 Sep 2006 16:29:04
Expiration date: 18 Sep 2007 16:29:04

I'm beginning to see a pattern - this was also registered on the 18th of September. No hint who registered it from this info, but since the domain points to this Lib Dem webpage, it doesn't take a genius to deduce who they work for.


Want to try another? Why not?

Domain name: savebedfordhospital.net

Registrant Contact:
dynamoo.com
Conrad Longmore (dynamoo@spamcop.net)
+44.1234325328
Fax: +44.1234000000
192 Wilstead Road
Elstow
Bedford, ST MK42 9YD
GB

Status: Locked

Creation date: 18 Sep 2006 16:29:09
Expiration date: 18 Sep 2007 16:29:09

Ok, this is getting boring. Same registrant same date, and - you guessed it - this domain also points to the Lib Dem page.




So, on the day that Barry Monk announces his new party name, the Lib Dems register all its key domain names, and point them to That Lib Dem webpage.

No wonder all the Save Bedford Hospital google searches pop up the Lib Dems as their top result.


You see how these guys like to do things.

Of course, this behavior is a breach of ICAAN regulations on the registration of domain names. Its the kind of thing that dodgy cybersquatters and criminals do. Nice company for politicians then.


I hope the voters show up the politicians for what they are. Self-serving, narcissistic, lying, cheating, lowdown scum.

Vote for Barry Monk - the real 'Save Bedford Hospital' candidate.