Mayoral spending is not the top issue

“I have no problem with this being democracy for the rich or the party machine so far as the candidates are concerned. I don't want to see my tax or council tax being spent on providing free publicity for nutters or extremists. The right to vote is truly democratic, and anyone who doesn't exercise it has no right to grumble.

The deposit for parliamentary elections was introduced to stop soldiers and sailors standing, so they could get out of the army as candidates, who were exempt from service. The deposit for this campaign is £500, which if you haven't got it, and are a good candidate, will surely come from friends and supporters. Poor people can therefore apply, although if they are poor, that would be for a reason. No job, no qualifications, been made bankrupt because of not being good with money - not who we want in charge of a £1 million per day budget.

I also have no problem with Goerge Ferguson being a former lib dem, no more than I would have a problem if he was a former drunkard - as with all the other candidates, I shall make my mind up by my judgment of what he is now. Sticking two fingers up to the Lib Dems seems perfectly sensible to me. Having heard him speak (but not made up my mind yet) he clearly knows what the issues are, and speaks more sense than some of the others (alright, Jon Rogers). His opposition to the stupid £50 million BRT2 route is commendable, as is Tim Collins - Tim has actually signed the petition at
https://http://tinyurl.com/cb2ptdh

Don't sneer at someone just because he isn't poor and unsuccessful. He or she may still have the city's best interests at heart.”

“by Ruskin09 - which Independent are you voting for instead?

I doubt if he wins he will not have a majority Lib dem team unlike Marvin labour only policy.”

“I have grown tired of Fergusons claims to be independant, if there was any votes in being a Liberal Democrat, he would still be a member, its only because they are a political liability that ha chose to ditch them, anyone who can dip into their own pocket to the amout he has must be totally out of touch with the problems or ordinary Bristolians.”

“hahahaha Rees £20,000 - i suspect the real total is many times higer than that.”

“I now discover that the "details" of each candidate's expenditure - except for the Conservative's (who had left the meeting by that point!) - are in another sub-heading of this web site.

But why is the Post cluttering its own pages with repeats and summaries and videos of the same story. Let's see just ONE clear article on each subject.”

“And what did the other candidates say they would be spending?

As not every reader attended the meeting, why cannot the Post give the complete story - not just the bits that suit their position on this matter.”

“But, of course, most people don't have £50k to spend on an election

It sim0ply proves that this form of 'democracy' is for the rich or the party machine

Poor people need not apply”