We have a council election taking place soon. This is because one of the councillors died, and a replacement has to be found. The councillor was a LIberal Democrat. I take no pleasure in his death - I’m sure his family miss him very much.

However, yesterday, I received a letter from the Liberal Democrats. Actually, we both received one here (this will have gone to everyone on the electoral roll in the contested constituency). At first glance, it’s laid out to appear to be a letter from the grieving widow - complete with handwriting font. However, after the third paragraph, it goes into electioneering language. The first two paragraphs are fine - a thank you for the support & donations which will be going to charity. However, the language and text following that is bang on message.

The future Mrs PZ branded it “Blackmail” and binned hers. Anyway, here are some hasty photos of the note so that you can judge for yourselves. I think this is a pretty low form of communication, but I’m not that surprised.

Click for large view - Uploaded with Skitch

Click for large view - Uploaded with Skitch

I think you are massively overreacting to stuff that is perfectly normal. I see no reason why the widow shouldn't be proud of her deceased other half, and want what she views as his legacy to continue. She wants her husband's seat on the council to pass to somebody who shares his (and likely her) values.

Your accusation appears to be that they are cynical, but in truth, their cynicism is unproven; the same cannot be said of yours.

It's fairly standard stuff I think, everytime a previous politician stands down around us we get a letter in support of the new candidate, I usually bin them but they don't bother me. Perhaps your area has only just cottoned on to this form of campaigning?

I think it's disgusting.

But then I've had my hairdresser congratulate me for being the only customer this week to thing (like she does) that Jimmy Carr was in the right and shouldn't have apologised....

This country makes me ill. Time to leave again...

Erm... why?

Coz it's disingenuous and designed to take advantage of a certain sector of the electorate who are likely to take it as a "real" letter from the widow.

It is a real letter

Hence why I said "real".

I don't think I'm making myself clear.

It is a real letter, in that it is a circular letter which was composed by the widow, then typeset, reprinted and distributed by volunteers. This has been common political practice since the 17th century.

thats the century secret societys were formed

How do you know?

1776 its even written on the us dollar note plus theres a bit in back to the future film where the professor goes back to the year 1776 by mistake then he freaks out and says thats a bad year etc, and quickly changes it to another,

Some of these Scotsmen are immortal - I've seen the documentaries...

Them's the 18th century.

ive too much 1700's in my head atm due to digging up that eras items,