A Note on John Harthman

E-mail Dated Sunday the 15th January 2000,
John Harthman <john@harthman.freeserve.co.uk>
to Sean Gabb


Dear Sean

Thank you for adding me to your list.  I am content to be labelled with your "?".  However you may wish to note my public statements on joining the single currency.

Dec 1996:    As PPC for Sheffield Heeley last time round, during a radio debate with Roger Barton then MEP for Sheffield.  "The single currency is impractical and I am opposed to joining it."

April 1997:    On an election leaflet, I repeated my comments made on Radio Sheffield above.  I also made the same comments at a Public Meeting organised by Meersbrook Tenants and Residents.

May 1997:    On my General Election leaflet in Sheffield Heeley:  "If you want an MP who believes that we in Britain should control our own currency and decide our own destiny ... then I would be grateful for your support ... "

Dec 1999:    At the Executive Council selection and again at the SGM selection meetings, I said "It would be crackers to join a single currency that has fallen 15% in one year."

At the SGM selection meeting when asked about Party Policy, I also said:  "I am happy to support the Party's policy for the coming general election of opposing joining the single currency now and for the lifetime of the next Parliament.  I will also be happy to stand on the same policy again in five years time at the next general election."

I do not like your rather simplistic division as indicated in the introduction to the candidlist and I trust that the above makes my position clear.  You are of course free to publish this e-mail in its entirety.

With best wishes

John Harthman
Prospective Parliamentary Candidate
(Conservative) - Sheffield Hallam


E-mail of Reply Dated Monday the 16th January 2000,
Sean Gabb to John Harthman

Dear Mr Harthman,

Many thanks for your e-mail of yesterday.  I have published it on the Candidlist web page, and thank you for providing so full an account of your views.  While they verge on the sceptic, I agree that they do not quite belong there.  Even so, I hope that in time, you will change your mind.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Sean Gabb
Candidlist Webmaster