Once you start barring candidates from standing the whole electoral process is fatally undermined and might as well be ignored as anyone elected has no legitimacy, hustings or no hustings.

I retract my statement about TBK...I was just flippin' annoyed

Martin you've still not acknowledged or answered the question posed to you by Shane (12:41) or Paddington (13:46)

TF - No offence taken.

If it’s so useful TBK why are only 8% of members on it!

Yes, Martin, that is the problem. You have been happy to take our money for years, to see nothing of the work many have put in, and have now insisted on communicating with us on a platform that we find insecure and difficult to use. Just call us legacy supporters and have done with it

Jeez Martin you ok hun?

I am particularly impressed with the calibre of the candidates who have, in part stood up for a rival who has been clearly denied an opportunity to stand and be judged by his peers. Whether or not you agree/like his musings, his right to stand should never have been sanctioned, without evidence and a hearing to qualify that decision.

Can't we have elections every 3 years only,it gets boring reading the squabbling every year. Cant see why you all can't sit around a table over a coffee . Or have some sort of royal rumble to get on board!

Didn't give a time... which I think is quite important...to be fair I think the ESG and Board have been pretty shoddy at accurate comms...surprise, surprise

You're now coming across as a bit of a prick

Ninja, come on. It's on the web site "Ballots sent out: Sunday 14th September" [Link]

Et tu Geoff? Ducked out of all the contentious issues is a bit strong. When else have I let you down? Discord I presume? I hope you can get over that as it's quite a useful tool and loads of kids use it. Maybe that's the problem?

TBK I wasn't advised of the exact date and time that voting would commence so couldn't 'bail out' as you say... before it began!!

I cannot believe that the DTB/club, I am unsure of the overlap, have allowed this molehill to become a mountain by being so intransigent over Shane.

Vote for the brave indeed.

SwinDon, but it is.

I've known Martin for well over two decades so was happy to propose him last year, even if I didn't agree with all his manifesto. I declined this year but only because I was considering a "Ronan Warde" candidacy (one where the manifesto starts 'please don't vote for me'). Luckily I saw sense before submitting my candidacy. I think Martin has worked out he won't get my vote this year as he has ducked out of all the contentious issues.

TBK you were doing OK in my dealings with you but isn't that comment completely disrespectful of the stand others have taken, to accuse them of taking the easy route in 'bailing'.

It might be worth remembering that this is one of the reasons you cannot withdraw in proper (ie. local council and Parliamentary) elections once the voting begins. "After the withdrawal deadline it is not possible to withdraw from the election, and your name will appear on the ballot paper. If the election is uncontested, you will be declared elected." [Link]

Thanks for picking this up Doobs when it would be far easier to bail like others have done. I think Hustings are very important, not just quite, and am happy to attend them if anyone can organise them. You cannot interview me though as my proposer. Hopefully you can find someone (anyone!) else to do so. Sorry for putting you in this position BTW as I had no idea you may end up holding them! I just thought it would be good to have different proposers to last year.

I don't have any skin in the game really - i think I'll probably fall out with whoever gets elected at some point :) but i do think not having a hustings is a f*cking disaster - and we've made quite enough shitshows out of straightforward things recently.

Good to see where you stand on it Sam. I wish you the best of luck.

candidates - you have email!

TF - I have no reason to doubt Doobs' integrity either, on Twitter and ProBoards etc he's always given me the impression he's on the level. Plus, as long as all of the questions are the same and none is unfairly pointed towards one candidate (either towards their strengths or their weaknesses), the format is hard to break.