So, a liberal democrat candidate for Basingstoke thinks a five year sentence for rape is "excessive"

[BasilFoulEggs]

I'm slightly surprised that the rapist vote has become so big and valuable that it is being courted in Basingstoke, but I know very little of that part of the world and given the current travails of the Lib Dems, I suppose there may be some sort of electoral advantage in tweeting that our justice system is outrageous for actually punishing a rapist properly. Maybe no on else will vote for them anymore, what do I know.

The Lib Dem candidate in question, seems to imagine that if a man is good looking and lots of women "wouldn't say no" to him, then the fact that one woman didn't say yes, means his sentence for rape ought to be lowered. Apart from the fact that this is unfair to ugly rapists, it shows a confusion in his mind about the difference between sex and rape, which means that this young man is not fit to represent women. I'll say nothing about what else he might not be fit to do with women as that doesn't actually have anything to do with his electoral campaign.

I've e-mailed Basingstoke Lib Dems to tell them what I think of their candidate's views, if you want to to, here's the link to their website:

basingstokelibdems.org.uk/en/page/chineham-our-candidate

I emailed LD HQ and got the standard reply

Have emailed back to point out that he still holds the same opinions and has not apologised for them

Awaiting reply!

Anyone know if the hateful little fecker actually won? Local website crap.

I've been searching but can't find any results so far.

He was never going to win, but he came last with 100 votes - from second in the 2010 poll.

Results (Chineham ward)

From 2nd in 2010 here.

Thanks, NarkedPuffin.
Well, Liam Elvish has spectacularly failed to set the political stage alight.
I guess not all publicity is good publicity afterall.

Fabulous. Would love to think his comments had something to do with it.

Does he get his deposit back with only 100 votes?

Let us hope not.

let us also hope he notices that it's quite likely that public revulsion is the difference between coming second and limping in last and re thinks his vile views. Suspect he will just keep them under wraps in future, though.

exactly stillfrazzled. having those views and hiding them is just as abhorrent and far more dangerous. he has to go.

I'm pleased the nasty little creep did so badly in the election.

No deposit for local elections. All you need is 10 signatures.

And it was a woman who won too MWAH HAH HAH HAH HAH

There is further correspondence about this is the Gazette on line which was printed last week.
www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/letters/9701069.Online_argument_was_with_friends/

He still doesn't get it, does he. Also his "full apologies to those who took offence" is still not a full apology! Moron.

I wonder how much more of this we'll see - someone posting something inappropriate online via FB or Twatter and then claiming it was a private comment so therefore was justified. I fear that it may be used in "defence" rather a lot in the future.

palm - slap - forehead => disbelief

Christ, what a wanker. I wonder if the LibDems are still supporting him? Did anyone get any reply beyond that holding email?

No further email - I expect they're relieved he'll just disappear into the ether of his own personal failure.
Although the fact that they didn't have the bollocks to firmly condemn Elvish has lost them my vote until I snuff it.

Liam Elvish is clearly a bit thick. That follow-up interview was ill-advised at best, career-shattering at worst. He comes across as an entitled arsehole with a flair for petulance.

A museum worker (and perpetually unemployed actor) who has opinions that make him more suited to being a relic, if you will. (D'ya see what I did there?)

I got a response from LDHQ saying the guy had apologised for his views. I emailed back saying he had done no such thing and pointing out that the electorate are really quite capable of telling the difference. I have had no further response from them.

Shame really, they used to be quite good at that sort of thing. Clearly Clegg isn't good at making his kids write thank you letters!

I emailed a complaint about this to Basingstoke Lib Dems, but I didn't get a reply - not even an anodyne one.

Are you lot serious??? I can't believe how much you are all blowing this out of proportion and winding yourselves up over nothing! You should really take a lesson in media and how papers manipulate you to see things a certain way. Taken out of proportion things always seem a lot worse.

None of you have read the full debate that happened on his page. If you had you would see there were lots of people debating different sides of the case. Liam doesn't justify rape, hes arguing against the case because there didn't seem to be any force and the other footballer who also slept with her was found not guilty which doesn't make sense!!

Before you all start going crazy again and sending out a parade to burn my house down I should actually point out that I disagree with Liams view and think the sentence was fitting and actually the other footballer should also of been punished (and yes I am a woman). However I am amazed at how this has ended up on local front page news!!! A lot of people write stuff on facebook that they shouldn't and it is very easy to put things that come across the wrong way. I'm the first to admit I probably wrote stuff in debates on f.book that I don't really believe in just to play devils advocate!!! Do they represent me and my views....definitely not!!!

Surely if you paused for half a second you would see that this was just an insensitive comment taken out of proportion!! We've ALL been there. You have all jumped to conclusions, assuming you know Liams view and you know 'what sort of man he is'. Isn't that the kind of judgemental attitude that you are all arguing against?? It doesn't even represent his view on rape....just on this specific case which, even many people are saying, is a complicated and unusual one!!

Also can I say Liam did apologize ?If I have offended anyone, I APOLOGISE"!!!

Really if you were that bothered about rape victims you wouldn't be wasting your time on forums winding urselfves up over a young man who made some one-off comment which offended people....you would actually be potting your energy into making a POSITIVE change such as fundraising for a rape charity or representing women in a positive, equal manner....

Interesting. How do you know that none of us fund-raise for rape charities? Or provide support for rape victims, or victims of domestic abuse?

That is not an apology for what he said. He has not retracted.

If he wants a career in public life then he needs to learn to think carefully about what he says in public.

What you ay on fb is as liable for legal redress as anything else. That's been being discussed on radio and tv for several weeks. It seems you missed that.

His comments show that he lacks the maturity to take up the position he was standing for.

His comments, particularly "most girls I speak to say they wouldn?t say no to Ched Evans, anyway...", show that he is a cocky little idiot, with no concept of the serious nature of the case.

WRT to comments on FB - anyone hoping to take up a role in public life would be an absolute twat to make inflammatory and sexist comments regarding a current news story - on a public forum!

He got what he deserved, and I hope his dismal failure will make him question his behaviour and grow up.

@pinkpyjamas.....hahahaha....I find it hilarious that someone who uses language such as "cocky little idiot" and "twat" about someone they have never even met and can only know what they have read in a less than 500 word article, can then go on to say 'make him question his behaviour and grow up'. HAHAHA!!!! Talk about ironic! I really think you need to do some growing up.

Your comment is so riddled with fowl language and patronising arrogance any point is completely lost and you look like a fool. No one will ever take you seriously. You might think yourself better than other people and in a position to judge others by a single article that you read but the truth is you are not.

You might get satisfaction thinking of his 'dismal failure' and him 'getting what he deserved'....here's another truth for you...that article is already in the bins of last month, the world has moved on, nothing came of it and nobody cares except you. Pathetic!!