One Reason...
Of many why people are disillusioned with politics.
I can accept that views and opinions of those who serve the public may change as our own may in our lifetime but you have seen in previous entries I have made reference to local politics regarding my town centre's future and how when the by-election took place because our MP resigned even though officially there was a number of years he could've worked and put something back into the area for the support he had received from the people who voted for him to be a member of Parliament and in turn allow him to be the Country's Prime Minister for around a decade. Arguments will be made that has happened, locally some will agree, others beg to differ. For various reasons in a recent local election, some people felt that they should stand as Independents and they gave the ruling party of many years such a worry, that many of those who had been unchallenged for years lost their positions. And for some it was a shock.
Which in turn meant that when the by-election took place, for the first time in living memory(In my own certainly)our town was made the centre of the campaign to vote for the next MP to represent this area. Usually the campaign happens elsewhere. I've not seen so many representatives of the highest level pay attention here. Those worried to hang onto power and those who could see that just maybe they could wrestle it away. And as the twon was where the main candidate set up his campaign HQ, it had to be so.
The main party did succeed again but it was a very close run contest and an Independent almost succeeded again. That same Independent has just about been the only remaining candidate to get onto the new Unitary Council that was voted upon in May representing this town and for another reason. That has caused some criticism in the local Free sheet.
Unfortunately, the councils the length and breadth of the UK are being disolved and becoming Unitary but instead of letting them run the term of the previous local election held only one year sooner, new rules brought in by the Government means that they have/are being wound up so quickly, the Independents had to stand again and this time only a few managed to be elected.
The main reason I believe is that many more candidates came forward(many unknown)and the ballot was too diluted across too many people.
And so once again the National and local political scene is practically as it was.
And now our local free sheet is full of information that has resulted in lots of letters appearing heavily critical of two Independent Councillors who were successful. There are a couple that do offer limited support but the ratio is weighted against.
Why? They stood as Independents and therefore were voted for by the public as Independents.
However, they have now changed(after being elected)and joined the Labour Party. So electors feel that the election should be held again and they should stand under their new colours and see if they would be voted in again.
And we have a photo on the front of today's free sheet with them standing and smiling side by side with our Member of Parliament.
It does also mean that the make up of the Unitary Council has changed further as two of Independent councillors have tipped the balance in the favour of the winning party.
I write the above purely as an observer. And the impression given.
It does mean some genuine Independent Councillors who stood and lost may've succeeded had the public known this was to happen and a few remaining Independent Councillors that were elected are issuing apologies for what has happened and to say that they will not be following the others by switching allegiances. Such action has weakened their hand it has to be said as there are few if any Independents now on the Unitary Council and the few that are still involved locally are serving at the most local level possible as town councillors and you wonder after all this when the elections roll around again, the electorate will feel betrayed and their position on the Town Council will diminish further.
Also, people are wondering if this was always the plan, and when and if any meetings between the players took place or whether it all happened afterwards by chance? But that smacks of conspiracy theories. What do you think?
I can accept that views and opinions of those who serve the public may change as our own may in our lifetime but you have seen in previous entries I have made reference to local politics regarding my town centre's future and how when the by-election took place because our MP resigned even though officially there was a number of years he could've worked and put something back into the area for the support he had received from the people who voted for him to be a member of Parliament and in turn allow him to be the Country's Prime Minister for around a decade. Arguments will be made that has happened, locally some will agree, others beg to differ. For various reasons in a recent local election, some people felt that they should stand as Independents and they gave the ruling party of many years such a worry, that many of those who had been unchallenged for years lost their positions. And for some it was a shock.
Which in turn meant that when the by-election took place, for the first time in living memory(In my own certainly)our town was made the centre of the campaign to vote for the next MP to represent this area. Usually the campaign happens elsewhere. I've not seen so many representatives of the highest level pay attention here. Those worried to hang onto power and those who could see that just maybe they could wrestle it away. And as the twon was where the main candidate set up his campaign HQ, it had to be so.
The main party did succeed again but it was a very close run contest and an Independent almost succeeded again. That same Independent has just about been the only remaining candidate to get onto the new Unitary Council that was voted upon in May representing this town and for another reason. That has caused some criticism in the local Free sheet.
Unfortunately, the councils the length and breadth of the UK are being disolved and becoming Unitary but instead of letting them run the term of the previous local election held only one year sooner, new rules brought in by the Government means that they have/are being wound up so quickly, the Independents had to stand again and this time only a few managed to be elected.
The main reason I believe is that many more candidates came forward(many unknown)and the ballot was too diluted across too many people.
And so once again the National and local political scene is practically as it was.
And now our local free sheet is full of information that has resulted in lots of letters appearing heavily critical of two Independent Councillors who were successful. There are a couple that do offer limited support but the ratio is weighted against.
Why? They stood as Independents and therefore were voted for by the public as Independents.
However, they have now changed(after being elected)and joined the Labour Party. So electors feel that the election should be held again and they should stand under their new colours and see if they would be voted in again.
And we have a photo on the front of today's free sheet with them standing and smiling side by side with our Member of Parliament.
It does also mean that the make up of the Unitary Council has changed further as two of Independent councillors have tipped the balance in the favour of the winning party.
I write the above purely as an observer. And the impression given.
It does mean some genuine Independent Councillors who stood and lost may've succeeded had the public known this was to happen and a few remaining Independent Councillors that were elected are issuing apologies for what has happened and to say that they will not be following the others by switching allegiances. Such action has weakened their hand it has to be said as there are few if any Independents now on the Unitary Council and the few that are still involved locally are serving at the most local level possible as town councillors and you wonder after all this when the elections roll around again, the electorate will feel betrayed and their position on the Town Council will diminish further.
Also, people are wondering if this was always the plan, and when and if any meetings between the players took place or whether it all happened afterwards by chance? But that smacks of conspiracy theories. What do you think?
posted by The Great Gildersleeve | 9:10 pm
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