The nomination date for the upcoming local elections has now passed - it was mid-day last Wednesday - and no one asked me to stand as an independent.
Had they done so I would have felt duty bound to stand.
Thankfully, no one did, so I have been let off the hook.
I really hope that there are some independents amongst the candidates. They are the ones that will get my votes even though I am a member of the Green Party.
The candidates for the District Council are annonced on the SLDC web site but as yet, not those for the Ulverston District Council
Sadly there are no truly independent candidates for any of our six wards - so it would appear we have non- business as usual. This is in contrast with other parts of the country were it can be rare to have candidates that are not independents. This demonstrates just how uninvolved local people are in their own affairs.
What we have got is one candidate from each of the four parties - Labour, Conservative, Liberal and Greens for each ward with one United Independent Party - not independent at all.
I will give serious thought as to whether I will vote for the Green Party candidates for my ward. Sadly in the past I have not been impressed as in my view they are motivated by wanting to represent the Green Party rather than to get involved with dealing with local problems of which I have found they have scant knowledge. What I will try to assess which candidate really has the interests of the town at heart.
How can you tell? At this stage, I can trust each candidate will try to bluff their way past the electoral finishing post - God help us!
My bid question will be :
Are there any voters that even care enough to vote?
I look forward to asking them what indeed the candidates stand for on some of our immediate problems.
And then decide if they make any sense.
Has anyone (sensible) suggestions as to what questions we should be asking the candidates?
16 comments:
Hip, Hip, Huzzah!
I have voted for you once.
Now I feel you are more effective outside the box and outside the restraints that come with elected office.
As your blog state's " love you just the way you are"
THE OTHERS
I'm still looking for a direction. I'm inclined to keep out altogether: but is this healthy?
Just accept causes in writing signed by the person who complains!This should stop back monkeys and wisperers,and help mediation and also establish the facts.
JAK
Reality of actually being in the job with all its frustrations and restrictions, could be incredibly frustrating. Easier to stay outside and say what should be?
Good thinking Jack.
Thanks.
Hi Geoff
I'm going to suggest that you vote Lib Dem, as we are the party that really cares about Ulverston. We have laid out a growth strategy to produce both jobs and housing. We set out this strategy several years ago: Is it working? You tell me!
The Conservatives are opposing it tooth and nail, they are claiming that Ulverston can have the jobs without the housing. Rubbish, is my reply.
Ulverston has a clear choice,. A retirement community for the well off, or a forward thinking community which welcomes well paid jobs and new houses.
I do, of course, have an interest!
Peter Thornton, Portfolio Holder for Hopusing and Development SLDC
If you're serious, and you talk as though you are . . .
- but then politicians do on these occasions - talk , talk, talk,
promise, promise, promise -
How about an interview which I'll put on Youtube for the people of this blog to look at?
We certainly need a fresh approach to politics in this town (and across the country, I think you'll find)
Up till now - it's been the unimaginative policies of the Lib. Dem.s that are helping to kill off our town and the posturing, do nothing opposition of the Conservatives that aid and abet them.
Will you make some promises that you will abide by?
Peter, Aren't you the Councillor for Whinfell Ward which is the other side of Kendal?
What comes across is your wish to promote your party. What we in Ulverston are looking for are people with a keen interest in our local problems. We have no interest in remote politicians with interests only for their party. What we want are local politicians who will fight for issues we care about. Where are they?
What can you tell us about SLDC policy on Car Parking charges here? Why is Stockbridge Lane Car Park so underused (2% of total capacity) when the town is crying out for low cost car parking to encourage visitors to our town for shopping and sightseeing. This land was given to the town for its benefit - its mismanagement by the Liberals is a disgrace. I requested an official response from the Council at a Full Council Meeting.
The official reply I get is that "the matter is under review" . That was three years ago.
What kind of answer is that?
I suspect that you and your party are just as bad as the rest - "Party, Party, Party"
Even the Greens sing the same song.
What we in the town are looking are politicians that can sing the song "Ulverston,Ulverston,Ulverston,"
with a chorus that goes "Ulverston,Ulverston,Ulverston,"
Our only hope is to find Independent Councillors who put the town first rather than their party.
Where are they?
Will I vote this year - I strongly doubt it.
Not sure if there is a vote in my area this time round, my local councillor is in till 2014 but he hardly attends any meetings
Peter Thornton finally wrote back - he's too busy to give an interview.
The Lib Dem literature for our ward is a total gloss over not mentioning any local issues. Pathetic - their candidate - Ann Downe desrves better than that.
Hopeless.
This is going to be some none event politically - no doubt with the worse candidate - the conservative being elected in.
Prove me wrong.
Now come on Geoff, you're not being fair at all. Let's look at a few of your gripes.
Firstly, I am the Ward Councillor for Whinfell, but I'm also the Planning (and Housing) portfolio holder for the whole of the District, including Ulverston.
Regarding Ward issues, that's for your local Councillors to sort out - that's what they are elected to do.
And as for not having time to talk to you, I haven't time to do a youtube video but if you've any questions then fire away - but don't expect answers to local issues that don't concern my portfolio.
As I said in my original contribution, I think our Councils vision for Ulverston is beginning to pay off - others are free to disagree.
Peter, you introduced yourself as being the party that really cares about Ulverston and yet you have inflicted these crippling car park charges that encourage shoppers to use supermarkets rather than our shops. For four years I have been campaigning for Stockbridge Lane Car Park to be used more efficiently. All I get from your council as an official response is "the matter is under consideration". Even your candidate Ann Downes disagrees with your policy - she thinks the car parks should be free to local residents at all times.
All you appear to be saying remotely - from the other side of our district - is "Lib Dems are best" with no concern for our local issues.
I could never vote for any party that supports the tories.
lIBERAL LEADERSHIP HAVE BROKEN PROMISES.
JAK
Tim Farron is a personal DISSAPOINTMENT. POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTE POWER ######## etc
AH well these are tough times and he does have a family.
JAK
Personally. I'm still a great supporter of Tim Farron and I wish him every success - even a possible PM.
He is after all a politician, and to survive has to behave like one - ie he needs remain near the top in order to have influence and because ALL mainstream policians have to sacrifice some principles to stay up there, he does too. I think he tries to avoid saying what he really thinks in order to stay just acceptable.
Yes he plays the media incessantly to the point of manipulation of the public.
I've come roung to the view that everyone is good and everyone is bad depending where you look at each person and we're all too eager to put people in pigeon holes and as a result we can be manipulated by the media. Why is it that we succumb to wanting clear answers, when a shade of grey is what real life for you and I is. As a philosopher I met on the train a couple of weeks ago said "What we all need to accept is that life is a muddle. We all need to learn to muddle along.
Long live muddling Tim. Let's look for his good points for a change - otherwise who have we got?
JAK for PM ?
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