Forum Topic

Local Elections - Conscience or Cash?

I've lived in Putney since 1975, and have most often voted for the Conservatives in the local elections. Whenever I've needed to contact my local councillors, they have invariably been responsive and helpful, and I have always been pleased that I get the services I need at substantially lower cost than people in neighbouring boroughs.I will never vote Conservative, at any level, while Boris Johnson is their leader. (I understand that I am fortunate to be able to ignore any financial impacts this may have on me, and that others may not have that option).

Jim Cleary ● 1150d11 Comments

Thank you Michael W, Andy, Michael I and Nick for your replies which are very helpful. It is distasteful if not disgusting that the result of local elections would be used as an opinion poll for the government.  It is in enough trouble already and trying to divert attention by blowing its own trumpet for winning a few local elections, it is spin taken to a different level!I agree with you, Nick, regarding the WBC's Planning Committee.  I have heard the word "corrupt" far too often.  Some of their decisions have gone against their own policies!

Ivonne Holliday ● 1149d

Yvonne,Bear in mind it is the national Johnson government that has cut funding for local government. Perhaps less for Conservative local government and more for opposition held Councils, but still enormous cuts across the board nonetheless. So you can’t separate the policies of local from national government. Wandsworth Council has been in the hands of developers for years and acted more like a property plc.Nick

Nicholas Evans ● 1149d

Ivonne, I suppose in an ideal world local elections would just be about local issues. However, it's not that simple; government policies and financial controls put constraints on what local councils can do and in some instances dictate what they should do - for example, the conditions placed on TfL to obtain funding whereas private rail companies were bailed out during the pandemic. Additionally, in some instances policies are changed in an attempt to change election outcomes - such as the current plans to change mayoral elections from PR to FPTP. So given this and, as others have said, that the results of the local elections will be taken as an opinion poll on Johnson and his Tory party it seems dangerous to endorse Conservatives (local or national) in any way? Such support would, seem to condone lying and misleading Parliament.

Michael Ixer ● 1149d

YvonneIt's a thoughtful post of yours and whilst a bad set of results at the local elections may hasten Boris' demise. It seems pretty clear he'll be gone by the end of the year at the latest.However a labour Council voted in as a protest will be with us for another 3 1/2 years after he has gone.Could be a painful and expensive protest.

Andy Pike ● 1149d

Yes - the Conservative party will look at the local elections as a signal on the national party's attractiveness and that of its leader. The less votes the Conservatives get, the more chance Boris will be sacked. Conservative MP's are saying this quite openly in the media. Though if they had any spine they would ditch him anyway.

Michael Winstanley ● 1150d

I would greatly appreciate a clarification, please.My understanding is that local elections refer to local issues.  I agree, 32 councils in London will have elections in May 2022.  I am not too sure, country-wide, how many councils will have elections. They are, however, not bi-elections.I thought council elections were not representative of political representation in Westminster. In other words, they are not an endorsement (or otherwise) of current MP(s). We had a very good conservative MP who was dismissed from government not by the people who voted for her but yes by the government having a tantrum.I despise Johnson and his ilk, including the nasty Schapps, but conservative Wandsworth did dismantle the LTN when there was so much criticism.  On the other hand, this policy concocted by the Conservative government and enforce with a "carrot and stick" (well, money-wielding blackmail policy), is still applied in many Labour boroughs, particularly in North London, against strong public opposition.On a matter not related to local elections, TfL organized a survey on increasing penalty charges for people who stopped or parked on red routes.  After completing the survey, I received an email from TfL indicating that, in spite of the survey showing 67% of the people voted against it, it would adopt the policy anyway.So, am I incorrect in thinking that all of this noise is not about conservative vs labour policies and MPs in power in Westminster (because we  cannot unseat them at this election and please do excuse me for being so full-frontal on this) but yes a very poor and sad song-and-dance by some interested parties to ensure, supposedly, it offers a guarantee or excuse for them to continue being in power? So, the clarification I am really after is, do you really think the local elections results will be a weighted endorsement for the the performance of the current Government?

Ivonne Holliday ● 1150d

Well said Amanda. That choice was and still is in the hands of the local Conservative Party. They could disaffiliate themselves from the national party and thus people like you could vote for them with a free conscience. Instead they carry on supporting the national party and having fund-raisers where you can drink cheap fizzy wine with Christopher Chope, Michael Fabricant and other such wassocks whilst supporting Johnson and his cabal.

Michael Winstanley ● 1150d

I'm afraid it's just another example of the casual collateral damage that Johnson is doing to politics in the UK by clinging onto power - what should be an exercise in local democracy is being turned into a massive opinion poll on his premiership. My only hope is that he'll resign before May 5th & we can get back to real issues, but we all know how unlikely that is.

Jim Cleary ● 1150d

Well said Amanda.  My local election vote will be for those who have shown for years that they can efficiently run a local council for the benefit of the local residents. regardless of who is in charge on a national level,

Brenda Barnard ● 1150d

Well said Amanda,I guess people will only find out the true damage if Labour get in. I cannot believe anyone would not vote for what is widely recognized as the most efficient and best value council in the UK.

Nick Gulliford ● 1150d

I wish we could remove the concept of national party affiliation from local governance.That anyone could praise the activities of a local council and then deny them a vote because of national issues is nonsensical to me.Protest voting is, in my opinion, usually disastrous in its result.

Amanda Oppe ● 1150d