Gordon Hook

Liberal Democrat District Councillor for Buckland and Milber Learn more

Just Six Weeks….what will we have?

by admin on 28 March, 2015

Six weeks from today we will know the outcome of the General and Local Elections.
We will ( short of negotiations going on behind closed doors in the event of an inconclusive result ) know who will be ruling locally and nationally for the next 4 years (Teignbridge) and perhaps 5 years at Westminster.
What do you want?
Who do you want?
What can you do about it?
All the political parties are keen to enlist your help and support. I know that you would be warmly welcomed by my party, the Liberal Democrats and I can assure you the others equally want help.
As a strong believer in democracy I want to challenge all who read this blog to consider getting involved in some way. It may not be by standing for election, though it isn’t too late for that, but offer help to the cause you believe in….backroom office help, front of house delivery or even canvassing on doorstep or phone. I would love to hear from you!
However, if you can’t bring yourself to do that, I implore you to learn what the parties stand for and what they are offering. 30 years ago I changed career and, following a second degree, qualified to teach “A” level Government and Politics. I did that because I found the ignorance on the doorstep is beyond belief depressing, and I thought I should try and do my bit to enlighten the world…fat chance, as the gesture had no impact on the wider picture, though I hope at least a few are now better informed. If in the coming 6 weeks any of my constituents in Buckland or Milber want to discuss an issue with me, then I’m very happy to do just that. Please let me know…but also and irrespective of that please consider the issues. Do you want more cooperative Government where parties work together , with some give and take on both sides, or do you want to return to full bloodied confrontational politics, the politics of yesteryear? If it’s cooperation you want, then here in Newton Abbot it can only be a vote for Richard Younger – Ross as the only candidate representing a party that has proved it’s credentials in that regard.
If locally you believe, as I do of course, that the local council can be managed better, then only the Liberal Democrats can realistically hope to replace the Conservative administration.
One other thing I’d like to get across, and I know it’s a simple point, but when you go to vote, you are not voting for Cameron, Miliband or Clegg. You are not contributing to a huge pile of national votes for a Prime Minister, you are voting for a local MP. Sadly with the electoral system we have in this country the choice is plain and simple. It boils down to Conservative or Lib Dem, in this constituency, and similarly in Torbay. A vote for Labour or Green translates into retaining the Conservative Member of Parliament, at local council level it will mean a continuation of Conservative control. UKIP, as far as I can tell what they believe in, from my experience at County Hall are Conservatives who know even less about what they think than most of the Conservatives. Not a pretty picture, but that’s the consequence of our First Past the Post electoral system. Please think about it….oh, and then again you could vote for the Independent candidates. Some of them are rather good people; some aren’t. Some stand with principles and beliefs, some don’t. Some are of the left , some of the right and some , so it appears to me, don’t have views or any ambitions…if thinking of voting Inde, find out what they believe…if in fact they believe anything.

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