A question that mysteriously rattles and bothers them whenever I ask.
The canvassing circus is rolling here in Bexhill-On-Sea and we seem to have a choice of ‘Independent’ candidates. Various separate but ‘independent’ groups have formed and taken different ‘independent’ corners to pitch for our votes … (And they say Party Politics is Tribal?!)
In the May 2019 District Council elections the ‘Independents’ did very well, capitalising on the tired public’s disdain and distrust of the major political parties. Pinning the ‘independent’ rosette onto your lapel is one thing, but what are your true colours?
I ask one simple question of each group and each individual candidate …
“Who did you vote for in recent General Elections?“
You see, to me (and i’m sure most voters if they stop to think), this is a very valid and important question.
I’m assuming that all ‘Independents’ believe in democracy? (despite just 1,710 of the 45,000 residents voting in favour of a Town/Parish Council in 2020) … therefore you ‘DO’ vote and not abstain? One must assume, yes?!
So, who do you ‘independents’ vote for?
This surely is a fair question to ask those who hold, or hope to hold an important position in public office. Transparency is vital for public confidence and councillors have to declare all sorts of vested interests.
The residents of Rother know what they are dealing with when it comes to; Conservatives (Far Right Fascist blue National Front), Labour (Red Tories), LibDems (Yellow Tories) and Green (LibDems on Bicycles) etc, councillors who knock on or post blurb through their doors.
But what true colour are their “independent” candidates and councillors?
Will any of you step forward and declare your national political loyalties?
It matters – It matters now more than at the last election. The pandemic has demonstrated and displayed the work of government like never before.
Update April 16 2021: Behold! We have another so called “independent” group, the ‘Democratic Network‘ … will their 7 candidates tell us who they voted for in December 2019? … I won’t hold my breath.
Stop insulting the intelligence of the people you are canvassing to solicit votes.
Nobody is Independent!
You know that, we know that, it’s time to come clean and tell us where you’re pitched on the Political Compass.
Update April 2023 – True Colours – Not very independent at all it seems: I’m sure all those voters who made the effort to go to the polling stations and exercise their democratic right to vote for the ‘Independent’ candidate they had chosen … will be chuffed ¡¡
Voted onto Rother District Council by the electorate she canvassed as ‘Independent’. Source – https://rother.moderngov.co.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=462
Also Voted onto Rother District Council by the electorate she canvassed as ‘Independent’. Source – https://rother.moderngov.co.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=121
Stop insulting the intelligence of the people you are canvassing to solicit votes.
Nobody is Independent!
You know that, we know that, it’s time to come clean and tell us where you’re pitched on the Political Compass.
Baffled Ape 