Adventures in Local Elections: Oh, and an Email …

You know, I’ll be honest …

I’ll be glad when this local election’s over.

One way or the other … !

But possibly no gladder than Councillor Chilvers: after all, it’s her turn for re-election, this year.

But the reason I say that … ?

Is comparatively simple.

It means that, once the counting’s done, over the weekend, we’ll know one way or the other, whether we’re stuck with the First-Past-The-Post system we’ve had for the past few hundred years.

Or end up with the Alternative Vote system that the Lib-Dems insisted on, as part of the coalition government deal, after last year’s general election.

Hmmm …

Now, I’ll be honest, you’ve probably already guessed I’ve not liked the fact the party I’ve voted for has entered a national coalition, at Westminster.

But, locally, and as I’ve said before … ?

I’m quite happy: Councillor Chilvers has at least knocked on my door, a few times.

Unlike Councillor Holmes, who hasn’t.

And unlike the Labour candidate for Brentwood West.

Whose name, I’ve still not caught.

At any rate, I’ll happily share a secret with you: I’ve voted for Karen. Like I say …

»»•««

But that’s not quite all I meant to tell you …

I’ve been mailing the Gazette, again … !

I’d don’t know if you remember, but a couple of weeks ago, Brentwood’s only Labour councillor, Mike LeSurf, had his photo taken outside Brentwood Town Hall, complete with Shadow Chancellor, Ed Balls, making a big noise about saving the Town Hall from demolition.

Which is funny …

As, when he vote about it was held, he voted with the Tories, to allow the plans to demolish all or part of it.

I know we expert politicians to be bend the truth a bit, but that’s a bit bendier than usual. wouldn’t you say … ?

I know, Councillor Chilvers sent in a critical letter, only to get an equally critical one from Councillor LeSurf, this week.

Pointing out the year’s of campaigning they’d done.

Well …

One photoshoot with Ed Balls, for the Gazette, and turning up at the High Street with Harriet Harman … ?

Yeah …

At any rate, I sent this in to the Gazette: here’s hoping … !

Dear Sir,

I’ve GOT to admit, I read Councillor Le-Surf’s letter, this week, and damn near fell of my chair, with laughter.

And a certain amount of annoyance, as well.

Now, I’ve followed Brentwood’s council politics for some time.

And I’m as critical as any of the Liberal democrats, nationally, as anyone: and have made my feelings clear to the local Lib-dems whenever they’ve come a-calling. Karen Chilvers will be able to confirm that: we’ve talked about it in person, when she checks her ward.

That, I should add, seems to be year round, rather than just at election time.

The local tories are a lot worse: I’ve never seen on the beat, but at least take time to answer email.

I’m extremely critical of the local Tories for not knocking my door: Councillor Homes will be able to tell you that, as we’ve we’ve discussed it be email.

But anyone who watched the discussion on the Town Hall’s future — as I have — on the council’s own website will tell you one thing.

Councillor LeSurf voted with Conservatives to demolish the Town Hall.

For him to then dig up Ed Balls, in efforts to save the Town Hall … ?

Well …

There’s a term or two that’ll get me sued if I use them of Brentwood’s only Labour councillor.

So lets just say I think he’s a pot calling the kettle black, if he’s accusing someone else of gutter politics …

»»•««

At any rate, another thing, while we’re being political … ?

I’ll ALSO confess that I voted Yes to AV …

Yes, I know I’ve had my doubt’s about that: chief of which was anger at Nick Clegg for going into the Coalition government in the first place.

But …

I didn’t know if you knew it, but Britain’s First-Past-The-Post system means that Brentwood and Ongar MP, Eric Pickles, didn’t actually get elected by a majority of Brentwood and Ongar’s voters.

No.

He’s just the chap who got more votes than anyone else.

The AV system that’s proposed in this referendum means that whoever gets elected has to get at least fifty percent of the vote.

Which is the point that appealed to me … !

An MP has to WORK at it, come election time … !

As did one other point.

David Cameron, Britain’s Prime Minister has made it plain he’ll be voting No to AV.

A couple of his reason’s sort of grabbed me.

One was that he argued that First-Past-The-Post was simpler to understand.

Hmmm …

I’ve not been convinced by that.

After all, for us end-users, it amount’s to put a 1 — or 1, 2, 3 — on a ballot paper, instead of an X.

The other was expense. I’m personally thinking that’ll correct it self, after a few years of using it: it strikes me the initial set-up’s the costly bit.

The third bit … ?

Is that David Cameron’s said, quite a few times over the past few weeks, that he think’s AV isn’t in the nation’s interest.

Which is presumably why his party used it — or a version of it — to elect him, as party leader.

Obviously the UK’s average voter isn’t bright enough to join the Conservatives …

»»•««

Ahem … !

Now …

What else …

Oh, yeah … !

I was also going to tell you about Archie … Remember Archie … ?

Archie’s the Dell C800 sitting behind me as I speak.

I’ve got to admit, I’ve now update him to Xubuntu 11•04, Natty Narwhal, hence the screen shot.

If I make any major changes — or manage to persuade anyone else to try it, beyond Dr Kevin — I’ll let you know …

The AV Campaign: Oh, A poster …

You know, I’ve GOT to admit, I’m still — still — um’ing and ah’ing about which way to vote in the upcoming elections.

I’ll be honest … ?

I’m fairly sure that I’ll be voting for Councillor Chilvers as ward Councillor.

She does, after all make an effort to bang on people’s doors.

But I’m still having doubt’s about the whole AV thing" mostly, still, on the fact that nationally, my favourite party’s in coalition with the Conservatives.

On the other hand … ?

The simple fact that the BNP — Britain’s own ultranationalist right-wing fascists — are making no bones about the fact they like First-Past-The-Post system has put me off voting against AV.

Which is some form of encouragement, I suppose.

One thing I do know, though … ?

Is that the pictured poster is on display in one or two carparks in Brentwood.

I’d like to ask this …

If that soldier needs money spent on bullet-proof armor, why the hell are we sending ‘Military Advisors’ to Libya … ?

Just a thought …

The Vote …

Hmmm …

You know, I’ve got to admit, I’ve had a busy day, today: long story, that I’ll maybe tell you about, another time.

However, I know I’ve had the news on, at various stages of the day.

Complete with the inevitable circus about the up-coming elections: including the various cross-party speeches for both the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ campaigns.

I’ve got to admit, something Labour Leader, Ed Milliband said, in one of those speeches, this morning, struck me as rather silly.

Well …

Not silly, per se.

Just something I think many of us will ignore.

He said “Don't make this a referendum on David Cameron or Nick Clegg or Ed Miliband - make it a referendum about what kind of politics we want in this country.”.

Off the top of me head, I know Councillor Chilvers has made near enough the same point.

The problem I’m having, though … ?

I know there’s a very good point, there: indeed, anyone that’s been to any kind of 12-step group will have be familiar with the 12th Tradition, which states “Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities”.

It’s a very good point, I think.

The problem is … ?

I’m sitting here thinking that my first instinct, when Milliband said this … ?

Was to laugh at him for being so naïve.

After all, I’m talking about politics, here.

On a personal level, I am still tempted to vote to keep First-Past-The-Post.

In part, because Nick Clegg — the leader of the party I’ve voted for, for a large part of my adult life — has joined that coalition.

Oh, I know the arguments for and against, I really do.

And intellectually … ?

I’m all for AV.

But on an emotional level, the basic one I find that kicks in, around now … ?

Well …

Lets just say I’m also aware that the 12 Traditions aren’t the first thing I think of, whenever politics gets a mention.

Vote For … Something … !

Hmmm …

You know, I’ve got to confess, I almost forgot to mention in a post, yesterday, that today is your last chance to register to vote for the upcoming election on May 5th.

And that was even after heading into Brentwood, yesterday, just to double check that I was on the Electoral roll!

D’Oh … !

But that’s not necessarily why I was going to post, though …

You see, I’ve got to confess, I just had an idea in the shower …

Ahem!

Remember, yesterday, that I’d written, briefly, about how I’d come to feel that a ‘None Of The Above’ option could be a good thing: and that more could be done to improve voter turn-out.

Something literally occurred to me in the shower.

I live near a station.

Well …

I live not far from my polling station …

And not far from Brentwood railway station.

I’m sort of lucky, in that regard.

But that got me thinking.

In the past, one of the reasons I skip voting, some years, is because the polling stations are out of my way.

But it occurred to me that would still be the case if I were commuting into London.

Unless the polling station was at the railway station.

That way, commuters could vote on their way home, and not have to worry about going out — to somewhere inconvenient — just to do a chore.

OK, you’d probably need to organise something along the lines of the current Postal Voting registration: in other words, you register, in advance, that you’ll be voting at Commuter Polling Station A, rather than Regular Polling Station B.

And, granted, the people that run polling stations will have an extra amount of stations to run.

But …

Well …

MPs of all political stripes have been saying that one or another form of vote is ‘Fairer’ than others.

But also have a chance — during parliamentary or council votes — to abstain.

Not something, thus far, politicians seem willing to grant to you and me.

Is that fair … ?

Fairer Voting …

Hmmm …

You know, I’ve GOT to admit, Adrian, bless him, has a very good point that’s occurred to me to ask about.

One I’m fairly certain’s going to be argued about, by ALL shades of politician.

And one I’m not sure will boost voter turn-out, either, but that’s possibly a whole other issue.

Actually, that possibly is: I’m sure you — as I — have seen or heard all sorts of stories in the news about low voter turn-out at elections, voter apathy, and how shows like Big Brother, Strictly Come Dancing and The X Factor regularly get better turn-outs.

And I’m sure you’re also aware that last years General Election saw such a huge number of people wanting to vote, that polling stations couldn’t cope.

God, there’s probably all sorts of answers, there.

But maybe insisting that Polling stations open for half an hour longer would help, there.

And maybe having more of them is another: I know there’s plenty of times I’ve simply not bothered, purely on the basis that the station concerned was out of my way.

««•»»

But, at any rate, the one thing I know Adrian’s always mentioned — half-jokingly, but in the tone of voice that suggested there’s a serious point to think about* — is something the pair of us first saw on the film, Brewster’s Millions.

A ‘None Of The Above’ option.

Seriously, nobody campaigning for or against AV, on May 5th, has mentioned it.

I can’t see why, instead of politicians complaining about voter turn-out, we have the option of formally abstaining.

After all, when you think about it, politicians are applying — to us, their bosses — for a job.

We can either let one politician per ward or constituency have have it.

Or, with a None Of The Above option … ?

Force a re-run, with a fresh set of candidates, if we don’t like the ones standing.

Fairer votes, anyone … ?

»»•««

Just as a quick thought … ?

I actually went ask used Facebook’s Question feature: I asked “Should Britain have a ‘None Of The Above’ option, whichever voting system it chooses on May 5th?”.

So far … ?

Of the 10 people who’ve answered the question — six of whom aren’t known to me — 8 have gone for ‘Yes’.

They’d go for it, in other words.

Nice to know.

* Which is possibly the point of a good joke: that there’s a serious point to consider, sneaked into your thoughts, along with the punchline …