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This from Our Ryde candidate, Phil Jordan, Ryde. Ed
The sham and deception of candidates standing for election to a town or parish council is reaching new heights and one wonders just how much the public and electorate really understand or take note of what is actually going on.
For years and years, it has been a standard process that candidates do not stand for election to a town or parish council under a political banner. It is the received practice. What this really means is candidates for town and parish councils should be ‘non political’ of course. Why else would the practice be continued?
Withholding political membership
Having now seen the candidate declaration list for the Island elections in May it has become clear that 32 candidates that are standing for election as a political party candidate have chosen to withhold that important information for the town and parish councils in which they are also seeking election. Important enough for them to include it for election papers to the Isle of Wight Council.
Time we cleaned up our act
I have no doubt there are even more candidates running for town and parish councils who are political party members, but also choose not to notify the electorate of that fact. I cannot easily identify those candidates but I am aware of them in certain parish councils.
Remember, the ballot papers for town and parish council elections allow for this political party entry on the ballot paper.
Isn’t it time we cleaned up our act or just announce that town and parish councils are actually ( and largely) run by political parties? How long can this sham continue?
Control of town and parish councils
The electorate have a right to know about the background of any candidate that asks to be elected and it is now so patently obvious that the political parties want control of town and parish councils, but don’t want you to know about it.
A number of town and parish councils have demonstrated over recent years what happens when the politics take over. Sandown and Bembridge are a case in point and Ryde Town Council nearly suffered the same fate as political party members tried to take over the council a couple of years ago.
It makes no rational sense
I am at a loss to understand how a member of a political party can stand in one council (IWC) as a party political candidate, but claim they are non-political for another council. It makes no rational sense.
People ask me, how do I choose a candidate to vote for? I would say to them, firstly, ask a candidate why they are being dishonest about their political party membership and measure the lack of truth, openess and transparency as an integral part of their character when deciding who to vote for.
That’s 32 candidates immediately gone from the reckoning.
Undeclared National Party Candidates (standing for T&P council)
- Brading
John Graney LIB DEM - Brighstone
Steve Hastings CON
Nick Stuart LIB DEM - Chillerton
John Hobart CON - Cowes
Richard Hollis CON
John Nicholson CON - East Cowes
Bob Packham LIB DEM
Margaret Webster CON
Stephen Hendry CON - Fishbourne
Ed Hopper CON - Freshwater
George Cameron CON - Havenstreet
Bob Blezzard LIB DEM (also Newchurch)
Mick Lyons LAB (also Ryde)
Sue Lyons LAB (also Ryde) - Lake
Tig Outlaw CON
Paul Brading CON (also Sandown) - Nettlestone
Michael Ward CON - Newchurch
Clare Mosdell CON - Newport
Bev Hastings CON
Matthew Price CON (and Whippingham)
Ray Redrup CON
Andrew Garratt LIB DEM
Cara Lock CON - Northwood
John Nicholson CON - Ryde
Malcolm Ross LIB DEM
Steven Sheridan CON
Lou Temel CON - Sandown
Ian Fletcher CON
Ian Ward CON - Shanklin
Michael Beston CON
Chris Quirk CON - Ventnor
Colm Watling CON - Wootton
Barry Abraham CON
Promoted by: Phil Jordan, St Vincents, Binstead Road, Ryde, PO33 3NB
Image: Meilisa Dwi Nurdiyanti under CC BY 2.0
