You might have read in the paper, heard on the radio or seen a leaflet coming through your door from someone who says you should vote for them on May 6 as they are an ‘Independent candidate.’
That might seem like a good idea – somebody who thinks and acts totally on their own and in your best interests - but just think about it for a moment.
Actually, the Independent councillors in Southend are just as much members of a political party as any Conservative, Labour or Lib Dem.
Let’s examine the evidence...
If the Independent councillors are all independent from each other, then why do they are all share the same website?
If the Independent councillors are all independent from each other, then why are they making identical election statements in their leaflets and on their websites?
If the Independent councillors are all independent from each other, then why do they vote as group at Council and release joint statements?
If the Independent councillors are all independent from each other, then why is there an Independent group leader? And why is he taking a leadership allowance of over £4,000 a year?
If the Independent councillors are all so independent, then why are at least five of them claiming travel expenses?
Why have the Independent councillors confirmed in the local press that they ARE a political party and will form a coalition with Labour and the Lib Dems if no party wins overall control of the council?
What’s so independent about that?
Nothing at all....
OK. Now, think about this.
You are going to buy a car, and it’s such an important decision as you will be 100% relying on this car to live your day to day life and run your business successfully.
Will you buy a vehicle that you know everything about – when it was serviced, how many miles are on the clock, how fast it can run, what its fuel efficiency is like? You can make an informed decision about buying this car as you know exactly what you are getting.
Or will you buy a car that you know absolutely nothing about; but that somebody tells you they think it will be really good for you? They cannot tell you how anything will work, they will need to wait and see what happens as time goes on – and you will just have to hope that the car goes the way you want it to.
Obviously you would pick the car that you know everything about – the one that you can rely on because you know up front exactly what it will do. There is no way you would want to buy the mysterious car that might end up not being what you want, or need.
Well that’s exactly the same as voting for an Independent councillor.
The so-called Independent candidates’ claim you should vote for them as they don’t have a party line to follow and so can make their own decisions as matters arise. But with no policies, how do you know what they decide is going to be what you want?
You might not like what the Conservatives, Labour or the Lib Dems are promising you, but at least they are telling you what they are going to do. They have clear policies they are setting out for you to make your May 6 decision by. The Independents aren’t doing that.
With an Independent, all they are promising right now is to personally deliver extra pink and white bags to older or disabled residents who are not able to get them. For your schools, crime, healthcare and transport issues, well then you will just have to wait and see what decision they make on those issues when the time comes – and you will just have to keep your fingers crossed they do what you agree with.
Do you want to take that risk? Wouldn’t you rather buy the car that does exactly what it says it will do, than taking the mystery ride in something that claims to be a car (but as we’ve seen, actually isn’t) and hoping for the best?
No comments:
Post a Comment