And Bob Farrer is looking to go Independent

According to the Black Cat Radio, Bob Farrer (County Councillor, District Councillor and Town Councillor) is considering going independent. The article says:

Eaton Socon Councillor Bob Farrer has told Black Cat Radio that he's considering standing as an Independent in the upcoming local elections. A number of disagreements in current council policies are thought to be behind the move.

How likely is this to happen? Bob has form on "considering going Independent". But he remains a Conservative. If Bob does stand as an Independent he will not be able belong to a Conservative Group either at County or Town. He would therefore lose his Chairmanship of the (useless) Town Council Planning Committee.

What are Bobs chances if he goes Independent? Lets take a look at the electoral history for Eaton Ford.

2011 District Elections

2008 District Elections

2007 District Elections

The Conservatives have gotten over 1100 votes and scored 1549 votes in 2011. The 2011 vote may have something to do with the AV referendum on the same day. Looking at the Town Council elections, on the same day in 2011, Farrer and Harty

This gives a personal vote of roughly 270. Even if Bob Farrer goes Independent he will need to take a far higher vote than 270. Like all candidates Bob needed to start his campaign many months ago. Currently Bob is a Conservative. Even though Bob has a number of policy disputes with the Conservatives if he wants to become an Independent and carry on being a councillor Bob needs to put in a load of work.

If Bob goes Independent he will need to bring with him a large number of Conservative voters with him. I don't feel he will and therefore will lose if he stands as an Independent at this late stage.

If I were the Conservatives I would be very annoyed at Bob Farrer if he announces he was going Independent just before the elections. 

Local Elections: East Ward

With the expansion of the Priory Park ward at District level there was created a new Town Council ward of East. This covers the area of Love's Farm at Town level and is within the District ward. Confusing huh. But this allows a unique opportunity in St Neots. With this being a single member ward this is very easy for a single person to fight an election.

The candidates for this seat are:

The only Independent in St Neots is the Chairman of Love's Farm Community Association. I wish Carl good luck.

Where are the Independents?

There are many out there who complain about Councils and how if they were in charge they could change the Council. For all their arguments, it isn't actually that hard to stand for Council. For Town Council a candidate needs to be nominated and seconded. Just two signatures. Hardly hard is it.

There are a number of websites for Independents. This one covers District Councillors. http://www.picx.co.uk/frame.html. It is a good site with many of tools needed to run a campaign. All there for the Independent candidate willing to run.

Time and again there will be many who whinge on about our elected politicians. Instead of whinging why don't they stand themselves?

So why don't I stand? Well the reason is I value my time and will charge accordingly. The Town Council pays nil and the District about £4,400. Not very much so I'm not willing to stand unless the money is upped significantly. I don't stand by all this notion of "public service". Councillors should be properly paid for the job they do.

Independents standing at local elections

As ever the cry goes out that Councillors should not get allowances or expenses. The public seems to feel that local politicians shouldn't get allowances and/or expenses and should do these jobs for free. I disagree with this sentiment. Councillors are doing a job and should be recompensed for doing these jobs. I do believe that Councillors should be paid more, but should be expected to do more for this increase in pay. 52 District Councillors covering the whole of Huntingdonshire is too large. The same goes for 70 County Councillor and 21 St Neots Town Councillors.

So with all these people whinging on about Councillor pay I would have thought there would be tons of people standing at elections to get these jobs. Well no. The number of Independents standing in St Neots at local elections is ZERO.

Everytime I see someone going on about Councillors pay I take the stance "Why don't you stand?". The answers invariably are a list of excuses as to why they shouldn't.

If Chris stood and got elected he would have the chance to stand up for the ignored masses at this Council. Chris is not the only one to whinge on about Councillor allowances and expenses. Jon Mountfort is another who goes on about Councillors allowances and expenses. I take it Jon Mountfort, Chris Brick and all the others who moan will be standing at the local election in May 2011 will do so on a ticket of not claiming the allowances and expenses they so despise.

I keep getting asked why don't I stand for any of the Councils. Here are a number of reasons why:

1. It doesn't pay enough.
2. I don't want to spend weeks campaigning.
3. I don't want to deal with constituents or voters problems.
4. I would publish everything I received and not keep it secret.
5. There are loads more reasons, but these are the main reasons.

Supporting Jonathan Salt

Jonathan Salt website

Why am I supporting Jonathan Salt instead of UKIP? I want Djanogly to lose. I feel he doesn't want to be accountable for his expenses claims and for this I will not be voting for Djanogly! The next question I had to ask myself was who to vote for instead. 

Having been insulted by Martin Land and his "Tories are homophones and racists" remarks I won't be voting Liberal Democrat at the General Election. I thought I would therefore vote UKIP. Jennifer O'Dell was the original candidate but she has stepped down. Instead UKIP have Ian Curtis as their new candidate. As he lives outside the constituency I want to find a candidate who lives in the constituency. 

Labour is a no-no. Anthea Cox is representing this rotten Labour Government and lives in Peterborough.

The Greens I just don't agree with. 

This leaves Jonathan Salt. He lives in the constituency, works in the constituency and is known in the constituency. I will be voting for Jonathan Salt at the forthcoming general election. Politics costs. Jonathan is asking for money to support his campaign. He is asking for donations. 

"You can donate on line or you can send a cheque made out to ICH to Maria Green, Treasurer, First Floor, Chapel House, Chapel Lane, St. Ives PE27 5DX."

Jonathan is asking for a £10 minimum donation towards his campaign. I've just sent my contribution off to his campaign.

Website.

And the General Election passes Huntingdon constituency by!

Thought I would take a look at the political party websites. First off the incumbent.

Jonathan Djanogly and The Conservatives. www.jonathandjanogly.com has a piece on the Djanogly's relief at campaign start. Huntingdon Conservatives have no change. The St Neots Conservatives are still stuck in 2009, though it has been said it should be 1909.


Moving onto the main contender to Djanogly, the Liberal Democrats. Looking at Martin Land's website there is no change. The Huntingdonshire Liberal Democrats are stuck admiring Vince Cable. The Liberal Democrats St Neots page is stuck in 2008.

Onto the next contender UKIP. Again you would be pushed to find a general election going on here.

Of the other contenders, The Green Party is still stuck in 2009. The governing party, Labour, can't be bothered to change their local website. Lord Toby Jug hasn't got a website. The Independent candidate - Jonathan Salt has a fine website, which most of the local parties would be proud.

Jonathan Salt - Independent Candidate

I found the best political website in Huntingdon so far. I have to say it is better than Djanogly's. I hope the Jonathan Salt website is the start of a good campaign by this Independent candidate.

Lets see how this goes. If Jonathan Salt puts up a decent campaign I might swap from UKIP to Jonathan Salt.

Independent is standing at General Election

I see that we have an Independent candidate, Jonathan Salt, standing for "Save Hinchingbrooke Hospital from franchising". This could prove interesting as it will allow many disenchanted Labour voters to vote. This could cause problems to The Green Party and Labour Party vote.

I hope Jonathan Salt makes it over to St. Neots.