Sunday, 5 May 2019

Independent Thoughts

As well as large numbers of spoilt papers demanding progress on Brexit, although please note that it is illegal to photograph a ballot paper, there were considerable gains by Independent Councillors.

I know Independent Councillors well, and have been working well with them for many years. That section of the Labour Party which ran the old Derwentside District Council did so in close cooperation with a sizeable body of Independents, and that section now supports my parliamentary candidacy here at North West Durham, which still returns a notable contingent of Independents to the unitary Durham County Council. There is also a vibrant Independent presence at Parish level here in Lanchester. I voted for all of them, among other people.

Who are Independent Councillors? There are exceptions, but in general they would vote Conservative at most or all General Elections while voting UKIP at the last European Elections and while planning to vote for the Brexit Party this time. Like the spoilt papers for Brexit, the healthy showing for Independent Councillors bodes well for the Brexit Party later this month.

Beyond that, another hung Parliament is coming, and we need our people to hold the balance of power in it. It has become a local commonplace that I am on 30-30-30 with Labour and the Conservatives here at North West Durham, so that any one of us could be the First Past the Post.

Frankly, I should be more than disappointed if most or all of the Independents at both levels in these parts did not sign my nomination papers, especially since I campaigned for the reelection of all sitting Independents in 2017 because of their support for the Teaching Assistants.

I would appoint an Independent, a Labourite, a Conservative and a Liberal Democrat in each of the County Wards, ideally including at least one person in each of the former District Wards, to work with me and with local people. I would also appoint a Political Advisor from within each of the Independent, Labour, Conservative, and Liberal Democrat blocs.

In the coming hung Parliament, the price of my support for any Government, even a Government that was led by Jeremy Corbyn, would be the necessary support for a number of projects in each of the former District Wards equal to the former number of District Councillors, together with justice for the 472 Teaching Assistants whose pay Durham County Council had cut by 23 per cent, and together with the implementation of the plan for the rail service in the North of England that was advanced in June 2018 by well over 20 local and regional newspapers.

By the starkest of contrasts, the present MP for North West Durham has appointed as her Political Advisor the man whose political advice led the Teaching Assistants to their present predicament. I will stand for this seat, if I can raise the £10,000 necessary to mount a serious campaign. Please email davidaslindsay@hotmail.com. Very many thanks.

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