council elections coming up

[wing commander]

  Now I don't know about you who are in Doncaster but those of us in North Lincs have the local council elections coming up in May..Now looking at the Wards a fair few are made up of the normal party's which will be interesting to see,normally at this stage the government in power gets a kicking and you would think with Brexit that will be even more...
   However my local ward have independent prospective councillors standing and judging by the relevant peoples facebook pages there seems to be an awful lot of people blindly prepared to vote for them regardless while both the tory and labour representitives are getting a lot of grief..Whether that is just bluff and bravado that wont be transferred to the results we will have to wait and see...but its going to interesting how it pans out..

[deebee]

My family and I have decided not to vote this time (first time for 52 years ) in protest of the elected members for Doncaster voting against Mays deal even though the people of Doncaster voted to leave.
I know this is council and not for MP's but it is the principle that matters. I hope thousands of others take the same route and send a message to those that do not carry out the wishes of the majority of those that put them in power.

[Dutch Uncle]

My family and I have decided not to vote this time (first time for 52 years ) in protest of the elected members for Doncaster voting against Mays deal even though the people of Doncaster voted to leave.
I know this is council and not for MP's but it is the principle that matters. I hope thousands of others take the same route and send a message to those that do not carry out the wishes of the majority of those that put them in power.

I like the thinking, and admire your stand. However isn't the turnout for voting in local elections always low anyway?  Maybe a vote for some other party (e.g. Green?? some Independent??) might be a stronger signal??

Please do not take this as trying to foist any opinions on anyone. I have a slightly different dilemma here in Bangor, Northern Ireland, and I do not want to support any mainstream parties either, and am struggling with what to do. By the way, the main parties have not been good for our local politics here either, which will be the main factor in my voting.

[Axholme Lion]

I always vote and always will. I will be using this as an opportunity of giving two fingers to the two main parties. The main parties are happy for people to be peed off and not bother to ensure the status quo and keep them all on the gravy train.

[The Red Baron]

I must admit I'll be voting on local issues on 2nd May. If the EU elections go ahead, that will be a different matter.

[Herbert Anchovy]

Having worked for a number of Councils over the past few years (not Donny’s to be fair) and seen first hand how they sometimes put politics ahead of doing what’s right for the local population, I’ve very tempted to not bother.

[5minstogo]

I know it will never happen but what would be the score if not one single person voted?

[Donnywolf]

Might find (guessing) that it would be declared a recount - even though the Ballot Boxes were completely empty and then decided by the drawing of Lots.

All Candidates names in a Hat and pull one out. Maybe they should do this when General Elections come up again - we may get better MPs in most cases and maybe the Greens and Liberals would have a better chance of bagging some Seats

[foxbat]

Proportional representation ' like other EU countries , looks like the way forward. The problem is getting tbe big 2 parties to go down that route. Maybe a grass roots movement like that of ' the Peoples Vote ' could be a way of getting it going.

[BillyStubbsTears]

My family and I have decided not to vote this time (first time for 52 years ) in protest of the elected members for Doncaster voting against Mays deal even though the people of Doncaster voted to leave.
I know this is council and not for MP's but it is the principle that matters. I hope thousands of others take the same route and send a message to those that do not carry out the wishes of the majority of those that put them in power.

Deebee
I'm confused here.

How should the voters in Maidenhead (Theresa May's constituency) act? Given that they voted Remain, but their MP has spent the past 3 years going against their wishes.

[DonnyOsmond]

My family and I have decided not to vote this time (first time for 52 years ) in protest of the elected members for Doncaster voting against Mays deal even though the people of Doncaster voted to leave.
I know this is council and not for MP's but it is the principle that matters. I hope thousands of others take the same route and send a message to those that do not carry out the wishes of the majority of those that put them in power.

Flint voted for the deal, Winterton is Shadow Speaker so wouldn't vote so it was only Milliband who went against.

[Donnywolf]

im entirely wi

Proportional representation ' like other EU countries , looks like the way forward. The problem is getting tbe big 2 parties to go down that route. Maybe a grass roots movement like that of ' the Peoples Vote ' could be a way of getting it going.

I'm entirely with you on that - but while there seems to be a few disparate groups about the real ground swell seems some way off

Worse still get any Govt elected under FPTP will be one of the big 2 and they and the Opposition (the other one of the big 2) will likely as not be against it and that will be another 5 years of being locked in to a poor system

[DonnyOsmond]

If people do have the opportunity to vote it'll be best not to obsess over things that MPs have or haven't done. If you're voting on Doncaster alone look at the town recently, it's not been in the best state but there's a lot of recent development such as the Wool Market, Herten Triangle, turning the old girls school into a museum and the others which are planned like the North Bridge development. Although I'm personally not keen on the proposed look of the museum.

[Axholme Lion]

If people do have the opportunity to vote it'll be best not to obsess over things that MPs have or haven't done. If you're voting on Doncaster alone look at the town recently, it's not been in the best state but there's a lot of recent development such as the Wool Market, Herten Triangle, turning the old girls school into a museum and the others which are planned like the North Bridge development. Although I'm personally not keen on the proposed look of the museum.

What is it that's being planned for the North Bridge area? Are we talking about the Marshgate/Old Carnells site?

[DonnyOsmond]

If people do have the opportunity to vote it'll be best not to obsess over things that MPs have or haven't done. If you're voting on Doncaster alone look at the town recently, it's not been in the best state but there's a lot of recent development such as the Wool Market, Herten Triangle, turning the old girls school into a museum and the others which are planned like the North Bridge development. Although I'm personally not keen on the proposed look of the museum.

What is it that's being planned for the North Bridge area? Are we talking about the Marshgate/Old Carnells site?

https://rosjones.wordpress.com/2016/11/24/masterplan/

All on there.

[RobTheRover]

My family and I have decided not to vote this time (first time for 52 years ) in protest of the elected members for Doncaster voting against Mays deal even though the people of Doncaster voted to leave.
I know this is council and not for MP's but it is the principle that matters. I hope thousands of others take the same route and send a message to those that do not carry out the wishes of the majority of those that put them in power.

Flint voted for the deal, Winterton is Shadow Speaker so wouldn't vote so it was only Milliband who went against.

My daughter wrote to Milliband about Article 50 and May's deal and he wrote back saying the referendum was clear and should be delivered, but May's deal is a terrible one and he couldn't support that.  Can't fault him, to be honest.

[Axholme Lion]

If people do have the opportunity to vote it'll be best not to obsess over things that MPs have or haven't done. If you're voting on Doncaster alone look at the town recently, it's not been in the best state but there's a lot of recent development such as the Wool Market, Herten Triangle, turning the old girls school into a museum and the others which are planned like the North Bridge development. Although I'm personally not keen on the proposed look of the museum.

What is it that's being planned for the North Bridge area? Are we talking about the Marshgate/Old Carnells site?

https://rosjones.wordpress.com/2016/11/24/masterplan/

All on there.

Thankyou. What they need to do is to get some free car parking near the old North Bridge.

[wing commander]

   I'm trying to put the brexit situation at the back of my head for this one..These are local elections that decide who run our councils..It's all well and good making a stand and outing or electing people because you want to make a point on brexit.but that could easily lead to idiots been elected and good people losing there seats..
   So whoever your party affiliations are, for me you should be looking at your council and judging on whether you believe they are delivering a good value for money service to what there budget is..Afterall Theresa May or Jeremy Corbyn are not going to be emptying our bins are they...

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

Bear in mind there are none in Doncaster this year....

[wing commander]

  We all don't live in Doncaster borough mate,Theres a lot of us out in the North lincs area you know..lol

[idler]

   I'm trying to put the brexit situation at the back of my head for this one..These are local elections that decide who run our councils..It's all well and good making a stand and outing or electing people because you want to make a point on brexit.but that could easily lead to idiots been elected and good people losing there seats..
   So whoever your party affiliations are, for me you should be looking at your council and judging on whether you believe they are delivering a good value for money service to what there budget is..Afterall Theresa May or Jeremy Corbyn are not going to be emptying our bins are they...

I agree WC. Bradford council is split between the two big parties but in Our area the Lib/Dems are far better at doing the job.
I always vote for them and even deliver their leaflets and newsletters.
Some of the things that go on in Bradford beggar belief and it's the rate payers that pick up the pieces.

[Ldr]

Everyone spoil your ballot, no party deserves a vote

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

  We all don't live in Doncaster borough mate,Theres a lot of us out in the North lincs area you know..lol

I know, I know it wasn't aimed at yourself

I say this sat at work in the glamorous surroundings of North Lincolnshire.

[Axholme Lion]

  We all don't live in Doncaster borough mate,Theres a lot of us out in the North lincs area you know..lol

Yes and it seems to me that most of our money gets spent in Scunthorpe and the Isle of Axholme gets very little back from the council. I dare say they collect a fair wedge from here though.

[bahrain rover]

May is also a momentous and historic time in Mindanao Southern Philippines where I live when not working in the Middle East. This will be the first local elections in the newly formed Bangsamoro region of Mindanao. The region was recently granted autonomy by the Philippine government under the guidance of President Duterte. This move will hopefully bring an end to decades of rebel insurgency and fighting in the region and bring piece to what is truly a stunning part of the world. This will also hopefully bring tourism and much needed money to a part of the Philippines that even Filipinos and people were fearful (apart from me) to visit. I have as normal got numerous family members running for various positions in local towns respective councils. So times are exiting, if not a little tense and nervous. UK politicians have a doddle of a time compared to politicians here.