Topic ID 2720
The local elections are almost upon us and I know at least one forum member is standing (I take it you still are John?). Are there any others? I'm interested to find out where the candidates stand on wheelie bin collections before I vote!
Reply ID 39125
And our green box hasn't been emptied in weeks!! Edited: They must have heard me as it's just this minute been emptied [:p]
Reply ID 39129
I am Dude but I am not so sure what I can and cannot say on a public forum without Admin having to ask for 12 other views on any subject raised; so am keeping a bit quiet on the posting front but can answer questions through the ehpeople website for which steve has added a link.
Reply ID 39133
I had a chat to the Independents at their stall in town on Saturday - I think it's great that a local alternative to the traditional party line is available this year.
Reply ID 39150
quote:Me too. I think Jim Thornton has done a very good thing in setting this up.
Originally posted by Joby
I had a chat to the Independents at their stall in town on Saturday - I think it's great that a local alternative to the traditional party line is available this year.
Reply ID 39180
I am tempted to support them looking at the various messes EHDC have got into over the last few years, but I am a bit concerned at the disparate membership of the group. For instance it includes at least one candidate (not in Hertford itself) previously associated with UKIP/Veritas type viewpoints with which I disagree
Reply ID 39190
Andrew, from what I can tell from the website, the people standing are independent of each other. EHP is just a resource pool to give them a chance against the usual suspects. Or have I got it wrong. I always said I would vote for the first candidate to knock on my door for a chat, regardless of party (mostly). Since 1982, when i could vote for the first time, it has never happened in any election.
Reply ID 39194
quote:Carlos, you have it right. I have met all of the other Independents and for their own various reasons they all have a desire to stand and represent their own views and those of their neighbours (ward members basically) but lack the resources to be able to mount a proper campaign. Apart from many existing councillors who already have a well known public profile it is not easy for anyone unknown and entering politics for the first time to get their message accross to the wider public. Standing under a wide umbrella gives most of the independents the chance to do that - although I will admit that I am luckier than most in being known. We have been concentrating on getting leaflets out - all of us have full time jobs so although I would like to knock on every door it is not completely practical because initially you have to get your name out there and I feel that I have to give support to those that are not so well known as myself and help out with that. Knocking on doors drastically reduces the time you have for leafletting. About 1000 leaflets is a lot of leg work and I am not getting any thinner.[:D] However we are all trying to get round to knocking on doors (and not running away!) in the week ahead and once again will be in Railway Street on Saturday. And if anyone is interested and Admin allowing, I will be selling and signng copies of my book.
Andrew, from what I can tell from the website, the people standing are independent of each other. EHP is just a resource pool to give them a chance against the usual suspects. Or have I got it wrong.
Reply ID 39195
My jibe about lack of door knocking was aimed fairly and squarely at the "big 3". I have nothing but admiration for any independent that stands...even Monster Raving Looney. Good luck next week. Power to the people.
Reply ID 39198
quote:Are you saying John is a looney? [;)] He gets my vote then! [:)]
Originally posted by carlos fandango
My jibe about lack of door knocking was aimed fairly and squarely at the "big 3". I have nothing but admiration for any independent that stands...even Monster Raving Looney. Good luck next week. Power to the people.
Reply ID 39200
[:D][:D][:I]
Reply ID 39258
quote:I agree. Cheeky that a letter from a Debbie Lemay went into the Mercury this week having a moan and she is a bloody candidate without telling anyone! Talk about stirring the masses. I hate that [V]
Originally posted by Andrew
I am tempted to support them looking at the various messes EHDC have got into over the last few years, but I am a bit concerned at the disparate membership of the group. For instance it includes at least one candidate (not in Hertford itself) previously associated with UKIP/Veritas type viewpoints with which I disagree
Reply ID 39309
Well I'm going to give the independents a go, simply because they are the only ones to have even made the sightest effort to canvas my vote!
Reply ID 39327
This statement posted at the top of the webiste linked above shows something needs to be done: "In the last four years the Leader and Cabinet (six or seven elected Councillors) have taken allowances of £548,344.33 plus expenses (information given to the Mercury by EHC)." I say why not give the independents a go - assuming the old adage about power corrupting isn't true...
Reply ID 39534
So how did you vote? Me, I voted Independent as they were the only party to bother to knock on my door and come across as wholeheartedly concerned about lots of issues.
Reply ID 39536
There was so little information that I stared at my ballot paper for some time..then I am afraid I based judgement on national issues[:I]
Reply ID 39542
Which ward am I in? Ahhh.......I see. Same as wingnut...........little information. Except hats off to the independents who actually made an effort so I was aware of them beforehand. Everybody else was just names. The town council elections were the most anonymous. Just a bunch of names. None of them known to me despite being local, two of which were from the same address. Anyways.....when is the next election?
Reply ID 39545
Experience of voting in the Sele Ward: a) the Polling Station has moved. Having originally walked to Sele School with the kids we discover the mistake. Pack the family into the car as we have no idea where we have to go. 10 mins later find the shiny new Community Centre. The man there says it has been a very quiet day because (he thought) most people did not know where the new Polling Station was. b) Given 2 ballotts with detailed instructions, perhaps as well it was not busy. c) Why do i get to vote for 4 people on one ballott and 2 on the other? What ever happened to 1 man 1 vote? Can I vote for the same person up to 4 times? Strikes me as just a way the big parties stay in power. d) Why have I come away from this with a feeling of slowly being disenfranchised?
Reply ID 39546
quote:I too was somewhat surprised to find I had 4 votes for one election and 3 for the other. I only found out when I looked up and saw a notice in the polling booth.
Originally posted by carlos fandango
Experience of voting in the Sele Ward: a) the Polling Station has moved. Having originally walked to Sele School with the kids we discover the mistake. Pack the family into the car as we have no idea where we have to go. 10 mins later find the shiny new Community Centre. The man there says it has been a very quiet day because (he thought) most people did not know where the new Polling Station was. b) Given 2 ballotts with detailed instructions, perhaps as well it was not busy. c) Why do i get to vote for 4 people on one ballott and 2 on the other? What ever happened to 1 man 1 vote? Can I vote for the same person up to 4 times? Strikes me as just a way the big parties stay in power. d) Why have I come away from this with a feeling of slowly being disenfranchised?
Reply ID 39547
quote:Caught me unawares too - I can't remember ever having to do this before. My first few crosses were obvious choices, but I wasn't sure what to do with the rest of them. I also wasn't prepared for two ballot papers (plus at least one name seemed to crop on both papers - what's that all about?) Anyway, although I'm not quite as paranoid as carlos about my imminent disenfranchisement (unless your polling card had the wrong polling station on it, in which case I agree with you) I do feel that I was able to make less of a difference this time - obvious choices aside, the rest were just names I'd never heard of and I was forced to make a choice between not voting or effectively voting at random. But...good luck to those who did get my votes - the Independents (for being the only group who made any attempt to canvas my vote) and Peter Ruffles (who is Hertford through and through, so much so that I can, with the aid of a stiff drink afterwards, forget for a moment that I am voting conservative.)
Originally posted by Ewoowarquote:I too was somewhat surprised to find I had 4 votes for one election and 3 for the other. I only found out when I looked up and saw a notice in the polling booth.
Originally posted by carlos fandango
Experience of voting in the Sele Ward: a) the Polling Station has moved. Having originally walked to Sele School with the kids we discover the mistake. Pack the family into the car as we have no idea where we have to go. 10 mins later find the shiny new Community Centre. The man there says it has been a very quiet day because (he thought) most people did not know where the new Polling Station was. b) Given 2 ballotts with detailed instructions, perhaps as well it was not busy. c) Why do i get to vote for 4 people on one ballott and 2 on the other? What ever happened to 1 man 1 vote? Can I vote for the same person up to 4 times? Strikes me as just a way the big parties stay in power. d) Why have I come away from this with a feeling of slowly being disenfranchised?
Reply ID 39550
Who won then?
Reply ID 39551
The independents got my vote. Go John! If you get in, can we have.....a bypass, a cinema, a skatepark, no more traffic wardens, an ice rink, the removal of Birchley Green, two way traffic up for street and make folly island a through road! [;)][:)]
Reply ID 39555
The residents of Sele that vote at St. Andrew's School had a bigger problem. Apparently the Head had banned the polling station from using the hall or the main entrance - so access was through the pedestrian gate, round the side of the school, and in the back of one of the classrooms - a bit of a trek if you can't walk very far. One of the current councillors had come to complain because people were complaining to him about the access - he was requesting that the officials in charge of the polling station called the police. HMMM - all good fun [;)] Interesting that for the town council we had 4 votes for 5 candidates and no sign of the lib-dems anywhere.
Reply ID 39557
quote:Is there an ETA for the results?? I believe postal votes are causing a hold up in some parts of the country.
Originally posted by Steve
I don't think the results have been announced yet
Reply ID 39558
According to the BBC the results for EHDC aren't in yet. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2007/councils/html/26ud.stm I have to say my voting was partly influenced by my prejudices against one national party and then I looked at the address of the candidates and chose the ones that lived in my area (perhaps they will be more sensitive to the issues) although all of the candidates seemed to live in my area so that wasn't particularly useful [;)]
Reply ID 39559
I voted Independent and Conservative.
Reply ID 39561
Some good news down the road in Broxbourne..... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6622285.stm
Reply ID 39565
quote:Great minds think alike - I used pretty much the same criteria! I did also consider any prior contact that I have had in the past with them. I too was surprised to see 4 votes for 5 candidates on one paper. The instructions said that you should vote for UP TO 4 candidates. I hope I didn't waste my vote by not voting for 4 of them [?] Not sure about the hoo-ha at St Andrews, there were plenty of signs.
Originally posted by jez_p
According to the BBC the results for EHDC aren't in yet. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2007/councils/html/26ud.stm I have to say my voting was partly influenced by my prejudices against one national party and then I looked at the address of the candidates and chose the ones that lived in my area (perhaps they will be more sensitive to the issues) although all of the candidates seemed to live in my area so that wasn't particularly useful [;)]
Reply ID 39566
plenty of signs, but a narrow pedestrian gateway, a fairly long walk and a step up through a standard width doorway. Not really suitable for persons of restricted mobility or a parent with a double buggy.
Reply ID 39567
I would have liked to give the Independent all 4 votes as they are the ONLY people I have seen canvassing. Why have a Polling station at St Andrews School and at the community centre? Aren't they 2 mins apart?
Reply ID 39568
quote:Good news all round. The SNP are doing well. Hopefully the xenophobic Scottish will be independent soon.
Originally posted by Capitalist piglet
Some good news down the road in Broxbourne..... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6622285.stm
Reply ID 39577
Conservative Hold Tory councillors up from 40 to 43 1 Lib Dem loses seat 2 "others" lose seats http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2007/councils/html/26ud.stm
Reply ID 39578
Hmm - would be nice to see details of who got in and who lost seats though
Reply ID 39579
quote:http://www.eastherts.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=4096 Well done John. Maybe next time [:)]
Originally posted by jez_p
Hmm - would be nice to see details of who got in and who lost seats though
Reply ID 39580
Interesting to see that Peter Ruffles got far more votes than the other Conservative candidates. There must have been some cross voting.
Reply ID 39582
Oh well John. At least you put in to good total! You weren't too far off.
Reply ID 39583
quote:My opinion too.......
Originally posted by Dude
Oh well John. At least you put in to good total! You weren't too far off.
Reply ID 39586
quote:Alot of people vote for Peter because of who he is, regardless of his party.
Originally posted by Ray_by_the_Beane
Interesting to see that Peter Ruffles got far more votes than the other Conservative candidates. There must have been some cross voting.
Reply ID 39588
Thanks for the comments guys. Quite a few people have said 'well done' today and many yesterday and today said 'at least you've got one vote.' So really delighted for the support. Pleased with the total - had an enjoyable time on the markets, posting leaflets and generally having a chat. Almost got run over by a lady on a mobility scooter in Ware who accelerated towards me crying - 'I'm not voting for you Independent lot' - and then swept off into the crowd. I'd like to know who she did vote for.
Reply ID 39589
The bad news is that out of 50 district councillors, 43 are now Conservative. This leaves virtually no opposition. Were so many people REALLY happy with the performance of the district council that they gave the ruling party an increased majority?
Reply ID 39590
quote:At a guess, the increase might be down to an illustration of disapproval of the current administration at national level, rather than any increases being particularly focused as a result of local issues...
Originally posted by Steve
The bad news is that out of 50 district councillors, 43 are now Conservative. This leaves virtually no opposition. Were so many people REALLY happy with the performance of the district council that they gave the ruling party an increased majority?
Reply ID 39591
quote:This is my fear. That people have voted on party lines and national issues at the expence of local democracy.
Originally posted by exiled_in_Reading
At a guess, the increase might be down to an illustration of disapproval of the current administration at national level, rather than any increases being particularly focused as a result of local issues...
Reply ID 39592
Just had a phone call to confirm everybody's comments - Hertford Town Council now has 15 Conservatives and 1 Labour (Hilary Durbin).
Reply ID 39599
There could be some regrets in the coming months but hell that's democracy for you. No one lost money by underestimating the stupidity of an electorate who actually believe the stuff in the comics & who ignore the real people who would do a damn sight better job representing them. Hey ho.. & bad luck John & his Indi’s., you got my vote. Perhaps next time we could have some Labour party candidates (apparently there are a couple that still exist in captivity) instead of what I see as various hues of new labour blue. Perhaps they could be interested in local issues and maybe , just maybe they will knock on doors just like we used to do the year that Hertford Town went Labour – remember that ?, …. And sorry folks, don’t know you too well these days but you are tarred with the new-labour brush – all I see is a pompous social club resembling Malcolm and Cressida Wright- Pratt, who meet & in the Tarts bar of the White Horse on Saturday lunchtimes. And you don’t buy raffle tickets for good causes… Thank God for Tony Benn Rant over……
Reply ID 39606
Not just the stupidity of the elctorate but also restricted choice: e.g. Town council, Castle ward - only two parties to vote for. A phrase involving rocks and hard places springs to mind
Reply ID 39608
quote:I think this is very offensive. I don't think you should criticize any person for voting, and certainly not because they choose to vote differently from you. Better that you get your hands dirty and try to convince people to vote your way as part of a properly constructed campaign than insult them after the election. Put up or shut up.
Originally posted by Capitalist piglet
There could be some regrets in the coming months but hell that's democracy for you. No one lost money by underestimating the stupidity of an electorate who actually believe the stuff in the comics & who ignore the real people who would do a damn sight better job representing them.
Reply ID 39609
quote:Okay Nora - first read the thread.... properly. Cos I think you’ve missed a lot. Democracy is all about voting for what you believe in. First: I get v p**sed off by people who say they couldn’t be bovvered to vote. Even when you take into consideration some of our more dubious politicians I still find it out of order when people do not use a right which is unavailable to large sections of this planet. Someone in a hostelry familiar to both of us said he “hadn’t had the time to vote ..” Scuse me the polls were open for, what, 17 hours. Personally I got back form Portsmouth at 9 on Thursday & I still voted.. So that’s the “criticize any person for voting” bit out of the ground. Second: You & I may be diametrically opposed politically but I suspect we do not base our judgment on what is printed in the comics I referred to - I hope so anyway. I would be very disappointed in you if that was the case. Now is that “certainly not because they choose to vote differently from you” Third & this was referred to in the post “Better that you get your hands dirty and try to convince people to vote your way as part of a properly constructed campaign than insult them after the election. Put up or shut up” I’ll skim over many years as a Trade Union activist. Labour took Hertford a few years ago I was there. I gave up Sundays & evenings. I leaflet dropped you. Bin there, seen it, sadly the T-shirt got tainted in later years….. Back to the beginning…… who exactly who was I insulting “after the election” apart from the said readers of nonsense comic who actually believe what they read. Answers on a postcard anyone..
Originally posted by nora battyquote:I think this is very offensive. I don't think you should criticize any person for voting, and certainly not because they choose to vote differently from you. Better that you get your hands dirty and try to convince people to vote your way as part of a properly constructed campaign than insult them after the election. Put up or shut up.
Originally posted by Capitalist piglet
There could be some regrets in the coming months but hell that's democracy for you. No one lost money by underestimating the stupidity of an electorate who actually believe the stuff in the comics & who ignore the real people who would do a damn sight better job representing them.
Reply ID 39610
quote:I agree with you here too. I read this to mean you were criticizing the electorate as a whole because of the way they voted, not because they didn't vote.
Originally posted by Capitalist Piglet Okay Nora - first read the thread.... properly. Cos I think you’ve missed a lot. Democracy is all about voting for what you believe in. Agreed - and about not belittling those who vote for what you don't believe in. You appear to be questioning people's beliefs in an incredulous manner here? First: I get v p**sed off by people who say they couldn’t be bovvered to vote. Even when you take into consideration some of our more dubious politicians I still find it out of order when people do not use a right which is unavailable to large sections of this planet. Someone in a hostelry familiar to both of us said he “hadn’t had the time to vote ..” Scuse me the polls were open for, what, 17 hours. Personally I got back form Portsmouth at 9 on Thursday & I still voted.. So that’s the “criticize any person for voting” bit out of the ground.
quote:I'm not sure what comics you are referring to here. Of course some of my judgement is based on what I read in the press. And on what I see on TV, hear on the radio, and on what I see going on around me. You seem to be making the assumption that people have only voted differently to you because of something they read in one paper or section of the press?
Second: You & I may be diametrically opposed politically but I suspect we do not base our judgment on what is printed in the comics I referred to - I hope so anyway. I would be very disappointed in you if that was the case. That “certainly not because they choose to vote differently from you”
quote:I apologise for that comment. I have respect for anybody who campaigns passionately for what they believe in as long as it is not a violent or grossly offensive campaign.
Third & this was referred to in the post “Better that you get your hands dirty and try to convince people to vote your way as part of a properly constructed campaign than insult them after the election. Put up or shut up” I’ll skim over many years as a Trade Union activist. Labour took Hertford a few years ago I was there. I gave up Sundays & evenings. I leaflet dropped you. Bin there, seen it, sadly the T-shirt got tainted in later years…..
quote:What is the nonsense comic? What have they read and why shouldn't they believe it?
Back to the beginning…… who exactly were I insulting “after the election” apart from the said readers of nonsense comic who actually believe what they read. Answers on a postcard anyone..
Reply ID 39611
quote:] Hmmm. Not quite sure where you are coming from on some of the replies but thamks for the reassessment of my original comment. For the latter quote. Well you could argue almost any production from the Street of Shame but I personally would target the Sun (& for balance sake the Mirror - although I would suggest that still has some minuscule journalistic credibility left). Of course The S*um is the best UK paper. It has to be; it pays the best & it sells the most. Going down into the depths of tabloid hell, somewhat beyond the circles that encompass the Star & the Sport, we find the Express & the Mail........ Now that is not a pop at the people who read them - only those who believe them & there are sadly more than a few. Why shouldn’t they believe in them Nora? Err….. maybe I’m missing something here. And then there is the Hertfordshire Mercury...........
What is the nonsense comic? What have they read and why shouldn't they believe it?
Reply ID 39612
quote:With both these papers supporting Labour, your argument doesn't follow locally.
Originally posted by Capitalist piglet
For the latter quote. Well you could argue almost any production from the Street of Shame but I personally would target the Sun (& for balance sake the Mirror - although I would suggest that still has some minuscule journalistic credibility left). Of course The S*um is the best UK paper. It has to be; it pays the best & it sells the most.
Reply ID 39613
quote:Not sure that either support the Labour party I used to believe in. & the Sun's headline on Friday was not exactly New-Labour friendly. I don't think that Murdoch is going to be a great fan of Brown.
Originally posted by Katequote:With both these papers supporting Labour, your argument doesn't follow locally.
Originally posted by Capitalist piglet
For the latter quote. Well you could argue almost any production from the Street of Shame but I personally would target the Sun (& for balance sake the Mirror - although I would suggest that still has some minuscule journalistic credibility left). Of course The S*um is the best UK paper. It has to be; it pays the best & it sells the most.
Reply ID 39614
Please return to topic
Reply ID 39640
quote:Hello! I'm one of the two people from the same address. Although I've lived in Hertford 33 years, I still don't know everybody. The only time I've appeared in the Mercury is when I ran in the London marathon and I wouldn't expect anyone to remember that. This is the first time I've joined this forum so I'm using it to say hello and introduce myself. Linda
Originally posted by Ewoowar
Which ward am I in? Ahhh.......I see. Same as wingnut...........little information. Except hats off to the independents who actually made an effort so I was aware of them beforehand. Everybody else was just names. The town council elections were the most anonymous. Just a bunch of names. None of them known to me despite being local, two of which were from the same address. Anyways.....when is the next election?
Reply ID 40278
An interesting article about local democracy in The Telegraph. I'm not sure I agree with all of it, but it's interesting nonetheless... [url="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/05/21/nlocal21.xml"]Giving control back to councils could cut taxes[/url]
Reply ID 40297
I voted differently because I am fed up with noone listening to me in my home town and distict about the matters and issues which affect me and are, in my opinion, important to me and the town for which I live, work and socialise in and around. I will not be voting this way for the General Election. I do feel that there is little hope of my needs being properly addressed locally and lets be honest, things like traffic issues, collection/recycling of rubbish and its frequency and the "school run" and such like, judging by the threads in this forum website, are strong, emotive and important issues to be addressed, or at the very least, attempting to be rectified. I fear our local council has no need to address issues important to a lot of us, because a) they haven't bothered in the past 4 years and b) we have no viable council opposition. Shame all around.... I liked our Independent candidates and they were the ONLY ones who turned up at my house and answered questions and made an effort with their leaflet.. The other main parties just put the colour, name of their party and date of the Local Election.. not a word about what issues they were hoping to win on or what they were going to try to do to help the local population.. Shame on you all Labour, Tories and Lib Dems!!!!![:(!]
Reply ID 40346
quote:Yes, shame on those unpaid volunteers [:(!]
Originally posted by Drama Queen
Shame on you all Labour, Tories and Lib Dems!!!!![:(!]