UK local elections - should I vote?

Do they have a site with descriptions of everyone who is running and/or encumbant?

Oh, phew, I don't have to vote then.

http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/Services/CouncilDemocracy/ElectedRepresentatives/Councillors_Map.htm

I've just discovered that Lambeth is actually run by a Lib Dem/Tory coalition. Hmm. This makes me think maybe I'll vote Labour.

xpost. I think everyone's having local elections next week.

but for instance our local labour dude has a thing in a caption under ap icture of a bus saying "we believe that regulation of the buses should be given back to Town Hall" so i want to ask if they are purposefully going against what the national Labour agenda is for regulation of buses, or just trying to score cheap points, and hope no one notices the flying in the face of central parties policy.

will try and drop them an email. as far as i know they try and answer things to butter you up.

but ive always meant to do more research for all the candidates on issues i am interested in. i cant really see the point of linking the various candidates to their respective parties on principle, for instance, within local elections. i suppose you might assume that local councillors will reflect the aims of their wider party affiliations, but im not really convinced that is always the cae. consdiering that the Lib Dems here seem to be ardent road builders for instance, i think a healthy scepticism is due on party affiliation. given the ease by which local politicians switch parties as well, seems to back up my viewpoint

I'm inclined to plump for b. As Lib Dems introduced this, maybe I'll vote Labour. hmm.

a lot of local councils have apparently 'improved' their recycling records by signing contracts with large chinese companies to dispose of the materials in a 'green' way and then the stuff just ends up in landfills on the other side of the planet.

I'm a firm believer that in local elections you vote for the best candidate (often the one that wants it most and has plans) irrespective of what party they belong to.

I have had two pieces of literature so far:

A fake newspaper from the Lib Dems pointing out the positive things they've done since taking control at the last election.
A flier for the new New Statesman stage show, in town next week. In it Alan has now joined the Labour Party because they're the most Thatcherite of the parties. It's hard to tell which party this has come from.

except if they're BNP tho right?

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/news/archives/davidcameronblog.jpg

I KNOW that's so wrong. But he does have a great nose.

See the bit which says "has plans". NB: I do not consider 'round up all the nignogs' to be a plan.

Jamie, don't believe a word they say about the cinema - they've been promising it for years. Mind you they've all bee promising it....

Highgate isn't getting its fair share of resources.

Labour Haringey is engaged in a massive covert wealth redistribution exercise, levying swingeing taxes on the west of the borough to fritter away on politically correct projects in the east. Meanwhile, gullible LibDem politicians stand by, wringing their hands, while scheming Labour councillors run rings around them.

Invisible policing.
Zero interest in the threats to Highgate Village shopkeepers.
Negligible services.
Rubbish-strewn and graffitied streets.
Our quality of life under threat.

We're out of sight and out of mind. And, just like the first American colonists, themselves victims of "taxation without representation", if elected we aim to put that right from Day 1.

Sadly, cunts like this are going to get in as likely as not. I'm saddened that I almost think they might have to get movement at the top.

If you type in your postcode you can foind out about who is standing, and add comments to their manifestos.

I've only had propaganda from the Lib Dems, as usual. They really target Muswell Hill it seems. Never get anything in the mail from any other party. Dunno if I'll bother voting, it's between Labour and Lib Dem & no idea if it'd make the slightest difference to anything who's in charge really.

Not quite big enough unfortunately.

Am a bit shocked at the number of seats the BNP got in Barking. Not shocked they got seats, but 11? Blimey.

Overall disappointed Tories did so well and Lib Dems didn't. Was expecting at least some gains for them. Consider me disillusioned (what's new?)

We're now NOC in camden, I need to drill down into the results before I blame the denizens of Dartmouth Park and Hampstead.

I don't understand the british electorate at all. They hate Blair so they vote for someone who's really like Blair? I thought they would have gone for the Lib-dems. But, as usual, I got it worng.

This is sdepressing all round - councillors try to do good things and get shafted by people voting against Blair.

This is sdepressing all round - councillors try to do good things and get shafted by people voting against Blair.

lol, you've obviously never worked with one.

They're just doing it to piss off Billy Bragg cos his last album was rubbish.

The Sandwell results looks 'interesting' - with NOC does that mean their 2 councillors might actually have some influence. I would presume them to be shunned but who knows?

lol, you've obviously never worked with one.'

Actually I've worked with a lot and almost all of them (including - although i shudder to say it - the tories) were actually interested in local issues and tried to do the right thing. I met a couple who were clearly doing it to get a leg up on the greasy pole but mostly they were doing jobs for very little thanks and even less money.

Southwark remained NOC, with Labour gaining 2 seats (from independents) to be level with the Lib Dems, a result with which I am reasonably satisfied.

I don't know how I would go about setting up a sensible controlling bloc with numbers which break down like this, mind:

Lab: 28
Lib: 28
Con: 6
Green: 1

Like they invented it...and retrogressive? - I agree it's bad but worse than the poll tax?

Barking Labour MP Margaret Hodge has been criticised for saying during the campaign that 80% of white families in the area were "tempted" by the BNP.

Labour officials are said to be considering disciplinary action against her, claiming her comments had helped bring about the Barking results.

I was in a bit of a dilemma about doing this when I got to the voting booth, but then I thought fuck it, maybe the councils have to get shafted to hammer the fucking point home to Labour, but unfortunately most people voted Tory instead. Although not in Haringey so I guess I made the right decision.

Can't wait! Is Theresa May involved?

You are right. It is repulsive.

Ha, that's what everyone I know(*) did. First two Lib Dems, right? Wonder if the third guy is feeling sad and lonely.

(*) Ok two other people.

to my shame i forgot to get my sister to look for my postal vote until too late (i've been away for a month), so i failed to vote. first time i haven't voted ever, and i actually really wanted to get rid of some of those lib dems, too.

:( Couldn't you have just molested some children instead?

nonsense
nonsense
nonsense

Just because you have the hots for theresa may :-P

However, the other day, I found myself fancying a photo of Cameron in the Metro, so that could be for fairly spurious reasons. :-0

I don't think I met one till I was in my 20s

The Lib Dems did fuck all in 10 years except to sell the ice rink.

yay hackney! tories down one, greens up one, lab and lib unchanged :)

i could have voted for the eveil tory bigots in my ward if a) they had put any propoganda through my door like all the other parties did b) knew anything about their stance on anything in sheffield - the ones that shout the loudest about what they think are LDs and Lab generally c) thought that there was anypoint seeing as a minority party like the Greens are neck and neck with them here

but i dont have a problem voting tory. its like eating an oyster, the idea seems weird, im not in a hurry to do so, it will be an odd experience if i ever did, but im not against it on principle. i voted Green, cos predictably they had the transport policies that most closely matched what i think sheffield needs.
none of the parties commented on an issue that i think merits attention which is the wholesale destruction of Sheffields 19th c urban fabric to make way for new development.

ed theres a pic of james standing behind the Green dude cheering as he got in in Central Ward, that boy gets everywhere!