Peter Kent-Baguley

The end of politics of stealth & secrecy in sight

A specially commissioned survey of 412 councillors across England and Wales reveals that only 17% of District councillors favoured all-out four-yearly elections compared with a ringing edorsement of 87% of County councillors. Unitary councils, such as mine in Stoke-on-Trent, were not far behind with 79% in favour of scrapping the drip, drip annual election by thirds system. Independent councillors were way ahead in favour with a massive 88% supporting all-out elections followed by 79% of Tories, 62% Labour and 60% Lib Dems.

Published in the September issue of TOTAL POLITICS, the ComRes survey shows that overall, 71% of councillors supported all-out elections, 26% were against and 3% offered no opinion. The dominant and traditional argument for annual elections by thirds was to maintain stability and avoid sudden shifts in policy. So why bother having elections if that is the pre-eminent concern?! In my re-election manifesto in May 2007 I made my commitment to all-out elections every four years absolutely clear. I am convinced that the thirds system not only confuses a great many people it exacerbates the disenchantment and disengagement of a great many more who can see little point in voting when nothing appears to change at the town hall.

I am equally convinced that given the chance, the majority of people of Stoke-on-Trent would welcome the opportunity to vote in a major change of direction at our Town Hall. As it is, the existing Labour/Tory/Lib Dem cobbled coalition continues with a majority of 1. With the demise of the widely hated elected mayor system next May the coalition will lose its purpose and disappear. Councillors standing for Leader of the Council should be expected to set out basic principles, policies and processes to which he/she would be committed. That way, we should all have a reasonably clear idea of the proposed direction of travel unlike the present lurching through endless political and administrative calamities, borne upon a politics of stealth and secrecy.