Blog by Abbie-Louise Maguire
“It was easier to look at that bright, white light of your computer screen on Friday morning, reflecting the majorities and continued Labour reign, and make the assumption that the Tories have lost the race, the climb, the challenge. I sense from the many Labour supporters on YourThurrock, and well as some of the general public, that there seems to be a ‘we told you so’ culture, an attitude of hypocrisy and general ignorance.
If we look at the figures, Labour did win in many wards, gaining overall control of the council for the coming years. As a Conservative, and an admittedly controversy-orientated journalist, I cannot twist, alter and massage these figures to a beautiful declaration of Tory victory. But we are talking about politics, and when I say politics, I don’t mean the politics where candidate A does well, gets a congratulatory gesture from candidate B, and candidate A sips his glass of champagne that drips indulgently upon their winning ribbon. I mean the politics where we all read between the lines, and scratch beneath the surface, with, not the pencil that marks the cross but the cross that marks the pencil. Deciphered, it is not the person who votes for the candidate, it is the candidate that votes for the person.
Conservatives are believers in power to the people, and no, this is not a cringy ethos about self worth and defining independence, it is Conservatives for what they are: putting people in control of their lives. Look at veteran councillor Cllr Redsell, elected this year for Little Thurrock Blackshots. Cllr Redsell is a woman who knows how to get the job done, and the locals know that to be true. She was elected because she does what she is there to do as a Conservative: take opportunity and responsibility down to the lowest level. She voted for the people, so the people voted for her. This was blurred and denatured in some wards: it seems people vote for the candidate by what they see on their leaflets, not whether they believe they can actually do it, which is why the likes of Cllr Redsell were voted in: they believe she can do it.
Somehow, people think Labour apply what they preach, but the reality is, they are far too afraid to make big changes, to create a diplomatic revolution, to ruffle a few feathers. So they move along quietly, keeping things relatively the same, only, spending money they don’t have on smaller changes people don’t really want, but for the sake of change. This means that when polling day comes along again, the big, impressive things listed on their manifesto are not achieved, but believed because the voters can recall political movement, just not in the promised direction. In the modern era, everyone wants to move forward, and sometimes we get caught up in the movement, and forget about which way we’re going. The key issue with Labour is not that they aim too high and miss, but that they aim too low when making changes once elected, and they get it.
Here comes the controversy: I am disagreeing with the Editor! Yes, an editorial taboo but what I love some much about blogging and politics: a platform for opinion where nobody has to agree. When you’re praising and disparaging, it’s the natural balance to incur debate. What I’m going to disagree with Michael on is Phil Anderson, Leader of the opposition. There were changes this year, mistakes made, and yes, the nature of politics means that the good guy doesn’t always win, but it appears Phil Anderson has been treated as someone completely demonic, when really the mistake he made is no different to me making a grammatical error in this blog.
His high status for some reason completely alienates the error’s magnitude. As for the Alan Field reverend debacle, some may claim I am not a real journalist – no I’m not qualified yet, but I’m an experienced writer who has been trusted above the fold, senior assignments. Like politics, it’s all a matter of judgement…
Very well written blog and containing some very salient points, well done Abbie
Thank you very much – glad you enjoyed it!
The Labour Party did change and became New Labour and in so doing nearly bankrupted the Country. To be blunt there was little opposition to many of the Economic policies as they suited the mass of the population, business and politicians across the board, Let us be blunt intervention by the Bank of England in 2004 may have deferred the current economic collapse in the UK until late 2010. Election of Brown Govt, then searching for £300bn, never raising the funds and the list of Europeans economic car crashes would have included the UK,
Manufacturing and Finance to the fore but regulation to ensure that reckless speculation is never again classed as sound advice. A return to “Paternal” but not patronising politics,
Whilst I was talking about the act of changing, i.e changes within the community, I do agree with VINCE63 in regards to their change to “new Labour.” Unfortunately, no matter how much Labour change, contort or denature, they will still spend money they simply don’t have.
Noted. Labour Thurrock has been radical – Vertex / Sweeping Management Changes 2010/11 and budget cuts absorbed so far. Add Unitary Thurrock and these are dramatic changes. But 2004 to 2010 saw a bland Conservative Council administration which nearly bankrupted the Borough, The cuts will do little for Thurrock and using private firms has generally been disastrous as costs and profit demand usually push the future budget beyond that of a comparable Council controlled unit / sector. The most radical area that could be reviewed is Social Care – remove from Local Authorities and pass to National Govt. We all get Old regardless where ever you live and decisions on future provision need to be made now. The Party that can come up with a lasting solution for this prob could be in power for some time.
Whilst I agree where you are coming from, I think social care is best left to local government. Local councillors are those who really know the area, the people in it and the consequences of actions within the ward. All wards need a ‘people-person’ councillor – the problem is not every ward has one.