Politicians come out fighting ahead of county poll
1:29pm Wednesday 13th May 2009 in
THE Conservatives say Buckinghamshire voters see them as “saviours” while the British National Party says it support is growing as parties come out fighting for next month’s county council elections.
Five parties are hitting the campaign trail ahead of the June 4 poll for all 57 members of Buckinghamshire County Council.
In south Bucks 152 people are vying for 37 seats with the BNP standing for the first time and the UK Independence Party massively expanding its candidate list.
The Conservatives hope to hold onto their 45 seat majority for all 57 seats while the Liberal Democrats, the only other party on the authority, is seeking to boost its 12-seat showing.
Lib Dem spokesman Steve Lambert slammed Tories for cutting education and adult social services budgets and raising its council tax share by 3.7 per cent, 2.6 per cent above inflation.
Mr Lambert said: “They are lurching from one crisis to the other. They have no ideas and solutions. The Liberal Democrats offer this solution.”
The Lib Dems are contesting every south Bucks seat but, unlike 2005, will not stand in Gerrards Cross and Denham North. Mr Lambert added: “We expect to increase our seats.”
Yet deputy council leader Bill Chapple said of the Conservatives: “People recognise that we do a good job, they are more than happy and want us back in power.”
The party is contesting every seat and Mr Chapple said he hoped to win 50.
He said: “People are totally fed up with Labour – they really do only see the Conservatives as the only alternative. They are looking to us to be their saviours.”
The Lib Dem’s funding criticism was akin to them “running with hares and hounds” he said as services cannot be run without council tax increases. Government funding was too low, he said.
Labour last year lost its only two county councillors when Councillors Julia Wassell defected to the Liberal Democrats.
It has fielded 23 candidates for south Bucks. Compared to 2005 it will stand in three new wards but has withdrawn from six, including Ryemead, Tylers Green and Loudwater, the ward of council leader David Shakespeare.
Spokesman Ted Collins said: “We are expecting a reasonable result. The canvassing team have had a reasonable reception. With what is going on in Westminster, anything could happen.
“I think all political parties want more candidates but ours are good, strong candidates.”
The BNP has put forward husband and wife Richard and Helen Hamilton for the Marlow and Ryemead wards. Matthew and mother Hilary will stand for Thames and Hazlemere divisions.
Spokesman Mr Tait said sustainability – particularly cutting back on over-development – was the “main issue” followed by curbs on immigration and withdrawal from the EU.
He said: “We are standing for the first time because the party is going from strength to strength.
“All round the county we are getting lots of queries, we have many more members.”
Negative feedback on the doorstep was “few and far between”, he said.
UKIP is to stand in all but three south Bucks wards, Amersham, Chalfont St Peter and Chess Valley.
Spokesman Daniel Samuel-Camps said: “It is an opportunity for the people of Buckinghamshire to send a clear message of dissatisfaction to Westminster”
A major issue for the party is its fear the EU will “do away” with county councils through regional assemblies, he said.
The authority gets about two-thirds of the council tax bill, an average £1,056, and manages major services including education, social services and streets and pavements.
It has hit headlines in the last year over an aborted option to put an incinerator at Beaconsfield, the rationing of grit in the February snow storms, slashing of office jobs and the uncertain future of £5m still locked in an Icelandic bank.
Comments(22)
Voyeur
says...
3:34pm Wed 13 May 09
Plus ça change...
says...
3:55pm Wed 13 May 09
BFreeP could 'CGI' in a floral pattern into the grey and maybe turn the sky a limpid blue.
You could hitch your mule to the birdhouse (bottom left).
yog
says...
4:02pm Wed 13 May 09
OMG their arrogance is unbelievable.
I can think of 5 MILLIONS reasons to vote them out this year.
Their disastrous leader Shakespeare should be the first to go.
Closely followed by Pool snatcher Lesley Clarke.
OllieNewbury
says...
4:37pm Wed 13 May 09
yog wrote:It is laughable:
THE Conservatives say Buckinghamshire voters see them as “saviours”
OMG their arrogance is unbelievable.
I can think of 5 MILLIONS reasons to vote them out this year.
Their disastrous leader Shakespeare should be the first to go.
Closely followed by Pool snatcher Lesley Clarke.
"People recognise that we do a good job, they are more than happy and want us back in power."
What planet are they on? With all the unpopular things they have done.
Unfortunately, since much of Bucks is, let's say more conservatively drawn, I can see the tories keeping Bucks CC.
Voyeur
says...
6:43pm Wed 13 May 09
Marlowman
says...
7:40pm Wed 13 May 09
From BBC home page today:
A former Liberal Democrat councillor has been jailed for 12 months for stealing £55,000 from the company in Hertfordshire that employed him.
smiley cat
says...
9:20pm Wed 13 May 09
Marlowman wrote:LOL!!!
At least they haven't been convicted of stealing money... From BBC home page today: A former Liberal Democrat councillor has been jailed for 12 months for stealing £55,000 from the company in Hertfordshire that employed him.
Ah yes - proves my assertion ... they are all as bad as each other!
yog
says...
11:28pm Wed 13 May 09
There are crooks everywhere including Marlow as you well know!
towncryer
says...
11:52pm Wed 13 May 09
OllieNewbury wrote:I had a tory councillor knock on by door-- he said only the tories know whats best for Bucks !!!
yog wrote: THE Conservatives say Buckinghamshire voters see them as “saviours” OMG their arrogance is unbelievable. I can think of 5 MILLIONS reasons to vote them out this year. Their disastrous leader Shakespeare should be the first to go. Closely followed by Pool snatcher Lesley Clarke.It is laughable: "People recognise that we do a good job, they are more than happy and want us back in power." What planet are they on? With all the unpopular things they have done. Unfortunately, since much of Bucks is, let's say more conservatively drawn, I can see the tories keeping Bucks CC.
What arrogance -- i told him its time for a change and will be voting Lib Dem !!
Townman
says...
8:39am Thu 14 May 09
Townman
says...
8:39am Thu 14 May 09
wycombenewbie
says...
8:54am Thu 14 May 09
4th paragraph: "The Conservatives hope to hold onto their 45 seat majority for all 57 seats while the Liberal Democrats, the only other party on the authority, is seeking to boost its 12-seat showing."!
If the LibDems have 12 seats and the Tories have 45, then surely the Conservative majority is 33 not 45! .....more inaccurate reporting from the BFP!
I'm not surprised at the rise of the BNP in Bucks. Mirrored by the decline of Labour, it reflects a complete failure of the Government to get control of immigration....The Labour Party wouldn't even discuss the matter until a few years ago, but by then the BNP had already laid foundations across the country.
Let us not forget though....all the LibDem candidates in Wycombe were once Labours Party members!
yog
says...
9:35am Thu 14 May 09
As a relative new political party the Liberal Democrats combine the best elements of Liberals and Social Democrats.
We have attracted support and members from both the old parties.
Some people had the good sense to leave Labour and join the growing Liberal Democrat team in Bucks.
None of them have any regrets and are enjoying the freedom they get in the Liberal Democrats to campaign and fight for their local communities.
We are also happy to talk to Conservative members who are unhappy with the direction in which Wycombe Conservatives are heading.
It is not where someone has come from but where they are heading that is more important.
wayneo
says...
10:56am Thu 14 May 09
yog wrote:As a former Conservative voter, it is laughable and one thing guaranteed to turn off voters is arrogance, that said, I vote for the person, not always the party. Unfortunately we have the party whip which makes party policy come first and foremost.
THE Conservatives say Buckinghamshire voters see them as “saviours” OMG their arrogance is unbelievable. I can think of 5 MILLIONS reasons to vote them out this year. Their disastrous leader Shakespeare should be the first to go. Closely followed by Pool snatcher Lesley Clarke.
wycombenewbie
says...
6:33pm Thu 14 May 09
yog wrote:You speak as if you're high up in the local LibDem party?!
Wycombenewbie stop telling lies. As a relative new political party the Liberal Democrats combine the best elements of Liberals and Social Democrats. We have attracted support and members from both the old parties. Some people had the good sense to leave Labour and join the growing Liberal Democrat team in Bucks. None of them have any regrets and are enjoying the freedom they get in the Liberal Democrats to campaign and fight for their local communities. We are also happy to talk to Conservative members who are unhappy with the direction in which Wycombe Conservatives are heading. It is not where someone has come from but where they are heading that is more important.
No lies, just facts...
Cllr Wassell and Cllr Ditta were labour councillors and Cllr Snaith and Cllr Farmer were both Labour Party members!
You can change you're colour, name and logo but you can't change the smell.
yog
says...
12:35am Fri 15 May 09
I am more than happy to confirm that the candidates you have mentioned have all left the bankrupt Labour party and joined the growing Liberal Democrats in Bucks.
The Liberal Democrats are gaining support from both the Conservatives and Labour in Bucks.
As mentioned before it is not where someone has come from but where they are heading!
Townman
says...
10:44am Fri 15 May 09
yog
says...
9:41pm Fri 15 May 09
towncryer
says...
9:43pm Fri 15 May 09
wycombenewbie wrote:I'm pleased to see Cllr Wassell, Cllr Ditta Cllr Snaith and Cllr Farmer are local councillors. From what i see they listen to their electorate. Something the leading Tory councillors consistently fail to do!!!
yog wrote: Wycombenewbie stop telling lies. As a relative new political party the Liberal Democrats combine the best elements of Liberals and Social Democrats. We have attracted support and members from both the old parties. Some people had the good sense to leave Labour and join the growing Liberal Democrat team in Bucks. None of them have any regrets and are enjoying the freedom they get in the Liberal Democrats to campaign and fight for their local communities. We are also happy to talk to Conservative members who are unhappy with the direction in which Wycombe Conservatives are heading. It is not where someone has come from but where they are heading that is more important.You speak as if you're high up in the local LibDem party?! No lies, just facts... Cllr Wassell and Cllr Ditta were labour councillors and Cllr Snaith and Cllr Farmer were both Labour Party members! You can change you're colour, name and logo but you can't change the smell.
Cllr Clarke - Cuts in grants to community groups
Cllr Green - closing Holywellmead Pool
Cllr Shakespeare - cuts in social services
--- the list of Tory failures to listen grows daily !!
Save Wycombe
says...
3:10am Sat 16 May 09
Save Wycombe
says...
3:12am Sat 16 May 09
... you go on thinking that, Bill. That's what your problem is - you're out of touch with public opinion.
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Plus ça change... says...
1:39pm Wed 13 May 09
Haven't you got a 'jollier' library picture than that?
Say, one with some flower beds or some bright colours in it?