Whilst (I believe) the local parties have already selected their candidates for next May's elections, there's still plenty of time to stand as an independent.
I'm going to be working very hard for the three Labour candidates we've selected in St Ann's, and I know Gina, Nora and Jon have done loads of work in Harringay. A good clutch of independents could spread the 'decent' vote out too thinly and you could end up with Tories, or worse.
Julie,
Who is Jon and why is he so invisible?
What is the 'decent' vote, and why the inverted commas?
Why did you guys deselect our Brian?
And yes, we could end up with much worse than the Tories - but thanks for the neighbourly concern.
I used the term 'decent vote' because I've been following what the Tories have been saying on another thread. I meant, of course, the socially-responsible-left-leaning-community-activist vote. Sorry for the confusing shorthand.
We chose really good candidates in St Ann's ward at a well-attended meeting conducted democratically. It's not an automatic right to be reselected and there are a lot of good new people around to choose from at the moment. One of the things that influenced my voting, actually, was the way people on this site have complained about Cllr Haley in the past. It's not a job for life
Hugh was suggesting independents in my own ward, which is why I chipped in.
Thanks, Julie, for 'clarifying'
So, death by a thousand blogposts. I always did tell Brian to cultivate this website more assiduously. Jon(athan) et al, take note.
You're saying that only left-leaning activists are "decent " voters ? I find that insulting. I vote for the person who impresses me as someone who can represent me, not for a party label, whatever it is.
By decent I think Julie means "thinks of others and not just themselves". You're right, that is a bit rude to use decent in that way.
Julie, decent means "Does not break the law, is a rational agent for the benefit of dodgy economic models and believes that working hard to better oneself is a duty".
Let's imagine that Nora et al get voted in on a platform of "save us from HMO hell" (this is all completely hypothetical obviously). Imagine, just for a minute, that the reason there is HMO hell in Haringey is that it is the only way our leftie council can accommodate the poor who rely on them for housing, i.e. they are deliberately turning a blind eye to the planning laws to help them out with their social housing responsibilities. Having an independent in there would be invaluable, or are Nora, Jon and Gina prepared to put up with the crap that another Labour councilor has had to put up with from various idiots in the Haringey Labour party if they rock the boat?
I really don't think we'll end up with worse in Harringay or St Anns, BTW.
Just picked up on this one John. The HMOs in Haringey are not just used by the borough to house homeless people. In fact a lot of them are used by Camden and Islington (and maybe Westminster).
I used to work in the section in Camden that acquired housing in other boroughs to house homeless people. Haringey (and especially Harringay) was very popular because the rental prices are much lower than in Camden or Islington. A property came up for rent and basically the borough that could pay the most rent got it. The two flats next door to me have been used for Camden homeless people for about 8 years,
Permalink Reply by Hugh on October 14, 2009 at 12:30
Wow, Julie, that's a "very certain" take on local democracy. I'd be interested to learn if that's shared with your fellow local party members and by other local parties.
OAE, Brian Haley isn't dead, he just hasn't been selected as a candidate in St Ann's!
Hugh, anybody in politics, holding an elected position (and I hold a few myself,) should live with, and deal with, the possibility that it may not last. You can increase your chances of reelection by serving your electorate well, but, even then, if somebody better comes along, it might be time for a change.
My views are shared by the people I have respect for! There are a lot of really talented and positive people in the local Labour party these days. Most of them, but not all, are young and new, and they do think that some things need to change and have been working hard on behalf of fresh thinking.
As for other parties... well... I wouldn't know what they're up to. I've only seen the Tories sneering at people who want Harringay to be called Harringay.
Permalink Reply by Hugh on October 14, 2009 at 13:40
Apologies. I don't think I made my question clear. I have no issue with Cllr Haley being deselected. I was referring to you dissuading people from standing as independents. I'd encourage it as a healthy part of our democratic system.