Tameside - a council opposed to democracy?

Tameside Mayor Cllr Joe Kitchen signs the book of condolence for Nelson Mandela.

Why should people vote when they know that their vote will not change anything? Why should other political parties make any serious effort in any borough which they know they cannot win? Is it so surprising then that the turn-out in local elections is so poor?

Because only one third of the council seats (19 out of 57) are up for re-election at any one time - even if, at the next local elections, every voter in Tameside voted to change the party in power - the party currently in power (Labour with 52 out of 57 councillors) would still "win" the election. 

How can a great democratic party with such a proud history as Labour continue to maintain such undemocratic elections in Tameside in the twenty-first century - and not just in Tameside, but in other councils across the north-west and in other areas around the country? Not that either the Tories or the Liberal Democrats can claim any moral high ground when they keep the same system in those districts they control.

Reform needs to begin somewhere and Tameside Labour could take the lead by giving every voter the opportunity to change the party in control - if they so wish - at the next local elections by having one election for every single councillor in the borough.

People should be able to elect a Conservative, Ukip, Liberal Democrat or Green controlled council - in just one election - and it should not take more than one election to do it! 

If Tameside Labour truly think that the electorate believes them to be the best party to run the borough - then what do they have to fear by having every councillor up for election at the same time, every time?

Over the last week, Tameside Labour councillors paid tribute to Nelson Mandela - and the council lowered all flags on public buildings as a mark of respect. How ironic therefore, that they themselves should retain an undemocratic system for local elections.

Tameside Labour and other councils may not shoot those who seek change and they most certainly do not segregate people along racial lines, but if the party in power denies voters the right and the opportunity to change their local government in a single election - then is that not also a practice of discrimination? It certainly is - as I have said before - a system that any fascist or communist regime in many other areas of the world would be proud of maintaining!

Please sign the petition "one election for all councillors" using the link below:

http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/one-election-for-all-local-councillors?source=facebook-share-button&time=1384131840

Carl Simmons

Denton South Independent

13th December 2013