A FORGOTTEN OPPORTUNITY TO END THE BETRAYAL OF TAMESIDE VOTERS!

Dorothy Cartwright left the Tories for Labour in December 2010, whilst Colin White left Labour for the Conservatives in September 2013 - neither Councillor sought re-election from the voters!

Whatever one may think about the recent decisions by Conservative MP's Douglas Carswell and Mark Reckless to defect to UKIP, the fact that both have immediately announced their resignation and intention to seek re-election by the voters is - in itself - worthy of the highest praise. This is especially so when compared to the attitude of the former South Yorkshire Police commissioner Shaun Wright, who decided - in the wake of the recent Rotherham child-abuse scandal - to quit the Labour Party but to hang on to his job and who, in the end, had to be forced out of office.

This all reminds me of Tory Councillor Dorothy Cartwright joining Labour in December 2010 without any regard for the people of Dukinfield/Stalybridge who had elected her as a Conservative. I also remember how, this time last year, Audenshaw Councillor Colin White decided to join the Tories - totally ignoring the fact that the voters had elected him as their Labour representative. Neither of these two individuals resigned and sought re-election. 

Amongst the many letters of condemnation published in the local newspapers at the time of Colin White's defection, I do recall the Deputy Leader of Tameside Council - and others from Labour - saying how there should be a rule to compel councillors to seek re-election if they change party during their term of office - which was surprising considering how Dorothy Cartwright's betrayal of the voters during her elected period of office was - and continues to be - rewarded by her selection as a local Labour candidate. 

One year later, and after all the publicity given to our elected representatives at the time, the howls of outrage has now passed and the prospect of making an important change to the way our elected representatives can behave has once more been forgotten. It would seem that none of our "job for life" councillors in their safe seats, or the "cosy family cliques" that dominate decision-making in local government are inclined to bring in such a rule?

I should like to ask the Deputy Leader a question: What is the point of Labour having such a massive majority on Tameside Council - 52 Labour councillors against only 5 Conservative - if they are not prepared to use that majority to make even the most basic adjustments to improve representation and accountability in Tameside?

Carl Simmons

Denton South Independent

Sunday 28th September 2014