Friday 11 April 2014

Independents' Day: May 22nd




Six weeks to go. 10 signatures on each of our 2 application forms and now Harpenden Independent Partnership are Standing For The District Council. It needed caps. The alarming discovery we've made as we've been going round collecting said signatures, is the number of people who'd like to sign our forms but are scared to do so in case they get into trouble with certain members of the local Tory Party.

Seriously. First time we laughed it off. After that, we really started sucking in our breath. Das blauen Reitstiefel is alive and well. Apparently. It appalls me that in this age of so-called democracy and freedom of choice, there are people running ''scared'' of some small group of petty-minded bullies with their own agenda who want to keep Harpenden 100% Tory so they can get their own way.

Previously, this has not been a problem for them: the other 2 main political groups regard Tory domination of my town as a fait accompli and don't bother to contest it with any vigour. Harpenden is wittily referred to as ''our friends in the North''. I have tried over the years I've campaigned to get the LibDems and Labour interested. They aren't. Cannot believe their mutual short-sightedness. Nor their claim of 'no money to campaign in Harpenden'. We are self-funding and are managing. There are 8 seats on the District Council occupied by Harpenden councillors and the other parties shrug and look away? Thus the genesis of an Independent group.

Our lovely candidates are standing in two wards: East and North. North is my ward and the local incumbent, Affable Tory Bloke, is standing again. He is as his name suggests. Pleasant enough, but does little. And blends into the background so well that another councillor we know has admitted that he's sat on the same committee as ATB for ages and he still isn't sure who he is.

We now have badges and lanyards (see pic), very useful on the doorstep as Jehovah's Witnesses don't tend to wear them. Also useful when shopping in Sainsbury's for starting conversations and making ourselves known. And we are certainly getting known. I was walking to the station the other morning to catch the London train when a car drew alongside, a woman leaned out and shouted: 'I'm voting for you!' Most gratifying.

Another high point was reached when the local secretary of a mainstream political party, not standing this time round, asked for official permission to vote for us. And got it. Even more fun was had when I and my colleagues turned up to the Annual General Toryfest of our local town council fully badged and lanyarded. The list of councillors who completely blanked me was ... interesting.

So what are our chances? In one ward, East, they are pretty high. In my ward, so-so. It depends upon the weather, and if those who said they'd vote for us turn out on the day. However IF the status quo is maintained by all the other political groups, and we get just one Independent elected, we could end up holding the balance on the District Council. Which might just make those councillors who blanked me, and have spent the past six years opposing us and defying the wishes of the local community take a step back, although I'm not holding my breath.
See you at the count.

21 comments:

  1. Oh well done, Carol!! This is all as it should be, and I'm sure there are many many people pleased to see another option in an area of former one party politics - well virtually.

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    1. Thanks Val. WE shall see. At least we are putting up SOME opposition...

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  2. Heute Harpenden. Morgen, who knows? Good luck. If I lived in Harpenden, you might even swing me away from the Spoilt Papers Party, who don't stand a chance of getting in.

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    1. You hit on a good point. The paper spoilers and the 'it's not worth it, the Tories always win' Brigade are the reason why they get elected on 23% of the vote.Seriously. That's why wwe are trying to engage in conversations..

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  3. Good luck, Carol - won't you give them something to think about if you get in!!

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  4. Being accosted in the street by hit and run supporters bellowing their backing of your campaign is most applaudable and indicative of your standing in the public eye......however, should you wake one morning and such persons are covertly lurking in your garden or harvesting your laundry from the washing line...then that would take the matter to a new...( and highly entertaining )...level!...
    Good luck with all, Hedges, I have great faith in the success of anything you're involved with, not just because you are extremely adept in all you do with a praiseworthy enthusiasm and commitment....but because you frighten the hell out of me!......( I still think you'd have made a great Pope btw )...

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    1. It's top of my 'Still To Achieve' list....

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    2. Ahem. Just clearin' my throat, you understand. However, I do think you'll make a great councillor.

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    3. Not really ..which is why I am so glad my 2 guys have stepped forward. I am a strategist not a politician ..I get too impatient and cross!! Haha..as you know...

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  5. So you can officially say that you are hip now then! Last time I was hip was about 1995.

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    1. Believe it not, that joke has been made. And all new adherents are known as HIP replacements,...

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  6. I'd vote for you if I was a Harpender bod!

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  7. This is so exciting. If I lived closer I'd help with the canvassing. I look forward to polling day and the results and I'm keeping everything crossed! :-))

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  8. Good for you, Carol channelling your fighting spirit. So many of us moan about things and don't get round to doing anything. Whatever happens it will be a good experience. There are lucky to have you on board.

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    1. Thanks Ros and Annecdotist!! We begin our second leaflet distribution shortly..

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    2. Good luck! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you and will look forward to hearing more!

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  9. Good luck Carol, I hope you get elected. I would love to see the look on the faces of them ignorant councilors, that blanked you!

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    1. thanks George!! we cross our fingers and hope..

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  10. Power to the people!!!!!!! Good luck !

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  11. You go, girl! (I feel this calls for that little bit of Americana. Sometimes they do do things better than us...) x

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