Many people now have their postal vote for the Police Fire and Crime Commissioner in Northants. The three main parties have a candidate.
Having ditched party politics it was a shame there was not an independent candidate to support. I was asked a many times to consider running, but I don’t have relevant experience of blue light organisations, unless you count playing around fire engines when young as my dad was a retained fireman for 35 years.
To get onto the ballot paper requires a deposit of £5,000. Other areas have a booklet printed and delivered to every household with a page for each candidate in. Northants does not do this. Delivering is either logistically impossible alone or prohibitively expensive. This favours the established parties with the necessary resources.
The ballot paper arrived and its decision time, who to vote for?
I could spoil the paper or not vote. I have always thought don’t vote, don’t moan. I feel it is our democratic duty to participate in every election as it arises.
I have always voted Conservative. Their candidate, a former Chief Fire Officer, has the experience. He is the second choice for the local Tories. They all shamelessly stuck by Mold. No matter how bad his behaviour Mold was re-adopted as their candidate, it was his “dump the bitch”comment that forced him out.
As second choice for the Conservative Party locally, why should he be first choice for me or anyone else?
Not turning up to the radio debate does not demonstrate leadership.
Stating that you want to make Northants safer suggests the incumbent made it less safe.
Pitching your candidate as pitch a ‘man of integrity’ suggests the incumbent is lacking integrity
Stating that you will give an updated Crime Plan is just a pledge to do what is required by statute.
This pledge that the new candidate will obey the law is welcome, but it shows how low standards have slipped that those seeking to take charge of local policing strategy have to promise to act properly, unlike the incumbent.
The Labour Candidate has no blue light experience. She seems to think this is a source of great strength citing her community activism as qualifications for the job. I have sat on many committees with her and find her divisive. Always pointing to difference rather than what unites people. I would have great fears for the effectiveness of the police and fire service if her woke first agenda was implemented above operational requirements.
So that leaves the Lib Dem Candidate, she does have blue light experience as a former senior ranking police officer although not at the very top.
I don’t for one minute buy the de-politicise the office of PFCC, line she offers, but her call for DBS checks for all local politicians is the right one.
I am lending my vote this time to the Lib Dem’s. I have such fundamental differences with them politically it feels weird. I am not supporting their eco extremism, their anti democratic rejection of the majority to leave the EU, phoney bar charts, or ideas to make energy more expensive.
I have to be pragmatic, the Conservatives locally are arrogant, entitled, tone deaf, complacent, incompetent and mired in sleaze and scandal. A time on the bench to reflect and change is required.
I sent this picture to my daughter, who replied “are you okay?”. I am. I arrived at this decision by a logical process set out above. Einstein is reported to have said, doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is insanity. If I don’t change my vote, there will be no change.
This time round I have voted for Ana Savage Gunn – I would urge you to do likewise.
