Burying news

This week in the bid to clear the decks before Uncle Joe begins his reign of terror as Prime Minister, Blair has put out all his contentious legislation. We have seen announcement after announcement. One on Blair’s legacies will be the amount of legislation that his governments have produced.

We have seen the Waste strategy, Nuclear Power Stations proposals, changes to the planning rules and proposals for pay as you drive. Failure to scrutinise proposed legislation quite often results in bad law. A lot of what has been proposed has many critics and a full public debate should be had.

The removal of people and politicians from the political process is what drives people away from elections and participation in the process.

Talking Rubbish

David Milliband has today announced the Government’s Waste Strategy for England 2007. The Waste Strategy confirms that as a nation we need to radically cut waste but it leaves unanswered vital questions on how to actually do this. He talks about putting chips in bins and how people will pay for the waste that they produce. Southampton would benefit from more money in dealing with waste. Southampton landfills just under 18% and this will be reduced under Conservative control. In other comparable unitary authorities across the country the figure is 65% these are predominantly in the north of England.

This announcement could give local authorities freedom to develop recycling and increase. Yet the issue is the producer of waste manufacturers and retailers need to cut packaging and waste. Around five million tonnes of annual household waste is packaging. It makes up almost one fifth of all household rubbish. Manufactures need to face the same legal and financial pressures as councils if they are seriously going to be persuaded to cut packaging. Again more hot air from a government.

Labour Supports Academies

With Academies and trusts being discussed in Southampton, Labour has proposed further expansion of such schools. Lord Adonis, the schools minister, claimed the "all-through" approach was the way to boost standards.

Privately sponsored academies and trust schools are set to create links with state primaries like those between preparatory and secondary schools in the independent sector.

Academies remain in the state sector, but are independent of local councils and accept sponsorship from private firms or charities.

Full Council

We are in an interesting state as to control of Southampton. On Wednesday a new council will be elected. This will be either a Conservative or Labour administration, both have 18 Councillors. The Liberals will have the role of 'King Maker', Labour say that as they will have the mayor he will have a casting vote. Even though the Conservatives won the popular vote.

This raises various questions as they are openly making the position of mayor a political figure which has been a non political role. In previous situations the mayor has voted with the administration (Cllr Parnell a Conservative in 2003 supporting the Labour budget and in 2007 when Cllr Slade Lib Dem supported the Lib Dem administration). In each of these situations it was the office rather than the person. As we do not have an administration to vote for, a political party could bring the role of mayor into disgrace.

At present a convention exists that the mayor rotates among the three political parties but will this continue if one uses what is a non political role for political purposes?

The Liberal Democrats seem to be attempting political suicide similar to Labour in 1983. In Swaything the residents through the ballot box rejected the proposed transit site on the Monks brook site. As this is in the parliamentry seat of Sandra Gidley with a 125 majority I am sure she is looking forward to the proposed site and the ensuring loss of her parliamentary seat.

911

The final number of newly elected Conservative Councillors has reached 911 with the delayed result from Warwick and Breckland. The BBC had the results summary until lunch time, and replaced it with a postcode search they could just not bring themselves to printing over 900 gains for the Conservatives. I think a 50% better result than excellent.

Southampton Elections

Well it is all over : the votes have been counted and results are in.

The Conservatives in Southampton had a fantastic result in Southampton last night in the local elections.

A brief summary is as follows: Conservatives +2 (18) 19,022 votesLabour +2 (18) 15,656 votesLib Dem -4 (12) 11,879 votes


I was returned in Sholing which obviously gave me great pleasure. The turnout was up to 37% (I am sure Mr Heath will say that was down to his waste of taxpayers ' money on planes and buses). It seams Matt Stevens was a bit wrong with his predictions, no great surprise there.

Also Alec Samuels was returned , which was great not just for the Conservatives but also Southampton as he is extremely hard working. It also gave me great pleasure that Matt Dean a good friend was elected. Also Linda Norris and Andy Wells' result in Millbrook and Jane’s in Swaything shows the Conservatives are dealing with local issues and helping local people.

Thank you Sholing


SHOLING (Electorate: 10,654)
Majority: 352
Turnout: 3,976 (40.5%)

Dick Gavin Craig Conservatives 1,787

Furnell David Labour 1,435

Lisle Martin Michael Liberal Democrats 390

Weaver Tony UK Independence Party 354