Norwich and Exeter elections

So what do these two sets of elections tell us about the state of the coalition? Well, clearly of the main parties Labour are making headway (as seen in the national polls), with the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats suffering in more or less equal measure, but it also tells us that where there is a strong local national party (such as the Greens and the Liberals) they are more than capable of springing a few surprises. Could this mean that in next year’s mass elections in all parts of the UK bar London, we see the first Green Assembly member in Wales? the first Liberal councillor in Birmingham? or indeed a local independent in the Scottish Parliament or Northern Ireland Assembly? we shall have to wait and see.

Source political betting

Little concerned over these comments by the leader of the Labour group

not sure you are aware how the governance of schools works. We do not run schools governing bodies and head teachers do. Only after our advice has not been taken can we act and even then only with the consent of the Secretary of State

I understand you don’t run schools, but we seem to have a problem with your statement,would i be pushing the button a little to far in saying you do monitor the financial status of schools.This must be a fact due to the monthly reports offered to the council scrutiny committee,and if so you would i presume spot any financial issues very quickly.If according to your statement that you offer advice and if  it is not taken then you can act,what was the time period of finding the school was in the red to the tune of two million pounds and offering advice pre contacting the secretary of state, what worries me is simple the budget situation as been a disaster for the past four years to my knowledge if not longer within children’s services and again we see what in real terms is a disaster,i will stand corrected but did we not have two more schools  who were in similar poor shape,you at no time mention the sub group who were looking into schools budgets ,did they report? did they publish any findings? surely you do not go into the red over night ,why was this issue not raised at BUDGET SCRUTINY? do we not have an officer who’s task is to take over failing school  budgets? i think we do.

Sad to see Pam is leaving the Salford Desk

 

Pamela Welsh

I have had some run ins with Pam. but the best of luck in what ever you do. 99% of the time she always gives a far crack to local politicians even out of work ones.

Lib Dem councillor withdraws support for local coalition http://bit.ly/b1Jamj

In addition, in a controlling alliance – and then a formal coalition – with the Conservatives (controlling Wolverhampton since May 2008) I believe that the Conservatives have treated their Liberal Democrat partners with contempt: our partnerships agreements have been ignored or appropriated by the Conservatives with no due respect given to us as individuals or as a party.

Plus, the ideological driven policies of the Conservatives to ‘slash and burn’ our great city’s (nation’s) services must not be tolerated. The ideological driven philosophy of the Conservatives that ‘if we do not legally have to do it – don’t do it at all’ is the opposite of what any fair and equal (and just) society should be.

It gets better by the day

Well said

Just for reference there are some new pictures of Cllr Lindley in his firemans uniform

http://www.flickr.com/photos/iainlindley/page2/

By the way don’t worry there will be no effects to the service due to the Condem cuts Cllr Lindley will be filling in if needed.

NORWICH GREENS MAINTAIN ELECTION PROGRESS

 

Norwich Green Party

For immediate release  

                                 

 The Green Party has won an extra seat on Norwich City Council, maintaining the progress it has made at every local election since 2002.

 

Norwich now has the highest number of Green councillors of any UK council ever.

 

Yesterday’s election gain came in Thorpe Hamlet ward, at the expense of the Lib-Dems. The Greens also saw a substantial increase in their vote in Lakenham ward.

 

Councillor Adrian Ramsay, deputy leader of the Green Party, will be taking news of the positive result to the party conference which begins in Birmingham today (Friday). He said:

 

“I am delighted that the Green Party has once again moved forward in Norwich. We have successfully defended all our seats that were up for election and made a fantastic gain in Thorpe Hamlet. It is clear that lots of former Lib-Dem supporters have voted Green this time. They voted for hard working local councillors and a constructive opposition on the city council.”

 

Councillor Claire Stephenson, who is expected to resume her role as leader of the Green group now that she has been re-elected in Nelson ward, said:

 

“We will continue to work to make the council more open and transparent in what it does. We also want to make sure the council does all it can to promote local businesses. We will continue to challenge the Labour group and try to bring Green Party principles to bear in council decision-making.”

 

Yesterday’s election also handed an extra seat to Labour, won from the Conservatives.

 

There’s been a double celebration in Town Close ward which was held for the Green Party by new councillor Ash Haynes on her 20^th birthday. Ash is studying international development at the University of East Anglia and is a key organiser in Norwich Green Party.

 

 

Just recieved an email off the Manchester Green Party

It’s amazing the things that are going on in and around the city, any one want any details or could offer support drop me a line i will forward the email.

US soldiers ‘killed Afghan civilians for sport and collected fingers as trophies’Soldiers face charges over secret ‘kill team’ which allegedly murdered at random and collected fingers as trophies of war

Where do they drag these people from? and what does this do to the safety of our men who serve this country with honour. I for one do not think the people we are fighting against will be looking to see if they are shooting British or Americans. And these people are supposed to be the policemen of the world!!

Trade deficit explodes as economy heads for slowdown

The fiscal squeeze, which will be outlined in more detail in the spending statement due on 20 October, an erosion in confidence and a disappointing trade performance all seem set to slow growth as 2011 approaches.

Well i wonder over the coming months how many more companies will find them selves laying off workers. The Tories feel the private sector should take up the slack,but we are starting to see in my opinion a decline in sales, we need to see a boost in consumer confidence. and British products that can match or better our competitors, only recently  i have seen one company move its base over to southern Ireland due to the tax burden within this country saving itself over a Million pounds per year, London has for many years found itself to be a key financial player within the money markets, i believe over the coming years you will see the likes of China trying to take that share away.What are we doing to attract investment we have the work force but is it trained to compete,i spoke with a mother yesterday her daughter was one of the thousands who got pregnant early in life and as never worked she decided to try to break the mould, there was a course for hairdressing she needed money to by a uniform and kit and of course the fees, she approached the social and ask could she get help the answer? no.that is the stark reality of this country we cry foul and call the masses who don’t work but offer no help to work.

I wonder would this Tory minister fancy coming to Salford to talk to people who can’t find work.

The Government is to reduce a welfare budget that is “completely out of control” by a further £4bn, George Osborne said last night. The Chancellor, who announced £11bn of savings on welfare in June, said he would no longer provide the money for the unemployed to make a “lifestyle choice to just sit on out-of-work benefits”.

Yes there are some who choose not to work but that is not universal.This man is turning out to be the biggest obnoxious twerp i have ever seen and over the years i have met many tories of the same mould.If work is available and people are fit to work then they should, but try after 55 to get work perhaps he would like me to take him to see some residents i have met and discussed their problems,i wonder if the shoe were on the other foot, do you remember the program many years ago where they gave a Tory the same amount some  received on  the dole and left him to see if he could last the week,the outcome he came no where near.