Labour Leadership - irrelevant in Rotherham!

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So the young upstart, Ed Miliband wins and ends up forcing his older and wiser brother out, at least for now!

The ruthlessness with which he pursued his campaign against his older brother and 'heir apparent', would have made Lenin proud. Ed's ability to cast off the past that he was inextricably involved in as if he wasn't at the 'Cabinet Table' has given us a masterclass in political positioning coupled with once again seeing 'democratic centralism' in action giving Ed victory over David only because of the Trades Union Votes!

His first Leaders speech although pleasing those in the conference hall, was pretty thin, containing just enough to conceal from the public his left wing credentials, much more evident at the hustings that were not televised and to provide a moment of pure political theatre when David got irritated with Harriet Harman during his brother's maiden Labour Party Leader's speech, I'm sure you have all seen it, but in case you haven't?

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It will be difficult I think for him to convincing step beyond the caricaturists delight, as Red Ed!
Some have already claimed that the next election was lost with Ed's victory, we shall see?

For us in Rotherham this rather unedifying spectacle is a matter of great indifference to most of us, it is also largely irrelevant to the Labour Party as a whole in Rotherham. The Labour Party's writ does not really run as far as our town!

Here the Labour Party consists of a self perpetuating oligarchy who pay only lip service to Labour's Constitution and Rule Book. The Labour Group is the centre of power and control is exercised from the top by just a few, now, old men, a gerontocracy as well! Step out of line, ask questions and they will turn on those that will not accept the status quo. Ask Peter Thirlwall, if you are not convinced!

For us it is change in Rotherham that we seek to bring about and until this self serving and greedy bunch are replaced with effective, competent, basically decent and honest representatives, nothing at all will change.

Rotherham Independents want to restore real democracy, insist its members embrace the idea of public service at the expense of personal advancement,  provide value for money and consider Rotherham and its electorate before any party dogma.

Our mission is to use the ballot box to improve the lot of all our Town's citizens! Join us and make a real difference!

To find out more about us, email us here.

To find out how your MP's and Local Labour Members voted in Labour's Leadership elections, click here.

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Chief Executive - Martin Kimber - It's what your paid for mate!

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Rob Foulds

RMBC Chief Executive, Martin Kimber, who made in the Advertiser a request for involvement of the public at large in suggesting those areas of expenditure where cuts should be made and stated quite outrageously that Rotherham Council "has a real pedigree of listening to local people".

Needless to say this has had a similar effect to lighting the blue touchpaper and standing back. The Advertiser carried a number of letters this week commenting on this novel approach and the claims to be a 'listening council'!

Rob Foulds, our candidate in May for the Rother Vale Ward added this contribution which, as usual, goes straight to the main issues.
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"Dear Sir

So, Rotherham Council is asking for our help in ways to save money  -  the self same money that they have been flushing down the drain and into their very highly paid pockets for decades.

And to compound the insult, the Chief Executive, Martin Kimber, outrageously states how Rotherham Council "has a real pedigree of listening to local people". 

Well let's nail that lie straight away and any reader of this paper will know exactly what I'm talking about.

Rotherham Council did not listen when local people said that it wasn't a good idea to incur the cost of the Dolly Parton Library, when we already had several such early reading schemes.

They didn't listen when we said it was a bad idea to demolish All Saints Buildings, you know, the building that used to bring £250,000 per year into the council coffers - how useful that would have been right now.

They didn't listen when we said it wasn't right to expect us to stump up for their First Class travel on their jaunts around the country.

Did they listen when we said there was no economic case for their daft Supertram idea? No, but thankfully the government did.

They didn't listen when we said there was no need to spend millions on refurbishing the Town Hall, when it was a perfectly serviceable building.

And what about swanning off on jet planes to the other side of the world at our expense? No, they didn't listen to us then.

I could go on ad infinitum, but there's no need because as I said in this paper only two weeks ago, their chums in government have disappeared into oblivion and Martin Kimber and those he so slavishly serves, haven't got a clue.

In fact they are so clueless that they are having to ask us for clues and all of a sudden we are no longer their "customers" as they so like to call us, oh no, our status has indeed now been elevated to that of 'partner'.

Here's my suggestion to Mr Kimber, get off your arse and do your job, you're paid a huge amount of dosh every year by us, so earn your corn mate and manage the town's affairs.

And just so you know, the decisions that you are so afraid of taking, are having to be taken by private sector managers every day of the week and as you and your other very generously paid mates at Rotherham Council are so fond of comparing yourselves to them, don't you think it's about time you took responsibility, rather than trying to offload the hard bits on to us.

Yours faithfully

Rob Foulds"

Advertiser story: BUDGET CUTS: tell us what to axe, says council

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Rotherham Independents - What we are about!

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Rotherham Independents are totally committed to improving the way Rotherham is run and offer an alternative that is viable to the old sterile debates that go on in the Town Hall.

"We reject the current approach because it excludes or ignores the views of the most important of all. YOU!"

Our commitment to you is simple, we will represent you and will always take your views as our guide. We believe that listening to and involving the public is vital in any democracy but is sadly lacking in Rotherham. This simply has to change, we exist to do just that.

We reject prejudice and dogma, we believe that decisions must be made on the basis of robust evidence not mere political prejudice!

We have accepted as our guiding principles the Bell Principles that expand on Lord Nolan's, Seven Principles of Public Life, read them here.

We are criticised by some for having few policies, those thinking that have missed the point!

"It is the rigid adherence to policy, even when contradicted by evidence, that is the real problem!"

We are different, because we have open minds to all reasonable ideas for finding solutions to unsolved problems, we will decide on the basis of sound evidence not dogma.We believe that the people of Rotherham have a right to be involved, before, not after, decisions are made.        A very refreshing approach, we think you will agree!

"Party Politics has brought Rotherham to it's knees, we exist to provide the antidote to this failed approach and to renew peoples faith in the political process."

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Martin Bell Letter to Independent Candidates and Independent-Minded Voters

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Martin Bell OBE is a former independent MP for Tatton and a BBC war correspondent. He is a supporter of the Independent Network.

Let's make 6 May 2010 Independents' Day
An open letter to independent candidates and independent-minded voters.
I am writing on behalf of the Independent Network, the organisation that helps Independents help each other.
Independents have an unprecedented opportunity on 6 May to change the face of politics for good.  The MPs' expenses scandal has discredited many individual MPs, the parties that allowed it to happen and the House of Commons itself.  Many MPs with questionable expenses records have not been de-selected by their parties.  It is up to the voters to complete the process.
This is a time for independents to challenge the politics of the status quo; it is a time for independent Councillors either to stand for Parliament themselves or to help in the campaigns of others; it is a time to support the Independent Network by sending contributions to http://www.independentnetwork.org.uk/get-involved/donate
It is a time for the election of a group of MPs, without party baggage but with real world experience, to be a force for honest politics in the New House of Commons.  They will be answerable not to a political party but only to their constituents and their consciences. It won't be easy, but I believe that it is do-able.
If not us - who?  And if not now - when?

Yours Sincerely,
Martin Bell

Introducing Andy Newton - Candidate for Hoober Ward

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Andy Newton, a local born Rotherham man, lives in the Hoober Ward. He is 42, married to Lynn and they have a young family.

Educated in Rotherham Schools, Andy went on to become a Mechanical Engineer and became a successful local businessman.

Recent years have presented challenges and experiences that would have defeated all but the most resilient. Andy is the kind of person that adversity makes stronger and this is one of the factors that has led him to fight the Hoober Ward for a seat on the Council.

His experience in business has given him the perspective that would make him an asset on the council. He understands that both the people and businesses of Rotherham suffer under the weight of the leaden hand of the Council.

The current Councillors are indifferent to any pleas from residents for even the simplest and cheap solution to local problems, your Councillors are there to serve you, not themselves.

Andy says:

“I am standing for Hoober because it is time that the people were listened to for a change!

Your voice must be heard loud and clear!

With your help, I can be that voice!”

Andy Newton

Rotherham Independents Candidate

Hoober Ward

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Local elections kick off!

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The Notice of Election, published yesterday, marks the start of the Local Government Election this year in Rotherham.

 Jean with her husband, Peter Thirlwall

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Our first Candidate is now nominated! Jean Thirlwall stands with the voters of Sitwell for better governance of Rotherham and for a council not made up of those just in it for the money!

She is asking for the support of Sitwell's voters to bring the kind of change, not possible from either the Tories or Labour, to the Town Hall!

Jean represents the end to greed and Party partisanship that have brought Rotherham to it's knees!

Good 'Old Fashioned' honesty and decency must return to the Council!

Please take time to consider voting Rotherham Independent on May 6th

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The Rotherham Star Joins the Fray on First Class Travel!

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On Friday the Rotherham Star published the following story under the headline:

First class row over council rail travel
Published Date: 12 February 2010
By Richard Marsden

CALLS for a ban on first class train travel by members of a South Yorkshire council have been rejected.
The move was proposed by independent Rotherham councillor, Peter Thirlwall, who represents Wickersley.

At a full meeting of the council, he told fellow councillors: "I would ask you all to consider your position carefully before rejecting this motion, which would be taken by the vast majority of Rotherham people as a sign you do not live in the same world as them.........To read the rest of this story CLICK HERE

On Saturday they followed this up with an opinion piece:
Opinion The Star, Saturday, February 13,2010

Think again over first class travel 
 
COUNCILLORS in Rotherham ought to think twice about hanging on to their policy of paying for first class travel when they have to go to London on business.
They were asked to make the economy of buying cheaper tickets in future to show voters in the town that they are aware of the stringent times in which we all try to survive.
Refusing to consider this choice, councillors will leave many residents wondering if they are aware of the problems everyday folk endure during the credit crunch.
They should think again on this issue.

We, of course, agree with the Star!
Elected Members of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council cannot continue with extravagances such as this! They cost us, last year, over £1,100,000!

They are incapable or unwilling to change. Rotherham will wait in vain for Labour or the Tories to stop their party games and run Rotherham properly.

This is why we are asking for your support for Peter Thirlwall at the General Election, and for our Independent Candidates standing throughout the whole Town at the Local Elections, on May 6th. 

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