[susie123]

Originally Posted by jaysay

Party politics do have an influence on local politics, you usually find that, in places like Hyndburn, the colour of the council is opposite to that at Westminster, from 86 through to 1999 it was Labour, in fact on the day of the 1997 election the constitution of HBC was 44 Labour 3 Conservative councillors, within 3 elections Labour lost control, same in 2010, labour took control in 2011, although there is a slight leaning to personal votes in local elections, the party of Government usually lose local councillors very quickly and control changes hands

Originally Posted by jaysay

Okay Margaret, we'll take politics out of local government and all councillors will have to stand on their own independent ticket, so you get a ballot paper with two candidates on, lets just say Ken Moss and Peter Britcliffe, 99% of people will look and say ah Mossy's Labour and Britcliffe's a Tory, that's why you'll never manage it, unless you bar the present incumbents from entering the election or people who have stood on a political ticket before, it ain't going to happen, the only thing is I totally agree with you and have done for a very long time, but know it hasn't a snowballs chance of happening, because political parties won't let it

Two very good and well made points there, John, totally agree.