Our place to talk – an independent website for supporters of the Liberal Democrat party in the UK.

The most-read independent website by and for Lib Dem supporters. Not paid for by trade unions or millionaires.

Advert

Tag Archives: graham tyler

Should parish councils be “completely apolitical”?

By Stephen Tall | Sat 29th August 2009 - 11:40 am

An intriguing row has broken out in Shoreham, West Sussex, in the lead-up to a by-election to fill a vacancy on the parish council. The local paper tells all:

CONTROVERSY is stirring in grassroots politics, with the nomination of a Liberal Democrat to stand in a Rustington Parish Council by-election. Jamie Bennett’s punt at parish politics has rippled the normally tranquil waters of the council, on which all 15 current members sit as independents.

Lib-Dem Jamie will contest the West ward seat vacated by former parish council chairman Mike Warrington, who has moved away from the area, in a two-horse race with Andy Cooper, described as the “Keep Rustington Council Independent” candidate. The by-election is on Thursday, September 17.

This kind of debate isn’t unusual at parish council level – the size of most parishes, and their limited budget powers, tend to mean the decisions they can make are small-scale: what place does party politics have in such circumstances?, goes the argument.

Continue reading »

Posted in Local government and Op-eds | Also tagged jamie bennett, parish councils and shoreham | 20 Comments

Most Read

Op-eds

Reinvigorating the Royal Navy (Ben Edginton-Thomas)
Global Power or Euro-Atlantic leader? (Peter Chambers)
Lib Dems at the Edinburgh Festival (Caron Lindsay)
Diversity, standards, and the treatment of Professor Jason Arday (BLAC Liberal Democrats)
Labour has the promise on business rates – We have the plan (Pawel Urbanski)

Advert

Recent Comments

Chloe
It seems many on this thread live in a post fact world. Comparing the two papers it's blindingly obvious - add to that the outlandish claims of the personal exp...
David Raw
What is the party doing to improve it's showing outside 'Middle England' ? 1.6% in Cumbria, 3% in Nottingham, and 2.1% in South Yorkshire sends a message the p...
David Allen
"@ David Allen …………………… Oh, dear, yet another example of how the Lib Dem Party has swung to the right" Just in case you've missed it, Mr Raw,...
Simon Robinson
@Mick: I also have a PhD so I have a pretty good idea what studying for one involves and I agree with @FS People. I think the thing you're missing is that there...
Jeff
Judy Abel 16th Aug '26 - 3:51pm: I am sorry but while privatisation may not automatically lead to poor water quality it certainly has in the UK. ...