Regardless of what party you are in you will have a view of whom should be deputy PM. True that only Labour party members get to vote for them but they will be the deputy leader of our country. Lets presume that GB gets the PM position...
Who should get it? My vote (If i had one) would be cast for JohnCruddas. I say this not because i necessarily agree with his politics but because i appreciate that he has criticised the leadership constructively at times other than when the PM has announced he is stepping down. Most of the candidates are now criticising aspects of Blairs legacy and politics but they didn't dare when their career depending on it. Now it's open season on American relationship etc. At least Cruddas stood up for what he believed in before the end game looked near.
Whats your view? And no saying 'None of them or they would all be as rubbish'
Tuesday, 15 May 2007
Sunday, 13 May 2007
In praise of...
The Norfolk and Norwich festival. It is such a amazing time of the year where they have some genuinely great shows from across the world. Maltheus met with friends earlier who had been to a labyrinth in a old warehouse where they went around, solved riddles and pursued clue quiz's. It sounded great fun. I know there are a wide selection of acts including some fire dances, play, dances etc.
It's great when these acts come together and is something that Norwich and Norfolk can be proud of.
It's great when these acts come together and is something that Norwich and Norfolk can be proud of.
Paying for the costs of crime
Maltheus reads in the EDP that nowadays if you want to find out what happens to your nicked car then you have to pay...talk about privatising the NHS, Schools etc. Are the Police next....?
Wednesday, 9 May 2007
Interesting letter
With the local elections over they're are a large proportion of new councillors of all parties now in office. Maltheus wishes them all the best.
A letter to the Evening News today was from Paul Scruton of the electorally successful party 'Norwich Over the Water Party'. In it he advocates that all councillors should be trained by the electoral commission to equip them with the knowledge and skills to be able to stand up to the un-elected council officials which actually rule the councils. Maltheus isn't quite sure of this, there's the sitcom of political officiados with Sir Humphrey Appleby that portrays politicians as the figureheads but civil servants as the powerhouses. Is this true of local government?
Having been in a elected position himself Maltheus is aware of the influence some unelected officials can have on the position of an organisation. However, Maltheus believes that ultimately a civil servant can't change a vote and it is up to the conviction of the voter to set their views forward firmly.
But training can't hurt, can it?
A letter to the Evening News today was from Paul Scruton of the electorally successful party 'Norwich Over the Water Party'. In it he advocates that all councillors should be trained by the electoral commission to equip them with the knowledge and skills to be able to stand up to the un-elected council officials which actually rule the councils. Maltheus isn't quite sure of this, there's the sitcom of political officiados with Sir Humphrey Appleby that portrays politicians as the figureheads but civil servants as the powerhouses. Is this true of local government?
Having been in a elected position himself Maltheus is aware of the influence some unelected officials can have on the position of an organisation. However, Maltheus believes that ultimately a civil servant can't change a vote and it is up to the conviction of the voter to set their views forward firmly.
But training can't hurt, can it?
Sunday, 6 May 2007
John Reid to set down
The Politics Show is on BBC at the moment and John Sopel is interviewing John Reid. Reid just said that he is going to step down in July from the cabinet. Interesting....obviously declaring to work 24/7 for the Home Office, demoralising the staff by declaring it 'unfit for purpose' and splitting it up is too much and he intends to step down. Maltheus quite likes John Reid, he's quite personable and a street fighter BUT he needs to stay on and sort out the mess which is the Home Office. Although me thinks it might be a case of jumping ship before pushed..
Saturday, 5 May 2007
Election losers and winners and spin
The results are now mostly in for the local elections. Maltheus isn't going to do a minute analysis as there's far better critiques on the BBC and Guardian websites.
The Tories seem to be the winners at the moment with gains of 800+ seats across the country and some inroads into those eleusive towns. Labour has lost about 400 odd seats and the Lib Dems have made an overall loss of a couple o hundred seats despite making some notable progress in some areas.
Locally, the Greens lost by one vote in one ward to prevent them coming the largest opposition party in Norwich. Bet Ramsays secretly fuming behind his calm exterior. The Tories have become three and Morphew managed to just abut hold his ranks with a 300+ majority and maintaining the largest grouping on the council.
In South Norfolk, the Tories managed to win big and overturn the council there. They were one of the first groups to set up a innovative e-approach to the elections with blogs, downloads and Youtube ad's. Maybe this had a influence?
In North Norfolk, the Tories gained a few off of Independents but the Lib Dems consolidated and strengthened their grip. It's going to be reallit is iy hard for any candidate up there to lodge Norman Lamb away from his seat now. This used to be a uber-vulnerabloe seat but the Lib Dems won't be easy to unlodge by any party.
Maltheus's final comment is to vent his frustration at the election spin from the parties HQ's. Yes, it is inevitable but irritating nonetheless. Tony Blair claims that the loss of so many seats is a good steeping stone to success! How?! Cameron skirts around the issues of the major Northern cities with no Tories and Ming (Probably the most honest) claims a mixed bag - yes, they did have some successes but the net number of councillors was dramatically down!
The Tories seem to be the winners at the moment with gains of 800+ seats across the country and some inroads into those eleusive towns. Labour has lost about 400 odd seats and the Lib Dems have made an overall loss of a couple o hundred seats despite making some notable progress in some areas.
Locally, the Greens lost by one vote in one ward to prevent them coming the largest opposition party in Norwich. Bet Ramsays secretly fuming behind his calm exterior. The Tories have become three and Morphew managed to just abut hold his ranks with a 300+ majority and maintaining the largest grouping on the council.
In South Norfolk, the Tories managed to win big and overturn the council there. They were one of the first groups to set up a innovative e-approach to the elections with blogs, downloads and Youtube ad's. Maybe this had a influence?
In North Norfolk, the Tories gained a few off of Independents but the Lib Dems consolidated and strengthened their grip. It's going to be reallit is iy hard for any candidate up there to lodge Norman Lamb away from his seat now. This used to be a uber-vulnerabloe seat but the Lib Dems won't be easy to unlodge by any party.
Maltheus's final comment is to vent his frustration at the election spin from the parties HQ's. Yes, it is inevitable but irritating nonetheless. Tony Blair claims that the loss of so many seats is a good steeping stone to success! How?! Cameron skirts around the issues of the major Northern cities with no Tories and Ming (Probably the most honest) claims a mixed bag - yes, they did have some successes but the net number of councillors was dramatically down!
Thursday, 3 May 2007
Clarke gets the jitters
Seems that Charles Clarke has given up on his ambition to run for the leadership of the Labour Party. Despite saying that Brown is psychologically flawedamongst other things, he now seems to have changed tact by declaring him the most successful chancellor in 200 years. So this will lead to a non existent challenge from the left which will serve no purpose but to remind a few why they joined and left the Labout party.
Maltheus thinks theres been some cushy discussions about a cabinet level job for Mr Clarke - well it can't be because he wants to devote more time to the consituency can it?! Maybe he's done a pact so that his partner in crime - Alan Milburn - can run, but i doubt it!
Oh yeah....go vote!
Maltheus thinks theres been some cushy discussions about a cabinet level job for Mr Clarke - well it can't be because he wants to devote more time to the consituency can it?! Maybe he's done a pact so that his partner in crime - Alan Milburn - can run, but i doubt it!
Oh yeah....go vote!
Wednesday, 2 May 2007
What a...
Nobb - Simon Nobb called my yesterday (Apologies for the pun!). He's the Lib Dem candidate for Mile Cross and seemed a nice enough guy. Obviously trying to get in the last few votes on the campaign trail but seemed a little too unsure for Maltheus to be honest. He didn't quite seem confortable in talking at the doorstep. He wanted to make Mile Cross a better place but admitted that every party would offer that anyway. Like Maltheus says, nice guy but didn't speak councillor to me. However, being the only candidate to knock on Maltheus wishes him luck for his effort.
Bumped into a ex Tory campaigner in the Sportspark today as well and he told Maltheus that he gave up campaiging with the Conservatives because they were becoming too right wing for him. He supported Cameron but Norwich Tories were going in the wrong direction. Better hunt him down Tories!
Talking about the candidate not being too confident, maybe it doesn't matter all that much if they work bloody hard for their constiuents anyway. So Maltheus opens it out to all, what three traits are essential for a good councillor?
Maltheus says:
- Integrity
- A good orator
- Show empathy
Whats yours...?
Bumped into a ex Tory campaigner in the Sportspark today as well and he told Maltheus that he gave up campaiging with the Conservatives because they were becoming too right wing for him. He supported Cameron but Norwich Tories were going in the wrong direction. Better hunt him down Tories!
Talking about the candidate not being too confident, maybe it doesn't matter all that much if they work bloody hard for their constiuents anyway. So Maltheus opens it out to all, what three traits are essential for a good councillor?
Maltheus says:
- Integrity
- A good orator
- Show empathy
Whats yours...?
Monday, 30 April 2007
Vote Norwich!
Both in the local elections....
...And for the Monopoly game too - The more people vote for Norwich, the more it climbs up the ladder. Lets make it Mayfair!
...And for the Monopoly game too - The more people vote for Norwich, the more it climbs up the ladder. Lets make it Mayfair!
Random thoughts
When you start a blog you have the somewhat noble intention of posting every day - in fact why not two or three times a day. That quickly slips down when you realise that you have to think about what you put up and think of some new angle on it. So apologies if anyone out there visits the blog and are disspointed by the lack of posts recently.
Two main thoughts
- One, Iain Dale commented on his blog about the march of English organisations in London to herald the death of England. I don't think the doomsayers about the decline of Britain have the right solution - the answer isn't to construct a English parliament but to argue and win the arguement about Britishness. Maltheus strongly believes in Britain and despite the rhetoric from the SNP and the like we are a nation, united by common history and culture that works better together.
- Two, Maltheus established this blog because he has never been engaged with politicians and never given the chance to discuss his policies with candidates. Furthermore, Maltheus strongly believes that candidates and their supporters must try to reach out to voters as much as possible - leaflets, website, youtube, whatever. The campaigning is drawing to an end and i am sure the candidates look forward to a well earned rest.
To date Maltheus's house has recieved only one leaflet - From Morphew. Despite Maltheus's distrust for Labour, he might just vote for them as they are the only ones to contact him. As Maltheus drove to the Sportspark tonight he passed Cllr Read on the campaign trail. Out of Maltheus's friends, only Greens have knocked on their doors. Maybe the reason why they are so popular is because they are such good local campaigners?
Maltheus wishes to wish all candidates the best of luck. If you're brave enough to put your name on the ballot box then you deserve congratulations!
Two main thoughts
- One, Iain Dale commented on his blog about the march of English organisations in London to herald the death of England. I don't think the doomsayers about the decline of Britain have the right solution - the answer isn't to construct a English parliament but to argue and win the arguement about Britishness. Maltheus strongly believes in Britain and despite the rhetoric from the SNP and the like we are a nation, united by common history and culture that works better together.
- Two, Maltheus established this blog because he has never been engaged with politicians and never given the chance to discuss his policies with candidates. Furthermore, Maltheus strongly believes that candidates and their supporters must try to reach out to voters as much as possible - leaflets, website, youtube, whatever. The campaigning is drawing to an end and i am sure the candidates look forward to a well earned rest.
To date Maltheus's house has recieved only one leaflet - From Morphew. Despite Maltheus's distrust for Labour, he might just vote for them as they are the only ones to contact him. As Maltheus drove to the Sportspark tonight he passed Cllr Read on the campaign trail. Out of Maltheus's friends, only Greens have knocked on their doors. Maybe the reason why they are so popular is because they are such good local campaigners?
Maltheus wishes to wish all candidates the best of luck. If you're brave enough to put your name on the ballot box then you deserve congratulations!
Thursday, 26 April 2007
For Harry, England, St George and the Basra admin tent
Should Prince Harry serve on the front line if he gets posted to Afghanistan or Iraq is the question posed by most of the newspapers today. Maltheus's views is that he should probably not be allowed to go if he is likely to become an increased risk for the rest of the soldiers in his regiment (Which is pretty likely to be honest)
However, a friend in the military says that he should go and shoud serve the same as everyone else. It's his job and he might as well leave the army if he doesn't serve as any other officer or squaddie would do in this situation.
Also, even though he's one of 'our boys' Matheus tends to think its all pretty irrelevant when hundreds and thousands of Iraqis are dying every day/week/month!
However, a friend in the military says that he should go and shoud serve the same as everyone else. It's his job and he might as well leave the army if he doesn't serve as any other officer or squaddie would do in this situation.
Also, even though he's one of 'our boys' Matheus tends to think its all pretty irrelevant when hundreds and thousands of Iraqis are dying every day/week/month!
Wednesday, 25 April 2007
Tory Question?
Q. Have the Conservatives really changed when their Norwich Manifesto states they intend to offer a 10% rebate on Council to every council tax payer? And offering greater investment? Doesn't this sound like every past Conservative manifesto?
A. Your views....?
A. Your views....?
Monday, 23 April 2007
Uncontested and undemocratic
Maltheus reads in the EDP about the rise in uncontested seats in the local elections. Theres a number of alarming figures about the lack of contested seats but the most must be 'while just 24 of the district's 127 parish wards have got enough candidates to warrant an election' in North Norfolk.
Why is this? In Maltheus's first post he got criticised by the ominous named 'Unthankroad' who said that part of the reason there was a lack of candidates was because of critical observers of some other tripe. But do we play a part? Or is that grassroots are dying in large parts of the country and that people don't connect with political parties any more but more single issues or NGO's?
I doubt many would argue that this current state is undemocratic but what is the solution? Admittedly you could run as a independent if you wished but thats not too appealing to people unless there is a strong local issue. Or is it that people don't realise the type of power some councillors can have to change their local area? Do they think they are politically impotent and subservent to the higher echelons of politicians? I wouldn't mind your thoughts....
Why is this? In Maltheus's first post he got criticised by the ominous named 'Unthankroad' who said that part of the reason there was a lack of candidates was because of critical observers of some other tripe. But do we play a part? Or is that grassroots are dying in large parts of the country and that people don't connect with political parties any more but more single issues or NGO's?
I doubt many would argue that this current state is undemocratic but what is the solution? Admittedly you could run as a independent if you wished but thats not too appealing to people unless there is a strong local issue. Or is it that people don't realise the type of power some councillors can have to change their local area? Do they think they are politically impotent and subservent to the higher echelons of politicians? I wouldn't mind your thoughts....
Thursday, 19 April 2007
Wheres Charles?
Guido has created a interactive map on his blog where he follows Gordon Brown and his travels. Maltheus wishes he could do one about his local MP, Charles Clarke but doesn't know what the hell he is upto nowadays. All Maltheus hears of Clarke is his intention to try and kamikase pilot himself into the Labour Party. All this plotting is all well and good but Maltheus wouldn't mind it if Clarke actually bothered to do things in his constituentcy rather than trying to provoke his peers into a GB revolt.
When Maltheus screens the local papers there is no mention of Clarke apart from his supprt from the beard liberation front or a group of equal nonsense. He has no website, has no mention in the local papers and only gets covered in the nationals when he nobbles out a speech or two on the empty labour party future. Iain Gibson by comparrison is constantly in the news, declaring his support or anger at local intiatives and local results. It's not all about what you have in the news but it helps to have something in the papers to ensure that people think you door more than plot in your Portcullis tower...
When Maltheus screens the local papers there is no mention of Clarke apart from his supprt from the beard liberation front or a group of equal nonsense. He has no website, has no mention in the local papers and only gets covered in the nationals when he nobbles out a speech or two on the empty labour party future. Iain Gibson by comparrison is constantly in the news, declaring his support or anger at local intiatives and local results. It's not all about what you have in the news but it helps to have something in the papers to ensure that people think you door more than plot in your Portcullis tower...
Wednesday, 18 April 2007
£150,000 for lobbying?
According to the Evening News, Norwich City Council has employed political lobbyists for a sweet sum of £150,00 to lobby MP's for the unitary status. The Conservative spokesman, Anthony Little has criticised the move accusing the council leaders of making it hard enough to get new signs and menial costs released and then £150,000 is splurged on this. Malthues is in complete agreement with this for once.
£150,000 could do so much for this city. It could sort out dirty parks, make a real investment in local services or give more support to those in the poorest wards. It seems crazy that the council is paying this sum! I don't expect my council to waste my council tax on this idiocy. If someone can justify this sum then i will be very suprised! When the supporters of the unitary bid moan around council funding for their projects then I damn well know what my reply will be!
£150,000 could do so much for this city. It could sort out dirty parks, make a real investment in local services or give more support to those in the poorest wards. It seems crazy that the council is paying this sum! I don't expect my council to waste my council tax on this idiocy. If someone can justify this sum then i will be very suprised! When the supporters of the unitary bid moan around council funding for their projects then I damn well know what my reply will be!
Green tsunami
Maltheus found himself on UEA campus yesterday and saw the Green Party stall in the square happily grabbing students to indoctrinate with their eco-friendly, peacenik policies. Two of the councillor candidates said that the Green party will become the second party in Norwich by the end of this election but neither was confident personally about their wards. Adrian Ramsay must have given them one of his insipring talks and buoyed them full of confidence!
In contrast the Lib Dem candidate that Maltheus spoke to was confident of their seat but painted the picture as trying to halt the Green advance rather than make meaningful gains...could this be the election when the Greens become the second largest party in Norwich?
PS - One of the candidates didn't even know how many councillors his party had in City Hall!
In contrast the Lib Dem candidate that Maltheus spoke to was confident of their seat but painted the picture as trying to halt the Green advance rather than make meaningful gains...could this be the election when the Greens become the second largest party in Norwich?
PS - One of the candidates didn't even know how many councillors his party had in City Hall!
Monday, 16 April 2007
Maybe we need demon headmasters
Maltheus reads in the news today that apparently headmasters don't make any difference to struggling schools. The Policy Exchange, a leading thinktank has concluded that the introduction of a new headteacher won't make any hardly any difference in a failing institution.
Maltheus believes this is a load of old codswallop. Like any large institution the impact a successful leader can have upon that place is enormous. A school needs strong leadership and with it they can be steered to success. A strong leader provides inspiration and direction, a weak leader creates chaos and failure for students and staff. The EDP has took it upon theirselves to criticise heads as well, claiming that they are too often clones of each other, 
unafraid to tackle the real issues. The EDP claims that Heads are afraid of making real decisions over issues such as exclusion. Does the writer: 1. Realise how hard it is to exclude a student? 2. Realise that it impacts on alot of people by excluding a student - including the student being excluded and their family? and is therefore not a easy decision to make and 3. Ever think to go into a school and see how many different things a head has to do and manage?
unafraid to tackle the real issues. The EDP claims that Heads are afraid of making real decisions over issues such as exclusion. Does the writer: 1. Realise how hard it is to exclude a student? 2. Realise that it impacts on alot of people by excluding a student - including the student being excluded and their family? and is therefore not a easy decision to make and 3. Ever think to go into a school and see how many different things a head has to do and manage?From Maltheus's experience of working with headteachers they deserve everyones respect. Most of them do enjoy a good wage but it is rarely a easy job, takes great determination and in Norfolk we have a number of great leaders, prepared to make difficult decisions and undoubtedly leading teams of committed teachers to make a real change to students lives.
As the case in any sector or industry there are good and bad performers. Headteachers and teachers deserve all of our respect not criticism.
Getting onto the housing market..
The simple truth is that house prices are growing at such an alarming rate (Alarming only for those who don't own, anyway!) Norman Lamb, North Norfolk MP highlighted this recently at a speech he did to a group of housing association officials. For those not currently able to afford to buy a house - the future doesn't look too bright.
Maltheus applauds the moves over the past few years to try and make more cheap housing in both the countryside and within the city centre. In Norwich alone there are hundreds of flats being made along the Riverside in town. Most of them will be priced around the £200,000 mark and totally unaffordable to the average buyer. However, some of these can be bought on a shared equity scheme whereby buyers can part buy their houses or flats. It's not ideal but it allows for a half step onto the ladder.
Norfolk County Council apparently has 16,500 acres under its control. Not all of this is fresh, green land and Maltheus has a little bit of a NIMBY tendency about churning up green field sites for housing. However, some of it has to go - Not all needs to be sacrificed for a new Norfolk Milton Keynes but some green land but mostly brownfield sites should be used for new developments committed to affordable housing.
At the recent sale of RAF Coltishall houses were going for £118,702 - £154,802. This is a fair price and accessible to most new buyers on fair wages. There were only 48 houses though so it hardly scrapes the surface. With housing shortages in small villages, a NIMBY tendency, reluctance to churn up new development sites and developers keen to target more lucrative estates there's alot to be done to reverse this situation!
Snobbery on behalf of some developers in their attitude towards low cost housing and the government needs to tackle those unscrupulous housing developers who swoop onto new developments, buy them up before the first bricks have been layed and prevent genuine first buyers from purchasing houses near where they live.
Maltheus applauds the moves over the past few years to try and make more cheap housing in both the countryside and within the city centre. In Norwich alone there are hundreds of flats being made along the Riverside in town. Most of them will be priced around the £200,000 mark and totally unaffordable to the average buyer. However, some of these can be bought on a shared equity scheme whereby buyers can part buy their houses or flats. It's not ideal but it allows for a half step onto the ladder.
Norfolk County Council apparently has 16,500 acres under its control. Not all of this is fresh, green land and Maltheus has a little bit of a NIMBY tendency about churning up green field sites for housing. However, some of it has to go - Not all needs to be sacrificed for a new Norfolk Milton Keynes but some green land but mostly brownfield sites should be used for new developments committed to affordable housing.
At the recent sale of RAF Coltishall houses were going for £118,702 - £154,802. This is a fair price and accessible to most new buyers on fair wages. There were only 48 houses though so it hardly scrapes the surface. With housing shortages in small villages, a NIMBY tendency, reluctance to churn up new development sites and developers keen to target more lucrative estates there's alot to be done to reverse this situation!
Snobbery on behalf of some developers in their attitude towards low cost housing and the government needs to tackle those unscrupulous housing developers who swoop onto new developments, buy them up before the first bricks have been layed and prevent genuine first buyers from purchasing houses near where they live.
Sunday, 15 April 2007
Billboards abroad?
Norfolk Blogger makes a good point that he noticed on his trip down South that there was very little political billboards around. Maltheus must admit that on locally, around Norwich he hasn't seen too many either. Theres the four Lib Dem 'Winning here' boards at the house near the uni and a smattering of Green boards but Maltheus hasn't personally seen any posters or Billboards for the Tories, Labour or any others anywhere.
A board makes a affirmation that the person situated at that house is a keen supporter of the party and i suppose some may be reluctant to have them in case they then get sucked into the political debates of their advertisers.
When Maltheus used to lived in the 'Golden trainagle' he had a corner house and 4 other flatmates. They all have differing opinions on politics and so like Pokemon they tried to 'catch them all' - Our garden had advertisements for Green at one end and Lib Dem the other. Slightly confusing to the average passer by but making a statement that we were political. Maybe a way to raise awareness of the elections is to have a 'We're voting' poster or board people could put up - this helps advertise the elections without having to reveal your vote if you don't want to?I'd certaily be up for it if the council made them.
Saturday, 14 April 2007
SNP, Independence and Unitary
The talk of the elections has so far concentrated on Scotland and Wales. There has been little talk so far of what might happen within England and Norfolk. Maybe that is because the most controversial outcome might be the victory of the SNP and a road to independence. Maltheus isn't convinced that this is the greatest idea that Salmond or Scotland has had - Sure Ireland has a thriving economny but Maltheus doesn't reckon that Scotland would be able to make that jump - Without having to go through a very painful period.
One of Norwich's issues is the Unitary bid at the moment and Maltheus isn't too confident that voters know about this or even care! On the doorsteps it is crime, education, health that matter rather than a little bit more independence for some and a little less for others. Now, the o bearded one -Steve Morphew- would argue that actually by tackling the unitary bid you tackle the other problems. But Maltheus can't see that playing well on the doorstep and so that might be why Labour isn't mentioning it on their literature?
So with the EDP's help - What are the Unitary bids pro's and cons?
- Advantages of home rule:
-Decisions on services in Norwich will be made by councillors who represent the city.Less confusion over who provides services.
-The new unitary authority would be able to have a stronger focus on urban needs such as deprivation, educational attainment and health issues.
-Closer working with local communities and neighbourhoods.Higher profile nationally and internationally
-Better targeting of resources on deprived areas.
Educational attainment in the city would rise.
Disadvantages of home rule:
-Higher council tax bills created by the £18 million set up costs for the new authority and £32 million overall change and transformation costs.
-Redundancies among social care and cultural services staff.
-Possible closure of some libraries.Extra confusion due to a two-tier system.Widespread disruption and breaking up of services which currently work well.
-The city council's balances being taken to a level below that recommended for council services.
All the parties in city hall bar the Consevatives seem to be in favour of the bid but interestingly Maltheus hears of grumblings in the Labour County ranks. Not keen on a decrease of power?
One of Norwich's issues is the Unitary bid at the moment and Maltheus isn't too confident that voters know about this or even care! On the doorsteps it is crime, education, health that matter rather than a little bit more independence for some and a little less for others. Now, the o bearded one -Steve Morphew- would argue that actually by tackling the unitary bid you tackle the other problems. But Maltheus can't see that playing well on the doorstep and so that might be why Labour isn't mentioning it on their literature?
So with the EDP's help - What are the Unitary bids pro's and cons?
- Advantages of home rule:
-Decisions on services in Norwich will be made by councillors who represent the city.Less confusion over who provides services.
-The new unitary authority would be able to have a stronger focus on urban needs such as deprivation, educational attainment and health issues.
-Closer working with local communities and neighbourhoods.Higher profile nationally and internationally
-Better targeting of resources on deprived areas.
Educational attainment in the city would rise.
Disadvantages of home rule:
-Higher council tax bills created by the £18 million set up costs for the new authority and £32 million overall change and transformation costs.
-Redundancies among social care and cultural services staff.
-Possible closure of some libraries.Extra confusion due to a two-tier system.Widespread disruption and breaking up of services which currently work well.
-The city council's balances being taken to a level below that recommended for council services.
All the parties in city hall bar the Consevatives seem to be in favour of the bid but interestingly Maltheus hears of grumblings in the Labour County ranks. Not keen on a decrease of power?
Thursday, 12 April 2007
Connecting with voters in the 21st Century
Maltheus is new to this blogging me lark but he is learning quickly. In his first blog post Maltheus seem to have inflamed 'Unthankroad' who made a statement to the extent that it was voters fault that they don't engage with political parties. Maltheus was under the impression that it was the other way round! - Sure, there needs to be engagement both ways but the leg work needs to be done by the parties and their supporters.
However, it is also true that parties can engage in a number of ways as Maltheus has already acknowledged. To that end Maltheus has investigated each of the four Norwich parties presense on the web. These are Maltheuses findings, if you wish to add anythign or correct me please do so as google isn't foolproof. As a benchmark Maltheus considers the ideal to be the South Norfolk website which includes a Youtube and online PDF documents.
Green
The Greens don't have any individual blogs that Maltheus can find of councillors. They do, however, have a very good website which outlines their activities and beliefs. They also have a dedicated section to the May 3rd elections, photos and profiles on all of their candidates and downloadable PDF's of their manifesto. We might expect this as they would claim to be reducing the carbon emissions, printing costs and tuna fishing in this move...
Maltheus also found a Facebook presense of two of the councillors. Cllr Rupert Read and Stevie Altman. You have to be careful on Facebook though as fall within a network and anyone can see what is posted on your wall an any other info. Did you know that he was in a group celebrating the 'Puppet Man' in Norwich? How very PC!
Green party also has a Facebook presense but only 8 members to date
Conservatives
Both of the city councillors have blogs, Eve seems to have trouble updating her blog as the last post was in Feb but past posts provide info about her role and actions. Anthony has a well established blog and blogs regularly on a mix of Norwich, Life and National issues. Maltheus also saw a innovative blog from the candidate John Wyatt which although not updated recently combines politics with gardening tips!
Norwich Conservatives have a good website which sets out the policies for the party and links in with the national agenda. It has a seperate section for the election which has the names and contact details of all candidates. It has a (At the moment) empty section on the policy for the elections (maybe taking the lead from National Conservatives?)
No Facebook presense that Maltheus could find but two groups - One on UEA Tories and the other 'Its time to make life better' which seems to be an unofficial Norwich Tory group.
Lib Dems
A detailed website which combines Simon Wrights website (Norwich S candidate) with press statements, contact details and other information about councillors. Simon has a blog and it links into the wider Norfolk Lib Dem community. He needs to update the blog with the last post on the 18th of March but this isa good source of info.
Simon has a Lib Dem presense on Facebook and there is a group for Norwich Lib Dems - but it is a private group so Maltheus can't join! Isn't openess supposed to be the byword for Lib Dems?
Labour
A poor attempt by labour on the techno front. No Norwich Labour party website. Ian Gibson has a good looking website which breaks down the issues which he works with in his constiuency surgeries and how to book a appointment. He also has a blog with the EDP but hasn't updated it all that recently.
Charles Clarke - Too busy with his 2020 vision website - hasn't the time to look after the little people who actually elected him and doesn't have a blog or website.
A YouTube presense though from a random guy in Norwich labour circles. Haven't seen him before and with 3 views to date (Since March) he is unlikely to get famous quickly!). It wouldn't load too quickly on Maltheus's comp so let me know what you think of it.
Someone has been a little bit sneaky too thinks Maltheus - Have a look at this website for both Labour MP's.
However, it is also true that parties can engage in a number of ways as Maltheus has already acknowledged. To that end Maltheus has investigated each of the four Norwich parties presense on the web. These are Maltheuses findings, if you wish to add anythign or correct me please do so as google isn't foolproof. As a benchmark Maltheus considers the ideal to be the South Norfolk website which includes a Youtube and online PDF documents.
Green
The Greens don't have any individual blogs that Maltheus can find of councillors. They do, however, have a very good website which outlines their activities and beliefs. They also have a dedicated section to the May 3rd elections, photos and profiles on all of their candidates and downloadable PDF's of their manifesto. We might expect this as they would claim to be reducing the carbon emissions, printing costs and tuna fishing in this move...
Maltheus also found a Facebook presense of two of the councillors. Cllr Rupert Read and Stevie Altman. You have to be careful on Facebook though as fall within a network and anyone can see what is posted on your wall an any other info. Did you know that he was in a group celebrating the 'Puppet Man' in Norwich? How very PC!
Green party also has a Facebook presense but only 8 members to date
Conservatives
Both of the city councillors have blogs, Eve seems to have trouble updating her blog as the last post was in Feb but past posts provide info about her role and actions. Anthony has a well established blog and blogs regularly on a mix of Norwich, Life and National issues. Maltheus also saw a innovative blog from the candidate John Wyatt which although not updated recently combines politics with gardening tips!
Norwich Conservatives have a good website which sets out the policies for the party and links in with the national agenda. It has a seperate section for the election which has the names and contact details of all candidates. It has a (At the moment) empty section on the policy for the elections (maybe taking the lead from National Conservatives?)
No Facebook presense that Maltheus could find but two groups - One on UEA Tories and the other 'Its time to make life better' which seems to be an unofficial Norwich Tory group.
Lib Dems
A detailed website which combines Simon Wrights website (Norwich S candidate) with press statements, contact details and other information about councillors. Simon has a blog and it links into the wider Norfolk Lib Dem community. He needs to update the blog with the last post on the 18th of March but this isa good source of info.
Simon has a Lib Dem presense on Facebook and there is a group for Norwich Lib Dems - but it is a private group so Maltheus can't join! Isn't openess supposed to be the byword for Lib Dems?
Labour
A poor attempt by labour on the techno front. No Norwich Labour party website. Ian Gibson has a good looking website which breaks down the issues which he works with in his constiuency surgeries and how to book a appointment. He also has a blog with the EDP but hasn't updated it all that recently.
Charles Clarke - Too busy with his 2020 vision website - hasn't the time to look after the little people who actually elected him and doesn't have a blog or website.
A YouTube presense though from a random guy in Norwich labour circles. Haven't seen him before and with 3 views to date (Since March) he is unlikely to get famous quickly!). It wouldn't load too quickly on Maltheus's comp so let me know what you think of it.
Someone has been a little bit sneaky too thinks Maltheus - Have a look at this website for both Labour MP's.
National to Local
Are the local elections a vote on 'local' issues and local personalities? Or are they a referendum on national issues?
Maltheus recognises that both have some sway. It is not a national election or else we would have whole councils representing the colour of their local MP. Local elections showcase the diversity of communities. Norwich - A city with 2 Labour MP's can have councillors from Labour, Tories, Lib Dems and Greens.
It would be wrong for voters to treat the local elections as a referendum on Blair and to vote accordingly. The best approach would be to consider what their local councillors have done for them. If they are represented by a repellent, slug of a councillor who can't spell, let alone represent the ward then kick them out. Maltheus also considers what the council has done as a whole - if, for example, they decided like the last Lib Dem administration to try and destroy Norwichs finances then they have to be carefully approached!
However, national issues do come into play. Labour has left this country in a bit of a mess, across the country hospitals are closing, ASBO's are being handed out in their hundreds and the governments solution is to give us all a flimsy ID card so that they can follow our lives even more closely. Topping that - One of our local MP's - Charles ' Kamikaze' Clarke is intent on having a jolly good fight about the leadership election and Maltheus is betting that his oversized ear warmers will be thrown into the ring...
A mix of national and local...always nice to give the government a bit of a duff up but we have to think about local issues. I, for one, wouldn't mind it if the council actually decided to empty my bins for once and didn't raise the council tax by +5%
Let me know your views...
Maltheus recognises that both have some sway. It is not a national election or else we would have whole councils representing the colour of their local MP. Local elections showcase the diversity of communities. Norwich - A city with 2 Labour MP's can have councillors from Labour, Tories, Lib Dems and Greens.
It would be wrong for voters to treat the local elections as a referendum on Blair and to vote accordingly. The best approach would be to consider what their local councillors have done for them. If they are represented by a repellent, slug of a councillor who can't spell, let alone represent the ward then kick them out. Maltheus also considers what the council has done as a whole - if, for example, they decided like the last Lib Dem administration to try and destroy Norwichs finances then they have to be carefully approached!
However, national issues do come into play. Labour has left this country in a bit of a mess, across the country hospitals are closing, ASBO's are being handed out in their hundreds and the governments solution is to give us all a flimsy ID card so that they can follow our lives even more closely. Topping that - One of our local MP's - Charles ' Kamikaze' Clarke is intent on having a jolly good fight about the leadership election and Maltheus is betting that his oversized ear warmers will be thrown into the ring...
A mix of national and local...always nice to give the government a bit of a duff up but we have to think about local issues. I, for one, wouldn't mind it if the council actually decided to empty my bins for once and didn't raise the council tax by +5%
Let me know your views...
Wednesday, 11 April 2007
UEA cuts votes
Maltheus hears that UEA has decieded that in their whole 320 acres estate there is no room to have a voting booth on voting day! What utter stupidity from them - Surely somewhere there is a spare room. From an institution that is trying to prevent a gap between 'town and gown' then it surely foolish to make it less convenient for students to vote. What better way for students to engage with their local community as voting. Hopefully they will sort this out and get a voting booth there. Otherwise they will be making it harder for only 14,000 potenital voters. Maybe if the local political parties made this a cross party issue then there would be some change!
A chimp can post a leaflet through a door!
So...this is my first post. I've never created a blog before but i've done it in the vain hope that it inspires others like me to interact with politics in Norwich and the wider community. Theres too much cynicism in politics which doesn't resonate from individuals within politics but by the lack of engagement of citizens with politics.
I'm 23 and have always been interested in politics. I've never been in a political party as i don't feel that any one party represents my views but i respect those who do engage at that level. However interested you are in politics you shouldn't have to constantly chase the politicians. They should want to chase you! they should want to grab us, to talk to us and to find out our opinions on the saubjects that really matter.
This blog is a result of a lack of interaction in politics. The May elections are coming and i've only had one leaflet through my door - From Labour. None others. Where are the others? Do they not bother to print them in areas where they don't think they will win but are still standing a candidate? And the Labour candidate... commendable to post a leaflet more. More commendable would be for them to stop, see me staring at them through the kitchen window and stop and talk to me. Even if i disagreed or agreed with everything they said (Highly unlikely either way) then there would have been real interaction. A chimp can post a leaflet through a door.
I'm 23 and have always been interested in politics. I've never been in a political party as i don't feel that any one party represents my views but i respect those who do engage at that level. However interested you are in politics you shouldn't have to constantly chase the politicians. They should want to chase you! they should want to grab us, to talk to us and to find out our opinions on the saubjects that really matter.
This blog is a result of a lack of interaction in politics. The May elections are coming and i've only had one leaflet through my door - From Labour. None others. Where are the others? Do they not bother to print them in areas where they don't think they will win but are still standing a candidate? And the Labour candidate... commendable to post a leaflet more. More commendable would be for them to stop, see me staring at them through the kitchen window and stop and talk to me. Even if i disagreed or agreed with everything they said (Highly unlikely either way) then there would have been real interaction. A chimp can post a leaflet through a door.
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