Opinion: the first test
Just months after the general election, party activists are again knocking on doors throughout south Norwich. September’s local elections can be seen as the first test of the popularity of the country’s coalition Government.
Over in our Opinion section, hear firsthand why you should vote for each of the parties vying for control of City Hall: Labour, Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and The Green Party.
The coalition Government may only be 4 months old but it’s been quick to implement wide-ranging policies such as increasing VAT, cutting the public sector and halting unitary status for Norwich.
For this reason, next month’s local election is a key test of public opinion. Lifelong Liberal Democrat voters, if unhappy with the coalition, may find it hard to vote for the party again so soon. Meanwhile controversial policies, driven forward by the Conservatives, such as ending fixed-term council house tenancies, could cause some voters to place their cross elsewhere.
But then there’s Labour’s own record while being the largest party on the city council. Some voters may feel it’s time for a change in the balance of power at City Hall. And there may some who voted Green in the general election, who feel their vote was wasted when their candidate came 4th.
On the city council, Labour currently hold 9 seats along with the Greens; the Conservatives and the Lib Dems have 4. With less than 2 weeks to go, we’ve asked each of the four main parties to submit a short article, explaining why they deserve your vote.
There are a number of reasons why this election will be interesting. If the Greens gain, where Labour lose, it’s conceivable that Norwich could become the first council in the country to have a Green administration, all be it a minority one. Eaton is one to watch where the long-standing Liberal Democrat is stepping down. University ward could be close, according to both Labour and the Greens. And in Bowthorpe, which is currently Conservative, we could witness a backlash, after the coalition pulled the plug on Labour’s school building programme.
Many see this election as unnecessary, costing £100,ooo to elect just 13 councillors. But there’s good reason to read why each of the parties thinks you should vote for them. After all it’s your city they’ll be running.
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