A Rock And A Hard Place

It was a tough choice holding the balance of power in Reading We were between a rock and a hard place and tried to choose the least bad option. A Lab minority administration at leadt means we can combine with other oppositiion and vote down their worst policies.

An alliance with the Tories and LD would be far worse news. They have cut services and made the most vulnerable suffer. Their response to our actions has been to invent a promise from Rob to back a Tory Mayor. Why he would do this they dont explain. Rob says he made no pledge and thats good enough for me. I suspect its a strategy to distract from their poor record, but that will not work.

Before the election they tried something similar, claiming a green vote was the same as Labour. Actually this may have helped us, a Tory telling ordinary voters that we were at least as good as Labour.

When we started in politics in 2004 all the parties said we couldnt possibly win, that we were a wasted vote. We kept trying and in 2009 triumphed, proved them all wrong. They then said it was just Rob, we could never repeat it. Once again they were wrong, the next election in 2011 saw a second triumph for us with Melanie.

Clearly they could not go on saying we couldnt possibly win. That required a channge of tactics, so now we are said to be "pledge breakers". How very bad, or is it just a red herring, a distraction from real events. If Reading people liked what they did last year they would have voted for more coalition not less. Its they that made the choice. Tories, you should learn from your mistakes. Or repeat them.

The mayor making was quite a night at the council as we didnt back any of them. Abstaining and letting them battle it out has resulted in a minority Labour administration. If/when Labour do something we dont like we opposition can combine and defeat them.

In 2008, I think it was, the then opposition Tory and LD (pre coalition) combined to put in their choice of Mayor and outvoted Lab. So making the mayor political. They hope people will have forgotten this. Hypocrites.

This year much the same has happened, a Tory deputy mayor got replaced by a Lab candidate for Mayor So thats the precedent for this year.

The LD and Tories now say "How dare we treat the deputy mayor in this way". Just the way they treated the then deputy in 2008. its not personal, just politics. See
www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2028675_new_mayor_ill_ensure_fairness where the depty who lost was one Debora Edwards, who becomes Mayor now. Some would say justice is done.

The LD have a different tactic. They are now claiming to be the party helping those in poverty. And they are talking up what they have done to tackle climate change and support cycling. There record in power tells a different story they backed a Tory administration that cut services and did nothing to reduce emissions. Shame on them for claiming one thing and delivering another. A single extra cycle parking place would have helped, but no all the money went on making traffic worse. Unsustainable transport gets all the money, its an old story.

So thats the choice, not much choice as it happens. All the big parties have a similar agenda. Last year the LD did a "labservatices" spoof. Fair play Would mean a "Libservatives" one, with Clegg as Camerons poodle. Thats how voters see them. Local spoof site muckspreading could do it, if it wernt so biased.

At least in Reading we have a real opposition noe, two Greens who will stand up for the people who voted for them. This fact changes everything, it can give some backbone to to other opposition parties who are all to often ineffective.

Up In Arms

What excitrment in the Reading blogosphere. The Tory & LD blogs are up in arms. Has there been a revolution? No just a Labour Mayor using his vote to install another Labour Mayor.

In the past the Mayor has been non political, but with the sides evenly balanced that has changed. The Mayor had a deciding vote and can choose who runs the council. A Tory Mayor would choose a Tory council, so no shock that a Lab mayor has chosen Lab.

Mostly the Tory/LD blogs are attacking Lab Cllr Gul Khan in a nasty way, saying he stabbed a Tory deputy Mayor inthe back. As if they would not do exactly the same thing. Its not personal, its politics. Unlike the claims that Gul did it to get cash to get his teeth fixed.

They also attack Green Cllr Rob White as they claim he pledged to also support the Tory deputy Mayor. Actually he said after the election thst he had no plans who he wanted as Mayor. recently when he decided to abstain he called and told them. Which is probably more than they would do. Not a big deal really, but they claim he has been very very bad.

All this fuss about not much. While nothing was said about cutting services to those who really need them. When they said there was no money they spent a fortune on traffic junctions e.g. making the mess on the Shinfield Road. But not a penny for cycle parking or paths. Only unsustainable transport will get support from that coalition.

Lets see some of that passion turned into positive action. The negative moaning goes nowhere.

We shall see how the new Labour administration performs, as well as keeping an eye on how effective the opposition is.
update
http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2093345_labour_takes_control_of_reading_
Has an account of the Lab, Tory & LD Cllrs behaving poorly. The ex LD Cllr Swaine showed why he was thrown out of his party with some silly stunt involving red noses. Perhaps he should just get a clown costume.

Ballot Grammer Schools In Reading

Reading has a lack of schools that is causing problems to patents. Children are traveling miles to schools outside the borough, though as money gets tighter this is being cut back.

Some like Maiden Erlegh in Wokingham have become academies so can set their own admission policies to benefit themselves not the local community. Currently their policy was set by the council, now they are independent we shall see if they change. (last sentence updated to clarify).

Many feel the two grammars, Kendrick and Reading School, are a luxury we can no longer afford. They are being described as state funded private schools.

Concerned Patents are forcing a ballot to decide if these schools can continue as they are.

1 They take 75% of pupils from outside the local authority (Reading) - the highest figure of any grammars in the country (source: Educ dept report 2008) while they took only 23 pupils (2% of 1,000+) in the past 5 years from the 7 primary schools within a mile of both grammars (source: the FoI figures); Alfred Sutton not included because it's 1.2 miles from Kendrick. Only one of these 7 - Redlands - actually qualifies as a “feeder school”.

2 Reading's school places crisis. Growing population with no extra provision after decades of Labour and one year of Tory LD coalition.

3 RBC challenging Wokingham's plan to exclude Park ward parents from local school.

4 In the much-touted “age of austerity”’ why waste public money buying a site then building a University Tech College solution when we've got two perfectly good schools on our doorstep? Two schools which cater for the people living within walking distance (a factor state schools are obliged to consider under the schools admissions code) would be a simple cheap, fair and progressive solution to the school places crisis and chime nicely with the drive to create a much more socially mobile society.

http://www.localschoolsnetwork.org.uk/2011/05/local-parents-protest-against-the-unfairness-of-grammar-schools-in-berkshire-and-might-force-them-to-become-non-selective/

Much of this post comes from
a facebook group "No to Maiden Erlegh Catchment"
http://m.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_144961062211046&id=210473882326430

Woop De Do, Olympic Torch Comes To Reading

Reading has been selected as one of only 66 areas in the UK to celebrate the colossal waste of money and resources that surround a sporting event that lasts only a few days.

For the atheletes involed, and their families, its an amazing event. For the rest of us not so much.

The torch will be coming to town on Tuesday 10th July 2012.

The 70 day Torch Relay will start at Land's End, Cornwall, on the morning of the 19 May 2012. On leaving Land's End, the Olympic Flame is expected to travel an estimated 8,000 miles across the UK.

I think they could use a map or sat nav.

The Olympic Flame will arrive at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July 2012 for the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony, signifying the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Don't you wish it was in Paris?

Listening NHS reforms 38 degrees

There are just two weeks of health minister Andrew Lansley's NHS “listening exercise" left. It's pretty clear what he'd like to happen next. He wants to use his stage-managed exercise as an excuse to claim he's listened – before ploughing ahead with his reckless NHS changes.

YouGov research paid for by 38 Degrees members has found that 95% of the public have no idea how to get involved with the "listening exercise". [1] That suits Lansley down to the ground!

By working together we can expose this sham and stop the listening exercise being used as cover to push through Lansley's plans. If we club together, we can buy full-page adverts in national newspapers to sound the alarm about Lansley's phoney listening exercise. We can tell the millions of people Lansley's ignored how to join the Save Our NHS campaign.

http://www.38degrees.org.uk/lansley-isnt-listening

Andrew Lansley's “listening exercise" has been carefully stage-managed. Most events have been closed to the public. In Sheffield last Friday, 38 Degrees members handing in our massive petition discovered that a "listening exercise" event had been held nearby hours earlier – but was kept secret until it was over. That's not the only reason it's a sham. Behind the scenes, health officials have been told to carry on with Lansley's original plans [2].

The next two weeks are critical. These adverts will help sound the alarm and stop Andrew Lansley using this listening exercise as cover for pushing through his plan. But we can only run them if enough of us chip in.

Please donate now to help sound the alarm and get our adverts in newspapers next week:
http://www.38degrees.org.uk/lansley-isnt-listening

Doctors, nurses, and patients’ groups have been queueing up to say how dangerous Lansley’s NHS plans are. [3] Last week, the Royal College of GPs said they could “unravel” the NHS. And on Sunday, The Observer revealed that one of Lansley’s top advisers told private health companies to expect big profits when the NHS moves to a US-style “insurance system”.

We can’t let that happen. We all rely on the NHS sooner or later, to take care of us and our loved ones. It’s not perfect, but that’s no excuse for ignoring the advice of the real experts and pushing through these huge, untested changes. To stop these plans, 38 Degrees members are contacting and meeting MPs up and down the country. We're building a huge petition showing the extent of public concern.

So now let's put these adverts all over the papers – and make sure everyone knows they can get involved with our growing campaign to stop these dangerous NHS changes.

Please make a secure donation and help get the ads in the papers now:
http://www.38degrees.org.uk/lansley-isnt-listening

Thanks for getting involved,

NOTES
[1] http://www.38degrees.org.uk/lansley-yougov-poll
[2] Letter 'shows pause on NHS reform is stunt' http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23942461-letter-shows-pause-on-nhs-reform-is-stunt.do
[3] http://38degrees.org.uk/pages/save-our-nhs-who-is-worried

Dont Get Clegged

In Reading the Greens hold the balance of power between Lab and the LD Cons coalition. There is much speculation so long after the election, understanably, who will be Mayor, lead cllrs etc.

And much misinformation is coming mostly from a few LD and Tories. And an ex LD. All saying we will be in a coalition with one side or another, but this isnt needed ir helpfull.

http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/18-05-11-greens-balance-power-reading-council.html

Just because the LD formed a coalition doesnt mean we have to. Why would we want to make the same mistakes. Who would want to be Nick Clegg now.

Clegg would have been better off supporting policies he agreed with rather than betraying much that he stood for. Played lab against tories/ LD and got a better deal for the country.

We would have had a proper referendum on PR, less chaos at the NHS and a few Green policies may have made there way into the mix.

So rather than sell out to get a cabinet position we want to put the people of Reading first.

Cut Carbon Create Jobs.

Going Where the Grass is Greener - Why I'm Leaving Labour (guest post)

Guest post by Josiah Mortimer who writes http://marchthefury.wordpress.com

It's been an tough decision to make, but I have decided to join the Green Party. For the past year I've been in the Labour party, and met some fantastic people - principled people, including many on the left. MPs such as Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell have consistently acted upon their socialist beliefs, and been dedicated to fighting for social justice and egalitarianism. The election of Ed Miliband provided some hope for people like me, that is, Young Socialists (sadly just 'Young Labour' now) by offering a split from New Labour. But I have decided to change party for a lot of reasons, which I'll try and explain.

Firstly, the old cliche, which I've just realised to be true. Though there are some socialists in the Labour party, it is fundamentally, and unfortunately, not a left-wing party. That is not to say this won't change in the future (social democratic parties have been wiped out in Europe after the '90s) - but the Labour party doesn't represent all that many progressive views. Cuts are being supported by Labour. Just at a slightly slower rate - not really encouraging for people about to lose their job or having their disability support slashed. And in education, Labour still supports a view of education that sees it as a mere commodity to be sold to students, or 'customers' as we are increasingly called. Education is a public good, a gift from one generation to another. It pays for itself in extra tax revenue from higher earning graduates. It creates well-rounded individuals. And ability to pay shouldn't come into the public sector - whatever part of the public sector that is. On Trident, the war in Afghanistan, on Gaza and NATO, the Green Party is on the side of progressivism when frankly Labour isn't.

I voted for Ed Miliband. He appeared to support a future for Britain that is centre-left on the side of equality. But now he seems keen on reducing the role of trade unions within the party and is cozying up to 'Blue Labour' - effectively a continuation of New Labour but with slightly less free-market obsession and slightly more racism and xenophobia. Again, not all that inspiring.

I come back to the point of socialists in the Labour party. John McDonnell, the beacon of hope within the party, couldn't even get on the ballot for the leadership election. He had to drop out to boost Dianne Abbott's chances of getting on there. And she sent her kids to private school. Caroline Lucas MP is to the left of Abbott - and leads the Greens. I want to be part of a party that not only has strong left element, but that is actually led by the left.

Of course, there are flaws with the Greens. They don't have trade unions at their heart. But unlike Labour, the Green's stand on a platform of removing anti-trade union laws. Something Labour didn't do in their 13 years of power. And the Greens perhaps have a presentation problem of being seen as a bourgeois humus-eating elitist clique. However, all the Green Party members I know are rooted in realism and the working class. Are they a single issue party If so, which single issue Wishing to clamp down on tax dodging Seeking a fairer tax system to stop the cuts. Through their 131 councillors, their MP and MEPs, they have shown that they most definitely are not a single-issue party. Nonetheless, if they were it would be preferable to a party that has no firm beliefs anymore at all.

The Greens are growing. Membership is going up. Their democratic representation is increasing all the time - even under First Past the Post (which, unlike Labour, the Greens oppose) - as they now control Brighton council and have councillors across the country. Their stature and credibility as a party is growing. It took a long time for me to be convinced of that, but it's true.

I don't want, or need, to list what I think the Labour party did wrong over the past thirteen years. Because many good things happened. Sure Start, investment in the NHS, the minimum wage, devolution and so on. And I am filled with a certain sense of guilt for leaving a party that declares on our membership cards it is a 'democratic socialist party'. But then I remember this was only put in as a concession after the tragic removal of the radical Clause 4 in the '90s.

Again, I have to stress, I fully support the left within the Labour party. The Labour Representation Committee has played a fantastic role in keeping it alive within the movement, and I will sorely miss not being able to retain my LRC membership. Even of those not on the left there are some fantastic people locally who I respect and wish all the best. And were the Labour Party to ever (as unlikely as it may seem) shift back to the left, I will be one of the first to rejoin. But this is looking increasingly remote the more disillusioned I become with Ed Miliband and the rest of the leadership.

So. All the best to all the Labour comrades I have met over the past year and hope to remain friends with - and solidarity with all the trade unionists and socialists still sticking with the party. I'm going to make a firm pledge now that if I ever stand as a Green candidate it will never be against a dedicated left-wing Labour member.

And neither am I going to ask anyone to follow suit. I don't want to be a human billboard for ditching the Labour party. But as the saying goes - the Labour party left us, not the other way round.

Innocent Until Proven Guilty

The presumption of innocence, the principle that one is considered innocent until proven guilty, is a legal right of the accused in a criminal trial.

I don't see much of that at the moment. The press is full of stories based on the claims of a single person. The accused may be guilty or not, until a trial we don't know.

Trial by media is just not on, too many innocent people have their lives wrecked.

Neither the accused or the accuser should be named till the trial is over. Naming the acccused can ruin an innocent persons life, and also influence the trial.

Wokingham Tory And LD All Voted Agaisnt Renewables

Wokingham Borough Council rejected the wind power scheme that was near the M4:
'On balance the wider environmental and economic benefits do not outweigh the harm identified to heritage assets and landscape character and visual amenity.'

They meant that a small number of vocal house owners worried about a possible reduction in property values got there way. While politicians, despite some claiming to be pro renewables, caved in, scardy cats. They should be more scared of the long term lack of power, and losing Green votes .

Around 70% of wind farm proposals in the UK have been turned down. A public opinion poll by YouGov showed 70% of UK homeowners would be interested in investing in domestic renewables. Quite some disconnect, the 30% seem to get what they want.

Here's what the FOE had to say about the decision:

Wokingham Planning Committee have rejected Partnerships for Renewables’ (PfR) application to build four 2.5 MW turbines at Rushy Mead, south of the M4 between Shinfield and Arborfield, because they found that the renewable energy benefits of the proposed development are not considered to outweigh the harm identified to landscape character, to the setting and amenity of a number of settlements, and to the significance of two listed buildings.

The decision was unanimous – Conservative and Lib-Dem councillors voting together eight days before a local election. PfR are considering whether to appeal against this decision.

The good news is that the Borough Officers agreed with the applicants that the risks of noise, flicker, and flooding – which objectors had suggested could blight the lives of many people – and the effects on wildlife and rights of way, did not provide grounds for rejection of the application. It would be interesting to know to what extent local opposition was based on these fears, and what local opposition there would be based on visual amenity alone.

The opponents of Rushy Mead made much of what they call the 'inefficiency' of turbines in low-wind locations. This is technically known as the load factor - the ratio of average output to peak rated output over a year - which is said to average 17% for the Green Park turbine.

This measure is irrelevant. If Green Park had the same tower and blades but a lower rated generator it might have a higher load factor but generate less electricity at higher unit cost.
What matters is the benefit in terms of the reduction in fossil fuel use compared to the costs - both financial and environmental.

Turbines at Rushy Mead can be connected to the national grid at low cost - the pylons cross the site – and will require little expenditure on access roads compared with many high-wind sites, so they can be cost-effective.
Windier locations are likely to be more visible and may well cost more to connect to the grid.

The financial subsidy to renewables is paid per unit of electricity generated and the rate will be very similar for any on-shore turbine, whatever load factor it achieves. Off-shore turbines receive subsidy at twice the rate so provide electricity at much higher cost.

I found this interesting information here

One Year In Power Reading Reviewed

After a year in power, its time to look back on the record of the local and national ruling parties. Here I look at Reading Council.

Locally the Tories and LD were in a coalition, just as they were nationally. In return for supporting the Tories the LD were given some power and some cabinet positions.

LD Cllr Daisy Benson was lead Cllr for Community Care, Housing & Health made much during campaigning of her desie to bring empty homes back into use. She proudly states that in that year "12 empty homes were brought back into use". That would be one a month. According to her own figures this number was reduced by 369 in the previous 2 years! Would it be mean to suggest she should thank the previous administration or perhaps she was more effective in opposition that when in power.
Comunity and voluntary groups have seen cuts in funding, including the RCRE.

(ex) LD Cllr Warren Swaine was lead Cllr for the environment and sustainability for most of the year. He says he and his sucessor, LD Cllr Ricky Duveen, have managed to implement:
* First community based compact fluorescent lightbulb recycling scheme in the UK.
* Weekly collections for priority areas.
* Kerbside battery recycling.
In 2007 Reading's recycling rate was 35%
in 2010 it had actually gone down to 31%
It would be interesting to see if this has changed.

Conservative Cllr Richard Willis was lead strategic planing & transport, he has:
*cut free bus passes for the elderly,
*campaigned for less traffic lights yet introduced the Labour plan for them on the Shinfield Road causing an expensive disaster.
He promised this year to "introduce a London-style cycle hire scheme" but we already have such a scheme, indeed we had it before London.
I've been searching his blog for references to transport but have only found one sentence in the last two months. Back in feb he talks about reducing more traffic lights; nothing about cycling (aside from the London scheme), walking, buses or trains. Though bus services have been cut. And free travel for pensioners during peak hours.

The Council is looking to make cuts of £18.8 million in its budget for next year (2011/12 financial year). The cuts package will hit the most needy and least well off the hardest.
*Expect 150 compulsory redundancies.
*Deprive vulnerable pensioners of Council care in their twilight years
*Cuts in front line education posts and buyback of services for schools from the Council will lead to reductions in service to vulnerable families.
*Domestic Violence staff levels are to be cut increasing the risks of domestic abuse and leading to abusers escaping the law.
*Transport services for school children, patients, the elderly, and those in care will be reviewed and cut with Readibus, the NHS, and Reading Buses.

Woop-de-doo they changed the colour of the logo on the website from red to blue on the main page. The other pages still have it in red. No yellow seen so far, is there anything to read in that?


The Cabinet Were
Andrew Cumpsty
Chair
Lead Councillor Portfolio: Leader of Council

Daisy Benson
Lead Councillor Portfolio: Community Care, Housing & Health

Ricky Duveen
Lead Councillor Portfolio: Environment and Sustainability

Mark Ralph
Lead Councillor Portfolio: Education & Children's Services

Jeanette Skeats
Lead Councillor Portfolio: Communities, Voluntary Sector and Enterprise

Tom Stanway
Lead Councillor Portfolio: Culture & Sport

David Stevens
Lead Councillor Portfolio: Finance & Service Improvement

Richard Willis
Lead Councillor Portfolio: Strategic Planning & Transport

Tesco Sinks Town

My first big campaign was to try and stop Battle Hospital being converted into a Tesco. As strange as it seems it is true, and it was done by a Labour administration. They closed a Hospital and allowed a Tesco to kill off many local shops.

Now this was 2007, and you can ask whats the relevance. But one of the Cllrs that helped this happen, Chris Maskell, now thanks Tesco, and tells us its his favourite grocer!

Do they pay him for all this free publicity? Probably not, as he goes on to very mildly criticize them for wanting to wake local residents up early in the morning with deliveries. He wants tesco to be more a part of the local community, what little is left after they took over parts of the town that is.

In Bristol there was a tesco riot, but most people just seem to let them take over areas in a submissive sheep-like posture. In the ward where the riot happened the Greens won a seat in the elections last week. Tesco has met with newly-elected Green Party councillor, Gus Hoyt, to discuss the recent unrest in the Stokes Croft area of the city. Mr Hoyt said he would be calling for an independent inquiry into the cause of the protests before the shop reopens.

In Reading in 2007 all the politicians from the three big parties supported the ghastly Battle Tesco, only now is there some concern at there size and power. Is time to break up there empire, let our towns get some vitality back. Competition among shops is fine but the size of one competitior allows them to dominate.

www.tescopoly.org

Hardest Hit March

Today campaigners are hoping to see at least 10,000 people march past the Houses of Parliament.

To ensure that you receive updates on arrangements for the day and that any support or access requirements that you have are catered for - sign up online now! Sign up via The Hardest Hit website
thehardesthit.wordpress.com/the-may-protest/

www.rnib.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign/yourmoney/welfarereform/Pages/hardest_hit.aspx
http://bit.ly/m4nvMA
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/thousands-to-protest-against-welfare-benefits-cuts-2282260.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/may/10/disabled-people-march-london-cuts

Drought & Forest Fire Warnings

Unless sustained and significant rainfall arrives in the southeast in the next few weeks, and this doesn't look likely at the moment, then expect to hear more and more about the drought that is now killing crops over parts of East Anglia and southeast England.

Its been so dry forest fires have been burning in Bracknell for a week.

Climate change, the gorilla in the room thats too scary to mention.

www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/HOME/

Greens In The Balance

It seems we Greens are going to hold the balance of power.

On the one hand Lab 22 Cllrs ; on the other a coalition reflecting the national one Con 16 + LD 5 with 1 ex LD = 22. Evenly balanced.

This leaves 2 Greens. The Local press is speculating which way we will go. We shall have much to discuss this week.

You might think the Tories would be trying to get us on their side, as their leader implied in the video interview. But local Tory bloggers have been saying as we voted along with Lab last year we will support Lab. Rob was a lone cllr, and voted as an oposition. Can't help if Lab did the same on occasion.

This has a video interview with Cllrs Rob and Melanie.

Tory Cllr Willis says "It remains to be seem whether Labour and the Greens will team up to form an administration or whether Labour will seek to run Reading as a minority administration with tacit Green support." He gives no chance at all for us supporting a Tory LD coalition, or indeed for the LD to support Labour. Before the election he said "The Greens won the ward by a landslide last year but that was with Rob White who had run what has been characterised as the longest election campaign in Reading’s history (around 5 years)! This year’s candidate is unknown and does not seem to have put in the work that Rob White undoubtedly did before his election." Revealing his ignorance, Mel works very hard indeed.

When we started in 2004 the other parties either ignored us or asked us not to stand (LD). They told us we couldnt possibly win. But every year we did better and better, mostly thanks to the hard work of Rob and a team of helpers. But also thanks to the other Park Cllrs doing almost no work. So its funny to hear ex Cllr Wazir Hussain described as a hard worker! He did very little but did try a nasty leaflet right at the end; that clearly didnt work, he came nowhere. Then this year they said only Rob could win, once again they are wrong, they underestimate us at their peril.

Tory Cllr Emma Warman says "Park, of course, was always going to be difficult as Wazir Hussain had won in 2007 with only 7 votes and the ward had subsequently gone first Labour and then Green. This has been a closely contested 3-way ward and it was no surprise, although still disappointing, that Wazir Hussain was unable to retain his seat. Having worked with Wazir on the Council for the past 3 years I can say he is a genuinely nice man and was a hard working councillor and I think he will be missed by the people of Park ward. There is no doubt that the Green Party have campaigned hard in Park over the last few years and to that extent their victory is deserved, although from what we have seen from Cllr White over the last year they seem to be very much Labour Party stooges with little to offer of genuine substance. I fully expect them to do a deal with Labour in the next few days." Trying to woo us with kind words perhaps?

LD Gareth Epps says "They (Labour) could try and form some sort of accommodation with the Greens; they could also find themselves in opposition against a rickety rainbow coalition of Tories, Lib Dems, Greens and the Other." He at least admits there is more than one posibility.

Ex Lab MP Jane Grifiths says "remember that Cumpsty is right when he says the Tories have shown they can work with partners from other parties. Remember too that Rob White has shown this too over the past year. The Greens have a history of selling themselves cheap - they should go into a rainbow coalition with the Tories and LibDems, the price of which would be a Green in Cabinet - and then get Reading working again. No more sweetheart deals, clean government, openness and transparency. What do you say?"

Local Elections, if it was PR

If we had PR, how different the outcome would be.

I noticed in Reading that the total Green vote (4999) was quite close to the LD (5719).

If we voted with PR for all the council seats, we would have about 15 Con, 18 Lab, 6 LD, 5 Greens and an independent. Except many voted tactically, they would not have under PR.

With first past the post (and elections in thirds) we have Lab 22; Con 16; LD 5 ; 2 Green; 1 Independent.

Its as though we were robbed by the Tories and Labour, you can see why many of them dont like the idea of a fairer system.

If only the referendum had been about PR. Instead we were saddled with a choice described as a 'miserable little compromise' by the man "leading" the campaign.

The low stanards of the No campaign were matched by the poor quality of the Yes one. It was like fighting with both hands tied behind your back, not a surprise we lost. I blame some of it on Clegg, who should have held out for PR or AVplus, something campaigners could have really got behind. So lets not expect any reform for many years, a victory for the Tories and many in Labour who benefit. The loosers are the ordianry voters, though many don't know it yet.

Video Of Victory In Park Ward

Or click here

Great Victory In Reading

In Park Ward Melanie Eastwood has become the second Green Cllr in a historic victory. The Greens now have group status.
Results
green 1585. 43%
lab. 1213. 33
Con. 732. 20
LD. 123. 3

So farewell Wazir and congratulations Cllr Melanie Eastwood.

Other news in Reading, LD leaderless as lab win in Redlands. Tories did well overall outside Park where they were dismal

There is much speculation about who is left in controll of the council. If Lab can form an alliance it may be them. Some are suggesting a Lab/Green alliance but thats news to us.

I would support any party on a policy I agreed on but not an alliance. In Oxford the Greens formed a coalition a few yeas ago and were blamed for everything that went wrong. Much as has happened to the LD. Lets see what our Cllrs decide, they meet to discuss this soon. Today is for celebrating not deciding.

Leaflet of Tory Shame 2

squating, what was actually said
http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/08-04-2011-vacant-houses-london.html
Jenny Jones Green Party candidate for Mayor:
"I don't want to see squatters take over people's homes or damage their property. But I also don't want to see people criminalised for making good use of buildings left vacant for months or years while they are unable to access a home they can afford.

"Councils need to make better use of their enforcement powers, and the Mayor needs to support local groups who can bring empty properties back into use. Let's treat the problem, not ban the symptoms."

When Mayor Boris scrapped plans to raise the congestion charge to £25 Jenny Jones said: "The London mayor has put the interest of the few above the needs of the planet.

"We know that green taxes work. Last year, Londoners bought more low emission cars than gas guzzlers for the first time ever."

Conserative Crok

Is this what the Tories have sunk to?

Update;
Just confronted Cllr Hussain over this appaling leaflet. He justified it saying Cllr White voted 100% along with Labour, clearly a lie.

The local Tory MP Rob Wilson showed up, when I asked him about this he looked a bit sheepish. He wouldnt say a word to back up Cllr Hussein, said leave the postmortem till after the election. I gave him a chance to retract, he didnt take it. So now he too is damaged by this, as is their entire party. Shame on them.

Today is the day, local elections and AV referendum. This is the first chance in a year to tell our "leaders" what we think of them. Kivk em out, give the Greens a chance. And if you live in an area with ni candidate stand yourself.

Unfortunately some people are saying the AV vote is all about Clegg. What a shame, the first chance in how many decades to change a system and some want to waste it. Much as you may dislike Nick Clegg he is not worth it. Besides who would approve of Cleggs other half, Cameron. He is a Blaired version of Thatcher. All PR but the substance is Thatherism.

And what did Thatcherism give us? Industry cut, nations resources sold of. Banks deregulated, look what that resulted in, the current disaster that they blame on Brown.

So kick em all out and gives Greens a chance.

Vote A Get B

Sounds silly doesn't it. The implication that you vote for one thing and get another. Yet in Reading that kind of talk is getting more common, not by voters but by the ruling coalition.

Cllr Wills repeats these slurs here, Cllr Swaine here.

In Park Ward the new Conservative leaflet seems entirely negative.
"It makes no difference if you vote Green or Red.
The only Green Councillor has voted with Labour at every opportunity
Vote Green get Labour
...
Vote Green get Red"

Have they really got nothing to say about their candidate, who is after all the incumbent Cllr? From the language it seems they see the Greens as the big threat, I hope they are scared of us.

Remember the slogan Vote Blue Go Green? Its the same thought process, from the same party, and not true in either case.

Being in opposition means when you disagree with them, you vote against the ruling party. If there is more than one oposition then they may both vote the same way. Is it one of both of their faults? Why not blame Labour for voting the same way as the Greens? Its as silly that way round as the other. Funnily enough you only hear this sort of stuff at elections. Is it any wonder that voters don't believe politicians? Unfortunately this understandable cynicm means even the honest ones get caught up.

And in other areas, or at other times, conservatives and LD Cllrs do the same thing when in opposiion. How odd that they seem to thing its a criticism in others.

End Of Allotments From The 'Greenest Govt Ever'

Oh dear, yet another setback from the government that told us it would be the 'greenest ever'. Selling of allotments is a new low.

The Government that:
plans to scrap green laws
forest sell off, u turn, then u turn again,
rejects sustainable transport plan,
failure of carbon plan,
redefine zero energy homes
and many more.

The government puts up for sale 300,000 allotments. Plot-holders are up in arms over the plans to scrap historic right to council land.

The century-old right of people to demand an allotment from their council may be abolished by the Government under plans to scale back red tape.

Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary, is examining plans to free local authorities from a 103-year-old obligation to provide plots of public land for cultivation by gardeners. The proposals could see local authorities, many of them strapped for cash under government-imposed cuts, selling off allotment land for profit.

Reasons To Vote Green May 5th

10 Reasons to vote Green

1. Fight the cuts to services. The Green Party stands full-square in opposition to these cuts. Instead of a response to a crisis of capitalism, this is an agenda the Tories have long wanted; let the wealthy dodge taxes meanwhile cut services for the rest of us. We should cut instead things we don't need, Trident, subsidy for the arms trade and nuclear power. And stop these wars that help no one yet cost lives and £billions.

2. Tax fairly. After years of Labour, inequality is greater in Britain now than any time since World War II. This will get worse under the current government. The changes we fight for are for banks and corporations to pay their way: a Robin Hood Tax on banks, the closure of tax loopholes, the collection of high-earner tax and ultimately for the 50% rate to apply to those on £100,000 and over.

3. Free University Eduction, No to tuition fees. Other parties u-turn on this was stunning. This is not what people voted for last year, with us you get what you vote for. We are getting concerned with academy schools.

4. Renewable energy for all. Kirklees has lots of it - solar panels, ground source heating, why not us? Energy prices are no joke. Oil decline is about to become a reality. Every Council should use its power now to promote renewables.

5. People and planet before profit. Politics is for people, families and society; it's about the Earth we live on, about equality and the sustainability of the way we live now, and the coming generations. Not protecting vast profits for the wealthy.

6. We need the best. A Green councillor will work equally with all for the best outcomes regardless of party camps.

7. Protect the NHS and other health provisions; from creeping privatisation, from mass redundancies and from the plans to turn doctors into managers.

8. An increase in the Green vote will make the other parties stop and take note that people are responding to the pro-people policies we are fighting for.

9. So little is being done to really protect our local environment. A green voice will make a big difference when it comes to planning applications and other initiatives to promote nature over unthinking human destruction. Stop building on the flood plain increasing the use of flooding, letting giant supermarkets to kill of local shops, funding road building not footpath and cycle provision.

10. Greens are promoting a YES vote to AV. It's not PR, but it's a step in the right direction. By ordering your preferred candidates, it favours the most widely acceptable candidates and so excludes extremists.