Elections are in the news at present.
Firstly, a reminder that tomorrow sees the election for a councillor in Boston Borough Council’s Frampton and Holme ward, with polling between 7am and 10pm.
Five candidates are standing – two Independents, Conservative, Labour and UKIP – and a lot of canvassing has been done. If you live in the ward, don’t forget to vote.
An election of a different kind is taking place of November 15^th when the whole county is being asked to vote for a Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire.
Six candidates are standing – three Independent, one Conservative, one Labour and one English Democrat.
There have already been warnings to the Home Secretary that the elections could see the lowest turnout in British election history – and here in Boston one of our county councillors has criticised politicisation of the Police Commissioner role.
County Councillor Ray Newell,  who represents Boston West as an Independent, wrote to Boston Eye and our local papers to say that  a political Police Commissioner is “quite wrong.”
“But,” he added, “the  political parties recognise that they can deliver the votes.
“With 41 Police Commissioner posts and 41 Deputy Police Commissioner posts, the party HQs count on a large number of jobs for the “boys.”
“You the taxpayer, will of course, pay the considerable salaries these posts attract.
“With Conservatives in power in Boston Borough Council, and holding six of the seven Boston seats on Lincolnshire County Council – where conservatives hold 62 of the 77 County Council seats –  a conservative Police Commissioner may be a foregone conclusion.
“With Prime Minister David Cameron controlling the government, Councillor Martin Hill with his massive majority controlling Lincolnshire County Council, and Councillor Peter Bedford controlling Boston Borough Council – the Conservative party has absolute control, from top to bottom. What could possibly go wrong?
“At national level – The EU is challenging. Our national finances are fixed, or being fixed. [Police funding may be fixed or cut].
“At Lincolnshire County Council level – Boston has no traffic problems, [except for no distributor road.]  Migration is no problem [unless you live in Boston.]  Anti-social behaviour is challenging. Low police presence is challenging. Police funding – being the lowest in the country – is challenging.  
“At Boston Borough level – There are no financial problems. Migrant unrest is possible. Shops and businesses are closing at an alarming rate [but fingers are crossed.] The distributor road is not on the horizon. Car parking may become exciting. Anti-social behaviour is challenging. Low police presence is challenging.
“Gerrymandering by political parties is quite wrong.
In a second letter to Boston Eye and the county press, Councillor Newell further underlined his objections.
“The election of Police Commissioners has been hijacked. The law and justice is too important to be the plaything of political parties.
“People want Commissioners who are trustworthy, unbiased, honest, independent and caring.  They do not want whipped, party hacks who owe their job to the party. They do not want party politicians like the government’s chief whip, with his arrogant view of his protectors as plebs, threatening their jobs as policemen.
“Party politicians with their allowances scandal, cheated the taxpayer with the connivance of their party.
“Party politicians are ranked below their friendly greedy bankers, cheating drug fuelled sportsmen, lying newspaper owners, editors, and dishonest tax dodging billionaires. 
“The electorate know that political leaders break their promises, à la Clegg, renege on promises for an EU referendum, and uncaringly sacrifice the lives of brave, loyal soldiers on the altar of political dogma in a pointless, unwinnable war in Afghanistan. 
“The promised economic recovery has not taken place. People feel cheated as UK factory output falls and trade deficit widens.
“The people of Lincolnshire can vote for an independent candidate for the post of Police Commissioner for Lincolnshire.”

Footnote:  For those who want to learn more, former Boston Borough Councillor Anne Dorrian has organised a hustings – starting at 7pm tomorrow night at the Marian Campus of Haven High Academy.  

The event aimed at the general public – and everyone is welcome.
Witham Schools Federation’s Adrian Reed will chair the meeting – which will run along similar lines to the BBC Question Time programme.
It’s hoped that refreshments will be available afterwards so that the public can meet the candidates.

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