UPDATE (25/5/21): Government of National Unity: Enough Tory and Labour Covid Failures!

Jacob Rees-Mogg, Somerset MP
and Member of Boris Johnson's Government

UPDATE (25/5/21): After the elections that Somerset Independents said should not go ahead, it was clear that Keir Starmer and the Labour Party are unfit to call themselves Her Majesty's Official Opposition. 

The results showed an absolute drubbing. Keir Starmer then said that he took full responsibility and then sacked his Deputy Leader.

Now, more than ever, our country needs MPs to protect them. But there is a failed Government and a failed Opposition. In a two-party system which promotes and promulgates itself, how will things improve?

The answer lies in changing the voting system, as we outlined in the article below in October 2020.

But it is clear that there will be no Government of National Unity.

So quite how the voting system will change for the better, is anyone's guess!

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Somerset Independents has been relatively quiet about the Boris Johnson-led Tory Government's failings in dealing with the Global Pandemic.

Above is Jacob Rees-Mogg, one of Somerset's Conservative Party Members of Parliament. Mr Rees-Mogg is also a member of the Tory Government that continues to put our Nation and its citizens in peril.

When we have criticised this Tory Government and their friends in Taunton who control Somerset County Council, people have asked us (normally Tory supporters) what we would have done differently.

Andrew Pope
Leader of Somerset Independents

Our Party Leader Andrew Pope, and Candidate for Mendip South on Somerset County Council, responds:

"Boris Johnson's failure was complete when he himself was hospitalised by Covid-19, a disease that his Government was supposed to protect our citizens from.

Yet apparently after surviving his Covid near-death experience, he is somehow still Prime Minister! This shows how the Conservative Party and its gutless MPs put themselves and their Party first, and citizens last.

Johnson uses Draconian measures to try to cover up his serial failings and inability to take control or take responsibility. 

Don't just take my word for it, the former President of the Supreme Court, Lady Hale, has recently commented on Johnson's autocratic tendencies, including the unlawful and ill-advised proroguing of Parliament in 2019.

Since then, Johnson imposed a lockdown in March with little notice. This was despite having known about Covid-19 for months, which should have been time to reduce the likelihood of infection, spread and impact of the virus.

Instead, there were token efforts to quarantine the virus at our airports that were then abandoned.

Johnson never got a grip on the virus in the first place, leaving us all at risk - and then needing a lockdown that was never used in other countries.

A massive imposition on our liberty that could have been avoided, if he had acted better and with earlier decisiveness.

Following his initial failures, Johnson then inflicted serial failures on our country:

• on PPE for NHS staff and carers, 
• on contradicting and confusing advice, 
• on the placing of vulnerable patients from hospitals to care homes without testing, including here in Somerset, 
• on a massively expensive and massively failing test and trace system and
• from a catalogue of other basic errors including allowing the view that "herd immunity" was actually the Government's policy, which was subsequently denied following a backlash.

The primary responsibility of Government is to protect its citizens from harm.

Johnson has not only failed to do that once, but twice.

And now, he is widely assumed to want to impose ANOTHER lockdown, to use another Draconian measure.

And what of Her Majesty's Official Opposition?

They have failed to provide any meaningful alternative, whether under Jeremy Corbyn or Keir Starmer.

Our Country needs a Government of National Unity, as happened with Winston Churchill and Clement Attlee during the Second World War. We needed it during the Brexit crisis, which still has not ended. I argued for it then too.

But Starmer does not seem to have the wherewithal that Attlee had to bring this about!

Citizens remain at risk because the Westminster politicians, and their friends in Somerset, have totally failed our Nation.

Both the Tories and Labour put party politics ahead of the safety of our citizens.

We need to radically change the way our Country is governed and bring in the Single Transferable Vote, to make sure that every vote counts. First-Past-the-Post breeds incompetence and arrogance.

And to ensure that our political culture is one of listening to citizens and bringing about a spirit of compromise and a culture of competence.

We need a Government of National Unity and a change to the voting system for local and national elections.

But Labour and Tory MPs cannot be trusted to bring this about. They had ample opportunities but have flunked every one, despite promises to.

So the Government of National Unity needs to change the voting system before the next General Election, and to allow all votes to count.

This is the way that Somerset residents can be heard here in Somerset.

And then Somerset's elected representatives can represent residents voices here in Somerset and also in Westminster.

Join Somerset Independents to campaign for a better future for Somerset and our Nation."

Standing Up For Somerset's Residents

CAMPAIGN: Does Your Councillor Have a Criminal Background?

 

Would you like to know?

 

For months, Somerset Independents has been campaigning for ALL Somerset councillors to be checked against criminal records. These used to be called "CRB" checks and are now called "DBS Checks", as explained in our previous articles.

 

Two months ago back in August, we asked all four Somerset district councils whether they checked their councillors. We also asked Somerset County Council. The Leveller newspaper also asked questions in its September edition (see photo).

The Leveller Article 15 Sept 2020

The lack of quick replies from most of the councils was concerning. You would think that they had given this issue due consideration, wouldn't you, and answers would be at their fingertips? But they hadn't. And the answers were not forthcoming.

 

But when we actually got the answers, they were extremely concerning. They confirmed what we had suspected - that most councils in Somerset do not check on their councillors!

 

Three of the district councils are now Lib-Dem controlled. One (Sedgemoor) is Tory-controlled. The Tories also control the County.

 

The Results Are In!

Somerset West and Taunton Council

Two months after we had asked, Lib-Dem controlled Somerset West and Taunton Council STILL HAD NOT ANSWERED! When they did finally answer, after us having to chase them, they confirmed that they DID NOT check on councillors. They promised us a response in 20 days but it took three times as long. Do you think this is right?

Mendip District Council

Lib-Dem controlled Mendip District Council answered quickly. BUT they confirmed that they DID NOT carry out any criminal records checks for any of their councillors. And even more disturbingly, it was Mendip councillors THEMSELVES that had REPEATEDLY refused to bring in checks! Officers at the Council had brought it up on the agenda of more than one meeting, for councillors to decide. And time and again, those same councillors decided to not subject themselves to checks. Do you think this is right?

South Somerset District Council

Lib-Dem controlled South Somerset District Council confirmed that they also DID NOT check on councillors. Let's not forget that former Lib-Dem Leader of this Council Ric Pallister is to face trial for a large number of alleged criminal offences. He is innocent until proven guilty of course. We asked this Council extra questions, but subject to the outcome of the trial, we will not be publishing any answers relating to Mr Pallister for now. Do you think this is right, especially given the gravity of the situation?

Sedgemoor District Council

Tory-controlled Sedgemoor District Council confirmed that it DID perform checks on councillors. This is the only district council of the four Somerset districts. BUT the reasons they gave were odd and related to IT systems.

Somerset County Council

Somerset County Council confirmed that they DID carry out checks on councillors, with extra checks for some roles.  

 

Somerset Independents Spokesperson on Safeguarding, Denise Wyatt, says:

 

Denise Wyatt

"We applaud Somerset County Council for doing the criminal records checks. We ask all district councils to follow their lead.

Why aren't the districts doing it? How can they justify this? 

Why are there so many inconsistencies? Because the councils are not required by law to check on councillors.

The reasons given by the councils are not only wrong morally and in terms of safeguarding, these councils are showing clear ignorance of the facts and of the law."

 

Somerset Independents Leader Andrew Pope, says:

Andrew Pope

"If Somerset's district councils are not allowed to make DBS checks as they told us, why is it that other districts outside Somerset are doing the checks, then? Are Somerset district councils subject to different laws than others in England? No.

Cost should not come into it. What some councils do is take the fee for the DBS checks from the councillors allowances. It is a small price to pay for councillors to protect themselves and others.

Do you think that the councils should check on councillors? Please let us know your views, yes or no and why.

Join us to campaign for better councillors and better councils.

To get updates, Like our Facebook page at Somerset Independents, follow our Twitter @SomerInds and email us at somerinds [at] gmail.com ."

  

Protecting Residents

 

Somerset Independents To Stand Against Chaos Conservatives

Andrew Pope, Leader of Somerset Independents

ITV News is reporting today that the infection rates for Covid-19 are rising fastest in young people. They say:

 

"The rise in the number of young people testing positive for coronavirus coincides with their return to school and university"

 

Reacting to this news, Somerset Independents Leader Andrew Pope says:

 

"As you can see from the actions that we took on this website and elsewhere, Somerset Independents warned Somerset residents about the re-opening of schools months ago, going back all the way to June. Responsible parents know what is best, not the state.

From figures that we forced out of Somerset County Council, 94% of children stayed away in June, when parents had the option to keep them away.

But in September, Boris Johnson's Chaos Conservative Government forced parents to send children back, whether they thought it was safe or not. The Government threatened them with fines and even lectured them that sending them back to school was the "moral" thing to do. 

 

The lecture on morals came from Boris Johnson who seems to have no morals at all. Johnson is totally irresponsible. To give just two examples, he appears to have fathered children with several mothers and be a serial adulterer. No wonder he doesn't want to talk about it! Yet his personal failings affect his political life and therefore every Somerset resident.

Johnson even smirks and smiles in what should be serious TV interviews about Covid-19, when under his Chaos Conservative Government, our country has suffered the deaths of tens of thousands of people. 

To Johnson, the people of this country are expendable, as long as he is OK. Even Johnson's own father laughs at us all with his actions, making a mockery of his son's public health debacle and British citizens' good intentions. 

Johnson's failings are so severe that he almost died himself! Just like President Trump who is now infected, Johnson has not taken the virus seriously or made the right calls. If it hadn't been for the work of individual nurses and other medical staff, Johnson may well have died.

 

Instead of protecting residents from the repeated failings of Boris Johnson's Conservative Government, Conservative-controlled Somerset County Council just go along with it, parroting Government edicts despite its Director of Public Health having the legal responsibility to protect us from outbreaks like Covid-19. 

Since June, Somerset Independents repeatedly pointed out to Somerset County Council that children, school staff, families, and the entire county of Somerset were being put at further risk of infection, illness and death by the Department of Health, supposedly answerable to the Prime Minister, Cabinet and hapless Matt Hancock.

 

But Schools in Somerset have had to close or partially close, send children and staff home to "self-isolate", put children in face masks on the school bus and everyone in so-called "bubbles". The nonsense language and nonsensical actions dreamt up by the Department of Health and the Government's spindoctors cannot be trusted. They've proved it time and again. 

Yet Tory County councillors show no local leadership. 

As Somerset Tory Councillor Linda Vijeh disgracefully said in a recent virtual public meeting: "I don't give a ****" . Conservative councillors and MPs could not care less. She has told us not to "tar her with the same brush" as her Conservative colleagues. She is in the same Party and displays the same attitude as them, so why wouldn't we?

She and them are Westminster's servants in Somerset, instead of being Somerset's representatives in London or on Somerset's councils.

 

When will Conservative County Council Leader David Fothergill stand up for Somerset residents against the Chaos Conservatives in Westminster, instead of aiding and abetting Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock's failures?

 

Because of the Chaos Conservatives in the Somerset County Council, and their friends in Government, Somerset Independents has no option but to stand its first election candidates at the next County Council elections. 

I am announcing today that I am the first Somerset Independents Candidate and will be standing in Mendip South. 

Somerset Independents was formed to put residents first, and that is what we will continue to do."

 

Protecting You, Your Family, Your Area

 

 

Lib Dems' Massive Mess At Saxonvale Frome

Lib Dems Wasting YOUR Money

UPDATE (30/1/21): A proposal has now been approved by Mendip District Council, but it is very unpopular.

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The Saxonvale site in Frome continues to lie derelict.

Eighteen months have now passed since Lib Dem-controlled Mendip Council proposed its development at Saxonvale.

Almost nobody wants this development.

96.5% of comments made to Mendip Council about this proposal have loudly and clearly said NO to this dreadful development.

Is Mendip Council listening to residents? 

Residents described the Councils proposal as “reckless”and that it “doesn’t meet the Town’s needs".

Worse still, Mendip Council is now in a legal battle.

Millions have been wasted on this site.

Now Somerset Independents has discovered that even more money is being wasted on a legal battle. Yes, it has been confirmed by senior officers, that there is now a court case.

When will Mendip Council come clean?

Liberal Democrat Cllr Barry O’Leary is now Deputy Leader of the Council. At the Full Council meeting on the 30^th September 2020, members of Somerset Independents heard him tell everyone about his claim of the Council's openness and transparency.

Cllr O’Leary was referring** to the Council's Commercial Investment Strategy, and the Councils Phoenix Sponsorship Board, which makes decisions on projects like Saxonvale. 

Denise Wyatt of Somerset Independents, who is a highly experienced former local government officer, says:

"I was astonished at Cllr O'Leary's claims. All decisions by the Board are made behind closed doors."

Here at this link is an example. 

Denise also says: 

"See for yourself! It's just headings. The agenda and minutes are just headings, you can't see what councillors are doing, what they are talking about or what they are spending.

The Lib Dem Leader of the Council Cllr Ross Wyke* and Cllr O'Leary** are hiding the decisions." 

Leader of Somerset Independents Andrew Pope, himself a former councillor says:

"Get the message Mendip Council your development is NOT ON. Almost nobody wants it!

The Lib Dems on Mendip Council should stop this development and start to be genuinely open and transparent about your failings.

Or can’t the Fib Dems admit what they've done, because of the legal mess that they have created and which Somerset taxpayers are paying for?"

* Mendip District Council has described Saxonvale as a "key project". In December 2019, Councillor Ros Wyke gave a tour of the site to local media, saying Saxonvale is:

"the most exciting regeneration project Mendip's been looking at for years."

She said: "Acorn has been working with the council now for some years.

"As the original owners of the site, we have made it very clear that we have certain expectations of how we're going to develop on this site."

 

** Liberal Democrat Councillor Barry O'Leary, Deputy Leader, said at the Full Council meeting:

 

"The commercial strategy is discussed at the Phoenix Board... set up by the previous Administration... There was a Phoenix Board meeting recently where we went through all this. Everybody is welcome to come to that. It is an open and transparent process...

We are, as I have always said, prudent with a purpose with public money... We are a very well-equipped District Council and we must do what are the people's priorities... We do need a commercial strategy to address the budgetary gap that exists because we don't have that funding and we will resume that work."