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| Boris Johnson's Government has FAILED |
As we've said elsewhere on this website, Boris Johnson's Tory Government has failed to protect us from Covid-19. And his Government has autocratic tendencies, attacking democratic and human rights ever since he became Prime Minister.
As it has been for public health, so it is for democracy under Johnson's Government.
If Johnson resigned, it would change little, Why? Because there are a whole lost of incompetents in the Tory Party who would take over. The recent list of Cameron, May and Johnson proves it. And look at what happened when Johnson was in hospital with the very virus that he was supposed to protect us from - more chaos with no succession planning in place.
Johnson's pattern of dither, delay and chaos goes on and on. Meanwhile, we are all put at risk.
The numbers on Covid-19 are now worse than ever. Johnson tries to explain his way out of over 100,000 deaths and counting. He can't explain. There is no justification. Normal life won't return any time soon, if at all.
Yet Johnson's Government says that elections planned for May 2021 will still go ahead. In Somerset, this will include County Council elections and Police and Crime Commissioner elections for Avon and Somerset.
Very little has been done with public health in mind to protect us during an election.
As it has been for public health, so it is for democracy under Johnson's Government.
HOW CAN CANDIDATES, ACTIVISTS, ELECTORAL OFFICERS AND RESIDENTS BE SAFE?
HOW CAN ELECTIONS BE SCRUTINISED TO BE FREE AND FAIR?
WHAT SORT OF ELECTION WILL IT BE?
WILL A SINGLE LEAFLET BE DELIVERED, ANY DOOR KNOCKED, ANY VOTER LISTENED TO?
These are all questions, points and concerns that Somerset Independents has expressed to all of Somerset's MPs. They are all Conservative MPs and some of them are members of Boris Johnson's Government.
Somerset Independents stands up for Somerset residents' democratic and human rights - we were formed to do it and we have. But we know that it is simply unsafe to have a normal election now.
In a letter to all Somerset MPs, officers of Somerset Independents have asked them for assistance in delaying the elections. And for assistance in bringing about a referendum of Somerset residents before any council changes are made during a Global Pandemic.
Our full letter is below.
Tell us... Contact us at the details at this link.
What do you think?
Do you think the elections should be delayed?
If you do, when do you think they should be delayed until?
What would stop you from voting at a polling station?
Would you feel safe?
Would you open the door to a campaigner?
Would you read a leaflet?
Do you think leaflets should be delivered?
Tell us... Contact us at the details at this link.
Letter from Officers of Somerset Independents Andrew Pope and Denise Wyatt
31st January 2021
To: All Somerset MPs via e-mail
cc: All Somerset Returning officers, SOLACE, AEA
RE: Elections in May 2021
Dear Somerset MP,
We are residents of Somerset and the Registered Officers of Somerset Independents which is a political party registered with the Electoral Commission. We were formed in 2020 during the first lockdown. Our Party acts for Somerset residents.
We write with a number of points and concerns about elections due in May 2021. This includes Somerset County Council and Police and Crime Commissioner elections in Somerset. Somerset Independents is considering whether to stand candidates, and would appreciate your views and assistance.
When our Leader Andrew Pope spoke at the Somerset Covid-19 Engagement Board this month to hold local authorities to account, the numbers on Covid-19 were worse than ever. Whilst there may be early signs of improvement, the crisis continues.
“Normal” life is not going to resume soon. So we are very concerned to hear as recently as 13th January, that the Government has no plans to delay the elections in May. One voter could infect entire communities at a polling station.
We cannot see any guidance from the Electoral Commission that reassures us, in terms of safety and in terms of holding free and fair elections under Covid-19. The Government has not taken steps to ensure this, either. Electoral officers are not being helped, and are under unacceptable levels of strain.
We note the concerns expressed by the Association of Electoral Administrators (AEA), despite their professionalism in trying to bring about elections in these unacceptable circumstances1. Peter Stanyon, the chief executive said:
“It seems conversations are taking place with political leaders while we are working on the practical arrangements.”
As local public health officers have done, these officers are conducting themselves with considerable grace, despite continuing Government dithering and delays that continue to place democracy in peril, as well as the lives and livelihoods of Somerset residents – this is not just our view, but that of the Editor of LGCPlus2, Nick Golding.
We understand from a source close to them that Somerset’s returning officers have asked for the elections to be delayed, although we are attempting to corroborate this with written evidence. This may have been confused with the news of the AEA and SOLACE’s concerns, which is why we are checking (cc’d).
The managing director of SOLACE (Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers), Graeme McDonald, was quoted by LGC as saying that “Solace will continue to press government to delay elections until October”3.
We have listened to residents’ concerns about the elections going ahead, as well as the concerns of council officers.
Not only are there concerns about the count itself, and the ballot, but there are also concerns about the campaigns. Nominations will not even be able to be done safely. Quick wins such as separate nomination papers, are absent.
As things stand, there is simply no way that free, fair and socially-distanced elections can be held, because steps have not been taken. As the AEA and SOLACE have said, clarity is needed. Steps need to be taken. They have not been. All that we have heard are vaguaries and hubris. This mirrors the way the Global Pandemic has been mishandled by the Government.
So as it is for democracy now, as it has been for public health. These elections will mix the two. As things stand, candidates, officers and activists will be put at risk. As things stand, a “normal” election would put everyone at risk. As things stand, schools are still closed, infections continue to rise. As things stand, deaths continue to mount.
Therefore we suggest that the elections are delayed, until steps are taken and the public feel confident that they can be done safely, done socially-distanced and done with adequate scrutiny to ensure free and fair elections.
Whether this delay is until September or October, will depend on whether the steps taken are adequate, and how the Pandemic pans out through the Spring and Summer of 2021. If that is not possible, then we regretfully suggest that the elections be delayed until 2022.
This could have been avoided if the Government had not had one of the worst records in the world, in dealing with Covid-19. Somerset Independents was formed to stand up for Somerset residents, and their human and democratic rights. But given the situation, and in the interests of pragmatism, democracy and public health, it is not worth the risk.
We want democracy. We campaign for a referendum on any changes to our councils. The district councils and county councils are arguing over which form of unitary, during a Global Pandemic. But none of the councils have agreed a referendum, despite our repeated calls to councils and their councillors to do so. We are alarmed at the call by Conservative county councillors4 on Minister Jenrick to delay county elections. They did not seem to consider the Covid crisis, but purely because they wished to force through unitary changes and hang on to their seats. A referendum is essential before change – WHEN SAFE.
Please confirm that you support our positions as underlined above – on the 2021 elections and the unitary Referendum, and please confirm the actions that you will take to bring about what we ask for in this letter.
Regards, Andrew Pope and Denise Wyatt
Leader and Nominations Officer, Somerset Independents
1 “Growing calls for clarity on local elections amid conflicting reports”, https://www.lgcplus.com/politics/governance-and-structure/growing-calls-for-clarity-on-local-elections-amid-conflicting-reports-11-01-2021/ , 11th Jan 2021
2 LGCPlus – Nick Golding, https://www.lgcplus.com/politics/lgc-briefing/johnsons-last-minute-approach-adds-to-the-covid-agony-05-01-2021/ , 5th Jan 2021
3 LGCPlus, “Minister tells MPs ‘high bar’ needed for postponing local elections”, https://www.lgcplus.com/politics/governance-and-structure/minister-tells-mps-high-bar-needed-for-postponing-local-elections-13-01-2021/ , 13th Jan 2021
4 Somerset County Gazette, “Conservatives accused of “running scared” after party voted to ask for delay to next year's local elections”, https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/18888915.conservatives-accused-running-scared-party-voted-ask-delay-next-years-local-elections/ , 23rd November 2020
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