DEMOCRACY REFERENDUM: On BBC Radio Somerset, Pope Calls For Every Vote To Count

 

Andrew Pope
Leader of Somerset Independents

 

You will be receiving a vote... But it isn't the right question.

On the Claire Carter Breakfast Programme on BBC Radio Somerset this morning (21st May 2021), they covered our campaign for a Referendum on whether and how Somerset residents are governed by councils. 

We believe that it is the people of Somerset who should decide how they are governed, not politicians in Westminster or local party councillors in the Tory, Lib Dem, Green or Labour parties.

On behalf of Somerset residents, Andrew Pope for Somerset Independents called for a "no change" option and "committee system" option in any Referendum, which we have consistently called for over the last year. There should be FOUR, not TWO options on the ballot.

Paul Barltrop, Political Editor for the BBC in Somerset reported on the programme at around 7.28am. Pope was interviewed and applauded a public vote but criticised having only two options on the ballot paper. Here is a transcript of the report:

Paul Barltrop: Andrew Pope is from the Somerset Independents pressure group. They have campaigned for a Referendum and they say (this - having just two options in the vote) isn't good enough.

Andrew Pope: It's good that there's a vote happening now. 

It's amazing that they've changed their minds, these district councils, because last year they were opposed to the Referendum.

Now suddenly they've changed their minds. The public need to know why?

So I question, and we have questioned all of the district councils, why they've gone ahead with just the two options.

There should be a "no change" option.

There should be a "committee system" on the ballot paper.

We've asked them that last year. We've asked them that, all district councils, over the last few weeks, at their full councils. 

They haven't changed the ballot, but it's good that there's a public vote yet it's a Hobson's Choice between two deeply flawed options."

Claire Carter: When will we know the outcome of all this Paul?

Paul Barltrop: Well, first of all the poll. People have been receiving voting papers through their letterboxes. That closes on the 4th June. You can either send it back via the post, that's postage paid, or you can go online and give your verdict there. And the result of that will be soon afterwards.

But of course the Government decision is entirely separate to that and it's interesting just to give you a quote from the Secretary of State's letter that he sent to the district councils.

Robert Jenrick, Minister for Communities, Housing and Local Government:

"... my decision won't be made on the basis of which proposal has the most popular support in a poll."

Barltrop: He also described holding this poll as:

"a fundamental misunderstanding of the process".

So it is a bit of a moot point whether the Secretary of State will pay any attention to the results of the poll. We'll get that at the start of June. We'll get his verdict a few weeks later."

Somerset Independents will continue to stand up for residents and work with Somerset's people  on its campaign for more democratic ways of running local councils, for the current councils and any future councils. 

It is the people of Somerset who should decide how they are governed, not politicians in Westminster or their party friends in the Tories, Lib Dems, Greens or Labour.

Contact us at the link here to get involved in a more democratic Somerset and to become a registered support of Somerset Independents.

 

Standing Up For Residents