Author: Sal
VIPOP: Independent Candidate Website Launched
Wednesday, 15th April, 2009 at 8:37 pm, Isle of Wight
Community, Island-wide, Isle of Wight Council, Politics
A new Web site has been launched this week – its purpose, to promote Independent Politics on the Isle of Wight.
The name of the site is VIPOP (pronounced vee-pop) and stands for Vote Independent – People-power over Party-power.
We’re told that it has been formed “by an alliance of independent minded politically active individuals, fed up with the mayhem caused by the dominance of Parties at County Hall over the last 20 years. The group seeks to encourage people to stand as independent candidates at the next County Council elections in June on the Isle of Wight.”
The group (currently sporting at least 25 candidates for the upcoming election) believe that it is time for Independents to return to dominating local government, as they claim, was the case prior to the second world war.
Their mission is to challenge conventional Party based political structure and the message of the Web site is “Say baa to party politics – Vote Independent and get rid of the sheep!”
We’re told that the SNT / SOS schools campaign has played a part in the formation of the movement, but it is certainly not a one policy campaign.
The focus of the VIPOP Web site is to encourage and provide support the Independent philosophy as an alternative to Party politics.
“Independent candidates are saying ‘enough is enough’. Give the people back their voice and show the likes of Pugh, Blezzard and Wareham, that Party Politics is stifling true democracy.”
They are encouraging readers to take a look at the Web site and find out how Independent councillors may once again rise to prominence in Island politics.
Visit the new
VIPOP Website for more information.
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Well they will get my vote as they cant be worse than the party clowns.
Ive even adapted their background for them.
http://i532.photobucket.com/albums/ee327/21562985/Sheep.gif
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How ironic is that? Independent Councillors forming a “party”. It should be fun watching them at their party conference deciding how formualte a policy which serves everybody equally and yet does not blow the budget. But, they won’t all be able to vote the same way because if they do they will be called independent sheep. The words Alice and wonderland, spring to mind.
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The word cynic springs to mind.
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should be no more fun than the cons. Lab. and Lib Dems. trying to do the same thing…except these will be representing the people rather tha the party.
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Something new in local politics is no bad thing because what we have don’t work.
I wonder what the Conservative policy is on small, rural primary schools these days, this week, this year, both here and nationally ? If you’re a Tory councillor who doesn’t agree with the current policy, you get kicked out or you stage a coup.
Independents can do no worse and will look at options objectively because all they have to lose is votes.
VIPOP is a communications network for candidates and supporters and is not intended to be a party. Good luck to them.
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Sorry Brian, Im starting to think I should have listened to you rather than chasing a Wight rabbit, or should that read Wight elephant?
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Brian, it’s not a party. That is absolutely clear, which begs the question: why would you, a member of the Green Party, want to try to make out that it is?
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I think that it is very important to understand that VIPOP is not a Political Party and it is NOT an alliance of Independent candidates. This is a new movement to promote the virtues of Independent politics.
Traditionally on the Isle of Wight Independents have formed alliances with the political parties, the last being IF (Island First) which created a new party rendering the Independents voiceless and creating sheep to simply follow the leader and make a majority. Groups like that will not be tolerated by those of us who truly believe in Independent Politics.
The idea is that any alliances or groupings will be formed only on single issues and there will be no overall powerbases formed. The leader of the council would be elected by the whole council as would the cabinet posts. These could be sacked after 12 months by another vote of no confidence if necessary.
People like Brian Lucas can be as cynical as they like but this is new thinking and designed to prevent the appalling mess that the parties have created in local government on the Island.
Rather than electors voting for candidates because of their meaningless manifesto promises; promises that are broken or forgotten in a matter of months, the idea is that we elect people to Council to take forward the issues that actually matter to their residents at a community level. These issues will overlap with the problems of other communities and from that policy can be agreed.
The local communities have been completely forgotten as Party policies and requirements have over-ridden the needs and views of the people.
There are countless examples from communities across the Island of County Council projects that have over-ridden the views of the local community and in which the local (in this case) Conservative Councillors have taken the party line despite vocal local opposition. This begs the question who do they serve?
If you see the point of this and support our aims then visit the website; download a poster and stick it in your car and the window of your house and get people thinking. Thank you.
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This is how the Island’s County Council was governed until 1978 when a Conservative administration was elected and then collapsed in one term following many claims of graft affecting planning applications largely in the Medina Borough area. Anyone of any age in Ventnor will remember that wonderful independent Brigadier Jimmy Green (ex Indian Army) who brought sense to many local issues.
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What we need is the voting public to have confidence in the system, which they do not have now -just look at the turnout figures- something HAS to be done, hopefully this is part of the solution.
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It is not very democratic to call anyone who disagrees with you, a cynic.
I thank Chris for the fuller explanation of how this new arrangement of unconnected independents could work. However, maybe you need a new name, because my dictionary describes an “Alliance” as a marriage, confederation or a union. If independents prove to have real voting power at Newport they will surely have to plan to align their views – just like the political parties do. I look forward to seeing the manifestos of the independent County Council candidates, particularly for Ventnor.
In order not to let my so called cynicism be taken as veiled support for the Tories, I do hold on to the words: Undercliff, Duckworth, Interchange, planning enforcement, consultants etc etc – and shudder
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Come on Brian, try to think outside the box because the box is a party-political container and we need a bit of imagination to get out of it.
I have worked in large organisations where the management and the unions were working against each other and it was the service and the customer who suffered. The organisation wasted a lot of time on this and was less efficient as a result.
If people work together for a common objective they have a better chance of achieving it if they are not trying to undermine and counteract each other so that their side wins.
All the councillors are representating someone and they all deserve to have an input to decision-making. Try to think of ‘colleagues’ instead of conflict and then perhaps we can get on with the job and forget the f-ing party.
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“It is not very democratic to call anyone who disagrees with you, a cynic.”
Whereas “Alice and wonderland” in reference to a sincere attempt to address inherent problems, is highly constructive.
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Here here!
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support for the tories is not an issue…support for a three party state is.
Labour in government has been a disaster
The current Conservative admin of the Island has been a disaster
The previous Lib Dem council where a disaster.
All three parties need new people, new ideas and new competition.
The only place we can actually make a difference is locally, if enough people vote independent we can effect the whole Island, not just in personnel, but in Ideas….if we can be ssen to make it work…who knows we may even have a national effect
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You’re absolutely right V. People everywhere are fed up with the Party dogma. All around the country Independents are winning seats in local elections and with the formation of the Jury Team, a national movement at UK and EU parliamentary level has begun. It may not happen immediately but more and more, poeople are saying enough is enough – get rid of the sheep!
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I take it you intend to stand Brian? As a Green?
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The word alliance is not problematic Brain. We have formed an alliance in as much as we all have the same idea of what it is to be independent. There are clearly some independents out their who do not agree with us and think like you seem to, that as soon as they are elected they should sign up to a broader alliance as happened with IF. As far as I can tell those that still think like that have not become part of our group
We are completely opposed to the construction any kind of broad power-base or anything that uses the whip or any other kind of coercion including agreements on broader policy, to force individuals to cooperate. It seems dishonest to us to say we will put our residents first and then once elected form a party and put that first.
It won’t be perfect but nothing is, particularly in politics. Unless you have a better idea…I don’t exactly see you flooding over with positive comments and suggestions?
I don’t want to put words in your mouth but you seem to be saying that you think the party system is what we should press on with and that electing independents is pointless? You don’t seem to be able to see that independents can align on single issues and that those alliances may be different every time and that it is not necessary for broad powerbases to be constructed? Please tell me if I have misunderstood your position?
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Yes Chris, I will stand again as a Town Councillor under the flag of the Green Party. The incredible irony is that at present the Green Party is so small on the Island (many Islanders seem to think that green issues are dealt with somewhere else) that you could say I am an “independent”
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How about filling in the blanks about what you actually think are valid policies though Chris….I mean this all sound very convincing as a point of principle, but surely local politics is in reality the nitty gritty of the actual policies which effect the people lives, not high brow theory and ideals about what should be, in a perfect world.
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I think the debate is getting bogged down in “parties” and what that means. People are ‘tribal’ and feel safe within a group, that is human nature. However what is damaging and spoils collective thinking is when inappropriate Leaders come forward and dictate to others how the world should be organised. The trouble is people do not like being confrontational and dislike being seen as to be the only dissenting voice (when in fact they probably aren’t). What I personally dislike about the Party system is that I am not allowed to disagree regardless of whether what is being proposed makes sense or not.
When you have one large group in power the debate is so limited and almost non-existent. If one could be bothered to go through the tapes of the Council Meetings for the last 4 years (heaven forbid) you would probably find there are some people who have never said a thing and others who have spoken so rarely it has been lost in the mists of time. Hardly encourages people to vote – especially when you see Cabinet papers going through tonight nearly an 1″ thick and the next Council meeting has been cancelled because of the proximity of the elections. It begs the question as to who is running this Council? I think the thing I find most disconcerting is that Parties will put forward a candidate regardless of their suitability – all they are interested in is winning enough seats to control the Council.
I cannot think of any other aspect of life where somebody can come along and not pass some test to show their ability and competence and yet to be a Councillor just join a Party, they will produce your newsletters for you and even get them delivered. My message is vote for the person who you think will do a good job and look after the Ward – ignore Party Politics. I would add there are some Conservatives I would hate to lose their seats as I know they do a very good job.
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That’s right Vanessa Churchman keep you options open; remember, leopards never change their spots. An Independent must be totally free from all other groups and past acquaintances.
I detect a feeling of sour grapes entering the arena.
We want an MP and Councillors who can make independent decisions, irrespective of what band wagon they are on.
The island MP should be an island person and not someone recommended by Tory central office or selected by a handful of the local Tory hierarchy. Likewise, all politicians, local or national, should be totally independent and free from all political restraints and dogma.
Voters should also vote with their brain and not by tradition. Vote for the person that you feel is best to represent most of your views.
My old dad used to say, ‘They are all the B****Y
same, once they get in’. I tell my kids exactly
the same.
When he this sacked Speaker of The House ‘Martin’ was applauded from the chamber by MPs of all parties…Well, it just about weighs it all up.
I said to myself
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In response to Insider, and as a general point, speaking on behalf of VIPOP, Independent candidate’s policies cannot be generated or promoted by VIPOP but only by the individual candidates themselves.
If you want to know about what an independent candidate supports, believes and would do in Council, you have to read their literature and speak to them, just as you would with any candidate.
For example both Vanessa Churchman and I will stand as Independents in June but our political beliefs and our policies are not necessarily the same.
What we do have in common is a belief that parties have let the residents of the Island down and it is time for a change. But what we bring forward for debate and decision at County Hall, if elected, will depend on the needs and requirements of our respective wards and residents.
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But your site, as far as I can see, makes no mention of independent candidates either.
And if it did what are they going to say if they are restricted from mentioning their policies or their views on anything other than what a spanking good idea independent councilors are?
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surely that is the whole point…the INDEPENDENT will voice his policy/s whoever that independent is…this group is just about encouraging people to listen to that voice and to offer support to them.
Everybody seems to be ingrained in the idea that something new is not new at all and must be a ‘party’ or alliance, so turn their ears off. I’ve read these posts and see exactly what Chris and Venessa mean..communities electing the best person to represent their community and supporting and assisting those independents that do so.
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Politician make hollow promises all the time and think nothing of breaking them, people are so disillusioned with the whole process that two thirds of them do not bother to vote at all.
If Independent candidates expect people to believe their every word merely because they call themselves independent then quite frankly I consider that to be naive.
What is needed is an open debate in which people can give their views on what issues are important to them. And these independent candidates can attempt to convince and reassure the electorate that they would act on those views.
The VIPOP website does not appear to be willing to host that debate.
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why should it..there are plenty of forums such as this for independents to air their views
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Yeh but, Yeh but, will the independent candidates listen to those people who don’t have a computer, don’t belong to a pressure group, are generally happy with things as they are, and/or who think Jonny Fitz is a splendid chap? – Or are they just listening to disgrunted folk?
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Surely, Insider, the debate (if there is one to be had) will take place on the doorsteps of the electorate.
Any prospective councillor worth his or her salt will spend a good deal of time in the next six weeks knocking doors. You’ll have ample opportunity to tell them what you think!
As far as I’m able to make out, the purpose of vipop is to wake people up to the possibility that they might make a better job of representing the people of the Isle of Wight than those currently in post.
Why not stand yourself? You sound like a person with an opinion.
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We have two Island wide newspapers, two Island Wide radio stations, failities for public meetings.
The art of an Independent Councillor has to be combined with the mind of a marketeer and you have to find (for yourselves) a way of getting your message across.
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So why limit themselves to not discussing issues on the very website that represents them?
Regardless of your claims of the ease of communication only a third of voters turn out.
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I have resided on the IoW for over twenty-five years. I have never had any political candidate visit me. I used to get quite a number of religious
preacher groups calling – They don’t call any more now:-)
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Because they are independents..may not agree and end up in pointless arguments….
It is up to the prospective councillor to ‘motivate’ his/her supporters..if he/she fails to do so then they do not deserve to be elected.
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