Comments on: VIPOP: Independent Candidate Website Launched

By: Don Smith

Don Smith — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 10:45:41 +0000

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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By: Don Smith

Don Smith — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 10:32:08 +0000

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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By: steve s

steve s — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:47:25 +0000

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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By: v

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:55:49 +0000

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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By: INSIDER

INSIDER — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:30:14 +0000

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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By: v

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:39:11 +0000

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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By: Brian Lucas

Brian Lucas — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:50:37 +0000

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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By: v

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:16:39 +0000

why should it..there are plenty of forums such as this for independents to air their views

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By: INSIDER

INSIDER — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:37:44 +0000

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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By: v

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:19:19 +0000

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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By: INSIDER

INSIDER — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:01:06 +0000

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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By: INSIDER

INSIDER — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:53:12 +0000

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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By: Chris Welsford

Chris Welsford — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 09:09:59 +0000

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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By: Vanessa Churchman

Vanessa Churchman — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:45:16 +0000

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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By: INSIDER

INSIDER — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 18:22:37 +0000

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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By: Sad Owl

Sad Owl — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:15:24 +0000

Here here!

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By: Brian Lucas

Brian Lucas — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:48:56 +0000

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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By: Chris Welsford

Chris Welsford — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 08:55:50 +0000

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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By: Chris Welsford

Chris Welsford — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 08:34:50 +0000

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!