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Author: Jim Moody

Mick Lyons Stands As Labour Candidate In Binstead & Fishbourne By-Election

11:22 am Monday, 30th May, 2011, Isle of Wight

ShortURL: http://wig.ht/micklyonsstandsaslabourcandidate
Read More- Binstead, Election, Fishbourne, Isle of Wight Council, News, Politics

This in from the IW Constituency Labour Party, in their own words. Ed

Mick LyonsMick Lyons has been nominated and is standing as the Labour Party candidate for the Binstead & Fishbourne by-election on Thursday 23 June 2011.

In urging electors in Binstead & Fishbourne ward to reject the defeatist mantra that ‘there is no alternative’, Mick believes that we can create a fair society, build the economy, and secure the future of the next generation.

Conservative council condemned
In contrast, the Isle of Wight’s Conservative council has attacked local libraries, cutting Ryde library’s funding and running down smaller libraries. The Tory administration has also withdrawn support for bus services and wasted money on a Private Finance Initiative road scheme while abandoning the Ryde Interchange. It has also threatened the future of youth centres, including Ryde Youth Centre, and care homes like the Adelaide Centre and plans to charge the elderly more for care in their own homes.

Mick condemns the Conservative council, which is supported by Liberal Democrat and some Independents, for failing Isle of Wight residents with its mismanaged schemes and its ruthless spending cuts. Mick states that, ‘I am campaigning in this election because I know that many residents feel let down by the Conservative controlled Isle of Wight Council and the scale of cuts they have imposed.’

Our way of life is being attacked
Mick opposes this Tory council’s plans to attack our way of life, an attack that promises even more cuts next year and in 2013. This could mean closing Sure Start centres, selling council property such as open spaces like Pell Lane and buildings like Greenmount School, forcing parks and gardens maintenance onto strapped parish councils, and increasing charges for the disabled and the elderly.

Along with other local residents, Mick is angry that in Ryde alone the Conservatives have stopped supporting and tried to close the Waterside swimming pool, have already closed Ryde’s tourist information office; have closed public toilets, including those at Binstead cemetery; and passed allotments and the skatepark to Ryde Town Council. This has meant a 52% increase in Ryde Town Council precept this year alone.

Retired teacher born on the Island
Mick Lyons was born and brought up in Ryde, and has lived and worked on the Isle of Wight for many years. He has worked for the Post Office and as a teacher of mathematics and science, and has been a trade union representative and a school governor.

Although now retired from full time teaching, Mick still works as an Associate Lecturer in mathematics for the Open University. He is married with four grown up children.

Mick says that, ‘If elected I will work to represent all the residents of Binstead and Fishbourne and challenge the Isle of Wight council’s current policies of cuts, decline, and pessimism.’

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32 readers' comments to the “Mick Lyons Stands As Labour Candidate In Binstead & Fishbourne By-Election” story

  1. +11 Click if you like this comment Asite2c
    says:

    Unlike the incompetant Tory lot in County Hall, It’s pleasing to hear a potential councillor talk some forward thinking common sense.

    Best of luck Mick!

    Offensive comment?

  2. +1 Click if you like this comment Paul Miller
    says:

    FYI
    Results of all IW wards from 2009

    http://www.islandconservatives.com/index.php/elections

    (with apologies for the source!)

    Binstead & Fishbourne
    Ivan Bulwer – Conservative – 519
    Ivor Warlow – Independent – 515
    Tony Zeid – Lib Dem – 181

    Offensive comment?

  3. +5 Click if you like this comment Steephill Jack
    says:

    Best thing is to be an Independent candidate so voters don’t know exactly where you stand, but they will still vote for you because they don’t like what they’ve got now.
    Political parties are not democratic in local government and result in the kind of block voting we now have from the Tory councillors which ignores the results of ‘consultations’.
    But then, political parties are not democratic at national level either but…I wont start on that one again. Nuf said.

    Offensive comment?

  4. +10 Click if you like this comment Patrick Joyce
    says:

    Mike get your facts right the Independents do not
    support the Conservatives.
    For someone who hopes to reduce the Conservative majority in the Council, by standing, you will probably take votes away from the Independent and hand the ward over to the Conservatives.
    It seems to me Labour and the Lib Dems who have no hope of winning are trying to ensure the Independent does not get in, this was the candidate who lost the last election by 4 votes and I would have thought he would of had your full backing.
    Politics who needs them VOTE INDEPENDENT

    Offensive comment?

    • +4 Click if you like this comment Don Smith
      says:

      Good luck Mick – When will the electorate forget about Westminster – You are voting for local representation.

      Offensive comment?

    • +6 Click if you like this comment Don Smith
      says:

      I agree with what you write Patrick.
      IoW people always think Labour,Tory and the others.

      It is about local issues and the sooner we forget about these Westminster tags the better.

      Westminster politicians do not care a t*ss about local issues. Having said that all the best Mike.
      However, Patrick has hit the nail on the head.

      Offensive comment?

      • +4 Click if you like this comment nick of time
        says:

        I agree with Don and Patrick. Politics should not occur down at local level but they do I’m afraid and the majority of the electorate will vote along their national thinking.

        I would rather have Mick as a councillor first and a politican second.

        Offensive comment?

        • +5 Click if you like this comment No.5
          says:

          I think this is a good ward for a local man, in opposition to our abysmal council, to stand in, which he can win..whatever colour tie he wears.

          He has my support even more for his standing as a Labour candidate

          Offensive comment?

          • +3 Click if you like this comment Don Smith
            says:

            No.5.
            Labour has a worse reputation than the Lib/Dems.
            at this time, and most people can only relate to labour for leaving us in such a terrible economical state, this, after being in government for so long.

            People forget the good things that Labour did; they [Blair] even saved the monarchy.

            Ninety-eight percent of ALL Westminster politician are professional politicians, they are all tarred with the same brush; it is just a cushy number, with perks, jollies and pensions to match. The majority went to public or private schools; in a lot of cases daddy was well oiled.

            Gone are the days of Bevin, Bevan and Attlee and the rest.

            We have two genuine Labour men on the IoW, namely Geoff Lumley and Mark Chiverton, but as long as they have that Labour and trade union tag, neither will ever represent the IoW. Pan Estate keeps Geoff afloat, and well deserved; they could not have better representation.

            This is Tory island No5. You must accept this.
            Only tactical voting could have got rid of this Tory council, but that chance has gone, because the Lib/Dems. have shown their true colours,
            (A lighter shade of blue). Sorry No5. but you are stuck with this lot – UNLESS! And I can write no more or I will get a brown envelope:-)

            Offensive comment?

          • +4 Click if you like this comment No.5
            says:

            Don you are a complex poster full of negativity…on one hand you condem our council, on the other you condem the opposition..on another you call for local representation and then when it arrives condem it for its chosen party.

            Labour may never be a force on the Island as a whole but it can win councillors in certain well selected places on the Island and thus diminish the Tory hold…this is one such place.

            You really should look beyond your ingrained opposition to change..even if you outwardly would encourage it.

            Offensive comment?

          • +2 Click if you like this comment Robbo
            says:

            Don, Don……we are only in an “economic state” because Labour bailed out the disgraceful Banks. If they hadn’t many pensioners would have lost savings and personal pensions. And what have the Tories and Lb Dems done to stop it happening again? Nothing.

            Offensive comment?

    • +3 Click if you like this comment Mick Lyons
      says:

      Patrick, perhaps you can tell us what the Independents’ policy is on the Council cuts – however I suspect that you are probably unable to do this since there are probably 10 different policies and your own policy is stated as “I vote only in the interest of my constituents and the Town and Parish councils” – hardly an effective opposition to the Conservatives.
      Fortunately, we still live in a democracy and I am standing because I think voters deserve to have a choice and not be told nonsense about keeping someone else in or out.

      Offensive comment?

      • +1 Click if you like this comment Steephill Jack
        says:

        You just lost my vote Mick by showing, with such a silly question, that you can’t think independently yourself. Do you remember the alternative budget that the independents suggested ?

        Offensive comment?

        • +1 Click if you like this comment Robbo
          says:

          A budget that accepted most of the Tory cuts, as I recall.

          And of course Steephill Jack probably hasn’t got a vote at this by-election.

          Offensive comment?

        • +5 Click if you like this comment Simon Haytack
          says:

          The problem with the independents budget was that it only saved the services that made headlines, the services that you could actually see disappearing like public toilets and libraries. Vulnerable people’s services, youth services, Wightbus and other cuts were still being made. There was one budget put forward that would have really worked for the Island, and those on the Island that really need services most. That was the Labour Party’s (Geoff’s) budget. It’s a travesty the Tory councillors couldn’t see anything other than the future of their own position in the party.

          Offensive comment?

          • +3 Click if you like this comment No.5
            says:

            no…the problem was that it didn’t cover up for the current councils massive mis-spending and mis-management of the Island resulting in a £9million pound deficit it tried to hide behind central government cuts.

            Of course these cowboys have already botched it all up, so any future budget has to take into account the catastrophe that is this Tory council

            Offensive comment?

      • +1 Click if you like this comment Patrick Joyce
        says:

        Mick the Independent budget agreed by the group and accepted by the Officers at county hall can be viwed on IOWCC website.

        Who voted for what budget is on the Ventnor Blog site.

        The Independent budget was in the interest of my constituents so I voted for it.

        Geoff put forward a proposal that the reserves be spent to maintain services, however he voted for the Independent budget
        So no not 10 different policies.

        VOting in the interest of my constituents may not be seen as effective oppostion to tory policies
        however thats why peopke voted me in, with the exception of the people like you who will vote for a political party who ever stands.

        Its a pity you wont make it to county hall where you would have discovered we do not live in a democracy

        However I wish you luck and Im sure your heart is in the right place

        Offensive comment?

        • +1 Click if you like this comment Mick Lyons
          says:

          Yes, I was there, that would be the budget vote in which at least three Indepenent Councillors did not vote against the Conservative cuts, including one who previously wrote to me assuring me that “I have already stated, and indeed pledged, that I will vote against cuts to which residents of my ward are opposed”.

          Anyway, let me finish by saying thanks to everyone who has written messages of support on Ventnor Blog and if you live in Binstead or Fishbourne remember its your vote that counts, and with five candidates there is no certain outcome to this election. Choose the candidate you want, not the candidate that someone else tells you that you ought to vote for.

          Offensive comment?

  5. +3 Click if you like this comment maggoo
    says:

    I have a dream,I have a dream!
    One day local government meetings will be televised.As near as mathematically possible councillors will be elected by a majority of voters.Religion,royalty,and other ingrained divisiveness will have no part to play in the democratic decision making process.
    Conviction politicians will replace todays self servers.

    Offensive comment?

  6. +3 Click if you like this comment adrian nicholas
    says:

    Good Luck Mick?
    an intelligent, considered and fiercely passionate candidate committed to making local peoples concerns personally represented & championed in related community issues – such as Pell Lane, the representation of IOW people and services local as per the Fire Control centre issue and care community and local services consequences of tory iwc overzealous cuts issues in both Binstead & Ryde area.
    Lansleys Health ‘reforms’ must be shown to have real island direct local consequence given the yesterday National highlight of concerns over current private care company Southern Cross- since Lansleys reforms are costing an extra 2-3bn to implement then further cuts affecting local viability of current 3rd sector and smaller private care homes for the elderly and disabled on the IOW. Local consequence of coalition privatisation dogma must be seen in adverse impact of the iow and Binstead/Fishbourne and related Ryde area community issues and be assured Mick will be primarily fighting for these and people effected -instead of merely being seemingly content to passively accept them without local future consequence as the vast majority IWC councillors overwhelmingly appear to do.
    Knowing Mick, he will be concerned primarily with consituency issues first and these accord with the practical budget response of esteemed Labour Councillor Geoff Lumley.

    As regards, the ‘Independant’ Candidate, you mention rather disengenously, Patrick, the independent concerned is an independant tory with long tory record and idealogical support- hardly an ‘alternative’ then…?

    If you wish to see an alternative to coalition and tory national policy and dogma at local level
    - then vote for Mick.

    Offensive comment?

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