I'm Stuart Allsopp. I'm standing as an INDEPENDENT candidate for the Waterhead ward this year.
Q) What is different about Stuart Allsopp?
A) I am INDEPENDENT. I do not have to follow the party line. I do not have any grudges or fears about any of the opposition and I am free to have a mind of my own. I am able to reflect the views of the ward and not the views of the party I belong to. If I wanted to be a councillor I could have joined a party and tried to be selected for a ward in the town. However, I don't particularly WANT to be a councillor, I just want the people of the town to stop being ripped off and taken for idiots. I feel the only way to do that is to stand myself. If I had stood locally for the Lib Dems I would be expected to support and promote the academy at the former Orb mill site even though it is overwhelmingly opposed by the people of Waterhead. This is not a representative, that is not democracy.
Q) Why INDEPENDENT?
A) The German writer Hermann Hesse once said that he "could never ally himself with any political party because every single organisation subjugates the individual to the collective – they yield out clone after clone, all thinking the same, all mouthing the same political rhetoric, with only a few really understanding what it is that they are saying or believing what it is that they are preaching." This sums up one important aspect of my decision to go INDEPENDENT. If you want a party clone, vote elsewhere.
Q) What made me want to stand?
A) In the past I wrote the following, 'Annoyance and frustration more than anything. I'm sick and tired of the local parties whining about how evil the other guy is. Tell me what you are doing that's so great, don't bombard me with leaflets about the "evil" other guy is. If you are so good explain to me why? When is someone going to stand up and do their job instead of blaming everyone else? This year maybe?. Also through my membership of East Oldham Area Committee I see many stupid crass money wasting decisions being made and I wonder what the people of the town would think if they saw the decisions. When elected you will be able to find out these things on this website.'
Those points are as relevant now as they were in 2003 when I first wrote them. I was planning to give up standing for election again after 2008 but I was particularly incensed over the local councillors riding roughshod over the views of the local people pushing through an academy in a totally idiotic inappropriate site for political reasons. I was also annoyed at being told that "we had no choice, if we don't build this we will get no funding for new schools". This was a lie. Opponents pointed this out to the cabinet member for Education who accused them of scaremongering. It turns out that it wasn't the opponents that were wrong and scaremongering. The Orb mill site was chosen for ONE reason and ONE reason only. It was the only plot of land available midway between the two schools being closed. The fact it was totally unsuitable and would cause massive disruption to the large number of elderly residents was whitewashed.
At the planning meeting, Waterhead needs somebody that will stand up and put these points instead of showing no opposition which will be the case if the current councillors are left elected.
Q) Why you should vote for me?
A) Most people are sick of politicians. They see them as corrupt, unrepresentative, aloof and untouchable. I say to the people of Waterhead, don't vote one in!. I am not a politician and do not want to be one. We all whinge and moan about things but very few decide to do anything about it. I was sick of complaining and nothing changing so I decided to stand myself. Also, because you normally have no option but to vote for the same tired, infighting groups. We have to keep hearing misinformation or are not given a real choice to vote for someone who will spend their WHOLE time working for the ward instead of the party. This time you don't have to place a protest vote if you just want to disagree with the main parties. You can vote to tell them, NO MORE ignoring us. There are many reasons, most people don't see things improving. In fact, they feel things are getting worse. They see council tax rise and rise, year after year and for example, when the chief executives pay rises from £104,000 to £176,000 in 5 years have we seen massive improvements?. People often remark 'they are all in it for themselves' 'they don't get anything done' e.t.c. A couple of years ago the council hired some so called "high-flyers" for a reported £1 million. Did you see £1 million worth of improvements or did you see the same old, same old with a few at the top creaming it off while we have to keep paying?. The £50,000 Oldham beyond report, completely ignored. As I said at the time, 'Let's not forget the disgusting insult of a £26,000 pay increase (25%) taking the chief executives salary to £143,000. Did you see a 25% increase in the quality of services? 25% increase in time spent dealing with the problems of the town? Of course not, It was more money for the fat cats at the top and the people of the town were forced once again to keep coughing up for inadequate services.' Looking back now it is even worse, The salary has risen even more rapidly to £176k and still this is an inadequate council. Will that money be paid back? Fat chance.
Well for years there has been the same tired arguments and excuses from all the usual people and nothing ever changes. Through this site you will SEE what we do and we can be accountable to our ward. People feel that their vote is not going to make a difference but this time it really could. Try it and see. What can you lose? More importantly, think what you can GAIN.
Q) My policies and some general issues.
A) Expenses, Housing, Anti-social behaviour, Recycling, Public Transport click for more...
Q) Can one person make a difference?
A) Yes!. More so now than any time in recent memory. A lot of people thing that the council is about winning votes at the main meeting of all councillors. The majority of work is done in sub committees where one voice can make a MASSIVE difference. Imagine having a councillor who will speak out on behalf of the electorate about the unwanted academy? Waterhead currently has no voice on the matter. The council is currently made up of 30 Liberal Democrats, 22 Labour, 6 Conservative and 2 independent members. This time an INDEPENDENT candidate could make a real difference in Oldham. Vote for improvement.
Q) What difference will my vote make?
A) All the difference in the world. If nothing else it will show the other parties that you don't want to use a protest vote but want to vote FOR something positive. I often hear 'but you won’t get in so why waste my vote' That implies that only the person who will win should stand, otherwise the other votes are a wasted effort. And how would you know who will win until you ballot? A circular argument. There are around 7,500 people in Waterhead. The winner last time took under 20% of the electorate and still won. Around 5,000 of those did not vote. If 3 out of every 10 people who didn't vote voted for me I would be elected. You could be that person. Your vote MATTERS. I am putting myself forward so that there is a choice for people. For once there is a sensible other option. A recent discussion highlighted the problem for me. Many people think being a councillor is about winning votes at meetings. In the main council session it is correct that a sole independent is unlikely to change the outcome of a vote where the parties vote like sheep on issues but then very little real business occurs at full council. Depending on the numbers, that one vote along with the other independents however could swing a decision such as the budget. Most of the work of a councillor is through influence on decision makers. At smaller committees such as overview and scrutiny or planning where councillors vote as they see fit often. This is where a good reasoned argument can change a vote for the better. This is what a good councillor should be able to do. An independent councillor can do this more effectively
Q) Voting apathy.
A) Why are people not interested any more? There are a number of reasons. 'They are all in it for themselves' 'they don't get anything done' etc. Well for years there has been the same tired arguments and excuses from all the usual suspects. Each year by standing I have forfeited the chance to earn £700 as a counter. Does this sound like the actions of someone 'only in it for the money?' Through this site you will SEE what we do and we can be accountable to out ward. People feel that their vote is not going to make a difference but this time it really could Try it and see.......
Q) What is the point of this website?
A) How do you find out what meetings your representative has attended? How do you know what expenses they have claimed? How do you know their attendance at meetings they are paid to attend? How easy is it to contact them? Do you get an annual report on them? Do you have the change to air your views to them and suggest policies they can push for? Well with this site you will be able to do all that and more. Accountability, Transparency, Honesty.
Q) What will you do about expenses?
A) Did you know that each councillor gets expenses of £8,500 a year and their only stipulation is to attend one meeting every six months!. That cannot be right. The nine members of the cabinet get £11,000 additional expenses (except the leader and deputy leader who get far more), this is on top of their 'basic' expenses. The chairs of committees all receive an additional £6,000 expenses and so called "community champions", the chairs of the district partnerships pocket an additional £3,000. It is one big money trough. When elected, the first motion I will put (subject to a second councillor being brave enough to second the motion) will be a 10% cut in the basic expenses and 30% cut in chairs allowances. Also expenses will be paid with regards to attendance rather than paid regardless. Why should you be paid expenses (which are supposed to cover costs of attending any meetings) if you don't actually attend?? Can you tell me of any other situation where you are given money (to cover your attendance) if you don't actually attend! It is insane!
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