This year the vote returns the more sensible ballot box instead of the farcical all postal idiocy of last election. This means that you are voting for one councillor. Instead of the tired old confrontationalist politics we have in Oldham, why not give someone else a chance. What is there to lose? If I don't perform please vote for a more worthy candidate next time.

Take a look at the literature being posted to your home by political parties. Notice anything similar in all of them? They all spend a majority of their time doing down the opposition. If someone is worth voting for they should not have to fear other parties. If a party is so good they should be telling you why to vote for them. Not why you shouldn't vote for their opponents. A councillor is not elected to denigrate their opponents, they are elected to carry out the will of the people. I will not spend the next year whining about what other people are doing or not doing. I'll be doing my job. Its far more productive. Also you will see that my literature does not show things happening in the wider area that I have no control over but which I want to try to associate myself with for electoral purposes. If you want to know more about my views or any other issues please use the contacts link to your left.

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.

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.

Q) What made me want to stand?
A) 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.

Q) Why you should vote for me?
A) 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 disagree with the main parties. This time you can vote FOR something, not AGAINST something. 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, don't see a 12% increase in services this year. People often remark "they are all in it for themselves” “they don’t get anything done” e.t.c. A year 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?. 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. 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) 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. The council is currently made up of 24 Liberal Democrats, 33 Labour, 2 Conservative and 1 independent member. 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. 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. 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 arguement 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. This 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, Transparancy, Honesty.