Last night saw the end of Tory rule at Brentwood Council as they were pushed into the minority by the opposition parties, led by Cllr Barry Aspinell and the Liberal Democrat team.
To all voters tomorrow, I would urge you please to support the candidate who is best placed to oust your local Conservative councillor, if you have one. I say this, unashamedly, as I believe we have witnessed over the last few years the worst run council of which I have ever had the displeasure of being part. For the benefit of Brentwood we must vote in an alternative option to the Tories. I would like to address the myth that Conservatives are always better at looking after our money.
At last week's Essex County Council Full Council meeting (13/5/14) the Conservative administration voted unanimously against a Lib Dem motion calling on the Cabinet Member Cllr Rodney Bass to abandon his proposals to withdraw funding for school crossing patrols (where fixed crossings exist) in the interests of children's safety. When the motion was proposed by Lib Dem Cllr David Kendall one Tory councillor, Joe Pike called it "Out of Order" and a "Joke". Another Tory councillor Valerie Metcalfe called the motion "Puerile". However just one week later and Cllr Rodney Bass makes an announcement at todays Cabinet meeting that the 48 school crossing patrols on zebra crossings that were under review are now all going to be saved. This major u-turn in policy left those attending the meeting stunned as it came completley out of the blue. Lib Dem Cllr David Kendall said: "I am absolutely delighted that the motion and campaigning by Lib Dem councillors, along with petitions and letters from parents, teachers and child
Opposition councillors crossed the finish line together yesterday in a mud-splahsed charity race for Essex Mental Health Charities.
As widely reported in the media, locally and nationally, a Conservative candidate in Brentwood has resigned from his party for making racist and homophonic comments on twitter. However, it is too late for him to withdraw as a candidate for the elections on 22nd May 2014 and his name will still appear on the ballot paper in Brentwood South ward.
The UK must once again stand tall, leading on the world stage and working closely with those who share our interests – including, above all, our partners in Europe.
No child should ever have to experience sexual abuse. These are horrifying crimes that cause so much harm to the children who are victims. We will keep up the pressure so that the action needed to make our communities safe all children finally happens.
Government must deliver the change people are yearning for
