It’s election day tomorrow and the phrase I keep seeing and hearing – mainly from the Labour Party desperate to achieve the majority they need to take total control of Brighton and Hove – is ‘we must not split the vote’.
But the questions we need to ask ourselves include the following: are they ordering us not to split the vote because it’s a good idea for us? Or because it’s a good idea for them? Do they actually deserve unchecked power? And should local elections be used to send a message to the Tory government?
Take a look at the point-blank refusal from both the Greens and Labour to accept any responsibility for the various entirely avoidable self-made disasters that have been inflicted on our community by both parties over the past 12 years.
Labour especially seems to have forgotten the various mistakes – extremely costly for taxpayers – that it made while in power from 2015-20.
These included the home to school transport debacle, which affected our most vulnerable children, and starting a process that led to the domestic violence charity RISE losing a key contract. And there were the bike lanes, which started under Labour, and the “insourcing” of council house repairs.
I strongly suspect that the plea to not split the vote follows what many residents have been continually telling our Brighton and Hove Independents candidates – and no doubt those of the major parties: “We are fed up of party politics and empty promises and want to see genuine change.”
The reality is that splitting the vote has proven to be a very effective form of governance in countries and cities far more prosperous, efficiently run (and scandal-free) than our own.
Scandinavia is a good example, where “rainbow coalitions” ensure that checks and balances are in place so that every citizen who votes is actually represented (not just the “winning party”).
In contrast to this, a majority council for, say, the Labour Party would see national policies and strategies effected carte blanche at our local level with very little opposition or consultation with anyone outside the Labour Party.
To this point, over the past few weeks, I’ve attended various hustings around the city and one particular moment comes to mind.
A member of the public asked the candidates about their willingness to collaborate cross-party if elected. When asked who they would be willing to work with, the Labour candidate gave a one-word answer: “Labour.”
Can it really be that only one party has all the answers – and all the people capable of solving all our city’s myriad challenges? I don’t think so, which is precisely why we formed the Brighton and Hove Independents.
Our purpose is to improve the running of our city through common sense and evidence-based decision-making made by capable people who are agnostic about national party politics.
We have put up candidates who have lived here for decades and have a proven track record of working together with all kinds of people and groups to get things done.
Perhaps most importantly, when residents elect a Brighton and Hove Independent candidate, they can be sure of a genuine advocate in the council chamber who will fight for their best interests only – with no party agendas.
Tomorrow – on Thursday 4 May – residents across Brighton and Hove will have two or three votes, depending on where they live.
Our message is clear: please give at least one of those votes to the Brighton and Hove Independent candidate. Based on the past 12 years, what have you possibly got to lose?
Bridget Fishleigh is standing for the Brighton and Hove Independents for a seat on Brighton and Hove City Council in Rottingdean and West Saltdean.
An Independant City needs Independant government. Red and Green collaborators over the last decade has left us in ruins. Let’s end their misrule now and start a new chapter for our City . Brightons problems, solved by Brighton people who serve Brighton.
It’s interesting to see just how worried the Labour group is by the Brighton and Hove Independents. I’ve lived in Brighton for over 30 years now and have seen just how badly the city has degenerated over both Labour and Green management. I think Labour count on short memories of just how chaotic things were under their control. If we vote Independent then perhaps we will get a council that is forced to listen to the residents and work for the good of the city rather than political dogma.
My local labour candidate in Queens Park has posted a number of times urging residents not to ‘split the vote’. The Labour Party behemoth is ready to take power and the little people must bow to this almighty force. “Nothing compares to what Labour can and has delivered over its 123 year history in government nationally and locally…” says this candidate, “use all votes for Labour”. The behemoth is hungry. It wants the power to dominate the council. No forging of bi-partisan cooperation for this determined giant! Stay in your lane little people, it shouts – leave it to the behemoth, it knows whats good for you.
I am standing as an independent candidate in Regency Ward and I can see how the Green Party and Labour Party are actively using scare tactics to try to worry the neighbourhood into a nonsense of ‘split vote’ Armageddon. Votes are not split, it is a democracy where fair representation on local values should be the driving force for change. A vote is a vote and there are no splits, an election by its very nature ‘splits’ the community into who they support and believe in. Dirty tricks are not welcome in Brighton & Hove.
By splitting any vote about anything in this country shows that we have a true democracy. Scare mongering our residents into voting for labour, just proves how scared they are of the independents. They know that any independent elected will not allow them to run over the people of this amazing city.
I am standing as an independent in Hollingbury and Patcham, they are doing exactly the same within my area, out of the three Labour candidates standing, none of them even live in the ward.
Completely agree with Cllr Fishleigh here (and by the way her last 4 years as the only elected independent is testament to what a hard working councillor can achieve – and to the bi-partisan approach). Four of us from White Street Community Garden attended a Queens Park ward hustings last week. The event was great (though the fact that only 3 out of the 7 candidates showed up felt a bit insulting). The independent candidate plus one of the Labour candidates and one of the Greens answered questions (a decent crowd of residents came along). Both Labour and Green candidates looked puzzled when asked why they’d come alone. For them, it seemed, one ‘spokesperson’ was sufficient. Labour and Green looked equally puzzled at the idea of residents wanting to assess individual merit before voting. The message seemed to be ‘pick a rosette and vote for that’ (because nothing else matters). ‘Use all your votes for our party’ said Labour, said Green. I’m a labour voter but the hustings made my mind up – I will vote independent and leave the other boxes blank.
(I should add that the Lib-Dem candidate for Kemptown turned up hoping to answer questions for their QP candidate who apparently exists though we cant be sure! Says it all)
Strange how the Council everyone claims to want is the Council they’ve already got and have had for years. No one party has had overall control of of the Council for over a decade. Perhaps it’s embarrassing to admit that a lot of the things that were supposedly the sole doing of the Greens actually sailed through the Council with cross-party support, or at any rate no real opposition. The Greens could have been stopped from doing anything by the combined votes of the other parties.
I would rather vote for a pair of soiled boxer shorts than vote for the Green Party
Add soiled knickers to thst, mate.
I will miss Bridget , she spoke out for me at many a council meeting
I also agree with Cllr Fishleigh, Labour are obviously getting power mad.
Wherever you are in Brighton and Hove just don’t vote for the Greens or Labour. They are not interested in the city, just their own ideology which will never make Brighton a better place, as we have seen over many recent years.
The reality is that the “independent” candidates are simply Tories in disguise. I suspect the only vote that will be split is the Tories. We’ve had a hung council now for decades, perhaps a majority council will give the city direction which it needs, without all the in fighting.
Unfortunately we have 50,000 students here who will vote green. So a split vote is a vote for the green party. I couldn’t personally care if it’s an independent, Tory, lib Dems or labour majority council, after all it’s local elections not national.
Anything but the green party tbh. It’s a real shame the independents didn’t start making noise at least a year ago and they would stand a chance. As it goes it’s probably tactical to vote labour if you don’t want the greens. They are the only party to bother to nock on my door, or visit my small business so far.
Labour have shed most of the Corbyn nut jobs now so I don’t think we will see a return to the cycle lane nonsense but I do feel this is their last chance saloon for the city
Oh yay an independent councillor. That’s going to work well.
What we need in this city is a council with a majority big enough to ignore the nutcase party (greens) so I won’t be splitting my vote thanks