Hold by-election after councillor defection
Let St Mary’s Decide is a campaign to have Cllr Singh call a by-election following his defection to the Lib Dems – based on the principle that when elected representatives switch parties they should ask their voters whether or not they agree with their decision and rationale for doing so.
Cllr Singh has responded to Let St Mary’s Decide by making reference to a situation back in 2010 when a Lib Dem joined the Conservatives (Advertiser, July 2).
I was only 14 at the time; nevertheless, if that situation happened today, I would argue that a by-election should happen.
This is not a party-political campaign, but one based on the immutable principle that voters are the ultimate boss and should be consulted when an elected politician wishes to switch political parties.
Indeed, I have reached out to all parties that put up candidates for election in 2019 in the St Mary’s ward. Voters make a judgement on an individual based upon the party they are part of, switching parties suggests a fundamental change in outlook, which the voters should have the opportunity to scrutinise and vote on, as it was not information they previously had.
If Cllr Singh does not hold a by-election, I believe he will further erode the public's trust in politics, as it feels wrong that someone can be elected for one party and then switch parties at will – it makes a mockery of the democratic process and is an insult to residents who voted for him.
More than ever ordinary voters just want transparency, integrity, and trust from politicians.
If Cllr Singh truly believes he has the support of the majority of voters in St Mary’s, then he should follow in the footsteps of Bruce Douglas-Mann, who voluntarily triggered a by-election in 1982 when he left Labour for the SDP, Dick Taverne, who called a by-election in 1973 when he switched from Labour to Democratic Labour, and Douglas Carswell and Mark Reckless who left the Conservatives to join UKIP.
In each case, it was the choice of the constituents as to whether or not they agreed with their decision. Should not the residents get the final say? Should we not Let St Mary’s Decide?
If you agree, then please support the campaign by signing our petition and sharing with fellow democrat: http://chng.it/6c8G8bxPvk
ALEX COBB Let St Mary’s Decide