Local election votes never so important

WE have heard so much recently about how the Prime Minister, some members of the Cabinet and senior officials broke Covid rules which they set. The Prime Minister then clearly was less than truthful to Parliament, as evidenced by news clips in which he less than convincingly tried to say he made some “mistakes”.

We have also had the Cummings saga and several Tory MPs have been in breach of other rules. More recently, one of our local Somerset MPs has found himself in trouble with issues which have not yet been resolved.

The country will no doubt have to wait until 2024 before electors can give their verdict on this Government via the ballot box but the good people of Somerset have an opportunity to make their views known on the Conservative Party in little over a week, in the election for a new Unitary Council on May 5.

Before people say that local councillors should not be tarred with the same brush as those in Government, then one must consider the track record of the present Tory-controlled County Council who are effectively

(although they won’t say that) taking over the much more local District Councils. In recent years, they have been responsible for the abolition of the county youth service, resulting in the closure of numerous youth clubs; the closure of smaller rural libraries and the mobile library service; the decimation of rural bus services, leaving many people isolated; and a dramatic reduction in the standard of highway maintenance... I could go on!

The Tory candidates may be worried, judging by the number of glossy leaflets I have received, which are now filling my recycling bin. I wonder who is paying for all those?

People should be very wary of their promises based on the track record of the County Council and should cast their votes with care. Rebecca Young

Somerset