Forum Topic

How should I vote on 22nd May?

I haven't decided how we should vote on Thursday 22nd May. I'm still thinking of the most important political policy item. Which political party should we support at the Ealing Local Elections? What is the most important and crucial local issue?

Gerry Tan ● 4333d18 Comments

Just be careful what you wish for, or should that read be careful who you vote for?I  met a lady today who is always complaining about the state of the streets but when I said I had just voted this morning her response was, 'I am not going to vote for anyone, they are all the same, they don't do anything when they get in!'My response was, 'Well you can't complain if you don't bother to vote then'Typical, those who complain the most just sit back and let it happen!

Jean F Fernandez ● 4332d

I agree Phil. I'm still not sure where the cross is going to go and it may well go in 2 different places for local/European elections. Did you catch my question about whether the council houses were actually built?

Penny Crocker ● 4332d

Unusually for me, I've had to give some real thought to who to support this time.However, as I live in Hobbayne ward, it was an easy decision not to vote for my local Conservative councillor who made a fool of himself on this forum.I voted at 2pm and there seemed to be no fewer people there than is normally the case for local elections.

Phil Kay ● 4332d

Good for him Penny!

Nigel Brooks ● 4332d

I have just forced my 19 year old to go round and vote. It's the 1st time he's been eligible. After explaining what he was voting for and the mechanics of the process he said 'well who should I vote for then Mum?'. He hasn't a clue about policies or politics nor does he have any particular interest so I told him to have a quick look online to get the general gist of what each party is saying. He did and made up his mind. Bless

Penny Crocker ● 4332d

I know that my vote won't be backing the winning party. The victor in these elections are going to be the Stay at Home Party, which could be larger than normal due to inclement weather.

Ben Owen ● 4332d

Thank you Phil. Did they get built?

Penny Crocker ● 4332d

Penny,We kicked off process September 2009.http://www2.ealing.gov.uk/ealing3/export/sites/ealingweb/services/council/committees/agendas_minutes_reports/cabinet/19may2009-24may2010/_15_Sept_2009/Item_30_-_HCA_Challenge_Fund_Bid.doc

Phil Taylor ● 4332d

I fully agree about the utilisation of empty properties and am glad that people are being 'encouraged' to put them to use. Still many flats over shops appear to be empty for no good reason. We do need to build houses as well as thousands of flats though - appreciate the struggle for land but there is a need for both. I don't think we can safely leave all new builds to private developers. We do need council / housing association houses to. Phil, you say the Conservatives built council houses during their term in power. Where were they? I don't remember any.

Penny Crocker ● 4332d

Democracy: where two idiots outvote a genius.

Tom Carroll ● 4332d

Gerry, perhaps the post I just wrote on the topic Ealing Gazette - Labour propaganda might give you food for thought.I am sure others will have their own views.

Jean F Fernandez ● 4332d

Thanks for the stats and advice Phil.

Gerry Tan ● 4332d

Gerry,It is interesting how you approach this issue.  If by building affordable housing you mean building social housing then it is worth remembering that the worse 10 years for building social housing post war were ... 1998-2007.  See here:http://philtaylor.org.uk/2014/05/labours-social-housing-disaster/Rents are not quite as out of control as some people would have you think.  The rate of private rent increases is much lower than the headlines - and may even be lower than the social sector!  See here:https://fullfact.org/economy/london_private_rent_prices_labour-29565The main problem we have is not enough homes of all kinds.  Part of the answer is bringing empty buildings back into use.  The Coalition allowed councils to charge council tax on empty properties from 1st April 2013.  Ealing has used this freedom and raised an extra £2.75 million of council tax last year.  Hopefully this will persuade landlords to bring their properties back into use.  The Coalition has also given council greater freedom to borrow for council housing.  Another freedom that the council has adopted.  Labour's housing pledge is based on setting up a company to exploit this freedom.  If we were to criticise it we might say that it is unambitious.  It was the Conservative administration that re-started council house building in Ealing after decades.  Labour's national pledge of building 200,000 homes is also rather unambitious - in  the UK we built 200,000 homes a year on average for 30 years from 1979 to 2008.  The Coalition's changes to the planning regime, often wildly unpopular, are designed again to increase the supply of housing.  Even at its lowest ebb the private sector has built three times more houses a year than the social sector.  If you want more houses quickly then I suspect that increasing private sector output is the way forward.  At the same time messing around with rent controls is likely to reduce the supply of rented accommodation.  If you want houses rather than the promise of free loveliness for everyone (which never quite materialises or doesn't last very long) I suggest that you vote Conservative locally and nationally.

Phil Taylor ● 4333d

Labour promised a load at the last election and delivered very very few.

Nigel Brooks ● 4333d

I agree Gerry. Top of the list for me too. We had forms through from Boris Johnson's office asking for our opinions and I said that there too.

Penny Crocker ● 4333d

Giving further thought to my own query about the most important local election issue...I think it is the building of affordable housing...which party will build the most affordable houses?  That party will get my family members' votes.

Gerry Tan ● 4333d

However you vote Gerry, please make sure that you do vote as you have no right to complain if the 'wrong party' (hint: the current one) gets (re) elected

Nigel Brooks ● 4333d

Pavement cycling.

Tom Carroll ● 4333d