If they can do it, so can you

We’ve had plenty to say in recent weeks about the importance of voting in next May’s local elections – but perhaps even more important is that when you vote, you should have a good choice of quality candidates.

Tomorrow night, anyone who thinks they might want to have a go at standing for office can find out more by going along to an open meeting at the Municipal Buildings in West Street .

Boston Chief Executive Richard Harbord will explain the job and outline some of the laws relating to local elections, then Councillors Anne Dorrian and Brian Rush of the Better Boston Group, plus Independents Richard Leggott and John Storry will talk about the key duties of elected members and offer tips on how to run an effective campaign.

The meeting starts at 6.30pm and will run until 8.30pm, and there will be refreshments available.

We hope that anyone is interested in going along will do so, because there is a convincing need for truly independent councillors to represent Boston.

We expect to see a shed-load of Conservatives standing on May 5th, and doubtless there will be a smattering of Labour and Lib-Dem candidates – there’s always a masochist or two out there, isn’t there?

But the issues that affect Boston are not the issues that have their roots in national party politics. Anyone standing for the three main parties will doubtless promise their best by way of service to Boston. But when Westminster or party HQs says “jump” party members usually say “how high?”

Not only that, but as the coalition cuts begin to bite, there could well be a voter backlash against national parties that could see the wrong sort of local candidates re-elected unless there is plenty of choice ( if you know what we mean.)

And don’t be seduced by the claptrap spewing from the Boston Bypass Independents claiming they enjoy a whip-free, free-thinking and voting status and are each truly individual and independent.

Increasingly we hear of BBI members who would dearly like to defect but are either too cowed by the leadership or feel that they have signed up for the duration and through some perverted sense of loyalty continue to plough the party furrow.

Every one of Boston’s ten town wards and eight rural wards have specific needs that no centralised party machine can ever hope to serve. Nor can a single issue party like the BBI come close to meeting truly local wants.

In an ideal world every one of the 32 Boston borough councillors should be independent in both politics and mind - prepared to represent people not party in the council chamber.

Why not go and find out how to do it tomorrow night.

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