What Would Yolonda Do?

"Give me somewhere to stand and I will move the world" - Archimedes

I don't know about you, but I think politicians should stand for something. There should be something driving them - values, or a sense of mission - some passion, some vision, some sense that things can be different, be better. 

Exeter's Tories are BACKING the hugely unpopular
NHS Bill

Readers will know that I have been pressing Exeter's Tories to just come out and say whether they support the deeply unpopular NHS Bill or not. For weeks, I was met with silence. Then finally, Conservative Councillor for Polsloe, James Taghdissian told me, "Exeter Conservatives support Conservative Policy, Simon. Would be bigger news if we didn't. Get real!" So that told me.

(Actually, Exeter Conservatives do not always agree with Conservative policy. You can read how local Tories tried to rally behind the locally popular call for unitary status for Exeter here, when official Tory policy was to withdraw Exeter's bid to run its own affairs.)

Anyhow, we now know that despite massive professional opposition, despite huge public opposition (Labour has an 18 point lead on the NHS as an issue), despite the huge contribution the NHS makes to Exeter's economy and employment market, despite their coalition partners voting to withdraw support for the NHS Bill, and despite the government refusing to comply with a court order to publish the NHS Bill risk register, Exeter's Tories still support Lansley's disastrous course of action. this much we know. 

But what else do they stand for? What is their vision for the city? The Express & Echo this week carried news of Labour's manifesto for the 2012 local elections (more on that later) and next to it an article on the local Tory proposals.

Weekly bin collections have been
championed by Eric Pickles.

However, the extent of their vision is...well... rubbish. Literally. The focus of Exeter Tories' manifesto to date would it appears extend little further than collecting your bin weekly. Genius. 


The public is underwhelmed. In the very first response posted on the Express & Echo comments on the story, "DeeJayTee" wrote:

So, in a mission to find out what exactly the Tories are peddling on the doorsteps of the city, I went to their website. There was a tab, boldly stating "Manifesto 2012". Aha! Here must be the big picture, the grand designs, the bold future set out. Er.... no.

"Coming soon..." Hmmm.

"How odd," I thought. You see, last month Exeter Labour councillors, candidates and activists held a day planning our manifesto. We were very excited to do so. We had people come down and speak to us from the Local Government Association and the Co-operative movement, and we thrashed out our priorities for the city and how they could be achieved. Cllr Paul Bull got very excited (as he does) and tweeted what a great day we'd had. The response from local Tory Jake Donovon on the 14th February was: 

"Exeter Tories manifesto was finalised back in September." Not started. Finalised. Yet here we are 6 months on and the Exeter Conservative website is distinctly lacking in manifesto. I also had a chuckle at the idea of finalising a manifesto before the autumn budget statement and before the local authorities' settlements from central government had been announced! Unless they have staggering powers of clairvoyance they were presumably deciding in the autumn of 2011 how they would spend a budget that was not actually set until last month!

"Exeter Tories manifesto," declared Jake, "offers Exeter city residents the change of direction and leadership she [sic] really needs."

I would say that so far their manifesto offers not so much a change of direction or leadership, but more a change of bin.

So, on to Labour. I have previously written in my blog that under Labour Exeter is thriving. However, we do not want to be complacent or rest on our laurels. This week saw the publication of our manifesto, and you can see it here. 

Major companies are investing in Exeter's economic growth under Labour

Please take the time to read it. We are excited about a Labour-led future for the city, and we think you will be too. We have exciting plans for more affordable housing through a co-operative community model; more environmentally sustainable buildings - both public buildings and homes; more play areas and enhanced open spaces; more support for communities that have ideas on projects in their own areas; economic growth and improved employment - particularly for young people through a new apprenticeship scheme; and an improved and enhanced city centre we can all value and be proud of. 

Cooperative housing is seen as a fairer and more
progressive way to deliver homes in countries like Sweden, above

It is a bold, ambitious and exciting picture we paint. Already the bleating has started from both the Tories and Lib Dems. Maybe they should stick to worrying about bin collections. We have no intention of thinking smaller thoughts for our city, though. As Michaelangelo said:

"The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it."

PS: Talking of the Lib Dems, what of their great vision for the city? As of today, there is no manifesto yet on their site. However, they would like you to "Vote Yes to AV" on ...er.... the 5th May last year. Finger on the pulse of modern political dialogue as ever, then...!