[Livia]

I worry about all the independents who are suddenly in council. I remember a few years ago there was a huge protest vote and loads of UKIP councillors were elected. None of them expected it, didn't really want to be in council, didn't go to meetings, didn't meet the Parish councils and in the end, stepped down causing a by election. The people who suffered were those they were meant to serve.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Livia

I worry about all the independents who are suddenly in council. I remember a few years ago there was a huge protest vote and loads of UKIP councillors were elected. None of them expected it, didn't really want to be in council, didn't go to meetings, didn't meet the Parish councils and in the end, stepped down causing a by election. The people who suffered were those they were meant to serve.

That's another strong point re the Independents.
As is your last sentence.

[Underscore]

Originally Posted by Livia

I worry about all the independents who are suddenly in council. I remember a few years ago there was a huge protest vote and loads of UKIP councillors were elected. None of them expected it, didn't really want to be in council, didn't go to meetings, didn't meet the Parish councils and in the end, stepped down causing a by election. The people who suffered were those they were meant to serve.

In personal experience, Independents tend to perform better/as good as any other major party candidate. They tend to have the local people more at heart rather than those who are aligned to a party who sometimes think about their political careers.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Underscore

In personal experience, Independents tend to perform better/as good as any other major party candidate. They tend to have the local people more at heart rather than those who are aligned to a party who sometimes think about their political careers.

In my experience they are happy amateurs. Also the parties have a 'group' in council' where they plan work together. I don't at all find that they have the local people at heart more than the parties, because you have to either live in the ward you stand in, or have some other proper connection to the area, and party councillors tend to stand for the same ward election after election. I'm not sure anyone who stands as a councillor think of it as furthering a political career, not for around £4000 a year. Whether they belong to a party or not, people who stand for council tend to be focused and serious... it's just that those connected to a political party tend to stand long term and less likely to stand for just one term.