Yup- Wolverhampton Labour Party did well in this year’s (2016) local election. As did the Labour Party nationally! Despite some doom-sayers downbeat comments (the BBC for one ). Indeed Labour in Wolverhampton did very well!
All through my own campaign here in Wednesfield North, I spoke of my own actions, Labours actions, and my own successes along with those of my colleagues Rita and Mary, as we work hard together as a Labour team. I am proud of the work the three of us do together.
I was tempted to have a go at the Local Tories but never did apart from pointing out rather gently that I was the only Local Candidate living in Wednesfield North. The Conservative candidate in Wednesfield North was a nice enough candidate; we spoke briefly at the count. I have no axe to grind with him about either his campaign or the comments he made during the election campaign. But the election has now been won, and I want to say a few words about the Local Conservative Opposition and its leadership in Wolverhampton.
Wolverhampton needs a strong opposition in the City Council, because our type of democracy demands one. But are the Local Tories up to it?
Let’s take a look at their recent history.
- They called the rest of Wolverhampton ‘dead-beat’ when trying to raise the UDI flag for Tettenhall. What a policy to take out across the City of Wolverhampton in the run up to a City Council election?
- That call to pull up the ‘Draw Bridge’ on Tettenhall Green said more about the lack of leadership and the Conservatives lack of vision than anything else ever debated by them in the City Council Chamber!
- They have refused to inform City residents in recent Budget debates what their vision was for our great City of Wolverhampton
- They refused to speak with their Government about the horrendous cuts in Grant that has so affected services here in Wolverhampton
- Take a look at the Wolverhampton Conservative web site – More about attacking Labour’s Mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan than anything at all about Wolverhampton!
Wolverhampton Conservatives are in a shambles. Two Tory Candidates for Tettenhall?! What is all that about?
Is it no surprise that the people of Penn and Merryhill have turned their back on the Conservatives in two elections on the trot, and are now embracing Labour and their progressive Councillor representatives who have a city wide and regional perspective.
Will the Conservatives be any better in this 2016/17 Municipal year now the elections have taken place?
My personal view is I doubt it. The Local leadership is a shadow of the former Leaders they had in the Past.
They command No Vision ,No Action, No Defence of the City, No speaking up for the City when they must have good links to a Conservative Government.
No wonder they are now just existing in places like Tettenhall….Their great vision for Wolverhampton is for Tettenhall to withdraw from Wolverhampton. Luddites everyone of them, and that suggests that all we will get in this next year is more of the same.