This year’s local elections are big, with some areas due to hold multiple elections, by-elections and referendum on the same day.
It is an unprecedented ask during a pandemic and the government’s lack of clarity over recent weeks has been far from helpful, however ready we stand.
Rumours swirled of a likely delay, fuelled by ministers, and candidates and the police were left guessing what coronavirus guidance meant for campaigning.
We see informing residents is part of the essential work of elected councillors and candidates, most effectively done by a face to face offer and direct leaflets.
Finally at the end of January the Cabinet Office wrote a letter to the Parliamentary Parties Panel stating that ‘the Government’s view is that these restrictions do not support door-to-door campaigning or leafleting by individual political party activists.’ Some may challenge this the legal basis of a “Government view”.
The Government confirmed that elections will be held on Thursday, May 6, amid calls for delay and concerns from returning officers about safety.
The Independents were mixed about the value of a delay, but clear that going ahead without allowing our members to even deliver a leaflet, deeply undermines democracy.
If elections are now about who has the most powerful voice in marketing, then we risk being at the mercy of irrational fears, divisive politics and extremism.
The Government’s proposal to run elections without any door-to-door presence and even fining councillors for delivering a leaflet is entirely counter-productive to getting people engaged in using their democratic right.
Local councils affect almost all of our lives, from education and public health to supporting the economy, keeping the standard of our roads, tackling flooding and keeping people safe and care. It is vital local people use their vote to decide who should best represent them.
On the same day as we were told we cannot deliver a leaflet, we received party election material through the post and private business advertising material by hand through the door.
If leaflets by post is allowed, and delivery by paid leafleters, then COVID-safe leaflet delivery by councillors must be allowed too. This is especially so when our leaflets includes information and contacts useful for residents during the COVID period.
Independents fund their own campaigns. Posting leaflets even in bulk remains beyond the reach of most of our independent councillors.
Independent councillors are people who are active and part of their local community and want to work to make it better. It is vital that councillors are not tied into big national party manifestoes, but focus on their communities have a fair and level playing field.
Independents are unfairly disadvantaged by an inability to knock on doors or deliver leaflets. With few exceptions, Independent members do not have the funds, manpower nor infrastructure to afford purchase or maintenance of IT marketing systems, phone numbers and postal charges. Yet our members make a significant contribution to the balance and representation on councils, specifically because they are closely engaged and listening to their communities.
The doorstep debates are vital for all of us to be current in understanding the needs and aspirations of our residents.
Communicating face-to-face solidly for weeks makes a significant impact on our thinking and ability to properly represent residents. Marketing systems are a poor relation, missing many of our important voters. Elections are about electing an effective local representative.
If elections are now about who has the most powerful voice in marketing, then we risk being at the mercy of irrational fears, divisive politics and extremism.
An unfair system that disadvantages Independents takes the candidate ever further from their residents and damages democracy.
If elections are to go ahead without leaflet hand delivery or door-knocking, then Independents need a proportion of the same financial assistance given to the big national parties in promoting their policies. This is a local election, but parliamentary parties are able to use their funds from our taxes to build up staff, purchase phone numbers and software systems also used at parliamentary elections. Either these are not allowed to be used at all, or we all have an equal share.
I have suggested that leaflets need to be compiled into a joint booklet with all candidates having one A5 page, as was done in the London elections previously. Any additional work is up to the candidates. At least residents will know who is standing and something about them. With no free mailing that the MPs get and no ability to approach by door-knocking our candidates are unfairly treated.
The requirement to get 100 signatures to nominate a Police and Crime Commissioner candidate is going to be pretty difficult. A system is needed so people can add their signature remotely to a central list, which is able to verify who they are by comparison to the register. Not easy! Would everyone who signs need to register as a postal voter so their signature is known? Doing everything online also disadvantages people in rural areas with low speed and unreliable broadband.
We must do more, not less, to enliven our democratic process and that means consistently strengthening the bonds with the community over time.
It will be no thanks to Government restriction on communications with residents, but Independent Councillors will win because they serve their communities well.”
Councillor Marianne Overton MBE
Independent Councillor for Bassingham and Welbourn on Lincolnshire County Council and for the Cliff Villages on North Kesteven District Council
Leader of the Lincolnshire Independents and the Independent Network
