My motion on electoral reform came to full council today, to a very healthy debate, with many councillors revealing their true colours, and a nail biting finish. The conservatives explicitly opposed it as a group but one rebelled and supported the motion, the independents were split and it was carried 24:18.
There is a Youtube link to a recording of the meeting, the debate on this item starts at 1:37:40. https://youtu.be/CJT2MHTLmSQ?t=5860
I introduced the item explaining in detail why first past the post is a flawed system that can elect a winner when the majority of voters would prefer a different winner – this is the WRONG result. I explained how FPTP sometimes helps a political group and sometimes works against, but it always works against fair representation for our communities.
It was intriguing therefore how many councillors spoke against it saying FPTP benefits their own political position. This included the leader of the independent group, but NSN members of the independent group spoke well, and in favour of the motion.
I was surprised that most councillors liked the 16 year old options, including heart warming speeches from erstwhile opponents who have been persuaded. There were some dinosaurs of course, and I hope as young people grow up, they will remember how dismissive some older Conservatives are of them.
I feel several councillors revealed their true colours today, but a particularly disappointing contribution came from the leader of the Conservative group. Not for the first time, he implied that I and my colleagues are mindless automata enacting the instructions of party central simply because I am a member of that party. He mis-quoted some figures while explaining the hypocrisy of opposing Brexit after there was a vote. I hope I can count on his support for electoral reform now that there has been a vote.
Several councillors trotted out the old myth that “All Politicians break their promises”. This is a view which we must always challenge because it is exactly the excuse used by those politicians who are dishonest. We must identify which promises are broken, which politicians keep breaking them, and stop voting for them. Or we could stand against them but of course under first past the post this would take votes from candidates similar to us, and help elect those most different.
The talk of broken promises lead us nicely into reminding councillors that this entire motion was a promise I originally made before being elected and today I am bringing that promise to fruition. I am delighted with today’s outcome. It is an important statement and brings more pressure on government to make changes.
The full text of the motion is online at https://democracy.teignbridge.gov.uk/documents/g2737/Public%20reports%20pack%2023rd-Nov-2020%2010.00%20Full%20Council.pdf?T=10 agenda item 11.
The details for today’s meeting where it was debated in full are at https://democracy.teignbridge.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=165&MId=2747&Ver=4