By Steve Stratford, Deputy Editor
The news that the British National Party has secured an automatic foot-hold in three seats on Colwyn Bay Town Council came as a shock to some this week.
In the Rhos ward, there are five vacancies to be filled, but only four candidates, which means there is no need for an election and all four candidates will secure their seats automatically. The same goes in neighbouring Dinarth, where there are three vacancies and three candidates - again, no need for a vote. And on Wednesday, two candidates withdrew from Eirias ward, leaving three vacancies filled automatically, one by the BNP.
Of the ten candidates standing in these two wards, two are Plaid Cymru, three are BNP, one is Tory and four are independent. There isn't a Labour or Liberal Democrat candidate to be seen.
If the "big three" parties had fielded more candidates, they would have forced an election and we wouldn't have a situation where the British National Party can walk into office unopposed. It's not just the fact the BNP has taken advantage of this situation; I don't think any ward should go uncontested. To exercise democracy you have to give people the right to choose who will represent them on councils.
In these cases it seems apathy set in. Labour and the Lib Dems tell us they don't have enough people on the ground to field in all wards, that there's simply not enough interest in local government these days. That is such a shame, because apathy allows opportunists to flourish, and before you know it you've got extremist parties sitting on council committees making decisions based upon their extremist views.
I see this as the thin end of a very dangerous wedge, and just hope that people will read the reports of the BNP securing power unopposed and realise they must exercise their right to vote where they can.
Voltaire once said: "So long as the people do not care to exercise their freedom, those who wish to tyrannize will do so", while Plato said: "The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men."
Now, I'm not suggesting the BNP is evil and aims to tyrannize, but the point still stands. So please, use your vote on May 1, whoever you choose to support. This country fought for democracy and freedom in the last world war, and it is simply not good enough that we allow our rights to be abused in this way.
- Post to:
del.icio.us
Digg
Newsvine
Nowpublic
Reddit
« Previous | Home | Next »