It was interesting to see that in the local elections last week, which saw the Liberal Democrats maintain control of the Lewes District and Town councils, that it was independent councillor Ruth O’Keeffe who was re-elected with the most votes. She was not voted in as a result of a clever spin campaign, or by making vote-winning pronouncements shortly before election time, but because voters saw her for what she was: a tireless worker for the benefit of her ward.
We didn’t like the way in which the Lib Dems, a few days before the elections, urged voters not to vote for other parties, suggesting this would be a wasted vote likely to benefit the Tories. By quoting figures for the whole of the Lewes District, they ignored the fact that the Greens and independent Robert Shepherd had a very good chance of being elected in the Lewes Castle Ward. In the end the Lib Dems won the last seat by a neck. All across the board, we saw more ‘spin’ from parties than ever before; this was the most misleading example.
But, for better or worse, we are now living under the control of the Lib Dems for another four years. Lewes is one of the small yellow dots on a predominantly blue carpet stretching over rural and semi rural England. There is certainly a ‘Norman Baker’ factor involved: his popularity as an MP has made Lewes into something of a Lib Dem stronghold. But the party has also been voted in because the policies it has espoused have agreed with enough voters to see them first past the post. They pronounced themselves to be anti-incinerator, unhappy with the parking scheme, and against the Falmer Stadium encroaching into LDC Downsland. They vowed not to sell off their North Street properties to Angel Properties. We will be watching with interest to see whether they follow up their pre-election manifesto with positive action. AL