21/07/05 - Labour MP In A Muddle Over Council Leadership

Labour Party Membership Is At A 70 Year Low

The Labour North Swindon MP in his recent speech in the House of Commons has claimed the Conservatives have been in control of Swindon Council since 2001.

With support for Labour in the local elections in freefall it is perhaps not unexpected that the Labour MP thought his local Labour colleagues had been thrown out of office a little quicker than even we had hoped!

It is vital, our MPs understand the local issues, and anyone who cares to look at the local election results in Swindon over the last few years will see it was only in 2004 that the Conservatives had an overall majority. 

Without an overall majority no group can set Council Tax, or lead on key issues without the support of opposition Councillors. 

Throughout the period of 'no overall control', the Labour & Liberals generally combined numbers to defeat the growing Conservative group, until 2004 when the Conservatives were in a position of overall control.

Cllr Justin Tomlinson, North Swindon Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman, "MPs are elected to be Swindon's voice in Westminster, they are there to fight for the best deal for local residents.  To be effective ambassadors they must understand the local issues.  This includes the mechanics of the local Council who are responsible for delivering the local services to local residents."