By Carol Hayton
So will the recent election result and the new style of government herald a bright new dawn for the people of Horsham? Having voted for change as Francis Maude urged them to do on his campaign posters, will residents of the constituency be bowled over by a whirlwind of exciting initiatives that represent empowerment of local communities?
Not if the comments from local politicians reported in last week’s County Times are anything to go by. Under a headline announcing, 'pressure fears for jobs and services' we have Council leader Robert Nye bleating on once again about cuts but claiming that he will prioritise spending to take account of 'our communities' needs and aspirations.'
That was the same claim made at the recent budget and council meetings when we saw the priorities of the less well off in our communities for affordable housing and affordable child care dismissed by local Tories.
Unpopular policies such as the pedestrianisation of East Street, the increase in parking charges and the future plans for the Old Town Hall show scant regard for the empowerment of communities or of their needs and aspirations.
But what of the Tories’ new best friends the Liberal Democrats, any signs of renewed hope there? Not really. Their new group leader is the old group leader who stood down two years ago because, he says, he came to the conclusion that it was almost impossible to make a difference. But in the new style of government he now feels that there is an opportunity to work with the Tories to reach 'passionate, positive, consensus.'
And this is the party that for years has claimed that it was the only real alternative to the Tories in Horsham.
They have persuaded many people to vote tactically to ensure a strong opposition, but the reality is it seems that they never felt they could achieve anything. Perhaps they would have more influence if they could reach passionate, positive consensus with some of their own councillors and could persuade them to vote more consistently on party lines in the council chamber, or if they could find a few more councillors who were able to spend a little more time living in the District.
It hardly seems appropriate to give up the role of opposition when there is so much that the ruling group has failed to address, particularly for the most vulnerable.
By giving up opposition the Lib Dems have demonstrated that they are not the alternative to the Tories in Horsham but that their new message is 'vote Liberal, get Tory'. Let's hope that when it comes to the local elections the Liberal Democrats will be a bit more honest about their own position and encourage voters to vote Labour if they want a party that will stand up to the Tories.
