Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: 'The other day I spotted a Facebook post about Kew Conservative activist Laura Nuttall, who with the help of her Birkdale counterpart Lee Durkin, rolled up her sleeves and collected rubbish from the Kew roundabout and its surrounding roads.

A political ploy, no doubt (in fact it's exactly what the Liberal Democrats used to do shortly before the local council elections), but at least they were doing something for our town, and they did it all on a voluntary basis.

And then I thought of Southport's 21 elected councillors, of all three main political parties. We pay them each £10,000 a year for what is in effect a part-time job... in fact it's far less demanding than that.

Erm...have I missed something, but what do they actually do for our town? Labour seem quite happy to leave all the hard work to Councillor Greg Myers, while local Tory councillors recently really put themselves out by visiting the soon-to-be-opened new Southport Market to have their picture taken at the entrance (no doubt to appear in a future election leaflet). My god, smile at the camera and you get £10,000. Nice work if you can get it. As for the Liberal Democrats, as a spent force I've absolutely no idea what they do.

Southport residents are being ripped off by 21 people who are quite happy to have the title councillor, claim their £10,000 allowance but don't actually do anything for their community – apart from attending the occasional zoom meeting. Yeah, that's really stressful.

It's a disgrace!

Wake up Southport and demand more from your local councillor – assuming you know who they are... which I doubt.'

Some interesting figures here

Originally Posted by roving-eye

Some interesting figures here

also too many of them

He forgot to add that decisions are made in Bootle by a dynasty of Labour untouchables voted in by the South of the Borough who have no empathy with Southport or it's indigenous population and call each other Comrade.

Originally Posted by roving-eye

As for the Liberal Democrats, as a spent force I've absolutely no idea what they do.

The Lib Dems may be a spent force in Southport Martin, but Lynne Thompson in Ainsdale gives every Southport Councillor a run for their money, including Mr Myers. :)

In all reality, considering that all decisions regarding Southport are made by the Politburo in the Republic of Bootle, there shouldn’t be a need for Councillors here at all. They don’t carry any weight whatsoever. This is why Southport shouldn’t be a part of Sefton at all, it has traditionally been a Conservative stronghold for decades, (with the exception of when lame duck Pugh got in because he is local), and has nothing whatsoever in common with Bootle.

Originally Posted by justbecause

In all reality, considering that all decisions regarding Southport are made by the Politburo in the Republic of Bootle, there shouldn’t be a need for Councillors here at all. They don’t carry any weight whatsoever. This is why Southport shouldn’t be a part of Sefton at all, it has traditionally been a Conservative stronghold for decades, (with the exception of when lame duck Pugh got in because he is local), and has nothing whatsoever in common with Bootle.

Hardly a Conservative stronghold in terms of councillors.
6 councillors out of 21. Same number as Labour.
It must be the apathy of local Tory voters who vote in general elections but no longer vote in local elections that has led once Conservative Sefton Council to become a Labour Council after a long period of a hung council.

Originally Posted by salus.populi

Hardly a Conservative stronghold in terms of councillors.
6 councillors out of 21. Same number as Labour.
It must be the apathy of local Tory voters who vote in general elections but no longer vote in local elections that has led once Conservative Sefton Council to become a Labour Council after a long period of a hung council.

Probably because of the reasons I highlighted in my previous post. Southport is ruled sadly, by a hard left Socialist Administration in Bootle, and doesn’t get to make any decisions of its own. Hence my previous comment that Southport doesn’t need Councillors at all.

Originally Posted by justbecause

Probably because of the reasons I highlighted in my previous post. Southport is ruled sadly, by a hard left Socialist Administration in Bootle, and doesn’t get to make any decisions of its own. Hence my previous comment that Southport doesn’t need Councillors at all.

Is that the same hard left Socialist party that is increasing its number of councillors in Southport at every election? They can't be that bad then can they?

But as I said before the Conservatives ran Sefton from 1973 to 1986 and had a say in things under a hung council from 1986-2012. Obviously the electorate grew increasingly dissatisfied with them to the point where they've been in 3rd place since 1998 with their councillors decreasing in number at almost every election since then.

Originally Posted by justbecause

In all reality, considering that all decisions regarding Southport are made by the Politburo in the Republic of Bootle, there shouldn’t be a need for Councillors here at all. They don’t carry any weight whatsoever. This is why Southport shouldn’t be a part of Sefton at all, it has traditionally been a Conservative stronghold for decades, (with the exception of when lame duck Pugh got in because he is local), and has nothing whatsoever in common with Bootle.

Some Q Local posters purporting to speak for Southport convey more than a whiff of snobbery. Where did that start? I wonder.

Southport per se didn't exist until near the end of the 18^th century. Its sparsely populated communities dug a living out of Ribble Estuary mud. By and by prosperous Liverpool and Manchester commuters' families enjoyed the benefit of comparatively fresh air. Hence I suppose, Southport's early Conservatism.

Times change, though. Nowadays, the economic upper strata have more options. Southport's politics has come down to earth, figuratively if not literally.

Everyone should vote for Labour they are a force for good in the town and the country at large.

There you go ...........................

They have well-researched policies and a team of high achievers ready to work for the good of the country nationally and at local level they are a fine bunch of people ready to promote Southport at the highest levels.

Already I feel people are not believing me.................

Originally Posted by Little Londoner

He forgot to add that decisions are made in Bootle by a dynasty of Labour untouchables voted in by the South of the Borough who have no empathy with Southport or it's indigenous population and call each other Comrade.

Yep, says it all!!

Originally Posted by Little Londoner

He forgot to add that decisions are made in Bootle by a dynasty of Labour untouchables voted in by the South of the Borough who have no empathy with Southport or it's indigenous population and call each other Comrade.

Southport doesn't have an indigenous population. It's original townsfolk all moved here from elsewhere.

If only this grumpy retired so called journalist was capable of writing a proper article.

If he is short of money and wants to continue to do nothing for it he could hitch his wagon to the Southport Conservative Party. They will take anyone as a Council candidate.
All that is required is to stand on a street corner for a photoshoot and complain about something. Mr Hovden is good at complaining, though little else.
He could then complain about the Labour led Council all the way South in Bootle. As most rational people complain about the Tory led government fiasco even further South in Westminster, and our current waste of space representative there