Ribble Valley Borough Council urges government to Abandon policy of 2 Elections in one day

 In response to a consultation paper from the government , Ribble Valley Borough Council Policy and Finance Committee has urged the government to hold the 2 elections in 2009, the County Council and Euro election on separate days

The government consulted local authorities on the proposal to hold both the County Council and Euro elections on the same day.

 Ken Hind Chairman of the Conservative Association and Councillor for Dilworth Longridge stated : ‘A deeply unpopular Labour government is attempting to avoid having 2 bad election days by combining the Euro and County Council elections on the same day. The executive of the Ribble Valley Conservative Association decided to reject the government’s proposal. We were not prepared to support this gerrymandering of the electoral system and we are delighted the Council have supported the same view.

 ‘We saw the confusion in Scotland when voters were asked to deal with proportional representation and first past the post elections on the same day. It was particularly difficult for elderly voters and we wish to avoid errors and misunderstandings. If government consider having a postal only election this is where the largest number of problems will arise. A postal only vote election is fraught with the risk of corruption and at present safeguards necessary to avoid vote rigging are not in place.

‘ By having 2 elections we wish to focus the voters of Lancashire in the County Council election on the provision of local services, schools , provision for the elderly, roads, planning for the county, as well as the input the County have with local police and fire authorities policies.

‘ Unlike many of our politician opponents, who will only stand in the Euro elections, we are involved in serving the public in the Ribble Valley at every level, from Parish to the European Parliament . We accept that issues of Europe are essential to the future quality of life of the people of this area but see they require separate and serious consideration.