It is not often that I write a post that transcends party political boundaries. This is an exception. I would like to give my official support to Lisa Harding for her campaign to be a local councilor in Woking. Despite my well-known concerns about national policy from all parties, I feel strongly that Lisa deserves support for the following reasons. She is the Liberal Democrat candidate there; it is irrelevant, I believe, that I support Labour at a national level.
I am sure that Lisa is fully equipped to participate in the governance and management of Woking Council. She fully understands and is sympathetic to the views of others, and so I feel very confident she would inform the ultimate policy-makers and carry out a number of vital strategic and corporate management functions to the best of her ability, given a meticulous knowledge of local and national political issues. From her communications on her blog (here), she appears most willing to respond to constituents’ enquiries and representations, fairly and impartially. She appears to keen to involve citizens at an individual level, and she would be excellent at representing the interest of local constituents. And it is an escapable fact, that despite whatever, she works relentlessly had to listen to others.
Lisa has even commented on the outgoing Councillor with respectably sincere words:
On a personal note, I was introduced to politics locally by Rosie Sharpley. Having worked on her campaign in the General Election and getting to know her and her reputation, I was constantly amazed at the amazing regard she was held in by local residents. I learned so much in all of that time, not least of all about the kind of councillor I want to be. If I can be half the councillor Rosie Sharpley was and have as much respect and affection from residents as she did, then I know I am on the right track. She will be much missed but I know that In Amanda and Phillip we have equally determined and amazing councillors who will serve Goldsworth East just as well as Rosie has done for the last 23 years. I will miss her.
Finally, I have no hesitation, judging from Lisa’s activities in Woking, that she would maintain the highest standards of conduct, serve the public interest and take decisions having regard to the interests of the whole local community. I think her sincerity in working hard for the things she believes in, most spectacularly the NHS (for example), will shine through to be a credit for Woking. This is not about the future of the Coalition. We’re stuck with that until 2015, but about electing the right candidate!
