Comments on: Tory “Norwich North boost” in new ComRes Poll

By: Richard Manns

Richard Manns — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:40:44 +0000

@ Peter

“…what I have a problem with is the carpet-baggers who tell the losers that they would have won if [the decision] had been more local.”

Couldn’t you apply that comment to the SNP every time the Scottish Parliament demands something from HM Government and doesn’t get it?

“Localism won’t solve any of our current problems but it might help get those promoting it elected.”

The pros and cons of localism aside, I rather like parties vying for my vote, on every topic. If localism turned out to be the abject failure for me that you predict, I could punish pro-localists by withdrawing my vote.

And also, surely the point of localism is to localise the pros and cons of any decision? Currently, NIMBYism can thrive because they gain all the positives and little of the negatives, because the centralised cost of the 2nd school is spread across your entire council area. Why not allocate a budget per child, and leave the locals to make local decisions as they saw fit? Positives and negatives would affect the people making the decisions, and few people otherwise.

Surely that’s the best way to make a decision?

By: NickR

NickR — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:29:10 +0000

Con:41, Lab:27 LD:18% in Daily Telegraph/YouGov poll out tonight…

By: James Ludlow

James Ludlow — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:03:33 +0000

@ Collin – “This does not appear to be a debate about polls! My contribution at least had some relevance to the subject under discussion”

Well aren’t you a good boy? Here, have a sweetie as a rewards.

By: collin

collin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:32:16 +0000

Anthony – This does not appear to be a debate about polls! My contribution at least had some relevance to the subject under discussion, the poll re public attitudes to the war in Afghanistan, and the effect on it of the MoD court case.

By: David D

David D — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:00:22 +0000

Isn’t this debate about where and how one draws the line between the overall good of society (as determined by central Government) and the good of the local society in which we happen to live as determined by regional / local goverment. In regional I include Scotland and London.who both have currently well known populist local politicians to argue their respective cases with, I would suggest, little regard for the views of those who hold a broader mandate.

The tension between the two protagonists is one which has gone on for not just centuries but millennia – to my knowledge it goes back to Roman times so perhaps it;s only right that this tension is a healthy expression of views which can never be won by either party!