Nationally, the three ‘main’ Political Parties have been fined by the Electoral Commission for overspending in the general election and by-elections. The amount of money that can be spent on campaigns at constituency level is strictly limited. However, the County Durham Labour Group appear to be intent upon financing their election campaigns using local taxpayer’s monies.
Durham County Council grant each elected Councillor a ‘Neighbourhood Budget’ [currently £20,000 pa; soon to be reduced to £18.000?]. This money is disbursed to local worthy causes by GAMP and the Councillors against funding applications by local charities / worthy causes to benefit the local community. This, I consider, is a laudable use of taxpayer’s money and indeed, I am not aware of any local dissatisfaction with, or abuse of, the system. However, in recent ‘electioneering’ letters published in the Newton News and in Labour Party election leaflets, it is not made clear that this money is taxpayer’s money and that, should a non-Labour candidate be elected, he or she would also receive a ‘Neighbourhood Budget’. I would therefore suggest that all candidates standing for election to Durham County Council in the May elections, should set out in their manifesto how they intend to disburse their ‘Neighbourhood Budget’.
This would create a level playing field and stop Labour being left open to the allegation of ‘buying votes’ with public funds. There is another problem looming for the DCC electorate; the majority voted for Brexit and I’m only aware of one Labour Town Councillor who came out publicly for Brexit. Since the General Election extreme left wing Momentum group have hijacked the Labour Party and they are, to a man, Remainers. If you vote Labour will you be voting for an ‘Old labour’, ‘New Labour’, or, ‘Momentum Labour’ candidate? Personally, I think the electorate are entitled to know the politics of their Councillors. If a candidate is a Momentum supporter then they should not stand under the Labour banner.
In Aycliffe East the current Labour Town Mayor, Cllr. Jed Hillary, is not standing for re-election. Rumour has it he has been de-selected by Momentum infiltrators! Come on Labour members, tell us what is going on.
Alastair P.G. Welsh
