Election Thanks
It was Harold Wilson, in a time when politicians were real politicians, who famously said that a week was a long time in politics. Well then two months must be a life time!
The last time I wrote there was an uncertain future hanging over West Lindsey and me in particular. The elections were some two months away and we didn’t know what would happen.
Well not so long after that we had the results of the nominations and Saxilby had two Candidates coming forward for election Mr. Roger Pilgrim and myself. So we both campaigned for your votes across the whole of the Saxilby Ward, and we must remember that Saxilby Ward is not just Saxilby but also the other villages and hamlets. Elections have been won and lost by ignoring the smaller centres of population.
May the 1st seemed to come all too quickly. I am sure Roger had the same thoughts as me: have I done enough? Will enough people vote for me? What will the turnout be? All this, and a million other thoughts, all going through a candidates mind, right up until the time when at the count a clear win becomes obvious. (I am glad we were not in Nettleham with I think five recounts and only nine votes between the winner and second place.)
Then the result and we won again, third election. I want to thank firstly Roger Pilgrim for coming forward to stand and for the contest. I also want to thank all those who helped me in the election in what ever way all have had letters, but most of all I want to thank you the electorate for firstly, those that did, turning out to vote or having a postal vote, and then especially to those who voted for me. For those who didn’t well I will continue, as I always have to serve everyone in the ward to the best of my ability and hopefully for the best endeavours of the Ward. Sadly as all too often the real winner in the elections this time not only here but generally, was voter apathy. Nothing annoys me more than those who say they don’t bother to vote. My father, and many like him, fought and lost a lot of good mates and some of the best years of their lives for everyone to have the right to vote. If we didn’t have the vote many would be protesting in the streets to be given that right. No vote means no voice and no right to complain either. I know there was no Labour candidate Saxilby, indeed in West Lindsey, but if the Labour voters stayed at home that can only account for a percentage of those who didn’t vote.
