LETTER: Democracy still worth fighting for

So Horsham District Council leader, Cllr Ray Dawe, has given us the benefit of his wisdom and experience as to the personal qualities required to be a good councillor. Providing that one is considered reasonably sane and over the age of 18 - virtually anyone qualifies for selection. True.
By The Newsroom
Published 28th Mar 2014, 06:00 BST
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But if and when one is elected on a party political ticket, Cllr Dawe infers that one is expected to toe the party line also to meet the wishes of the majority in the form of a small clique of cabinet members who dictate policy. In other words - ‘my party - right or wrong’ - the influence of an ordinary councillor being minimal.

But what about the councillor who actually listens to the views of his electorate and dares to have a mind of his own?

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Does he treat those who elected him with arrogant disdain - as Cllr Dawe would do - on the basis that ‘We know best’. Or does he have the courage to actually think for himself and suffer the punishment dished out by his peers - in the form of a small group of political lackeys.

I was under the impression that ‘Rotten Boroughs’ were a thing of the past but the recent actions of a group of Tory district councillors have proved me wrong.

The sooner they are replaced, the better. Democracy may be messy - but it’s certainly worth fighting for.

ROBERT W. WORLEY

Ayshe Court Drive, Horsham

Related topics:Horsham District Council