Well, the conference season is finally over, along with the traffic chaos and daily news mayhem it inevitably brings! However, one of the really great things about the conference season is being able to look at what each party has to offer in terms of ideals and policy. I believe there is still a lot of deep thought required before the General Election and here in Salford and Eccles, our constituency is more open than ever. Locally, the Liberal Democrats have the best chance to overturn Labour’s majority, particularly with the backing of good solid local and national policy that will benefit the community.
On another subject, I was recently invited to attend a meeting at the Women’s Centre on Langworthy Road, regarding the possible deportation of Gambian asylum seeker, Sukai Jack. Reading about Sukai’s horrific injuries endured before leaving the Gambia was heartbreaking and it brought home to me the fact that there are still many countries in the world where human rights is nothing more than a notion. Some people in the UK would seek to prevent people in Sukai’s situation from coming to our country and our communities, despite the alternative being sickening abuse. Amnesty International are campaigning around the world to highlight places where these kinds of acts take place and are working to protect people like Sukai from injustice.
I was saddened and outraged to hear that an act of arson has recently taken place at the Salford City Football Club ground, Moor Lane. It appears that the blaze was the result of a random act of vandalism that spread to the clubhouse which contained an irreplaceable display of club memorabilia. I’d like to thank the Labour leader and council officers from Urban Vision for their contribution to getting the club back up and running in time for the next home fixture which was played last Saturday. My belief is that no criminal act of this nature should go unpunished, therefore I would like to appeal for information about the attack: if there is anyone with details, no matter how seemingly inconsequential, please contact the police immediately. Anything provided to the police will be dealt with in confidence.
However, as we head down into winter and the fireworks season approaches, I fear we will hear of more of this type of criminal destruction. Already the streets are beginning to echo with the boom of misused fireworks so I’d like to issue a quick reminder to kids (and to parents!) that fireworks are dangerous and can cause criminal damage and more importantly, serious injury or death. Please use fireworks responsibly.
Finally, I’d like to refer to comments made by Councillor Garrido in the Advertiser on the 1st October, when she encouraged readers to put themselves forward as prospective councillors. I must admit that I had not realised the situation of the local Conservative party had become so dire that they need to beg for prospective candidates: local Conservative meetings must be very lonely! But seriously, whatever your political persuasion, standing as a council candidate is admirable because it shows a willingness to try and improve your community. However, if you do want to take that step into the murky pool of local politics, all I ask, if you are elected, is that you try to deliver fairness and democracy in our city. In the Liberal Democrat party, our core ideals are fairness, freedom and openness, so much so that our first loyalty is to the people we represent, followed by the core principles of the party and finally to our leaders. As a councillor it is most frustrating and distressing when policy is set by the Council without due diligence and without engaging in meaningful dialogue – with anyone! So those people who are thinking of becoming a council candidate please be aware that you may be in for a rough ride if you intend to serve your friends, neighbours and the people of your community properly, because local politics is on many occasions an uphill struggle, particularly within a group that will potentially expect you to tow the party line without question!
Councillor Norman Owen
Leader, Salford Liberal Democrats
