Hello Admin,
I read with interest, your recent response to Carolyn, in relation to conduct on the Forum. Many of your points are well made and worthy of mention. There is though ( I am sure you will agree) a fine line between setting conduct boundaries and dictating the way people should speak. In particular example of this, is your observation, insisting that candidates 'concentrate' on extolling our own virtues and desist from criticising our opponents.
In my own particular instance, a main motivation in standing for this election, is that I have observed how over the last few years Marple has stagnated. There are of course many reasons for this, very little is singular. However, a major reason, for my own participation, is the local political situation that exists and prevails. The current party coalition that presides over our ward, knows that all it has to do to preserve electoral loyalty is to just turn up at various meetings. If this situation doesn't change, then neither will the stagnation. Anything we ask of the council we are politely told '...no money...' and we politely accept this and go away. Your own recent, almost heartbreaking, story about the dog pooh day in the park, is testimony to this polite acceptance.
Only last week I received yet another Lib Dem Leaflet, the opening sentence proclaiming the election to be a 'close run' fight between the Lib Dems and the Conservatives.
I wouldn't know the Lib Dem candidate if he knocked on my door tonight. All I know about him is that he is a serving firefighter. I don't know anything about the 'paper candidate' w ho has been put forward by the Conservatives. One of these could soon be our councillor.
So, I think that I am entitled to ask some questions. I will strive to be polite but I do not intend to be obsequious.
Perhaps the time has arrived for more candour, from everybody, not just candidates.