Nothing being done to stop massive electoral fraud in Tower Hamlets

Cllr Peter Golds, leader of the Conservative opposition in Tower Hamlets, says the police and the Electoral Commission are ineffective in ensuring free and fair elections in his borough

In terms of the conduct of elections, the Borough of Tower Hamlets is in a league of its own. The lack of action taken on fraud and intimidation can be laid at the police and election officials. However, the system itself must share responsibility.

In 2010 we had the combined general and local elections and in this borough a referendum as to whether there should be a directly elected Mayor.

On 1 December 2007 the borough electorate was 152,466
On 1 December 2008 it was 156,712
On 1 June 2009 it was 158,251
On 1 September 2009 it was 158,549
On 1 December 2009 it was 160,278
On 1 April 2010 it was 164,847
On 4 May 2010 it was 171,870

In one month, in the lead up to the combined elections we had a 7,000 person increase in the electorate. Officials, on the advice of the electoral commission, have to take the evidence of applicants, in their words “at face value”. The electoral commission, as we know, appears dedicated to increasing the size of the electoral register in pursuit of unidentified missing voters. However, there are problems in this.

Labour councillor calls for IRA to bomb Tory conference

Cllr Florence Anderson has been suspended as a Labour councillor in Sunderland after she supported a call for the IRA to bomb this year's Conservative Party Conference. Her support for this cause on Facebook was spotted by Mark Wallace who reported it on his Crash Bang Wallace blog.

I am pleased that the Labour Party have suspended her. But they would have done better to have done so in October 2010 when she called for the death of Margaret Thatcher. At the time a press officer at Sunderland City Council, employed at the expense of Council Taxpayers, defended Cllr Anderson's remarks.

Not only did Cllr Anderson retain the Labour whip but she remained Deputy Leader of the Council.

Cllr Anderson is Chairman of the Community and Safer City Scrutiny Committee. It meets eight times a year (although she didn't turn up for the one in December.) For this role she is paid a Special Responsibility Allowance of £12,556 in addition to her basic allowance of £8,369.

Rioting in Croydon must not be tolerated again

Cllr Clare Hilley, a Conservative councillor in Croydon, says strong law and order policies are needed for her borough to be confident about 2012

Like many other residents returning home from a hard day’s work on that mild August evening in Croydon, I was forced to witness horrendous acts of mindless vandalism and violence targeted at the very fabric of my local community. Local shops were burned, windows smashed and armies of thugs lined the streets, intimidating passers-by and throwing rocks at Police. Already the skyline of the town centre was filled with huge plumes of black smoke and burglar alarms and sirens rang out along the streets of ransacked shops.

Whilst those on the left would have you believe that the perpetrators of these atrocities were simply ‘victims’ who had been dealt a bad hand in life and needed to be heard, the reality for those on the ground was very different. The selfish thugs that looted and burnt down some of town’s most historic buildings and terrorised innocent members of the public did so because they wanted to – and they enjoyed doing it.

There have been mountains of paperwork, essays and data analysis conducted to try and find an excuse for the rioters’ actions in the summer. Social, economic and cultural angles have been explored, graphs produced and pie charts formed. The reality is of course that many of those involved in these atrocities had a well-documented criminal history along with a complete disregard for their communities and neighbours.

Little attention was given to the numbers of victims impacted by the riots. For example, a shocking 100 Croydon households - many with young families - lost their homes or were unable to return home because of the vandalism inflicted. This is something we need to bear in mind when allegations of ‘harsh criminal sentences’ are levied at the courts.

Westminster Council launches a Civic Contract

Cllr Colin Barrow, the Leader of Westminster City Council,asks what residents, businesses and the council can do for each other

This morning, Westminster City Council will launch its future vision for the city and council; one that moves decisively away from the state knows best model and one that moves away from the state simply delivering a range of services unconditionally. Instead, it sets out an opportunity for residents, communities and businesses to take an active role in the running of their city and in determining its future in return for helping themselves.

At its heart, lies the idea of a Civic Contract between the state and those residents, communities and businesses in the city. The contract sets out what the council will do in return for an agreed set of behaviours and activities. In short, if you help yourself or your community then we will help you. And, for example, if you are business that employs local young people then we will support you. However, it makes clear that those that transgress or break these rules will forfeit their traditional rights to these services. The days of something for nothing are over. It also believes that everyone, whoever they are, has a role to play in making the city a success. From actively seeking a job to learning English for those recently arrived, to local businesses providing opportunities to residents and cleaning up after themselves.

We see this approach being guided by a new sense of civic responsibility, fairness and opportunity. Our principle of responsibility is about recognising the value of public contributions. Our focus on fairness will continue to be on caring for and supporting the neediest in our society because we believe that to be the mark of a civilised society. We will do this by offering our citizens a ladder of opportunity to help them better themselves.

Should council bureaucrats be obliged to wear bowler hats?

The London Local Authorities Bill gives power to Police Community Support Officers power to issue Fixed Penalty Notices for such offences as dropping litter. Excellent news. I have long thought how absurd it is that PCSOs - of we are to have them at all - have such little power in law enforcement.

But more controversial is that the power will also be extended to other "accredited persons." Before the election the Conservatives were critical of extending police powers to civilians. Now we are extending the thing further. On the other hand anyone who has been canvassing will know that "minor" issues such as litter and dog mess are important to quality of life in a neighbourhood.

Anyway Jacob Rees-Mogg, who was only elected last year but has already emerged as a great Parliamentarian, raises the issue of how we will recognise an "accredited person."

Will they wear a uniform?

Westminster Council to clear Parliament Square protest camp

Westminster Council is planning to introduce a by-law that would prohibit the protest camp in Parliament Square.

The Council leader Cllr Colin Barrow says:

“We have been calling for action for years and now finally we have the ability to do something about it. I have said time and again we are not against public protest, but what we are against is people blighting an English Heritage site and preventing the rest of London, and its visitors from enjoying the square.”

Protesters have already been evicted from the green, by the Greater London Authority, but then moved to the pavement - which belongs to Westminster City Council. The council is using powers available since September when the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act came into force.

As David Cameron has said there is a fundamental right to protest but it should be on two feet - not in a tent.

Wanted: Candidates for Police Commissioner

Any doubts as to how seriously the Conservatives will be taking the elections in a year's time for Police Commissioners have been thoroughly dispelled this morning. CCHQ have launched a new section of their website stressing the importance of the election and providing an opportunity for those interested in standing to submit their details.

It says:

We're looking for very high calibre candidates for what will be high profile and public roles.

Police and Crime Commissioners will have to be leaders.

Commissioners will need to work with the police as well as with other local agencies while engaging with the public and the media.

We will be casting the net widely and certainly will look beyond those who have previously worked on police authorities.

Commissioners could come with experience as business leaders, from military or policing backgrounds, from national as well as local politics, or from other fields.

Conservatives should stand candidates for the police commissioner elections

In November next year there will be elections in England and Wales (apart from London) for Police Commissioners across the 41 police authorities. Those elected will have the power to set priorities for fighting crime, to set the precept and to sack chief constables for fail to deliver.

Yet all the three main political parties are showing reluctance to field candidates. There is a sense that independents might be better suited. Paul has already written about this.

Perhaps there will be independent candidates with tough and effective crime fighting credentials that will come forward. But can we be confident there would in all 41 areas? I think the electorate should be offered a choice that includes a Conservative candidate. The problem of splitting the vote does not arise as the Supplementary Vote method is being used (the same as for the Mayor of London.) So Conservative supporters could offer an independent they were impressed with their second preference.

The Local Government Chronicle reports (£) Labour MP and Shadow Policing Minister Vernon Coaker says Labour's "default position" is to run candidates but adds: “If the Tories don’t, we need to consider that carefully."

Yoofism is no answer to the riots

Very good piece by my fellow Municipal Journal contributor Claire Fox on the notion that councils spending more money on "youth engagement" would be an effective response to last month's riots.

She says:

From mandatory 'pupil voice' policies in schools, to shadow youth councils, never in history have the young been so 'listened to' or consulted.

If adults fawn over young people's views it can backfire. Teachers may wonder why they have problems of discipline in the classroom, but when student councils in schools are routinely asked to interview perspective staff or to critique their teachers' pedagogic skills, is it surprising that the authority of educators is waning?

Many of us were horrified at how young looters seemed indifferent to the local communities in which they live and only interested in their own self gratification.

Kent Police Authority use taxpayers' money to attack the Government

Kent Police Authority have launched an attack on the Government plans for elected police commissioners.

Their press release in its headline says the proposals are "naive and disastrous".

It says:

“There is no place for political interference in policing as recent public spats between ministers and senior police officers have proved,” said Ann Barnes, Kent Police Authority Chair.

She speaks as a former diplomat warned that British policing is on a ‘disastrous slide’.

A vocal challenger of the rationale for, and implications of, the Government’s proposed Police and Crime Commissioners, Mrs Barnes supported fellow Kent Police Authority member, Stephen Hiscock’s statement after he felt compelled to speak out.