As the local elections approach, it’s worth asking yourself what kind of politics you want, especially in the context of the choice you’re going to make on who should represent your ward and who should run Wokingham Borough Council.
Some parties contesting the local elections in Wokingham borough seek to exploit dissatisfaction with the political system, which has been undermined in recent years by politicians who seem to care more about themselves than the people they are meant to serve.
But at least some of those parties are going further than trying to turn current discontent to their advantage. They are actively creating grievances and trying to promote division and even hatred. But, ironically, like all populists, what they themselves hate most is taking responsibility. They offer alluringly simple solutions to complex problems, then blame others when they cannot deliver on their promises.
Dispiriting though this can be, we do not have to succumb to a destructive, divisive, and essentially dishonest form of politics. There is a better way.
After having spoken with a great many people on their doorsteps or in the streets in recent months, I sense a real appetite for a more constructive form of politics, focused on addressing real problems rather than manufacturing and then exploiting grievances. I sense, too, a yearning for a more honest form of politics, which acknowledges that problems are often complicated and difficult to deal with, but seeks durable solutions rather than short-term fixes. And I sense that many residents in our borough want to see people brought together in harmony, not encouraged to regard each other with hostility.
Politics, at local and national levels, is often about reacting to events over which you have no control. To avoid being entirely reactive, you must have a core set of objectives and principles to guide you.
For the current administration at Wokingham Borough Council, our overarching objective is our wish to create truly inclusive communities, in which everyone, regardless of who they are, has the chance to thrive. Giving everyone the opportunity to realise their potential – to live their best possible life – is of course important for individuals, as it increases their chances of a happy and fulfilling life, to which we surely all aspire. But it benefits the whole community, as we all gain when the rich talents in our midst are given the chance to express themselves. Everyone wants to contribute, to play their part. Enabling them to do so builds a much stronger and more prosperous borough.
We also are committed to principles of good government. The first of these is rational and evidence-based decision making. Decisions based on emotion alone usually unravel quickly, often with disastrous consequences.
We are similarly guided by the principle of fairness for all. No one group or person should be able to get privileged treatment because of who they are or who they know. In an era of scarce resources, where there is not enough to go round, it’s vital to avoid the loudest voices, or the best-connected, jumping the queue.
No less important to us is the need to think long term as well as short. Easy fixes often come with a price that our children and grandchildren are left to pay. Responsible politics considers the needs of the future as well as the present.
If you prefer this more constructive, honest, unifying, empowering, rational, fairer, and more forward-thinking form of politics to the destructive, divisive, and dishonest version offered by some of our opponents, please use your vote to allow the current Lib Dem administration to continue its work on behalf of everyone in our borough.
By Cllr Stephen Conway, leader of Wokingham Borough council
