• LOCAL elections really matter – they affect the cleanliness and safety of your streets, the developments allowed in your community, the ways you get about, the council tax you pay, the repair and rent of social housing, and much else besides.

I think councillors’ role in addressing those issues is an extension of their work in the community. Yet there’s another school of thought, held by Camden Labour and Liberal Democrats.

That’s the view that councillors’ role is an extension of their political party, and that the role is to advance their parties’ national views.

Each council meeting each party can table one motion. Last month Labour tabled a symbolic motion declaring the council’s support for Labour’s national policies. Lib Dems tabled a symbolic motion declaring the council’s support for Lib Dems’ national policies.

By contrast, Camden Conservatives tabled an apolitical motion that would actually ban high-rises across most of Camden, including at the O2 Centre and Murphy’s Yard.

And Camden Greens tabled a motion that would actually improve resident engagement in estate regeneration.

Just four of the Lib Dems’ last 23 motions have primarily concerned things councils control. Last September this desire to comment on national politics led to the grotesque spectacle of Labour and Lib Dems tabling motions that would recognise the barbaric Taliban as Afghanistan’s government.

Camden needs a council of, by, and for, the people: focused on what residents elect councillors to do, not using precious time and taxpayers’ money making your council an extension of national party politics.

That’s why all local Conservative candidates have made this commitment explicit. For the first time, they will all appear on the ballot paper not as “Conservatives” but “Local Conservatives”.

Electing Local Conservatives is not a mandate for them to use the platform to grandstand on matters outside Camden’s control: to praise national policies or politicians from their party or criticise those from the others.

Conservative councillors will continue their record of abstaining on everything that doesn’t concern the council and to only table motions or speak on matters that do.

These are local elections, where local people elect their local councillors to solve local problems. And to do that, Camden needs Local Conservative councillors.

CLLR OLIVER COOPER
Leader, Camden’s Local Conservatives