This is it ! We have a few days left to tell them we want our say in May. This is probably our final update, but it is an important one. The Secretary of State will announce his decision on Friday 31st as to whether or not to grant Hampshire County Council’s (HCC) request to cancel May’s election. We will be delivering your petition directly to his Westminster Office two days beforehand. Wednesday 29th.
Today we already have over 900 signatures. Thank you.
We would love to take this over 1000 to show how strongly the people of Hampshire feel about this undemocratic plan.
Your petition is in the local papers again this weekend, and we have clearly got the attention of the incumbent Hampshire County Councillors. Their leaders are desperate to stop your vote.
There have been letters and comments from a few HCC councillors who voted to "postpone" the election. They are worried they may not get their opportunity to hang on unelected. This includes the Leader of HCC who thinks the petition is party political. Presumably he cannot have read the petition as it is the precise opposite. The petition stands for our democracy. It represents all the people of Hampshire and we have signatures from supporters of all 5 of the prominent parties; Green, Lib Dem, Reform, Labour and Conservative. It is cross party and none.
Another HCC councillor, and the Leader of Test Valley Borough Council, wrote that "postponing" the election is “the least worst option”. Hardly a strong argument to support his choice to cancel them.
These incumbent councillors do not seem to be the best equipped to lead us through the complexities of devolution. The people should have their voice
Please share and help get the message out while we still have time. Let as many friends, family and colleagues know about this, so we get a strong message to them next week.
Many thanks for your support.