The General Election resulted in a hung Parliament with no party winning enough seats to form a majority government. However, what the people of Britain did decide is that they have had enough of Labour and wanted change. Britain now has a coalition government made up of the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats and it will be led by David Cameron.

Despite Labour being rejected nationally they did better than even they expected in the council elections. This is not surprising given the fact that they lost so many seats the last time the equivalent seats were contested back in 2006. But the biggest single factor that helped Labour win more seats (particularly in urban areas) was the General Election, which they ensured would be held on the same day as Council election. Obviously this meant more people would turn out to vote than normal and that this would benefit Labour rather than the smaller political groups – and so it proved right across the UK.

In South Tyneside the turnout in council elections has in the past been as low as 33% but rises dramatically when a general election is also held on the same day. This year was no exception, the turnout increased to 57.8%. This increase represents voters who never vote in council elections and only turn out when there is a General Election. But when both elections are held on the same day they tend to also vote in the Council Elections. On May 6th their allegiances were clear; they supported national political parties voting along long held traditional lines.

In previous local elections the Independent Alliance has won seats by convincing people that there is an alternative to national party politics. We have also convinced people that to change Labour’s vice like grip on local democracy it is important to consider carefully national affiliations and consider voting strategically. This has been a very effective approach with the people in the borough who think about the political process every year and not just when a General Election occurs.

Unfortunately the increased turnout of people who do not normally vote in council elections saw the return to voting along traditional national party lines. Labour voters in particular came out to vote and having put their cross against David Miliband’s name looked for the Labour equivalent on the council ballot paper and once again despite more people voting against Labour than for them, they appear to have benefitted from the ‘General Election’ effect.

Sadly for those of us who believe in real democracy, the Labour Party will continue to run the borough with the support of a minority of people rather than the majority. But one thing you can be sure of is that the Independent Alliance will continue to attempt to get the reduced number of opposition councillors to work together to harness this support. However this requires a level of co-operation which as yet has been unachievable. To obtain this, individuals must put aside personal ambition and petty squabbles and work to ensure that the majority of the people of the borough get what they want – a Council which is not run by Labour!

The Independent Alliance has already met to plan the next stage of the campaign to get more Independents elected. We are determined to keep campaigning until the people of this borough achieve equitable representation in the Council chamber. The first stage of our campaign is to thank all those residents of the borough who supported our candidates and to pledge to them our constant support and assure them that we will continue to fight even harder on their behalf.

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