Why are we standing? Is it actually winnable?

We're students. You're students. We believe that students can best represent fellow students at City Hall. Blean Forest (campus) Ward has an electorate of 4,500 - of which 3,200 are students.

Why Labour?

We believe students are too often scapegoated for political gain, whereas locally only the Labour Party are trying to work with students for the benefit of the whole community. Labour treats students with respect.

Can I vote in Canterbury and at home?

Surprisingly, yes you can. In local elections you can legally vote in BOTH your hometown and at university (unless your hometown is already Canterbury!). If you live on Campus (including Parkwood), Tyler Hill or Blean Village - you live in the ward we are contesting, and will see our names on your ballot paper.

When is it? How do I register to vote?

Thursday, 3rd May 2007. There will be a ballot box in the SENATE BUILDING (in front of Library). Polls are open 7am to 10pm. All those campus residents who are entited to vote at this election need not register - The Registry do this for you when you first move in. For those living off campus, the deadline has now passed for any new applications (18th).

Monday, 26 February 2007

Break Free From KCC!

One of our key manifesto commitments for Canterbury is the creation of a unitary authority for East Kent. What does this mean and why should we care? Currently Kent operates an archaic two-tier system of local government whereby some local services are administered in Canterbury, but other important ones such as schools, roads and social care are administered in Maidstone. More worryingly, over 70% of council tax is swallowed up by Kent County Council, and after deductions for Police and Fire, Canterbury City Council are left with a very small budget to play with.

What we are proposing is to abolish KCC altogether, and merge some city and district councils leaving Kent split into four unitary authorities - each responsible for all local services. We believe that this will bring power closer to the people, increase democracy, simplify the structure and be far more cost efficient to run.

This would also put a stop to parties deliberately misleading the electorate on irrelevant issues, such as the LibDem city council candidates endlessly lamenting the state of pavements in Canterbury (as city councillors have no power to change this, it's all done at County level)!

**UPDATE** 09/03/07
Today it emerges that the managing director of KCC earns £229,000 a year - that's £40k more than the Prime Minister! Come on everyone, let's get behind the campaign to abolish this wastful institution!
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