Alastair Cunnington

I am 51, married with three children Sarah, Ben & Polly - and with the exception of two years, I have lived all my life in the Two Locks ward, most of it on Cocker Avenue where I still live happily with my family. My wife Karen, along with our eldest daughter Sarah and her partner Steve own Madame Fromage Ltd in Castle Arcade, Cardiff

I am a director of Streetwise Graphics, a local company that produces documentary and corporate T.V. plus digital graphics, sign and exhibition media. I am also a serving Magistrate and in my ’spare time’ I sing opera semi-professionally…I sometimes sit down…..

I also belong to a regular charitable organisation… and ultimately believe that everyone should receive equal, fair conditions and treatment which is only achievable with a square and level playing field.

I served with the old Torfaen Borough Council as the Labour Councillor for the Coed Eva ward for five years, even though it wasn’t the Ward in which I lived. During that time I served on all the major committiees and in addition I was also a Community Councillor for Two Locks and Henllys.

As time went on I started asking what I considered to be relevant questions involving how  money was spent as a council tax payer. I continued to ask other uncomfortable questions which became unpopular with the leadership - strangely enough being then a Labour member I was /’strategically replaced’/ at the next candidates selection meeting by the other members of the ward. Following the election I relinquished my Labour party membership and did not renew it since I refused to be told how and which way I should vote and what I should say, not my idea of democracy.

Well,  if asking awkward questions brings certain items out into the open in then I would like the opportunity to ask some more awkward questions - and having spoken to a great deal of ordinary people, many of the questions follow similar themes. Ultimately, should I be successful at this coming election I am prepared to put forward any reasonable questions or objections that you may want to raise - my only guarantee ist I won’t be gagged by any group or party whip or be bullied.

At local government level don’t be conned into supporting the “party politic” theme - we are not voting for a new Prime Minister here, although that may not be a bad idea - these are local elections and therefore it really doesn’t matter whether you vote Labour, Conservative, Liberal, whatever; I’m sure that they all have good and bad policies. This is a local election - so vote for “a person” - and preferably for someone who is not on a political party dog lead who “has to vote with the group” - despite what they really believe.

I am a thinking person, I am not a puppet. At present you have a local authority where the greater number of the council members belong to the same party, in this case Labour ( and to be fair the same would apply to which ever political party had such a majority) - this means that all decisions will be made virtually unchallenged and I’m not happy about that…are you?- (…and yes without doubt, I speak as a disgruntled ex-Labour councillor !)

A frequently asked question is ” Councillor, is it a full time job?” ….the answer is no its not. - Another frequently asked question is “How many Councillors actually work?  Well I’m not actually sure, but its a good point. In the interests of “being in touch with reality” I think it reasonably follows to go on further to ask “When did they last work? What do they do now?….then ask “are they really in touch”.  Did they keep their promises to you…a lot of questions - all reasonable…but that’s what its all about. Therefore this bit won’t be popular either - I actually work for a living, so I actually experience and have to juggle the same day to day problems as many of you - I know I’m in touch !

Naturally the above comments will not apply to all councillors - but  for those who find it too close for comfort, i.e. “true”  then they will probably  use the well tried and tested political statement ” a dirty campaign”….but hey, if the cap fits…When I hear that then I’ll know it weeded out the guilty, I can’t wait.

Picture this scenario - an Independent candidate is encouraged to stand for election /against/ the current Councillors - encouraged by a good number of their colleagues and of the same political party - Now I hope I don’t get “that” popular!  And with that level of interparty popularity I think that by now if I were them, then I would be paranoid.
I don’t have a gripe with anyone, I’m not that shallow - I think the trouble starts when Councillors become paranoid about being re-elected time after time, their power of objectivity must decrease as they become more dependent on their re-election for popularity and personal goals - I have a life outside of politics…its not an obsession with me, I just think that its time for a change, new blood, new ideas with someone who asks questions, is objective and really doesn’t mind if the questions he asks doesn’t make him popular with his colleagues…as someone once said “I was born to be Prince…not Charming….” (Into the Woods - Steven Sondheim)

Finally - when did you last see your existing Councillors… last election ? I live in the ward and I want the best for the area…therefore regardless of whatever you normally vote at a general election, regardless of your politics….I would be grateful for your vote.

Try me & Prove Me
Thank you

Two Locks and Henllys has become a very marginal seat, for Labour in particular, since they lost a seat to an independent candidate at the last election and and given the very close voting at that election ( and baring in mind I only missed it by about a 12 votes) it clearly shows that the voters are not wholly happy with some current members and issues.

From many comments it has become evident that some issues have not been supported by some of the councillors, in the communities at Henllys in particular it is obvious that many residents are not happy.

I believe people should fight their own campaign on their own ability, merit and worthwhile reasons… I know that I don’t need to do it for personal applause, I get that when I perform on stage… I don’t need to do it as some form of public office or achievement, been there, seen it, done it the last time I was a councillor… I don’t need it to be popular in the community in the hope that I am rewarded with some honour, O.B.E. or some other meretricious gong… I don’t need to do it because I’m on a political mission or because I need it as a source of income, I’ve fortunately got a job and a life.

The prediction - in the next few weeks and in particular in the last few days leading up to the election.  I am confident that after the last election results, Labour in particular will be so worried that every possible electioneering effort will be made…and you will be canvassed continually - so much so - and this will be the sign -  that I believe that they will add weight to the campaign by the Member of Parliament - Paul Murphy becoming actively involved as desperate marketing support…I don’t have that luxury, I don’t have the added collective weight of the “support” of the M.P., the Government or the Welsh Assembly or a huge machine like the Labour Party,  but when this happens, ask yourself  why do they need to do this… because if they have been that popular and effective thus far why do they need this added campaign support. I’ll bet candidates in the rest of the county won’t get this level of support, wait and see.

I am just one local man who wants to stand for all the right reasons - for our community first, then the surrounding communities, then the remainder of the County and ultimately an aim to actively cut down on money wastage, expenses, burocracy….these are local grass root elections.

Here’s a thought - When political parties and government dress up issues to sound as if they are doing you a favour, are they really doing you a favour?…look at the current emblem that accompanies every new installation - “Funded by the Welsh Assembly Government” ….. no, I think it should read …. “Funded by all the Tax Payers who let the A.M.’s Spend It For Us ……”