Voting Labour Thursday for PPC and my council

Paula Baxter is a local candidate worth voting for

Op-ed: Thursday this blogger will be out voting in local council and PCC elections. Paula Baxter, Labour, a local woman who knows and understands the many challenges voters face on a daily basis will get my vote in Boothferry Hull Ward. Humberside PCC candidate Keith Hunter, Labour, will also be my choice.

In 2016 local council and PCC elections are more important than ever to Labour voters.

The Conservative party is tearing itself apart over the upcoming in / out EU referendum but unless you look closely you may miss that; the mainstream right-wing section of the media is concentrating on Labour party woes which are part of a Tory smear campaign.

So first the Tories who are:

• ​failing on the economy
• fighting each other over Europe
• looking at a new party leader any time soon
• unfairly penalising Labour councils financially so they can prop up traditional Tory areas; in effect making poorer people even poorer and buying votes
• facing possible criminal charges over allegations of election fraud in 2015
• making U Turns on matters such as the TU Bill
• looking at boundary changes to help them win future elections
• are unable to resolve the junior doctor's dispute
• showing themselves to be loud mouthed buffoons in the House of Commons simply shouting loudest but one lie after another
• failing on immigration
• failing on policing
• failing full stop

So if you live in Hull it is fair to say that the Tories have little to offer you.

But when they are on the ropes the so-called Nasty Party, the Tories, run true to form.

In the House of Commons Thursday Chris Grayling, Tory and Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons since 2015, used and abused parliamentary privilege.

He made vague allegations against Labour's Humberside PCC candidate Keith Hunter.

The Yorkshire Post reported Thursday "Mr Grayling was responding to a question in the Commons today from Brigg and Goole MP Andrew Percy over whether former police officers standing to become PCCs should be forced to make public their service records.The Leader of the Commons responded: “I am aware of allegations about the Labour PCC candidate in Humberside. “If the stories alleged about that candidate are true, he is unfit for public office, and it is a matter of public interest that the truth should be known before election day."”

So there the 'allegation' sits festering in the air ahead of the election.

Andrew Percy later tried distancing himself from Grayling's naming and news channels reported Thursday night that Grayling's office had not responded to requests for comment.

​He has still not responded.

Sunday the affair was mentioned on the BBC morning political shows along with the John Mann and Ken Livingstone row that has been grabbing headlines since Thursday.

Helped along by backstabbers within the party, those wanting to oust Jeremy Corbyn as leader, the right-wing is having a field day; and that includes the right-wing of Labour.

As I type BBC lunchtime News again has Jeremy Corbyn, John Mann and Ken Livingstone as the lead story this time with London Mayor candidate Sadiq Khan thrown in for good measure.

The top billing spot should tell you all you need to know; it is a smear campaign pure and simple.

In Humberside the current PCC and up for re-election is Tory Matthew Groves.

Mr Hunter has accused Groves of failing in the role he has held since 2012. Grayling and his colleagues have a vested interest in ensuring Groves is re-elected and follows the party line on policing.

A spokesman for Mr Hunter said: “Keith has an exemplary record from 30 years’ service for Humberside Police with Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of the Constabulary stating he made ‘an outstanding contribution to performance in all his posts’.

“If the Tories have allegations they should say what they are and we’ll answer them.

“If they don’t, this is nothing more than a desperate smear from a panicking Tory Party evidently now prepared to use senior government ministers at the Dispatch Box to carry out their dirty tricks.

And Sunday the smear hangs in the air possibly affecting how some people will vote.

If you are a Labour supporter in Humberside voting locally has never been so important.

Tory and Ukip voters will be out in force and we must follow suit.

If you support Jeremy Corbyn as Labour party leader ignore the hype, smears, right-wing media manipulation and backstabbers in the party and send a message to the Parliamentary Labour Party and the Tories.

Labour often lose out to voter apathy but not this time if you play your part.

PCCs are a fairly new and Tory concept. But like it or lump it they are here to stay at least for the foreseeable future.

Thursday May 5 get out and vote and make that vote count.

Under the terms of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, PCCs must:

• secure an efficient and effective police for their area;
• appoint the Chief Constable, hold them to account for running the force, and if necessary dismiss them;
• set the police and crime objectives for their area through a police and crime plan;
• set the force budget and determine the precept;
• contribute to the national and international policing capabilities set out by the Home Secretary; and
• bring together community safety and criminal justice partners, to
• make sure local priorities are joined up.

http://www.labour.org.uk/pages/how-we-work
​http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/grayling-raises-labour-candidate-allegations-1-7882517
​http://www.apccs.police.uk/role-of-the-pcc/