Think independent

There is much in David’s letter that I would agree with, but there are some points that should not go unanswered. David suggests that I have a positive dislike for local Tories – not strictly true. In fact, I have a positive dislike for MPs and councillors who put party politics ahead of local needs.

By contrast, I respect those MPs or councillors who put local needs first. I don’t really care about their politics.

I respect opposition councillors who properly scrutinise and challenge the performance of their council and its record – but I wonder if that is genuinely happening at the moment?

I also respect those Conservative councillors who scrutinise the performance of their own cabinet and its policies – but how often does that actually happen?

I dislike lazy councillors who vote as they are told by their whips, without even bothering to examine their own consciences.

David mischievously asks what my politics are and I don’t mind declaring them. I do not hold any party political affiliation. I am independent and reserve the right to scrutinise and challenge the performance of MPs, councils and councillors of all political persuasions! No one is safe!

I am naïve enough to hope that, even so, I still have some friends in each of the political parties.

David suggests I might have stood for election as an Independent. I did consider this, but my work situation makes it impractical. I am now one of the 30 per cent of local residents who have to find their work outside the district – in my case in Suffolk!

However, I still do my best to scrutinise and challenge the performance of my local council by participating in public consultations and through occasional letters in the paper.

Finally, may I issue a Christmas love-bomb of my own?

I would like to wish my political friends and my political opponents a merry Christmas and a happy new year and, just in case they think I’ve gone soft, may I also take this opportunity to remind Arun’s councillors of their obligations, by wishing the 3,500 or so families on the housing register a merry Christmas and a place they can call home in 2011.

Tony Dixon

Barons Close

Westergate