Does anyone else smell it? I get a strong smell of decay from the Conservative Party, like discovering the slimy, old carrot at the bottom of the drawer in the fridge. Out of sight, festering until the smell alerts you that all is not well.
On February 2nd we are reminded by the mental health charity MIND and others that taking time out of our busy, distracted lives to contact friends, colleagues and family, is sometimes a life saver. It sounds such an obvious idea - "phone a friend", but so many times other things get in the way and we can regret not doing it. 'Talking' is also more importantly about listening, not filling gaps in chat with your words, but waiting. Sometimes only a pause can help to put a voice to concerns and needs. Listening but with no answers is not failure, it is an avenue to an answer, which you may not provide but they find. Every day should be a 'Time To Talk, but February 2nd is there to nudge us into action at least then.
To be more accurate Ashbourne won.
Top-down 'plans' for Combined Derbys-Notts Authority are fantasy solutions
The local elections for Derbyshire Dales District Council on 4th May will be the first when photo ID will be needed to vote in person. The government claims that this is necessary to combat voter fraud, of which there have been the tiniest number of examples. At the 2019 General Election for example, the Electoral Commission reports that were no cases at all which led to a conviction. Unlike Labour, the Liberal Democrats strenuously opposed this unnecessary measure which is likely to prevent some legitimate electors, particularly younger voters and those from minority groups, from voting. Please note that your polling card and your word will no longer be enough to get your ballot paper.
I wrote the article below over 3 years ago, in December 2019. Since then the Conservative controlled Distict Council has done nothing - except trim a few trees in the front that were close to the road.
