Copeland mayor Mike Starkie joins the Conservatives
I welcome the news that the Mayor of Copeland, Mike Starkie, has joined the Conservatives.
He believes the party are the best equipped to help him achieve the ambitions he has for the borough. Mike Starkie, who has been mayor for the past five years, said many of the changes made by the council during his time have had really positive effects for residents, but going forward he would be able to help achieve even more under the Conservatives. He said:
“I now have less than three years left in office and there is still so much we need to do as the change is going to be continuous."
“I have decided the best chance of me achieving the vast ambitions I have for Copeland will be enhanced by now joining the Conservative Party.
“I am a committed Brexiteer and I believe the levelling up agenda that the government was elected on represents the best opportunity for progress in the north, in Cumbria and in particular Copeland for decades.
“The government’s devolution programme which I fully support will further remove inefficiency and bureaucracy that has held Cumbria back for years and indeed accelerate the still significant modernisation of local government that is still needed.
“Working closer within structure of a party who’s manifesto I have bought into and who will be in government in my opinion for at least a decade and way beyond my time of active involvement strengthens my position in representing Copeland and achieving the goals I set out in my own manifesto for Copeland last year which remains unchanged.
“What also remains unchanged is my desire to continue working in cooperation with councillors of all political persuasions in the best interests of the people of Copeland.”
Trudy Harrison MP said:
“It really does go without saying that I am so pleased to welcome Copeland mayor Mike Starkie, who has joined the Conservatives after being an Independent.
“I’ve known Mike for many years, he’s always had the best interests of the people of Copeland at heart. We’ve worked together on many projects and local priorities and will do so even more effectively without the barrier of political divide.
“I’m delighted that Mike has joined the Conservatives and I am looking forward to working with him to push for more growth, jobs and investment across the constituency and indeed throughout Cumbria. The Conservative government and our PM, Boris Johnson is committed to levelling up the north, we will be ensuring Copeland benefits from this enhanced partnership.”
He believes the party are the best equipped to help him achieve the ambitions he has for the borough. Mike Starkie, who has been mayor for the past five years, said many of the changes made by the council during his time have had really positive effects for residents, but going forward he would be able to help achieve even more under the Conservatives. He said:
“I now have less than three years left in office and there is still so much we need to do as the change is going to be continuous."
“I have decided the best chance of me achieving the vast ambitions I have for Copeland will be enhanced by now joining the Conservative Party.
“I am a committed Brexiteer and I believe the levelling up agenda that the government was elected on represents the best opportunity for progress in the north, in Cumbria and in particular Copeland for decades.
“The government’s devolution programme which I fully support will further remove inefficiency and bureaucracy that has held Cumbria back for years and indeed accelerate the still significant modernisation of local government that is still needed.
“Working closer within structure of a party who’s manifesto I have bought into and who will be in government in my opinion for at least a decade and way beyond my time of active involvement strengthens my position in representing Copeland and achieving the goals I set out in my own manifesto for Copeland last year which remains unchanged.
“What also remains unchanged is my desire to continue working in cooperation with councillors of all political persuasions in the best interests of the people of Copeland.”
Trudy Harrison MP said:
“It really does go without saying that I am so pleased to welcome Copeland mayor Mike Starkie, who has joined the Conservatives after being an Independent.
“I’ve known Mike for many years, he’s always had the best interests of the people of Copeland at heart. We’ve worked together on many projects and local priorities and will do so even more effectively without the barrier of political divide.
“I’m delighted that Mike has joined the Conservatives and I am looking forward to working with him to push for more growth, jobs and investment across the constituency and indeed throughout Cumbria. The Conservative government and our PM, Boris Johnson is committed to levelling up the north, we will be ensuring Copeland benefits from this enhanced partnership.”
Comments
I wonder if the non-Conservatives on the Copeland Executive team will be as understanding as I am though?
"The Executive councillors have all agreed to form a politically co-operative group.
Mayor Starkie said: “I am pleased that Labour, Conservatives and the independents have formed a co-operation agreement to work with me to deliver the best possible service for the residents of Copeland.”
“Councillors Moore, McVeigh, Everett and Morgan bring with them a range of expertise and huge amounts of experience. I look forward to working with them all make this borough thrive."
https://www.copeland.gov.uk/node/42978
First of all, no party own the people who generally share its' opinions or vote for it, so anyone who wants to stand as an independent has the democratic right to do so.
However, I personally think it is better to nail one's colours to the mast and be up front about one's politics, whether it helps you or not.
Secondly, politics is a team activity. This is the answer to Jim's question - no matter how brilliant you are, you will not get anything done in politics unless you can work with others who are not obliged to work with you, and the reason that some people achieved far less in politics than their abilities should have made possible - I think for example of the Duke of Wellington who reached the top in both the military and political spheres but was far more successful as a Commander-In-Chief than he was as Prime Minister - was not being good at this.
Being in a political party which instantly provides you with a team for the team activity does not miraculously solve this, but in my experience it usually helps.
Most successful independents in local government either end up joining the political party they most often find themselves working with, or end up working so closely with them that they might as well do.
It could happen but I think he is far too astute to bet his shirt on it.
We won't start doing that until and unless there is a post to encourage people to put their names forward for.
https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/18534460.devolution-discussed-government-cumbrias-council-leaders/
I did put myself forward to stand in both 2017 and 2019 but was not successful.
That's all I will say about it because anything else would sound like sour grapes.