By Carole Dennett
With the IW Council elections now confirmed for May 7, the IW Observer has taken a careful look at the state of local politics on the Isle of Wight. The Penn Report on our council didn’t say anything many Islanders didn’t already know, but it put the problems in black and white. While there are examples of positive and constructive working relationships between individuals, Richard Penn found evidence of a lack of respect between councillors, basic protocols routinely ignored, and behaviour bad enough for the Government to raise concerns.
When an independent review says the council needs a fundamental reset in tone and conduct, we think it’s not something we should ignore.
Against that backdrop, the IW Observer will be taking a different approach to local election coverage this year. There is plenty of evidence that negative campaigning turns voters off. Personal and gratuitous political attacks don’t persuade anyone – they simply lower trust in the system and discourage voters from turning out. They also make it harder for councillors to work together once the election is over – something the Island badly needs.
So our policy for this election is straightforward. We will only publish material sent in by candidates that encourages Islanders to vote FOR individual candidates and parties. We will not publish attacks from any candidates on others standing for election or other political parties. If candidates send us pieces designed to knock others down, we may still report on it, but not in the way they intended!
If you agree with our stance, and see examples of negative campaigning, then please send them to us – and we’ll highlight them so Islanders know who deserves their vote and which candidates belong in the playground. Let’s work together to take the unpleasantness out of our local politics.
Our two MPs have shown it is possible to work constructively for the good of the Island – even with very different political outlooks and ideas. Islanders deserve a council that does the same.
The Penn Report made it clear that the tone must change at the IW Council. The IW Observer wants to support that change by keeping this election focused on ideas, not insults.
Mal Butler