It attracted a flurry of replies last week that described the letter as discourteous and aggressive with the suggestion that the voices of these voters on the council were no longer wanted and should not be heard. I am sure the people who supported J
ohn's plans and ambition would disagree.
Linda Arkley may have won the election fair and square but only one in six people voted for her. On the first count Linda got 24,784 votes but 34,245 people voted for other parties. John actually got more second preference votes than Linda did but not enough to win. That is the system that has been used since the first Mayoral election in 2002 when I congratulated Tory Chris Morgan on getting elected.
This election was never going to be easy for any of the main parties with the revelations about MPs expenditure the main topic on the doorstep.
Like others I regret very much the low turnout of voters and recognise the dangers but it does seem as if Tory voters are more forgiving of their MPs than Labour voters who rightly were angered by those who are in power in Westminster.
In the big picture of all the UK votes on June 4, John Harrison did very well and in North Tyneside Labour topped the poll in the European ballot. So thank you Labour voters, again.
LibDem Chris Croft calls for everyone to work together. That is what John Harrison repeatedly asked for, but I am afraid never got from the coalition that the LibDems have had with the Tories since John was elected in 2005.
To be fair, members of Coun Croft's party did not boycott important meetings as the Tories have done.
Labour members will play as full a role as possible on the Council. In a healthy democracy that is to speak up for and progress our own policies as best we can for the people we represent and challenge the new administration's policies on their behalf.
Voting for Committee Chairs and Deputy Chairs at the recent AGM of the Council reflects how committed the coalition really is to 'working together' – with each other.
Out of 26 possible positions of responsibility the 21 Labour members were allowed to win only two – as Deputy Chairs of Appeals and Complaints, and Licensing (this one by default as the Tories nominated their Deputy Mayor who was not eligible).
The other 24 posts and the eight Cabinet positions have been divided up between 30 Tories and eight LibDems. Labour lost the election, and with respect is in opposition.
MURIEL GREEN
North Tyneside
Labour Councillor.