Believing very much that a healthy community benefits residents of all ages, Karen is often frustrated that loyalty to party politics prevents good decisions being made for local people.

Full statement

‘Allegiance to chairmen and party whips should never be the first priority at parish or county level. Voting what you are told to vote makes a mockery of debate and fair representation, and prevents any scrutiny or effective governance. My political party colleagues on the parish council vote on bloc every single time, as their whip dictates, and it has meant mismanaged public expenditure, inefficient future planning and a lack of support for new infrastructure projects in our village. We need to change the status quo – we need community champions representing CSP who favour collaboration and community cohesion over single minded partisan politics. We need principled community champions who value Truth and Responsibility, and do their best to hold authorities to the same standards.

This election is the last chance we will get for 4 years to change the status quo and ensure younger, more dynamic and inclusive representation for CSP – please don’t let this opportunity for change pass you by…”.