Why I am Standing for Election in Heaton Ward
Like many other people, I was shaken out of any complacency about the future of Bradford during the summer of 2001, by a combination of the riots and the publication of The Ouseley Report .
It seemed clear that something was going seriously wrong within the District. I was concerned at this primarily as a person living in the Heaton area and committed to its future. But I am also an academic social scientist, so I wanted to try and understand what was happening around me. I consequently became involved with the Programme for a Peaceful City (PPC) at the University of Bradford .
The discussions in the PPC highlighted many issues, and I heard many different points of view. The PPC is a neutral forum, not a campaigning organisation with 'a party line'. I was impressed nevertheless that similar views about the problems of Bradford were coming through from such a large variety of independent sources. These included community groups and religious bodies, as well as professionals in community development, education, criminal justice and the media, not just the local authority. The main themes echoed topics of conversation among friends and neighbours.
One theme was that people feel inhibited in talking about certain issues, because they do not want to cause offence, or to display ignorance, or because they do not know how to talk about them in a balanced way. Another theme was that current political arrangements in Bradford obstruct progress. This has something to do with fear of controversy, a lack of confidence, and a desire to maintain a smooth appearance of things on the surface, whatever is happening underneath. These attitudes are humanly understandable, but they may end up bringing about precisely the tension and conflict they are designed to avoid. The party system is not working properly in Bradford .
Since I am a democrat, the only way to test these conclusions was to stand for election, and to see if these views struck a chord with fellow citizens. A different kind of election campaign could also contribute to solutions for Bradford 's problems. In most campaigns these days, the party decides the message - usually at national level - and sticks to it no matter what, by staying 'on message'. But if part of the problem is that certain issues are not discussed, why not use the campaign itself to take the discussion forward? Is it so strange that in a democracy the expressed views of voters should influence the campaign as it goes along, and eventually contribute to decisions taken by the Council? I invite your responses to the main issues in the campaign elsewhere on this website.
I have never been a member of any political party, and I have never envisaged before that I would become a politician. I believe however that I have the experience from my University work to become a successful Councillor, whether debating in the Council Chamber or helping constituents with individual problems.
I respect your party allegiance, but I hope you can agree that there is a place for an Independent candidate in an unusual situation. Together we can help the party system find a more open and effective way to address the problems of Heaton Ward, and Bradford as a whole. I would be honoured by your support on June 10.
Alan Carling, 17/5/04
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