ChapelEnders
I wrote this in response to a local journalists call out for opinions… I live in Chapel End, and the new proposed parliamentary boundaries would take my ward out of a safe Labour seat, and into the safe Conservative constituency of Sir Iain Duncan Smith. I’m ambivalent…
Parliamentary boundaries don’t define communities — people do. Heaps of people already live in E17 and DON’T have a Walthamstow MP. Many in other postcodes do. It’s not clear cut and most people have no idea.
Here in Chapel End we recently got together as residents to call for the Dog and Duck pub to be listed as an Asset of Community Value, collecting the signatures needed in less than 24 hours. We did this together, as a community, for ourselves. We created our community. The MP’s job is to represent this community that we’ve created in parliament.
Anyone can judge a dog show. Mr Tumble can judge a dog show. Representing the things that affect our lives in Parliament — Mr Tumble can’t do that and nor can we.
On many of the issues that are affecting our communities in Chapel End right now, the flavour of MP we have is ultimately making little difference to our lives. Firstly because our entire voting system is unfair, our votes DON’T count right now and we need to change that with a proportional voting system.
Secondly — both Stella and Iain have voted for austerity measures which have led to unnecessary cuts and cost the lives of our vulnerable and disabled neighbours.
We need people who represent our voice against the lies of austerity and we need a voting system that is fair. Chapel End’s boundary change won’t make much difference to either of those things.
But in the meantime — we are our community. We are Walthamstow. We are Chapel End. Whatever that means, whatever voting system we have, and whoever wants to join in.
