2008

ALDRIDGE CENTRAL AND SOUTH:
Thomas Ansell (Con) 2,306
Michael Jose (UK Ind) 442
Roy Sheward (Lib Dem) 382
Derek Wigfall (Lab) 507

Aldridge-Brownhills
CONSERVATIVE HOLD - Richard Shepherd

The 2005 general election

Conservative majority: 5,507

Our honours system is outdated, as has been said many times it seems to be those with power and influence simply patting themselves on the back. Many people spend all their lives devoting time and energy to others - above and beyond simply doing their job - but receive no recognition. At the very least the names of the awards should be changed to reflect where we are - without reference to British Empire.

I firmly believe that we need to make 16 the age at which a young person effectively is able to partake in all “adult” activities. This would include voting and drinking in pubs. It seems stupid to have differing ages for differing things - 16 for some, 17 for others and 18 for yet other things. 16 seems to be a sensible time - given that people of this age are able to leave school, work, get married and have children. Let’s treat them then as mature enough to handle voting at this age!!

Currently I feel youngsters are being victimised - because of the bad behaviour of a minority it appears that the well behaved majority are to be penalised.

It makes me laugh when you get travel reports to advise on the school run traffic. One third of journey’s in rush hour are said to be due to parents taking and picking up children from school. You only have to wait for the holidays to see how clear the roads are!

Apart from the dangers created by all the cars congregating around schools, there is the sheer stupidity of children travelling miles (going past many local schools) to schools in other counties considered to be “better”.

I believe that School League Tables should be scrapped. They have done so much harm, teaching has been largely replaced by the need to get pupils to pass the Sats - it is now all about position in the league tables, children’s well-being seems secondary concern.