Time to Sort Out Our Busted Police Forces
We need to introduce a new system of community-led police accountability boards to oversee the running of local forces. I think this is needed because, let's be honest, the police have been getting away with some pretty questionable behaviour for far too long — my kid's mate was stopped and searched last year for no reason, it's just not on.
The way it would work is that each local force would have a board made up of ordinary people from the community, not just the usual suspects like councillors and business leaders. They'd have the power to investigate complaints and make sure the police are actually listening to the people they're supposed to be serving. It's not rocket science, just some basic accountability, you know.
I've seen it work in other areas, like with school governing bodies, where parents and teachers can hold the headteacher to account.
Sort Out Birmingham's Bloody Housing Crisis
I'm at my wit's end with the state of housing in Birmingham, it's like the council's just given up. I see families crammed into tiny flats, kids sharing bedrooms with their siblings, and it's just not right. I've worked with these families as a social worker, I've seen the stress and the anxiety it causes, and it's all because there just aren't enough decent homes to go around.
I've got a mate who's been on the waiting list for a council house for years, and he's still stuck in a private rental that's eating up most of his wages. It's a joke, and it's not just him, there are thousands of people in the same boat. We need to start building more council homes, and we need to start now. Not these fancy "affordable" flats that are still out of reach for most people, but proper council houses with decent sized rooms and gardens.
Right, so how can this chap win by-elections when the main parties don't even bother showing up? Utter farce.
What’s the point of an election if the major parties can just boycott it and let anyone win? Seriously, it’s a bit of a laugh, isn't it? If the big boys can’t be bothered to turn up to defend their turf, then we need to make them. It’s not fair on the voters who do bother to go to the polling stations, is it?
My proposal is simple: if a candidate wins a seat with less than, say, 40% of the vote, and the other main parties have fielded candidates but didn't get a decent showing, there should be an automatic re-run. This time, though, the major parties have to put their best people forward, no excuses. None of this "we’ll focus on the general election" nonsense. If you’re going to stand, you’ve got to fight for it.
What do you think?
Vote on individual policies, adapt them, or write your own alternative. Good ideas should be tested.