Marlow Town Council Election. Why vote for me?

Yes, it is the same Paul Mansell who has stood as a candidate for the Labour Party at town, district and county council elections over the past 24 years. Brought up in a South Yorkshire mining community, with a grandfather who was an NUM shop steward, and many school friends who chose to work in the local collieries whilst he went off to art college. The same friends who he stood shoulder to shoulder with on the picket lines and who were charged down by mounted police.

I couldn’t grow up to be anything but a socialist, and equally, being taken along to church every Sunday morning and evening, it was no surprise that I would accept being a member of The Church of England as the norm. Like my elder brother and my father before me, I sang in the church choir and then when my voice broke I became a server. At aged 19 I was made Master Server, much to the chagrin of many of the regular and established ‘christian church goers’ who didn’t like a young long haired hippy assisting their priest at the altar. My father didn’t much like me having long hair either and he would go on at me to get my hair cut on a daily basis, but I’ll give him his due, if anyone else cast aspersions on me he would back me up 100%.

My father despised Arthur Scargill and was a great supporter of Ted Heath, so you can imagine that we would hardly see eye to eye on most things political. My dad always thought that my mum voted the same way as he did; in fact he took it for granted. In reality, my mum revealed many years later that she’d always voted Labour the same as me. I’m pleased to say that before my dad died, we were definitely as one in our outlook on life and we agreed on far more things than we disagreed. It wasn’t me that had changed my fundamental beliefs though I hasten to add.

I didn’t renew my Labour Party membership of close on 30 years last year. I didn’t agree with Blair taking us into the Iraq war, was pretty incensed when I didn’t even get to vote on whether or not I wanted Brown as leader of the party, let alone prime minister (which, by the way, I didn’t), and I’m afraid I just became totally disillusioned with party politics if the truth be known.

I believe that at local level, and certainly at the level of town council that common sense should prevail rather than party dogma. I respect those hard working elected representatives who care about the community and want to make a difference whatever party they happen to be in. I may not necessarily share many of the views that Richard Scott holds, and I daresay he would say the same about me, but that hasn’t stopped us successfully working together as fellow directors to the benefit of Marlow FM 97.5.

Luckily, we’re not launching our new FM radio service until after the May 5th Elections on Wednesday 11th May, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to present any of the shows on Marlow FM 97.5 that I’m so looking forward to bringing to listeners in Marlow and beyond. There are strict OfCOM rules and regulations that govern broadcasting during an election campaign and life can become very stressful for presenters who have to maintain a fair and equal balance between the coverage for each party. It has been know for party representatives to sit with a stop watch whilst the candidates are quizzed to make sure that their man (or woman) has had the same amount of time to put forward their views as the others. Certainly no candidate who is a regular broadcaster can continue to present for the duration of any campaign. So, if I happen to get elected at least next time around in four years time you’d get a break from having to listen to me on Marlow FM 97.5.

That could be some big ‘if’ however as I’m very much aware that it won’t be an easy task going solo as it were with no supporters to rely on, but I’m going to give it my best shot.

My father always said to me, ‘Always aim for the highest…’

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