SKIPP Press Release (13/05/2012) Collective Responsibility

Collective responsibility, a phrase banded around by the Southend Conservative Party during the recent local election. The party attempted to use it as a stick to beat the Southend Independent Group by claiming that as they weren’t a political party in the conventional sense they could not take collective responsibility for decision when in power. Clearly this negative campaigning trick had little effect on the outcome of the election which saw the Conservatives lose over all control of the council.

Now that the local election is over (apart from the horse trading to form a new administration), it will be interesting to see if the Conservatives (Councillor’s and our two local MP’s) will be practicing what they preach. Very shortly there will be a consultation period prior to the Conservative lead Coalition Government making a decision as to the future of the much hated estuary airport proposal.

Clearly this proposal is contrary to the future economic and environmental prospects of our Borough and is opposed by the vast majority of Southenders. If the government opt to move forward with this appalling proposal, then surely our local Conservative Councillors and MP’s must take some of the collective responsibility for that political decision and on mass resign from the Conservative Party.

The SKIPP Committee

Patsy Link

Sheena Walker

Mark Sharp