SalfordOnline

Comment by SteveE ( member )  9th February 2012 Don't worry , there is an independant strongly considering whether to stand for mayor (according to his blog). He is a committed christian and survived a 45 fall whilst rock climbing in 2010. No doubt he will come forward and announce his decision in due course, although it may not be on this site as hes probably still banned.

Comment by Hiram Abiff ( member )  9th February 2012 So, in fact, not independant at all but a representative for the Green party. Of course an independant candidate will have his or her own political views Reg but they would not be a figurehead representing a political party. I fear that unless voter apathy keeps the core voters away our city will as always, return a Liebour appointed candidate. God forbid it is the current council leader or a crony as then nothing would change at all. I note the MEN reporting the only three credible candidates so far as all being from within the Liebour party :( I still have hope that a credible independant candidate who has the interests of our city at heart will step forward before the vote...

Comment by reghoward ( member )  9th February 2012 Just the part that says we are not whipped and have the freedom to say and vote in the manner we see fit, further more, if you can show me an independent candidate who says he/she has no political bias, then you will be showing a fool or a liar,

Comment by Hiram Abiff ( member )  9th February 2012 What part of being in the Green Party is independant and thus granting the wish of bman (and myself)?

Comment by reghoward ( member )  8th February 2012 Hi Seadog, perhaps i kept my posting too brief,I should explain that Joe is not Anti Labour or any other party, he, like me is only anti those who do not have the best interests of the Salford people at heart,We, in the Green party are not whipped like the other parties and therefore have a free vote on all matters, I appreciate your 2/3rds majority point but at least Joe would listen to the people and act in their interests, you only have to look at the u turns being done and the mystery money turning up out of the blue to see that labour are worried about this election, don't forget the preferential voting system is being used this time for the mayoral election, could be very interesting !!, Reg Howard Salford Green Party

Comment by Ex Seadog ( member )  8th February 2012 I applaud your optimism Reg, and I'm sure your man will be an excellent candidate... but, are you sure he will be able to muster a 2/3rds majority of the council for his plans to be carried out. Especially as it would appear that he would be asking for support from the people he is trying remove. I'm a neutral, but I'm not sure an 'anti-labour' Mayor would be able to achieve anything. We must try to get away from 'anti-these' and 'anti-those'... we want someone who is FOR Salford.

Comment by reghoward ( member )  8th February 2012 I can tell bman that his/her wish has been granted,Salford Green Party have selected Joe O'Neill as our candidate for Mayor,he is well know for his outspoken views about the way our city is run and about the spineless opposition to Labour. The coming months will no doubt see many wonderous things happening, such as money appearing as if by magic, to save some of the services which were going to close,this will be follwed by the self praise by the council who will conveniently forget that it was them who was going to force the closure.All we ask is that people judge for themselves and dont just vote for the badge, watch this space, the Green Party are here to stay, and, if you really want a change, join us and help rid Salford of the clowns who are running it, Reg Howard, chairman, Salfprd Green Party

Comment by bman ( member )  8th February 2012 We need an independent, someone who will challenge Labour and the others who vote with their political bias. Someone who cares about Salford.

Comment by Hiram Abiff ( member )  30th January 2012 Let's hope we hear something new when the hustings begin, Mary has rolled out the same old stuff we have heard so often. We want someone forward looking who won't constantly harp on about what they have inherited to work with, we all know it will be messy but that's why we want someone to come and make a difference!

Comment by yestomayor Salford ( member )  30th January 2012 Mary - Please your leader when you was on the Council sided with the current establishment and so all your advice albeit with good intentions can hardly sound as hollow as they do with Councillor Norman Owen's pathetic stance in saying "Salford does not need fixing!"

Comment by mary ferrer ( member )  29th January 2012 I hope the residents of Salford use their vote wisely in May. We need someone who has a good business background,who will have the best interest of the people of Salford and who will have the balls to stand up to this council and stop all the waste of our money. In the last few years we have seen how this council spend our money. We have had five years of proms in the park and ice rinks that have run at big loss, also the fairground people never paid back the £65.000 they owned the city, yet the council carried on using them again and again. We have bought back a lease on land that we owned for £250.000,if they had hung on it would have had to be given back with no cost and I am talking in the next few months. When everyone else is watching what they spend their money on this lot enter into a loan of over £22 million to build a stadium and how are they getting it back, by building a shopping centre,come on everywhere you look shops are closing.look at West one and White city to name two.Money too Peel,loans to Salford Reds,paying for consultants when we are paying staff who should be able to do the job.The BBC getting £20 million and when we have paid that we will have on going payments for god knows how long,years and years. Yes this person will have one hell of a job to do and I do hope we get someone who can take on this city and turn it around. We need someone with wisdom,a vision and a backbone.

Comment by Ex Seadog ( member )  28th January 2012 Thanks Tony... fascinating stuff. Perhaps the motto on the coat-of-arms should be changed to our English language to be a constant reminder to the councillors as to what/who their priority should be. Perhaps, before any decision is made, or any cheque is signed, the decision-makers should ask, "Will this contribute to the welfare of the people?", out loud, and either agree that it does, or think again.

Comment by Kevin_P ( member )  28th January 2012 And that's not even mentioning the biggest gripe that I've ever had - the dropping of the so very meaningful Salford Coat-of-Arms and replacing it with that horrible meaningless road-sign thingy "In Salford" !!

Comment by Kevin_P ( member )  28th January 2012 Ah, I see now what Ex Seadog is getting at - ("The welfare of the people is the highest law"). !!!

Comment by Tony Flynn ( member )  27th January 2012 Here we go Ex Seadog staight from the council site. The arms, designed by H. Ellis Tomlinson, combine elements of the five local authorities that formed the new city of Salford in 1974. The shield retains were approved by letters patent of the Garter King of Arms and based upon the former Borough of Salford arms; the blue background with a gold 'chief', giving the heraldic colours of the Earls of Chester, from whom Salford received its first charter in 1230. Also from Salford are the gold shuttle and five bees, representing the growth of five industrial communities round a centre of the textile industry, and the two black millrinds (the iron centres of millstones) as symbols of engineering. The ship motif comes from Eccles and signifies the importance of waterways in the area. The crest, a red-half griffin holding a flag staff with a pennon, with three boars heads, is one of the former Eccles supporters. The boars heads were also seen in the Irlam arms, and the circle of steel around the griffin's neck was part of the Irlam crest, symbolising the town's great industry. The supporters'-lions brandishing miners' picks are similar to those of Swinton and Pendlebury. Each lion is collared with a steel chain (a further symbol of engineering) holding a white pentagonal medallion. On one medallion is the black pheon, or broad arrow, which, with the red lion, appeared in the arms of Worsley, whilst on the other is the boar's head from the crest of Swinton and Pendlebury, shown in that former borough's livery colours of red and gold. The motto, already described, is that formerly used by the Borough of Swinton and Pendlebury, Salus populi suprema ("The welfare of the people is the highest law").

Comment by Ex Seadog ( member )  27th January 2012 I'm assuming the coat of arms shown with this post is the one for Salford? If so, what does the motto Salus Populi Suprema Lex mean? I wonder if it may have any bearing on how the council has been, or will be, working?

Comment by Alfa99 ( member )  27th January 2012 I agree Hiram Lets hope we get a Mayor with a mind of his own who is not "influenced" by political affilliation. At least this will be a higher profile appointment which should have more scrutiny from the media and public. Lets hope we get a Mayor all Salfordian's can be proud of. According to Labour a new elected Mayor would cut vital services to children and the aged. Better not have a Labour one then!

Comment by Hiram Abiff ( member )  27th January 2012 Well well well, how very grown up of Salford voters to have minds of their own for a change. I salute everyone who bothered to vote, could be the start of much needed change in the running of our fair city. My greatest wish as an outcome from this groundbreaking decision by the voters is that we get some quality, truely INDEPENDANT candidates to be our Mayor. I also hope that whoever gets the job looks to retain the existing ceremonial Mayoral role, with either one of them having a title tweak to ensure we all know who is who. Roll on the actual Mayoral campaign and an influx of people who put Salford above any political affiliation or loyalty. This is a day to remember in the evolution of the City of Salford...

Comment by Alfa99 ( member )  27th January 2012 I would not be so sure. You can bet your bottom dollar that Labour will put someone up. Stick a red rossette on anything and it will probably end up elected. We are governed by failing political parties. What a shame.

Comment by Ex Seadog ( member )  27th January 2012 How I hope you're right Ruthie... I've got an awful feeling that the labour controlled council will still have their way due to the 2/3rds majority required for the new mayor to implement any changes.

Comment by Ruthie ( member )  27th January 2012 The best thing ever nto happen in Salford,No more Labour controlled decisions on how we live.

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