Philippa, we don’t care if you live in a cupboard on the Moon. Just don’t turn out like Cllr Wallis

Mr Andrew Wallis, Independent Councillor for Cornwall Council (Porthleven and Helston South), has decided to tell the world who he will not be voting for at the General Election. ‘One person definitely off my ‘to consider’ list is Philippa Latimer PPC (Labour) for St Ives’, he writes on his blog.

And just why has Cllr Wallis ‘discounted’ Philippa?  ‘Well, for the one and simple reason that she lives in London and ‘visits’ [sic] Cornwall.

‘I’m sorry’, drones on Cllr Wallis somewhat patronishingly, ‘but if you even want me to consider voting for you, a fundamental rule is that you live in the area that you wish to represent, not move to the area after you win (if indeed you do).

‘The issue has really annoyed me. So much so that I have decided to Blog about it. I have always tried to keep my Blog non-political,[watch this space for the TBH’s post ‘The Myth of the Independent’] but this just takes the biscuit. I am sure Ms Latimer is a very nice person but surely they could have found someone suitable who lives in the area? Or at a push, lives in Cornwall?’

And it goes on, but I think we get the message. Cllr Wallis will not be voting for Philippa Latimer. So that’s Philippa stuffed, then.

Now, only a complete moron and political retard of a PPC would move to a constituency before they were elected to it. But there’s a more important reason why we need outside candidates like Ms Latimer – who works in London and rents a room in Camden – in Cornish constituencies. We need candidates who can look at the problems of the area with fresh eyes; and it’s easy today to be well-informed about a constituency without actually living there. Being a ‘local’ isn’t necessarily an asset. No doubt, it helps for logistical reasons if a candidate can live in or close to the constituency once they’re elected. But Cornwall needs youthful politicians with commitment, intelligence and experience of the world of and beyond Cornwall  –  possibly like Ms Latimer – attributes not necessarily found in your average local politician. Just take a look at some of our councillors. It’s enough to make you want to move to Camden.

Philippa, we really don’t care if you live in a cupboard on the Moon – as long as you demonstrate knowledge, understanding and commitment to the voters in the St Ives Constituency. So, it’s a bit of a disappointment to see you ‘completely respect[ing]’ Cllr Wallis’ absurdly narrow-minded views. You are unlikely to win St Ives this time, a position that gives you the freedom to bring a much needed bold and straight talking approach to Cornwall’s politics. It’s an approach that just might be a vote winner.

But, whatever you do, please don’t turn out like Cllr Wallis. Cornwall desperately needs politicians with a vision that reaches a bit beyond  the confines of Helston and Porthleven harbour.