I'm all for it too, however I don't think the general population is, anything remotely political in this country ends up boiling down to the usual parties, and it's the mindset of those who bother to go out and vote too.

A few years ago I thought the way that Bradford was being run into the ground would inspire some kind of backlash at local level and some independents to stand up and try and get involved in local government but apathy is the only winner in this city.

When I moved to Bradford in the early 90s there was an active student union, active environmental pressure groups & a great feel around the festival & Mela. All that has gone. The rise in apathy is not confined to Bradford, but other cities do have other things to feel good about.

I lived for 9 years in Bradford and currently reside in Doncaster and i can tell i would much rather be in Donny than Bradford! The council tax is cheaper, it's cleaner and the bins are collected regularly. Our mayor is doing a cracking job in trying to stamp out wastefulness and the scourge of political correctness.

Please give some examples.

I gather he offsets the balance with political ineptness.

Withdrawing council backing for so called 'gay pride' events.

Shouldn't a council support oppressed groups & an event that brings in thousands of visitors & spenders to the town? How much did Phil's dad save from this scourge?

Quote hi de hi="hi de hi"Withdrawing council backing for so called 'gay pride' events.'" Yeah, that was a good one. www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ni/2009/06/m ... oby_1.html

Quote hi de hi="hi de hi"Withdrawing council backing for so called 'gay pride' events.'" Yeah, that was a good one. www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ni/2009/06/m ... oby_1.html

The function of the council is to provide essential civic services ie street lighting, rubbish collection etc at a minimum possible cost to council tax payers, not to provide jobs for the boys ie the previous regimes of corrupt labour councillers, many of whom have been prosecuted for their crimes in Doncaster. Peter Davis has the support of large numbers of the local public, mainly of the tax paying variety. The people of Bradford could do far worse than elect a person with similar views and policies.

I think they could do better than him too. The Donny "Gay Pride Event" was actually proved to be a profitable exercise for the council and city. Coming out (no pun intended!) against it was just playing to people's prejudices to get elected.

There's a fair bit of racial prejudice in Bradford and I wouldn't like to see someone come in from outside, put his foot in his mouth, and make things worse just as a way of getting a highly paid mayorship.

Slightly off-topic, but has anyone heard about [url=http://www.positivebradford.co.uk/positive-bradford-day/Positive Bradford Day[/url? As it exists (and is happening the day after tomorrow), I might have expected to read about it in the T&A or have it promoted in some way by the Council. Tellingly, however, I only spotted it through [url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/features/six_reasons_why_city_can_be_positive_of_great_days_to_come_1_3809303an article in the Yorkshire Post[/url.

Phil's bigoted dad also stopped Black History Month on the basis we don't have White History Months. He is so blind he cannot see the whole country teaches white history on a daily basis. He supports closing public libraries yet admits to never having borrowed a book from a public library.

As with Thatcher & hi de hi, he no doubt sees everything in cost terms, not value. It's easy to go in somewhere & cut costs. I've seen it numerous times in large scale businesses. All it does is cut quality. Support services have been cut to the bone for years. After the torture of 2 children from a care home by 2 others the audit commission stated "Those leading the council - the mayor and cabinet, some councillors and some officers - do not collectively have the capacity or capability to make the necessary improvements in governance.” The council has a responsibility for all its citizens, especially the most vulnerable, be they elderly, children, disabled, black, gay or whatever. Phil's dad obviously feels uncomfortable with gay people expressing their sexuality & black people celebrating their culture, in the typical repressed middle-aged white male manner of days of old.

Still, as he has openly praised some elements of the Taliban, his tenure in Bradford should be good for the tabloids.

Despite Phil's dad I still love Donny & it is a much nicer place in the centre than Bradford.