I keep reading, about how we should break away from Bradford.
If it were to happen and we were left to run our own council. Would it be better for the town?

With what I've been hearing about a couple of local councilors (court cases pending ) I'm reminded of an old saying of my mothers which - paraphrased - suggests that they all urinate in the same receptacle.

My answer to the question is a resounding NO, we'd be no better off, in fact I think we will be worse off with another tier of useless twa.... sorry politicians, squabbling and falling out over minor inconsequential matters in order to feed their individual ego's.

Let's keep the species to a minimum.

Yes we should, how can we be worse off, one of the worst things to happen for Keighley was being engulfed into Bradford.

What I am suprised about is our MP Kris Hopkins seemingly favouring a breakaway or at least taking some power back from Bradford when as leader of Bradford Council he was instrumental in favouring Bradford at our expense.

Leopards and spots spring to mind.

One thing should we ever get away from Bradfords control is not to have a mayor elected or otherwise as I cannot see any benefit to this role at all, only time they are seen is at events wearing a glorified toilet chain, an expense we can manage without.

Animal Farm

What's a notorious porn film got to do with politics?

I'm just bumping this as it has been mentioned in the local press again.

I for one think it would be a great thing if all council tax was going directly in to our area as opposed to being spread out across the Bradford Council area.

I'm not sure exactly how this is working and which areas would be used here. Apparently my area, The Worth Valley is planned to merge with an area of Calderdale in terms of voting areas and will be removed from the Keighley and Ilkley seat which has been unaffected in decades. That seems like quite a moronic idea. The Keighley seat will also include Bingley now, possibly removing Ilkley from what I remember.

I'm not sure how this affects the talked about breakaway.

I'd happily support an independent Keighley Council using the area boundaries that are in place for the Keighley MP currently. It is debatable what impact it would have on Ilkley however and I think it may be fairer for them to merge in to a nearer by area.

The planned constituency boundary changes, officially, will/should not have any effect on the Keighley breakaway, however I believe that, the boundaries commission in their infinite wisdom would take that into consideration, and therefore, should the constituency changes go ahead as recommended, then that would greatly affect the breakaway. I can see the Worth Valley area etc. being ruled by Calderdale and not Bradford and the rest of Keighley and Ilkley still being governed by Bradford.
If Keighley were to breakaway from Bradford, the sooner the better IMO, then that would effectively remove a tier of goverment as Keighley would not have to go via Bradford in any decisions and like a previous poster suggested, funds raised in Keighley and district would be spent in Keighley and district.
I would suggest that everybody lobby our MP, Kris Hopkins, by mail, email, text, telephone or any other method you can think of with ideas and advantages for a breakaway, to give him more ammunition to fire at those people hiding away in Westminster to block the Constituency changes and to push forward the breakaway.

Would the daft idea to absorb parts of Keighley district into Calderdale have no impact at all on any breakaway? If not then I'd say why not go it alone. However I wouldn't trust Kris Hopkins as far as I could throw him, also don't assume Keighley councillors would be any better than Bradford ones. I often read in the Keighley News a letters page dominated by town councillors bickering at each other.

It was Monty Python who gave us 'What have the Romans ever done for us?'. Well, in all seriousness now, what has Bradford ever done for us? Can anyone honestly think of anything positive? I know I can't. Answers on the back of a postage stamp.
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Never a Bradfordian. Never.

That is a very good point.
Also one of them is a convicted thief.

I wouldn't trust them to look after the finances of Keighley.

You should defo break away from Bradford and relocate near Cardiff then ya Suppa Duppa League application that ya chairman woz spouting on about last night , might stand a chance! Cos its a 'pie in the sky' this near to Odsal. Even if you do win the NRC & Championship next season! Oh yeh and lets not forget the thrashing your gonna giv us on boxing day! Ya chairman's crystal ball woz workin overtime last night!
Happy xmas all and c u all next season at least av got one home game t walk t next season and av a drink or 2, when the FAX come t town!
Cheers from ya Local FAXFAN & part-time Cougar!.

As mentioned previously Keighley has a chance to get away from clutches of bradford council long overdue in my opinion, question I ask is why during his tenure as leader of Bradford council Kris Hopkins was instrumental in keeping Keighley at bottom of the pile regarding assistance from them.

By this I do not just mean the cougars but the town in general.

I can appreciate folks concern about Keighley Town council, however to a point they have and will continue to have options limited by Bradford.

I hope in time there is a breakaway and quite simply Keighley is Keighley and not Bradford and we should have freedom to make the choice.

I think it'd be easier to hold Keighley councillors to account at the ballot box if we break away.

In Br*dford Council they are only a insignificant part of the council chamber, irrespective of who we vote in they will always be outnumbered by those supporting the City of Br*dford's agenda.

There is no moral fibre in the town council.

One of them is a convicted thief. Have you seen any calls for his resignation from the other members of the town council.
They are happy to sit along side and work with him.

How the hell can they be more accountable??????????????