Responses to Where Were the Petition Supporters?

1. Martin Elliott Reply

   October 14, 2016 at 8:44 pm

   This may just be a rhetorical question.

   Stephen Mansfield did mentioned that they had collected over 8,000 signatures in the four attempts to get a valid petition.

   It was speculated that a large number were transient residents, ie students.

   We also know that several of the ‘Saturday High Street signatures’ expressed the opinion they wouldn’t signed (voted?) once the true purpose of the petition was explained.

   This doesn’t explain however why The Real Voice weren’t using a Hummer to ferry 5,218 voters to the polling stations.
2. Brian Holt Reply

   October 15, 2016 at 12:12 pm

   I expect a lot of signatures was from students and since the time that the signatures were collected, have now left university and gone back home.

   Another reason could be the bad publicity they have received recently due to one person found guilty of fraud charges. Now they are even more unpopular for wasting all that money that the council could have spent elsewhere.

   It is understood that petition signees who were no longer registered to vote here would not have got through the council’s petition validation process. Ed.
3. Shelley Grainger Reply

   October 15, 2016 at 7:43 pm

   I signed one of the petitions, and then voted ‘no’ when the time came. This is because I found out the real reason behind the petition and how it came about. One of our councillors explained it to me.

   When I signed it, I was thinking fondly of my time in London, where having a Mayor works very well. I did not know how Guildford Borough Council worked at the time.

   As a Labour voter, I also realised the implications, when I thought about it, in that an elected Mayor would just be another Tory who doesn’t have my (or my community’s) best interests at heart. Worse, Guildford Borough Council funds would be diverted from other pressing local needs.
4. Nigel Burke Reply

   October 21, 2016 at 10:32 am

   Mercifully this proposal was rejected, but it is frightening that major changes like this could in theory be pushed through on the basis of a small number of votes.

   If, locally and nationally, we are to make more use of referenda (ums?), minimum thresholds should be placed upon turnout and proportion voting yes: for example a minimum 70% turnout, and 70% yes vote would ensure that at least 50% (OK, 49% to be exact) must vote for change.
5. John Perkins Reply

   October 23, 2016 at 9:58 am

   Most students of my aquaintance would be happy to sign anything for a quid. When you don’t have enough of something it becomes your priority.

   On the other hand, it costs time and sometimes money to go to a polling station and vote.