On April 2nd 1982 Argentinian Forces invaded the Falkland Islands. On April 5th a Royal Naval Task Force, including two aircraft carriers, sailed from Portsmouth. It took three days to mobilise and send ships on their way. So why did it take more than a week to get just one ship dispatched to defend RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus? The first duty of any government is to keep its people safe. The government must surely remember that.
Events move fast in time of conflict and writing this column a week before publication gives me little scope for covering events in the Middle East but we are indeed in troubling times. I give sober recognition to the words of my Party Leader from last week. Kemi said, “Nobody wants to see an escalation with Iran, but the fact is our bases have already been attacked. Iran is trying to kill our Servicemen and women. Why is Starmer asking our allies to do what we should be doing ourselves? We are in this war whether Labour MPs like it or not. What is the Prime Minister waiting for?”
Cheltenham Local Elections
Closer to home, all political parties in Cheltenham will be gearing up for the May local elections. Praise then to the Elections Team at the Borough who have sent timely reminders to registered Postal Voters letting them know that their existing postal votes expired at the end of January. Have you had yours? And have you returned it? If not, then you can apply online and return the forms by 21st April. Perhaps, given international events, democracy means just that little bit more.
And whilst we are on the subject of the elections. The Lib Dems asked for them to be cancelled. The government agreed and then did yet another U-turn and confirmed they will be held on the 7th May. Interesting to note then the Lib Dem leaflets being put through front doors just last week said, under a Local Government update that, “Cheltenham will not have local elections in 2026”. Wonder when those leaflets were printed? Perhaps they should have carried a best before date.
Thank you Barbara
On a more personal note. Cheltenham recently said goodbye to Honorary Alderman Barbara Driver who worked tirelessly for Cheltenham as a Lansdown Councillor, a former Mayor, and in her charity work with the YMCA, Open Door, Aim Up and others. Bless you Barbara, you will be missed!
