Portishead businessman hopes to become MEP
A Portishead businessman who led the campaign to save the town's open air pool from closure is to stand for election to the European Parliament.
Roger Whitfield, chairman of the Portishead Pool Community Trust and leader of the Save the Open Air Pool (STOP) campaign, which was backed by the Post, is a prospective candidate of a new political party, The Jury Team.
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Roger Whitfield
It is planning to field 70 candidates in June's European elections on an anti-political party platform. It intends to select independent candidates for each region, chosen by a text-message voting system, to offer an alternative to what it describes as the "lobby-fodder" of traditional political parties.
Mr Whitfield, 43, who has previously stood for election for Labour, said he put his name forward because he was disillusioned with the main political parties. He will be one of six MEPs who will represent the South West if he is selected as a candidate by members of the public and has set up a campaign blog at rogerwhitfield.co.uk.
Mr Whitfield, who runs Nortech Computers in the town, said: "I am standing because, like many people, I feel let down by politicians and the party system.
"I've always put my money where my mouth is and feel I can make a difference. While I have previously represented the Labour Party, I do agree with some elements of Conservative policy but feel the party whip system is undemocratic. I'd like to see more transparency and honesty return to politics and I think it is time for a change. People are sick and tired of politicians looking out for themselves instead of looking after the people that elected them. But to make effective change you have to do it from within."
The system Jury Team is using to select its candidates is based on the American Primary system. Prospective candidates have signed up to its website and will take part in "Open Primaries", with the public texting their preferences.
The party, founded by Sir Paul Judge, has been backed by the former independent MP for Tatton Martin Bell. The party believes it is the first political movement in the world to select its candidates by text voting, something it says is direct democracy in action.
If you wish to vote for Mr Whitfield as a candidate text ROGWHI01 to 86837 by the end of April. Texts cost 25p plus the usual network rate.
6 Comments
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by :), Portishead
Wednesday, May 20 2009, 6:46PM
“Roger Whitfield...I am 100% certain you are out for yourself.
I've just watched you actually, 3 men putting up the Pool sign...then the camera's come along....you run over and quickly tighten up the last screw!
The pool, of course it was a good thing saving it but again totally out to get yourself noticed as 5 mins later you are doing this!”
by TC, Bristol
Friday, April 10 2009, 11:55AM
“A Euro MEP is currently recieving a basic £63,291 per year, rising to £81,420 after the June election.
I assume that the 'Jury Team' would instantly refuse to accept such extortionate salaries should they be elected. If so would they also refuse to indulge in the free for all expenses that could see them claim up to 2 million pounds each in their term of office?
That seems a very large sum of money to claim for someone who's greatest acheivement to date appears to having been a town councillor for a couple of years and campaign leader for a local protest movement that has yet to prove it''s success until his local swimming pool is still up and running for a longer period than one year, which judging by the reports is still not guaranteed.
Maybe the intentions are well meant but I don't believe for one minute that personal gain is not the main objective.
Martin Bell was once elected on the same policies, got elected and made no change and he had an 11,000 majority so I fail to see what the Jury Team hopes to acheive with almost invisible supporter base.”
by textvoter(not), N.Somerset
Friday, April 10 2009, 10:57AM
“14 days left to vote, 9 candidates, 426 votes between them? Does that honestly represent the population of the South West or a very miniscule group of people who have eyed up the gravy train and want a first class seat?
I don't really rate the BNP, but for all their faults, at least they are honest and open about their intentions.”
by textvoter(not), N.Somerset
Friday, April 10 2009, 10:51AM
“Anyone serious about putting a stop to the 'gravy train' would be campaigning to totally overhaul the entire political system in this country which is corrupt from the bottom to the top.
This has been allowed to go unchecked for years and not too many years ago Mr Whitfield was also keen to jump on board with no mention of instilling change.
I suggest people would be better off saving their 25p text 'donation' , a system that is in itself wide open to corrupt voting and start to take an overall look at the political system that is dragging this country into irreversible change.
A handful of former failed politicians aggrieved at not being part of the new rich political hierachy has as much chance of jumping on board the gravy train and pulling the communication cord to stop the train as a bank robber getting the key to a vault and not filling his own pockets.
Sir Paul Judge has his own reasons for starting the Jury Team and trying to infiltrate the European Parliament but they certainly have nothing to do with the ordinary working class people in this country who will still be used as a bottomless piggy bank to make the richer more wealthy.”
by Roger Whitfield, Portishead
Friday, April 10 2009, 7:31AM
“The Jury Team and I have made it quite clear of our intention to derail the European gravy train, but to do this will take people from outside the existing system.
Can we trust our current MEP's to put an end to it?
I am not jumping off anything. I started the STOP campaign to save the pool. I am and hope to remain a very active member of the trust.
In this world we all have options; when you see something is wrong you can either sit back and get upset or, stand up and do something about it.
I can see that our political system isn't working. I am prepared to stand up and do something about it.
Anyone who is serious about putting an end to the European gravy train should text ROGWHI01 to 86837 and give me the opportunity to make a difference.”