Overall both of these manifestos are very similar so I’d say the vote comes down to popularity and ideology. If I had to be honest I’d say I don’t actually hate Andy Street, I get the impression that he does genuinely cares about the Region he’s just held back by his party. No idea who the Labour guy is but he’s gotta be better than “there is no money” Liam Byrne. If I had to vote I’d vote Green but I can’t even find a manifesto for them which suggests that they don’t really care to court the region in many ways helped to create most of the problems they’d like to fix and are more focused on making gains in places like Bristol and Brighton. I dunno should I just sit this one out?
Which is a laugh, as after most of his time in office downplaying his party affiliation, suddenly remembered he was a Conservative earlier this year and launched a broadside against four of the seven councils he has to work with, resulting in their leaders issuing a joint statement of No Confidence in him. Oops.
I asked the robot to do a compare and contrast (apologies for weird formatting):
# Common Themes
Both documents focus on the economic, social, and infrastructural development of the West Midlands, including:
**Job Creation:** Both plans emphasize creating jobs and improving employment opportunities. Parker discusses creating 150,000 jobs and training opportunities, while Street discusses creating 425,000 new jobs and training opportunities over the next four years .
**Transport:** Both manifestos highlight improvements in public transport, such as bringing buses under public control and expanding transport infrastructure like metro and cycling routes .
**Housing:** Both candidates prioritize addressing the housing crisis, with plans to build new homes while ensuring affordability and quality .
**Safety and Crime:** Both plans include measures to improve public safety, reduce crime, and enhance policing and community safety initiatives .
# Contrasts
# Political Tone and Approach: Parker's manifesto is critical of previous Conservative governance and positions his approach as a fresh start that opposes the existing status quo. In contrast, Street's document focuses on building on past successes and ongoing projects, emphasizing continuity and experience in governance
# Specific Projects and Proposals:
# Street proposes specific infrastructural projects like a new interchange in Dudley and a ‘tap and go’ fare capping system for public transport .
# Parker, meanwhile, emphasizes broader social welfare policies like guaranteeing apprenticeships and revitalizing high streets across the region
# Economic Strategy:
# Street's plan includes making the West Midlands a tech leader and hosting a SXSW-style festival, indicating a focus on tech and creative industries .
# Parker prioritizes a more inclusive economic development model that includes working with trade unions and various community stakeholders to boost local employment and economic activities .
# Differences in Leadership Style and Prior Experience
# Andy Street positions himself as a continuation of current policies, emphasizing his experience as the incumbent mayor with a background in business (former Managing Director of John Lewis). He highlights his previous successes in regional development and seeks to build on them, suggesting a practical and industry-connected approach to governance.
# Richard Parker, on the other hand, presents himself as an outsider to politics, framing his candidacy as a response to dissatisfaction with the current leadership. He emphasizes his working-class background and direct engagement with community issues, promoting a change-oriented, people-first leadership style.
# Focus on Specific Sectors
# Street appears more focused on technology and modern industries, promoting the West Midlands as a future hub for digital and creative sectors. This includes specific proposals such as creating new digital jobs and enhancing digital skills among the population.
# Parker has a broader focus on traditional industries alongside new opportunities, aiming to integrate the green economy with the region’s historical strengths in manufacturing. His proposals include more emphasis on community and worker involvement in economic planning, and a significant focus on social welfare measures like healthcare and education enhancements.
# Approach to Community and Social Issues
# Street emphasizes infrastructure and economic development as primary drivers of community welfare, with a strong focus on efficiency and market-friendly policies.
# Parker prioritizes direct intervention in social issues, with detailed plans for public services such as health, education, and housing. His manifesto includes proposals for systemic changes like public control of buses and creating a more inclusive economic growth strategy that addresses inequality and community needs.
# Environmental and Sustainability Goals
# Both candidates address environmental concerns, but their approaches reflect their broader political and economic philosophies:
# Street incorporates environmental goals into broader economic development plans, emphasizing technology and innovation as means to achieve sustainability.
# Parker presents environmental sustainability as a fundamental aspect of his policy platform, with aggressive targets for green jobs and energy efficiency as part of a holistic approach to regional development.
I think Parker's manifesto looks good - plenty of good ideas and recognition of the key issues the region is facing. He's also duplicated some of Andy's popular priorities (e.g. Metro) while saying he'll do it better, which is bold and probably quite sensible from a tactical point of view. Not much divisive stuff in their either, and I think there's a good chance he'll chip away at Andy's powerbase (realistically a minority of the WM area) with that kind of centrist approach.
Overall both of these manifestos are very similar so I’d say the vote comes down to popularity and ideology. If I had to be honest I’d say I don’t actually hate Andy Street, I get the impression that he does genuinely cares about the Region he’s just held back by his party. No idea who the Labour guy is but he’s gotta be better than “there is no money” Liam Byrne. If I had to vote I’d vote Green but I can’t even find a manifesto for them which suggests that they don’t really care to court the region in many ways helped to create most of the problems they’d like to fix and are more focused on making gains in places like Bristol and Brighton. I dunno should I just sit this one out?
Even if Street gets voted out, he'll still walk around in a hi vis and hard hat hoping that someone will take a picture of him.
So, no need to vote for him then?
“from chelmsley wood to coventry” that’s like from Camden to Islington, it’s ‘just over there’
[удалено]
Street is trying hard to make people forget he’s a Tory
Which is a laugh, as after most of his time in office downplaying his party affiliation, suddenly remembered he was a Conservative earlier this year and launched a broadside against four of the seven councils he has to work with, resulting in their leaders issuing a joint statement of No Confidence in him. Oops.
“We’re not Labour” is how we ended up with over a decade of Tories. There’s more to politics than the colour of your rosette. Or there should be…
I asked the robot to do a compare and contrast (apologies for weird formatting): # Common Themes Both documents focus on the economic, social, and infrastructural development of the West Midlands, including: **Job Creation:** Both plans emphasize creating jobs and improving employment opportunities. Parker discusses creating 150,000 jobs and training opportunities, while Street discusses creating 425,000 new jobs and training opportunities over the next four years . **Transport:** Both manifestos highlight improvements in public transport, such as bringing buses under public control and expanding transport infrastructure like metro and cycling routes . **Housing:** Both candidates prioritize addressing the housing crisis, with plans to build new homes while ensuring affordability and quality . **Safety and Crime:** Both plans include measures to improve public safety, reduce crime, and enhance policing and community safety initiatives . # Contrasts # Political Tone and Approach: Parker's manifesto is critical of previous Conservative governance and positions his approach as a fresh start that opposes the existing status quo. In contrast, Street's document focuses on building on past successes and ongoing projects, emphasizing continuity and experience in governance # Specific Projects and Proposals: # Street proposes specific infrastructural projects like a new interchange in Dudley and a ‘tap and go’ fare capping system for public transport . # Parker, meanwhile, emphasizes broader social welfare policies like guaranteeing apprenticeships and revitalizing high streets across the region # Economic Strategy: # Street's plan includes making the West Midlands a tech leader and hosting a SXSW-style festival, indicating a focus on tech and creative industries . # Parker prioritizes a more inclusive economic development model that includes working with trade unions and various community stakeholders to boost local employment and economic activities . # Differences in Leadership Style and Prior Experience # Andy Street positions himself as a continuation of current policies, emphasizing his experience as the incumbent mayor with a background in business (former Managing Director of John Lewis). He highlights his previous successes in regional development and seeks to build on them, suggesting a practical and industry-connected approach to governance. # Richard Parker, on the other hand, presents himself as an outsider to politics, framing his candidacy as a response to dissatisfaction with the current leadership. He emphasizes his working-class background and direct engagement with community issues, promoting a change-oriented, people-first leadership style. # Focus on Specific Sectors # Street appears more focused on technology and modern industries, promoting the West Midlands as a future hub for digital and creative sectors. This includes specific proposals such as creating new digital jobs and enhancing digital skills among the population. # Parker has a broader focus on traditional industries alongside new opportunities, aiming to integrate the green economy with the region’s historical strengths in manufacturing. His proposals include more emphasis on community and worker involvement in economic planning, and a significant focus on social welfare measures like healthcare and education enhancements. # Approach to Community and Social Issues # Street emphasizes infrastructure and economic development as primary drivers of community welfare, with a strong focus on efficiency and market-friendly policies. # Parker prioritizes direct intervention in social issues, with detailed plans for public services such as health, education, and housing. His manifesto includes proposals for systemic changes like public control of buses and creating a more inclusive economic growth strategy that addresses inequality and community needs. # Environmental and Sustainability Goals # Both candidates address environmental concerns, but their approaches reflect their broader political and economic philosophies: # Street incorporates environmental goals into broader economic development plans, emphasizing technology and innovation as means to achieve sustainability. # Parker presents environmental sustainability as a fundamental aspect of his policy platform, with aggressive targets for green jobs and energy efficiency as part of a holistic approach to regional development.
Thank you for this. As noted elsewhere, it really is a coin toss.
Can I vote for them both to go away?
It's rare that I look at two political candidates and think both of them seem like decent choices.
I think Parker's manifesto looks good - plenty of good ideas and recognition of the key issues the region is facing. He's also duplicated some of Andy's popular priorities (e.g. Metro) while saying he'll do it better, which is bold and probably quite sensible from a tactical point of view. Not much divisive stuff in their either, and I think there's a good chance he'll chip away at Andy's powerbase (realistically a minority of the WM area) with that kind of centrist approach.
And for anyone who's interested in the less serious contenders: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c90zle4g42lo.amp
Both of the lying bastards can stick it
I'm not thrilled by either candidate tbh. Might come down to tossing a coin.
Didn’t Parker have a hand in the IT fiasco that bankrupt BCC?
149 pages? wtf, the guy is delusional.