It's time to go to the polls again. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
It seems that over the past three-and-a-bit years, we’ve been told “this vote is the most important to take place this generation” so many times and let’s face it, it’s easy to see why an increasingly-jaded electorate sympathises with Brenda from Bristol.
However, as oft-repeated the phrase is, it’s vital to remember that each election is important, not just for Brexit – though clearly, it’s a major factor – but also for Lincoln and Lincolnshire as a whole.
The county’s hospitals – which remain in special measures and continue to miss targets – need so many millions in investment to get them up to scratch; roads and public transport could also use that huge cash injection, especially in rural old Lincolnshire.
Anti-social behaviour and crime is on the rise as police frontlines are cut to the bones, while flood defences and climate change continue to rise steadily on the ladder of priorities going into the future.
Pick your issue of choice and at least one of the competing parties will have a “solution”.
In Lincoln, both Labour and Conservatives have already had their say, and we’ll doubtless hear from the other parties as the weeks go on.
As for Brexit – many are seeing this as the third vote. If Boris Johnson gets his desired majority his deal will go through, if not we could be faced with more renegotiation or even Brexit being taken off the table.
Many are saying it’s the absent voters who could swing it.
Take Lincoln as an example, Labour’s Karen Lee won the last election by just 1,538 votes in 2017. The turnout for that election was 66.6% – a total of 48,718 voters. Just over 2.1% greater or fewer of the electorate voting could have swung it another way.
Next Tuesday (November 26) marks the last chance to register to have your say in what could be the most important elections for a while.
It’s understandable to view elections with scepticism, it’s even understandable to feel democracy is somewhat lacking lately or that your vote might not count.
But if we stop voting, all those claims become reality, democracy loses and people lose their voice – even more than they feel they have now.
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Over a tonne of food and essential items, as well as more than £16,000, have been donated to local food banks through a Lincolnshire Co-op campaign.
The donations came after Lincolnshire Co-op launched its food bank advent calendar campaign throughout December.
An estimated 1,350kg of food and essentials, the equivalent of around 3,213 meals, and £16,675 of store dividend and cash was donated to over 40 larders and food banks in Lincolnshire.
Customers could also donate store dividend as well as cash and items. | Photo: Lincolnshire Co-op
Customers were encouraged to donate one item each day during their shopping, dropping them in collection bins at local stores.
A full collection bin at the Queen Elizabeth Road store in Lincoln. | Photo: Lincolnshire Co-op
Each day a new item was suggested by Lincolnshire Co-op, ranging from tinned goods to cleaning products, providing an advent calendar format for the scheme.
Items were suggested for donations with campaign labels in stores. | Photo: Lincolnshire Co-op
Sam Turner, Community Manager at Lincolnshire Co-op said: “We’re so grateful to everyone who donated to our Food Bank Advent Calendar campaign.
“Thanks to the generosity of our shoppers, members, and colleagues, we’ve been able to support the important work of local food banks in our area and help feed families at Christmas and beyond.”
Boston United will have no games for two weeks, as the National League North and South divisions come to a temporary halt.
It comes after a review of feedback from all clubs in the sixth tier of English football, which will see football at that level paused for two weeks.
The move is effective immediately, meaning Boston United’s home fixture against Brackley Town has been postponed until further notice.
A board meeting with the National League decided to put a stop to football at that level, amid growing concerns of rising coronavirus cases and winter financial packages.
Clubs were informed that while government funding was still likely from January to March, it would be in the form of loans rather than grants should football continue to go ahead.
Boston United chairman David Newton. | Photo: Boston United FC
Boston United chairman David Newton issued a statement on Thursday outlining the club’s stance in relation to the season, saying that he supported the decision to suspend the season.
“Clubs were also asked to give their views on a potential four-to-six-week suspension of the competition.
“After lengthy discussions within the club, we confirmed that we would, on balance, support this.
“We are a football club so, of course, we want to be playing games, but our decision took into account a number of factors.
“We are somewhat uncomfortable playing when the pandemic is at its peak and a large part of the population are locked down.
“Despite the strict Covid protocols we have in place, there is always a risk to players, staff and their families, and that has to be paramount in decision-making.
“We would, of course, need to know the detail relating to any suspension – and planned restart – before offering our final support to the proposal.”
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