No Richard I didn't miss the obvious my friend but I appreciate why you have said it. It was just so obvious I didn't bother to say it I suppose. Fortunately the people of Cadishead 'saw the light' and made the right tactical decision. That smug look on the Houltons' faces must be rapidly disappearing by now but I know the pair of them from old and the last thing either of them are interested in is the interests of the people of Irlam, Cadishead or Lowton East but only themselves and their own finacial interests. Heaven know, I could write a book on their dubious antics. Cllr Edward Houlton is already under investigation and his brother Richard may well also become embroiled in that investigation with referenece to their actions whilst 'electioneering', if that's what you could call it. The truth about the pair of them WILL come out eventually but the wheels of Government investigations against their own grind 'exceeding slow'. Nevertheless these two will get their just desserts you can rest assured and quite rightly so as there should no room in politics for peole who behave the way these two have. The people of Irlam deserve far better but they have to take the consequences of their actions and not getting to know their candidate and not voting at all, to me, are cardinal sins.

   I think you might be missing the obvious Irlam Realist. The Irlam electorate are not, as you suggest, "expecting big things" from Cllr. Houlton.

Most of those people who voted CAP were not voting for CAP but rather were using a CAP vote as a vote against Labour/Roger Jones. The CAP victory was down to a protest vote. I suspect it will prove to be a 'one hit wonder' in Salford because people will soon see through a party like that.

Given the national political circumstances and that Roger Jones was the public champion of the hated proposed toll tax what CAP pulled off (especially given the tactics it employed) in Irlam was really not so remarkable.

Cllr. Houlton will find himself isolated on Salford Council; he will have little or no influence over Salford policy-making; he is unlikely to be able to deliver substantial benefit to the Irlam electorate (given such wild, utopian promises); the ruling Salford Labour group will especially be out to get him and frustrate Houlton's attempts to deliver (which means Irlam will suffer as a pawn in a political game) in order to show that he can't deliver the goods. Houlton will quickly be marginalised and have no recourse other than to be a maverick shouting from the sidelines in the council chamber whilst his opportunities for making any positive contributions - if he has anything constructive to offer (and not just slagging off Labour) - to Salford politics will be slim to none.

The Irlam electorate would've done much better to register its protest against Labour/Roger Jones by voting Conservative - and it would've got much better and more credible representation on the Council had it done so - but the electorate chose the loudest in-yer-face naysayer and having made its bed it will now have to lie in it.

Mindful of the old adage 'the people get the politicians they deserve', one wonders whether some of the Irlam electorate are just stupid, quite frankly. The CAP will do nothing for Irlam because it has offered nothing that it can deliver (except the opportunity for a two fingers to Labour) and it will be quickly frozen out of the action by the other political parties and just as importantly by the various public sector organisations. It's very sad for Irlam.

   Some of the stunts the election team for the CAP pulled were downright nasty and not just against their opposition either. Anyone who even dared to ask any form of serious question was vilified on YouTube and, as I hear it, one escapade in particular is going to come back and 'bite them in the backside' in a rather spectacular and public fashion. It doesn't surprise ME that Richard Houlton hadn't even read the TIF bid but even the people who voted CAP should be aghast that a guy who stood on a platform of 'No Congestion Charge' didn't even bother to research his material; how arrogant is that!! If the electorate of Irlam are expecting big things from Cllr Houlton I wouldn't hold your breath.

   at last the electorate of salford have realised that new labour is not labour and do not govern in favour of the ordinary people. As soon as existing new labour is replaced including member of parliament for salford the more likely that real socialists will be elected.

   matthew nevett, Eccles - have you read ANYTHING at all on the Toll Tax?

Roger was behind this plan (and proud of it too I might add) as head of the PTA/E and paid the price for that.

That's the way elections work.

   LOCAL ELECTIONS and CONGESTION CHARGING? I am disappointed that the local elections have been used by the major parties and the media as a mini general election. There has been little focus on local issues and the performance of councils and councillors. In Irlam and Cadishead the Community Action Party worked hard for the community and blasted Labour councillors for complacency and inactivity on local issues. As a result they won in Irlam defeating the Labour chair of the Greater Manchester passenger Transport Authority. He was a champion for bringing the congestion charge into the North West and a front man for Wigan Labour leader Lord Smith who lost 4 more seats in Wigan down 30 in just four years. That is about local politics sending a message to Whitehall. Could it be a start to the end of the congestion charge spreading beyond London due to the efforts of the Community Action Party? The local Tories and some Lib Dem councils are still sitting on the congestion charge fence in Greater Manchester, maybe now they can make a decision. Ex Councillor Sandy Franzen

   Well, Well, Roger. WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD, no more free parking or the excuse to drive everywhere on council business, practice what you preach and travel by bus, maybe then and only then will you understand why you have been kicked out by the people you were supposed to be representing. I'll be keeping an eye open for you using public transport Roger and wonder how long you will be able to afford the fares now that the expense account has closed. Good riddance !!!

   Unlucky Roger, unfortunatly we all knew the outcome when the community action party went around campaiging with lies. If you read the leaflets from the community action party you will see that they never once said what they would do for Irlam, they only said what Labour didnt. Roger Jones happened to be the person who headed a committee, a group of people, its not him that is behind the congestion charge it is the council and the CAP are not going to be able to do anything about this. If people searched the facts you would see that the congestion charge is still in consideration and will not be put froward until all ten councils agrees. Unlucky Roger Jones Irlam have lost a good councillor and i am sure they will soon see this.

   At last Mr. Jones may realise we dont want, we can't afford, the congestion charge. None of the supporters of this stealth tax ever say where they expect people to find the money to pay it. Anyone on a normal wage who has to use their car to get to work will not suddenly be given a £50 or more rise a week to pay this charge. Most people are paying out all their income and more besides every week just to live.

   I forgot!!

Rick Houlton lets see if you do make a difference?? You have been given an opportunity that few independents or small party candidates rarely get.

Lets see if you keep your promises about bringing politics and decisions back to the people.

Prove your worth and try to keep the confidence of the people who placed you in this position.

   Well, well, well. I wonder if the penny will finally drop now with Mr Jones?

You were elected to represent the people. The people don't want congestion charging. You were then thrown out for not representing the will of the people.

Please tell us that you now understand?

   Now perhaps he have to stand at cold bus stops and train station now he does not get a huge salary and vast expenses instead of riding about in his car.

   I was very sad to learn that Roger had lost his seat, as a Labour supporter. I think he was a good a councillor who worked hard for the people of Irlam, and a truly nice guy But the more I think about it,the more I realise it was pertinent that he went - people are against the c-charge and he made himself the public face of that so he had to pay the price. Two things really bug me about this though. If you are going to vote him out, fine, but vote bloody Tory not the idiots that are the community action party. The conservatives, as much as I hate to admit this, have shown themselves to be good councillors in Salford. They listen and respond to the views of their constituents (more so than Labour, and that's speaking as a Labour supporter). The CAP on the other hand, well, what a bunch of idiots. They have proved in Wigan that they are very vocal in election time, but come three or four months down the line, I think Labour voters are going to wonder if they made a mistake. Secondly, although Jones had an ego the size of Greater Manchester and wanted to be the face of the charge, it's not going to go away once he is out. The govt are going to announce whether or not the Tif bid was successful pretty soon, and although the results in Bury will make a difference overall, we'll maybe still get the tax, whether roger's there or not.

   So Jolly Roger finally walked the plank, and may I say good riddance to bad rubbish!

   Well no great suprise here then, did he expect to win!!

The only thing that worries me is that labour still have overall power and control and they will continue to make policy and decisions that are not in the interest of the community.

So many of you complained about them so why are they still in power.

Are you all totally blinkered to the way they are impacting your life??

Mark