Evingar Liberal Democrat candidate - Pauleen Malone
The Liberal Democrat candidate for the Evingar ward, Pauleen Malone, said a vote for her would be a vote for less “tribal” politics.
Mrs Malone, who’s lived in Highclere for the past 33 years, said there had been an “entrenchment” in British politics, drifting towards an American style with people “not seeing anyone else’s point of view”.
She said: “I think it would be helpful to have more people who are prepared to listen to both sides.”
Mrs Malone, 68, praised the Liberal Democrats’ record in local government, saying they “seem to do quite a lot with a little” and were a more “cooperative party who will try and work with people if they agree with their principles”.
The former teacher, who has stood before in previous elections as a Liberal Democrat candidate, said: “The Lib Dems aren’t as tribal as Labour and the Conservatives and I think that’s terribly important at the moment.
“You look at the disastrous spending on Covid and money just seems to be frittered away on stuff that doesn’t work.
“The Liberal Democrats have always worked from the bottom up, so I think they have an understanding of local issues.
“To be honest, for many people, voting in the local elections is the only real taste of democracy they have with our electoral system.
“At least they get a say in it and can express their views.”
Mrs Malone has become heavily involved in the local community, editing the Highclere magazine and volunteering at the Citizens Advice Bureau.
She praised the local authority and the public services, saying: “We’re very lucky around here with our public services – it’s all lovely and clean and our bin men are absolutely phenomenal.
“In terms of how public services are run and the grants we’ve had – I know you can’t say this and you’ve always got to say you can improve everything, and it’s all going to be wonderful if you just vote for me – but we need an element of realism.”
For Conservative candidate Sam Carr, click here
For Hampshire Independents candidate Phil Heath, click here
The election will take place on May 5.
