Local household charge activist to stand for election

Local anti-household charge campaigner Gordon Hudson has pledged to stand in the next local elections for a new party due to be launched shortly. Speaking to the Westmeath Independent this week, the Barrymore resident said there has been a huge public response to the moves to establish the new party, which is expected to be called the Independent Alliance and will be officially launched within three months. "We're looking at running two or three candidates in every county in the country," he explained, adding that PRO of the local organisation Peadar Doyle is also expected to stand in the local elections for the new grouping in 2014. "We'll be representing the vulnerable of the community, the people who can't speak for themselves and severe hardship cases," Mr Hudson outlined, before saying work is ongoing on the new party's manifesto at present. He believes a new party could have major success at the local elections in two years time and it's time the established political parties are challenged in an era of austerity and harsh cuts affecting the elderly, carers and people with disabilities. "Party politics is not trusted anymore. At the moment we are building a party nationwide and we believe we'll be able to take a lot of votes," he concluded.