The disadvantage of responsibility

THE recent pragmatic defection of Councillor Willis again underlines how keen North Somerset and some town councillors are on grabbing power without the disadvantage of responsibility.The idiotic set-up of cabinet government means that every time power 'changes hands' a whole bunch of new 'leaders' are shoe-horned in with no knowledge of recent events. Seemingly that doesn't bother them, but it sure bothers me to be expected to turn out to vote for people without them having any expertise in the areas they are 'in charge' of and, usually, no idea what being a member of a particular political affiliation actually means.At the next election we are to be given a choice, apparently, to vote for a new lot, whose sole virtue is that they aren't the old lot and admit they have no idea how local government works. What fun! I look forward to their ideas on flood prevention, for instance. The overpaid officers who actually run Weston must be looking forward to another season of free-wheeling over the wishes of the residents.Here's a challenge to any Lib Dem, Conservative, or Labour councillors out there: in 30 words or less, tell me what you stand for within your party ethic.BRIAN AUSTIN - Alma Street, Weston