The 2014 Battleground, first look. These are the incumbent Councillors who’s Term of Office, expires May 2014.
| Ward | Incumbent | Party |
| Anston & Woodsetts Ward | Jo Burton | Lab |
| Boston Castle Ward | Rose McNeeley | Lab |
| Brinsworth & Catcliffe Ward | Alan Buckley | Lab |
| Dinnington Ward | Jackie Falvey | Lab |
| Hellaby Ward | Lynda Donaldson | Con |
| Holderness Ward | Gerald Smith | Lab |
| Hoober Ward | Brian Steele | Lab |
| Keppel Ward | Ian Barron | Lab |
| Maltby Ward | Amy Rushforth | Lab |
| Rawmarsh Ward | Shaun Wright | Lab |
| Rother Vale Ward | Richard Russell | Lab |
| Rotherham East | Shaukut Ali | Lab |
| Rotherham West | Jahangir Akhtar | Lab |
| Silverwood Ward | Pat Russell | Lab |
| Sitwell Ward | Tony Mannion | Con |
| Swinton Ward | Neil License | Lab |
| Valley Ward | Dave Pickering | Lab |
| Wales Ward | Jennifer Whysall | Lab |
| Wath Ward | Alan Atkin | Lab |
| Wickersley Ward | Sue Ellis | Lab |
| Wingfield Ward | Keith Goulty | Lab |
Rotherham Politics 
Watch out, Rose!!
From what I’ve heard about Cllr Donaldson, it might be a wise idea not to seek re-election?
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What have you heard about Cllr Donaldson that is so interesting?
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Nothing interesting, just that she’s ignorant and doesn’t respond to the electorate.
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That applies to most of them. Why single her out?
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Cos she’s a Tory and I don’t like them. Anything else regarding that statement you’d like to question?
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Lynda Donaldson & Tony Mannion the missing Tories! The other pair useless? Will the Tories never get their act together?
As for Labour? Some major pruning of this motley crew is due. We shall see?
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It has alays been a surprise to me that local Tories are such a strange lot. I cannot think of anywhere else where they put up such a poor fight. Other parties non existent. Poor old Rotherham not a hope in hell of ever getting any improvement.
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Will be interesting if govt move election date to be on same day as the euros if so worrying prospect of BNP light (UKIP to the uninitiated) gaining a seat or 2.
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Michael
Please explain why you keep bringing the BNP into things? They were thrown out in Rotherham. Yes they’ll put up candidates, probably the delightful Marlene again but getting another council seat is unlikely. UKIP are another matter and currently riding high because the general public (bless it) has not yet realised that Farage is a complete tw*t, whose only interest is self-agrandissement, who will not publish his expenses, who employs his wife as secretary against the rules, who uses his expenses to fund the party, and keeps his money in an off shore account.
UKIP are not BNP light or anything like it. They are differently organised and seem to have no ambition other than getting out of Europe, but have no idea what to do after.
The spectre at the feast is surely Respect who are using the race card to great effect, and has a leader far more idious than Nick Griffin, and who has a few admirers in Rotherham.
What you must face is the fact that most people in this country do not want any further immigration, and that includes a lot of former immigrants. That is not racism but a clear statement of fact – the ‘No Vacancies’ sign must be displayed. Come here to work or study and go home when your permit expires. It has been stated that if the Tories put a lid on immigration they would have a landslide at the next election and this is most probably true, not because of racism but because the electorate sees immigration as a bigger threat than the Conservatives.
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I didn’t I only mention UKIP
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Pruning Fly on the Wall, yes indeed.
Richard Russell, will be de-selected (AGAIN).
The locals already have a potential replacement in the wings, former NUM official, lifelong member of the party, Northern College, Ruskin and OU educated.
And why will Russell be de-selected?
Never seen, hard to contact, never gets back to individuals, always puts Cabinet matters before his constituents, more interested in his caravan than issues on the ground.
I will leave his people skills to one side.
The local party have just got fed up with being taken for granted and being used by Russell.
Goodbye £30k a year!
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Richard (AKA Thick Dick in Council Circles) Russell, said this to me, when I phoned him to discuss a matter with him as a constituent, ‘I’m not talking to thee, F*** O**’, he then abruptly called off.
I understand this is a typical response to constituents from Richard Russell. His people skills were learned from others long since dead, I’m told.
This ignorant and avaricious dinosaur and his wife Pat benefited last year to the tune of £41,724.48! They won’t give this up willingly, this money presumably, pays for the Caravan on the coast?
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Thanks for your first comment, Brampton Ferret.
You highlight an important problem, that of money paid to these idiots ensures that when it is time to go, they will do almost anything to hang on to the money, despite being well past their sell by dates!
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The local party have got fed up of Richard Russell ? – it was they who selected him and inflicted him on the people of Thurcoft in the full knowledledge of his track record . I hope the make up of the present day membership out there has changed since then
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Russell sounds like the ideal Labour councillor to me, doesn’t rock the boat and puts the cabinet before electors? Ideal man for that lot I would say.
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Leopard, Spots and Cllr Richard Russell, might just change your mind about Richard Russell.
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I never got an answer to the query about the Showmans Lunch
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Omar, you should know that to dislike somebody you’ve never had anything to do with just because they happen to belong to a particular political party is prejudice whether you like it or not. I dislike the Rotherham Labour Party intensely, but not on a personal level unless that councillor has really rattled my cage.
Seems to me you need to step back and be a bit more objective about things. One of the things you learn in life is to keep an open mind until you know differently. We live in a genuine democracy which means we have a diverse political culture. and we derive a unique benefit from it in that no one party ever gets complete control – so rejoice and be glad for it guarantees our freedon.
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Fair enough, we live in a democracy where apparently, we’re all open minded. I am entitled to form an opinion on what I’ve heard and experienced and I stand by my original comment- if you don’t like it, then that’s fine. I don’t make it my business to question other people’s opinions on here and I think others should follow suit. Regardless of how I should and should not be, I have never liked Tories despite the fact that one of my friends often stands for them in elections- they’re pantomime villians for me, don’t care whether others agree or not.
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I’m also irked by your last comment which I find incredibly patronising. The reason I singled out Cllr Donaldson was because I have heard negative stuff about her VERY recently and her name just stood out at the time of writing. I don’t have personal problems with any councillor, they’re not worth it in my opinion.
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The strange case of the disappearing Tory?
Discourtesy – Jenny Andrews, Lauren Astbury and Lynda Donaldson A response at last!
Both of the above posts would justify your opinion, Omar.
She will be toast after 2014 elections!
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I knew I’d read it somewhere recently, thanks Rothpol. There was another comment somewhere but I’ve got a memory like a sieve so I can’t remember whose it was or where!! Something about Cllr Donaldson IGNORING e-mails from people with legitimate concerns/questions.
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Omar, you might be referring to these previous posts:
Discourtesy – Jenny Andrews, Lauren Astbury and Lynda Donaldson https://rotherhampolitics.wordpress.com/2012/07/08/discourtesy-jenny-andrews-lauren-astbury-and-lynda-donaldson/
Don tries to enlist support over Wickersley Library https://rotherhampolitics.wordpress.com/2012/07/03/don-tries-to-enlist-support-over-wickersley-library/
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Bingo! It was the latter post and comments on the following post: Library Consultation – What it means for Wickersley – Chris Read’s Response – Is that it?
As well as those comments, I once contacted a couple of Tory Cllrs regarding a uni project and received no response- they really don’t do themselves any favours.
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Reblogged this on Rotherham Politics and commented:
Surely time for some of theses dinosaurs to leave the stage?
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Hi Casstrickland, I have known Richerd Russell for more than 30 years and my advice to anyone is to decide to dislike him before you have met him, it saves time.
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Gerald Smith, Pat & Richard Russell would serve as fine examples of Rotherham Labour’s dinosaur tendency. Should any of these three appear as Labour candidates in the May 2014 elections, they will very likely loose! The voters have had a bellyful of Labour’s rigid Stalinist control freakery, that is the basis also of some of Rotherham’s most deep seated problems! Shaun Wright may have more than a little local difficulty, if he wishes to remain Councillor for Rawmarsh Ward, I am told.
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Gerald Smith must be around 74 now to see another term out he would be pushing 80. he said he wasnt standing last time and did so lets see eh ?
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Anston with majority of less than 300 and all local green belt issues and Parish Council angst is the obvious target. The “party” everyone has forgotten are the Independents. How about a concetred and coordinated drive to win a few seats fellow Indies?
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Indeed Simon! Anston already has one Independent Borough Councillor Clive Jepson who sent Darren Hughes packing!
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WEll done Mr Jepson who ipressed me at the last PC – Could we get Mr Thornton to run? Or someone from the Green Belt group?
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