ON Thursday, March 7, in full council, Julie Lintern – a Labour councillor for Keighley West – voted against her party’s budget and the cuts for 2024-25.

It was a recorded vote so councillors had to say yes, no or abstain when their name was called and at first when I heard Julie’s “no” I wasn’t sure I’d heard right, and then wondered if she’d made a mistake.

But I had heard right and that voice saying “no” has made a massive impact on me since then, as I’ve imagined the impact if all those Labour councillors who say they want a ceasefire in Gaza had said “yes” to Cllr Salat Tajawal’s motion for a ceasefire in Gaza and called it what it is, a genocide. Or if all the MPs in Westminster had voted for a ceasefire when they had the chance. Because it has, and does, make a difference.

Julie Lintern voted with her conscience and for her people, and it has restored my hope for our democratic process. The sky hasn’t fallen in, the earth still turns and Julie still sits in council. She will survive to fight another election, hopefully as an independent, and if she does she’ll have my support.

So when party politicians and their supporters come knocking on your door asking for your vote in May’s local council elections, just remember how many times they’ve told you “it won’t make any difference if I vote against my political party’s line”. And tell them, with your vote, that it does make a difference, all the difference in the world, and that one brave woman in Keighley West has proved it.

All honour and thanks to Cllr Lintern for leading the way.

Jane Lee, Utley