I can't let the year pass without a mention of the Man of the Year - David Young, who took on the might of Barnet Council and won. The BBC lists all of the recipients of honours this year - Jensen Button, Status Quo and Patrick Stewart to name a few. All fine candidates, I'm sure, but how many of them have saved a life? How many of them have removed a climate of fear in which hundreds of people were living? How many have shown huge personal courage in their twighlight years. For those of you who don't know of David Young, he's the guy who lives in sheltered accomodation in Barnet and took the council to the High Court when they passed the decison to remove the wardens. Barnet tried every trick in the book, including trying to have his solicitor Yvonne Hossacks struck off (again thrown out by a wise judge). Which leads us nicely to the woman of the year, Yvonne Hossacks. I hope and pray that in some small way this blog has helped them in their fight.Her Majesty the Queen should summon the dynamic duo (Young and Hossacks) to the Palace and bestow the highest honour she can on them forthwith. I'd personally like to see her Maj also send the author of this awful policy, Barnet Council Leader, Lynne Hillan, to the Tower for a period of reflection
As an Elderly lady who receives an excellent warden service at the taxpayers expense, I'm sure our good Queen can appreciate why these two are my man and woman of the year. Massive hat tip here to VickiM for reminding me of the compelling need to bestow this award (for what it's worth).
The Barnet Eye wishes all of it's readers a fantastic New Year. Lets all make a New Years resolution to fight injustice in this world in all it's shapes and forms.
Rog
ReplyDeleteI can’t argue with your praise for David Young and Yvonne Hossacks. They have both put our elected councillors to shame.
It would be wrong, however, to assume that the battle has been won. Chief warden snatcher Lynne Hillan has made it clear that the council will appeal the decision of the High Court. She does not care for public opinion. She doesn’t even care for the Judge‘s opinion. She would much rather cut this vital service than look for other savings from the council’s budget - her own obscene allowances being an obvious target.
As a Conservative, it pains me to say that Hillan must be removed at the ballot box in May. This will be the only way to stop this dreadful policy. It is a shame that the other Conservative councillors were too spineless to stand up to Hillan in Group meetings and kill this policy before it even saw the light of day. Now the public will have to do their dirty work.
In 2002, Labour ignored the strength of public feeling over the greenbelt and consequently lost two council seats in the election and, with it, control of the council. If the Conservatives lose seats over the wardens issue, it will serve them right.