Barnet Council Scandal - Snow White and the seven Political Dwarfs

As readers of this blog will know, barnet Council put online the interest and gift register of all Barnet Councillors. Well nearly all of them. Being Barnet, they were allowed to opt out. So who did?

Councillor Brian Coleman
Councillor Barry Evangeli

Councillor Sachin Rajput
 Councillor Joan Scannell

Councillor Daniel Seal

Councillor Mark Shooter
Councillor Andrea Tambourides

I'm sure they all have their reasons, but yet again it has put Barnet Council in the spotlight. It is ultimately futile as I'm sure some naughty blogger will soon go and "inspect the paper register" and reveal all. It shows these councillors to be arrogant and out of touch. It shows that they have no regards for the electorate. Whilst it isn't against the rules, the Conservative party have promoted "openness and transparency" and so they are out of touch with even there own party.

Now as the rules allow them to, but their party policy is against it, this leaves a dilemma for Lynne Hill. What should she do. Well the answer is simple. They have been elected by the people and they are following the rules, so they have every right to sit in the council chamber. They are however members of the Conservative Party and they are at odds with national policy and an embarrassment. Hillan has a big enough majority to survive without 8 Councillors and there are only seven of them. The answer is simple. Hillan should strip them of the Tory whip and all of their responsibility. It won't stop her running the council and it would send a strong signal that she's a firm leader. It would also remove her chief antagonist Mark Shooter, who has done himself no favours by this shameful display.

Lynne Hillan would at a stroke gain instant credibility. The whole of Barnet would no longer be able to say she had no leadership qualities. It would send a strong signal out that Barnet Tories believe in openness and transparancy. Of course that pre-supposes she's actually a decent leader

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I wrote this blog on Thursday night, with a forward posting date for today (Saturday). Since I wrote these words, Councillor Mark Shooter has recanted and announced that he will publish his details. Hi excuse? "I'd only just been a councillor and I was to dopey to understand the implications of my actions". Well, fair play, at least he's wised up. Shame really I liked the term Seven Dwarfs to describe them.

1. Sneezy - Scannell  
2. Sleepy - (Imber) Seal (ronk ronk, wake up, wake up)
3. Dopey - Shooter
4. Doc - Rajput - (went to one of my old schools so he's obviously brighter than the rest of em)
5. Happy - Coleman (laughing all the way to the Bank no doubt)
6. Bashful -Evangeli  -(watch his entry for berk of the year here  - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5viBy8D5Ec)
7. Grumpy - Tambourinees - ( Dan Hopes best mate)