Matthew Offord's sensible decision

As a strident critic of Matthew Offord, I suppose it is only fair to say that I think his decision to stand down as Deputy Leader of Barnet Council, to concentrate his activities on being the PPC for Hendon is a rather wise move. It also throws the spotlight on Mike Freer's increasingly frantic efforts to hang on to the wheels of power in Barnet Council, whilst being PPC for Finchley. When Freer decided to combine the two jobs, he claimed that Council
leaders don't actually do much, as the Council CEO does all the work.

In Freer's case this is an accurate statement, given that he's droppped the ball on several issues where a more hands on leader would have most surely got to grips. Examples of major cock ups on his watch include losing £27.4 million in Iceland, a multi million pound overrun on Aerodrome Road, Flat screen tellies for Council officers desks, a culture of jollies in America & the South of France for various Council officers at the taxpayers expense, purchase of obsolete laptops, many of which are currently now being stored at huge cost (whilst children at Barnet Schools are rationed for computer ICT time) and most embarrasingly, a leader listens programme which scheduled sessions in a Golders Green supermarket for a Saturday morning, thus snubbing the large local Orthodox Jewish community.

It is about time that the people of Barnet got a leader of the Council who was committed to the Council. It is clear that Mike Freer see's his future elsewhere. For those of us familiar with Football, we all know what happens when a manager announces he's leaving. The team stops performing.

Whether Matthew Offords decision to stand down was coloured by the fact that he realised the problems at Barnet were not helping him or whether he now thinks he has a chance of winning the seat which he didn't a year ago, I don't know. Either way he's set a rather good example for Mike Freer to follow. Given that with Labour's current problems, we seem likely to have a Tory Council for a while, can we at least have one which is vaguely competent.

Kit Malthouse and all that is wrong with Britain !

I posted this blog yesterday about Kit Malthouse receiving a ticket, lunch & drinks from the FA, for the Chelsea vs Arsenal FA cup semi final. Kit promptly posted the following response to my comments (see below). My first reaction was to that I respect a man who fights his corner & is prepared to engage in a bit of discussion. I said that if anyone could show that he'd done something useful by going, I'd donate £20 to the charity of his choice. As he's done that, I've just donated £20 to the MPBF (if Kit gets in touch, I'll email the receipt through).

Anyway, having paid my dues, I have to say that I think Kit's response exemplifies much of what is wrong with Great Britain in 2009. This isn't a personal criticism of Kit Malthouse, as if I take his response at face value, he actually did a few useful things for his ticket. Let me explain my concerns.

1. Kit mentions his involvement with Kickz. No problem their, a great scheme. It is good that politicians get involved in these things. He mentions the role Chelsea play in this scheme, again commendable. How can I criticise them? Well I first went to a football match in 1971 at Spurs, with a group of other boys. I was 8 or 9. The oldest boy in the group was 13. We took a 221 bus from Mill Hill & changed at Turnpike Lane. The cost of entry was easily affordable for a group of kids, some of whom were from relatively poor homes. Would such a thing happen with Chelsea's prices today, even if you could pay at the turnstile? Working class kids have been priced out of football. For many young adults the only way to economically watch the Premiership is in a pub. This cannot be right. I've been to the FA cup final once. I'm a Manchester City fan and I queued all night at the old Wembley for a ticket for the replay vs Spurs. No prawn sandwich brigade at that match, it was a real fans final. I hate the corporatisation of football, the empty seats at half time, the fact that people with no links to clubs are given tickets so that "decisionmakers" can be influenced.

2. Kit's comment about sitting next to the head of Football Licensing Authority & discussing a role for them in the Olympics. If this is how Boris Johnson's team are planning the Olympics, lord help us. What would have happened if he'd been sat next to the chairman of The Anne Summers group. What role would they have? It seems that the Olympics are being planned over a few beers on the back of fag packets. Was this really the first time a role for the FLA has been discussed?

3. The comments about the discussions with Wembley about planning issues. I have pretty strong views on a few planning issues. I'd love to have a chat with Kit about these, but I doubt I'll find myself sat next to him at a cup semi final any time soon. It seems a football ticket has given Wembley a bit of access that I am unlikely to get.

4. If the purpose of the visit was to see the control room during a match, this could easily have been arranged & the ticket given to a kid who'd never normally get the chance. Kit may think missing 1/4 of the game is a good thing. I think it's a criminal waste. The last time I went to Wembley was to watch the Man City Vs Gillingham 2nd Div play off final. I took my nephew & it cost me £250. Watched every second & worth every penny.

As to mystery shopping a few Police Officers. I doubt that the VIP enclosure at Wembley is the most challenging of environments. I'd suggest a trip, in fancy dress, down to the next G20 climate camp. I'm a supporter of the police, I play football with a few officers, great guys. I just think the Police should get praised when they do difficult jobs well, not rather easy ones.

As to Kit affording his own "Nosh & Booze", it begs the question, doesn't it? I love football. I spent the weekend at the Bognor Regis Festival of Football Tournament with my son's team, Watling Under 9's. The price of Kit's ticket, nosh & booze would have paid for a couple of the boys who's parents couldn't afford the price of the trip to go.

Don't get me wrong, if Kit rings me up and says "Here Rog, you have my ticket for the final" I'd be there like a shot (yup, you don't turn that down). I'd justify it by saying "I love football and it was a once in a lifetime opportunity" Trouble is, for too many people in positions of influence, it isn't a once in a lifetime experience. It's just another date in a busy diary.

Here's Kit's response in full.

The wonders of google blog alerts and your tempting offer of a charitable donation compel me to respond!

I accepted the offer of a ticket to the match for a few reasons:

1. I was happy to support Chelsea in a crucial match for them. As a team in my constituency they are a really conscientious community participant and they deserve encouragement and recognition. In particular they run an excellent "Kickz" diversion programme for young people (www.kickz.org.uk) - and I was honoured to be invited to launch this scheme for the club last year.

2. I sat next to the Chairman of the Football Licensing Authority who deal with stadium safety and we discussed a role for the FLA in the Olympics - a meeting is being called to discuss this vital work further as a result.

3. I also sat next to the Chairman of Wembley Stadium and discussed various issues around the planning environment. As a result a meeting is now planned with him and the chairman of the FA Lord Triesman to try and move things along around the area.

4. Most importantly for me, the visit meant I was able to see for myself the control room and security in operation during such a huge match, and to attend the half time police briefing (which meant I missed half of the second half). I met the police team in charge on the day and was able to give them my and the Mayor's personal thanks for the great work they do on a voluntary basis.

For what its worth I also "mystery shopped" several police officers during my journey from central London - all were very polite and wearing ID numbers.

For the record, I am a Liverpool supporter and I can afford my own "nosh and booze" thanks.

Payment to the Metropolitan Police Combined Benevolent Fund - you can make it online at:

http://www.charitychoice.co.uk/charitydetails.asp?ref=6871

With gratitude

Kit Malthouse

Kit Malthouse working hard for his constituents.

Rather intrigued by the wording on Kit Malthouse's latest entry on the Mayor and Members Register of Gifts and Hospitality -

Kit Malthouse
18-APR-09
Drink, lunch and a ticket at the FA Cup Semi-Final in support of my constituents, Chelsea FC
Provided by The Football Association

Can this be translated as saying "being a GLA member is great because you can blag tickets to your favourite Footbll team, when they play at Wembley" or have I just totally misinterpreted the entry?

I suppose that as GLA members don't get a free second home, they probably feel entitled to the odd freebee.

Anyway, if I've got this wrong & Kit was doing vital work whilst quaffing free nosh & glugging free booze at the Semi, please let me know & I'll apologise & Donate £20 to the charity of his choice.

The effects of beating children

Those of you who follow my blog will have seen that I recently have made several posts about a blog which, in my opinion, was promoting the beating of children.

A comment was left on that blog which, to me at least, summed up the matter. I thought the comments were worthy of repeating. I know that some readers feel that my reaction to these comments were OTT, but the less socially acceptable beating children is, the less we tolerate the use of violence to control children and the more people use other strategies to discipline children, the less cases like babyP we'll have. To the proponents of smacking, I'll say this. If the line is drawn in the sand with a zero tolerance of violence, then there are no grey areas and no excuses. When I left school in 1981, I lived in Stockholm for a while. I was surprised to find that the Swede's had banned corporal punishment decades before. Were their schools overrun by thugs? No. I'll accept that in some schools discipline has deterioirated since Corporal punishment was abolished, but I don't believe that this is due to the new rules. I just think that it was the result of poorly administered schools. If it was down to the ban on corporal punishment, then every school would be overrun by thugs.

Anyway, here's the comment.

"My Dad beat me and it did do a load of damage. I used to think 'whats that for' see he beat cos he could, bad day at the office dear, oww never mind beat da kid.
WTF.
In the end the beatings made me give up, give up on them as parents and me.
Im lucky I got out
Think it through...ya approving of someone twice ya size beating on ya.
Sorry I can't go with da 'this is so post ironic middle class babble, beating kids is wrong and dats the end of it.
Ya post sucks"

Couldn't really have put it better myself.

By the way, I'm just back from a weekend football tournament at Butlins in Bognor Regis with the Watling FC Under 9 team. Ten boys went with the team. All were a credit to their parents, a great time was had by all. These are things I want to define my relationship with my kids, not fear of being bashed.

Arise Sir Richard Evans !

Sometimes we have dilemmas. We want to write things but we know they may have the reverse effect of what we were trying to achieve. In this case, that is the only consideration I had. I saw this piece on Conservative home, making the case for the last PPC for Hendon, Richard Evans, to be made a peer. There are 100 nominations and Richard is no 4. I should state that I know Richard, and as he's a nice guy, I'm biased, but the case made on Conservative Home blog is compelling.

In light of the recent reports of the current Hendon Tory PPC Matthew Offords stepping down as Barnet Tory deputy leader, I thought I'd do a quick google of Conservative activity in Hendon. I came across this and felt it was worthy of comment.

Richard is a very bright guy. He presumably could have had the pick of plum jobs in the private education sector, but chose to stay in the state sector. He is the deputy head in charge of finance at Copeland School. Conservative Home notes that the school has a 97% ethnic intake, which would seem to imply that it is a rather challenging environment. As such David Cameron would have access to someone who actually knows what they are talking about.

I know Richard from his involvement with the Mill Hill Music Festival. He helps out at various concerts and just gets on with whatever he is asked to in a quiet, efficient and unassuming manner. As such he certainly impressed me with his efforts. I believe in giving credit where it is due and it is certainly due in the case of Richard. I just hope my endorsement isn't the kiss of death for him.

There's only one Rog T (thank God)

Spartacus is a great film. The story of a slave who leads an uprising against a corrupt and dangerously tyranny. The classic scene is where a pardon is offered to the soldiers if they will identify Spartacus, the leader. Spartacus, wishing to spare his men, announces "I am Spartacus". At this his men all exclaim "No, I am Spartacus".

Word reaches me that a similar fate may have befallen rebel Barnet Tory blogger David Miller. Details are sketchy, but it seems that everyone seems to want to be David these days.

Oh well, good news for Freer & Co. There's only one Rog T

Be careful what you wish for !

I thought that as it's the May Bank Holiday, I'd impart a few pearls of wisdom about my personal philosiphy for life. I was sort of pondering the May bank holiday and the roots of it. Then I looked out of our window and saw the flowering cherry tree covered in blossom and thought about my Dad. He always used to love May Day, as it was a day off, it was the start of Spring and the cherry tree outside the house was always covered in blossom. He always said that he imagined heaven to be full of beautiful lawns and flowering cherry trees. As it's the first Mayday for 22 years he's spending with my Mum (she passed away in August), I hope he's right and they are enjoying it.

My advice to you - be careful what you wish for as you may just get it. I learned this lesson in 1986, when my dear old Dad had his gall bladder removed. When I saw him in recovery, I realised for the very first time that he was mortal. I'd always believed he was totally indistructable. He looked like he'd die, in short order. I prayed, at the time I was agnostic/athiest but I prayed. I said "Dear Lord, make him get better. I just want to go out with him one more time & have a few beers and a curry". Sure enough, the indistructable old sod got better, I said to him "I'm taking you out for a beer and a curry". We went out and had a great night. A couple of weeks later, he flew out to Florida to stay with my sister who lives there. He stayed for Christmas and was planning to come back in March. Then tragedy struck in January. My mums sister, Margo died. My folks flew back.

I didn't even know they were back in the UK, as I was living a riotous life as a musician. I got a call from my eldest brother at 7am to say "Dad's dead". The stress of the flight & the cold weather, having been in Florida, killed him. My mum had 2 funerals in a week. I'd had my curry and a beer. I couldn't even feel angry, as I'd got the deal I asked for.

Anyway, my advice to all of you on this Bank Holiday weekend. For those who enjoy my blog and like most of what I write, have a lovely weekend. For those of you who hate and despise me, have a lovely weekend as well. You know, it could be worse. I'm in rude good health, but if I wasn't and I was about to depart my mortal coil, just think what I could write if I knew the men in wigs couldn't touch me. I never wish bad things on anyone, I just wish they'd stop doing the things that upset me. I find life works better like that. Yup, sure I'm bitter and cynical, but I do believe we can learn from our mistakes.

But then, like the Guinness I'm not bitter. Sorry if the slushy sentimentality isn't the usual acerbic bile, but hey, it's a holiday.

My advice to Richard Barnbrook - GLA BNP member

Saw this picture of Richard Barnbrook, Londons only GLA BNP member. It seems he came in to the office in this clobber for St Georges day.

Well Richard, there are many things I could say about this picture, but I'll confine it to this. You clearly fancy yourself as some sort of "Crusader Knight", but I can assure you that if you sit down on your trusty steed wearing your sword like that, you will be the first BNP member without a member.

I cannot recall seeing a picture of a politician looking so stupid for years. Oh well ......

Thanks to http://torytroll.blogspot.com/ for the fine picture of Great Britians UberMensch in action.

Anotherone bites the dust.

WWW.BARNETSTHIRDEYE.BLOGSPOT.COM

They say that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.

Oh well Tom, I'll be honest, the drunken wasp was quite funny. If you want any lessons in how to do a successful blog, just give me a bell. Usual charges apply.

I agree with Mike Freer's propaganda machine for once

The European Elections take place in a few weeks. There are strict guidelines on how parties can use the taxpayers money to fund propaganda for their parties. A clever politician knows where the line is drawn and how to obtain maximum advantage without breaching the rules. It's called sailing close to the wind.

A good example is Mike Freer's mailshot, reportedly at a cost of £45,000 telling local residents to get involved in the consultation regarding major trauma and stroke facilities at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel.

There is also a press release on the council's website. I'm no fan of Mike, but he's actually right about this issue. The Royal London is too far away. My mother had a stroke in 2001 and if we'd had to visit her every day in Aldgate, it would have been a nightmare. Health planners clearly don't understand the value of family support for people struggling to deal with a major change of life.

Maybe Mike has been crafty and used the wheels of power to get some good publicity for himself. For once I don't really object because it is doing something useful. It's just a shame that whilst he saw fit to encourage us to take part in a Healthcare for London Consultation, he didn't spend another £45,000 encouraging us all to object to the cuts to the warden service for Sheltered housing. Could it be because that consultation didn't portray Mike in such a good light with the local electorate?