It seems that my blog is reaching parts other blogs cannot reach. I got an email from an extremely senior and nationally well known member of the Conservative Party asking me to ring for a chat. He'd read my "open letter to Mike Freer" blog and been rather interested by it. He felt that I'd made my point well and that "it is a shame that there appears to be a lack of transparency" in the whole future shape discussion. He suggested that I remind the leadership of the council about what the Conservative Party should stand for.
* Open, Honest and Transparent Governance
* Pragmatic decision making
* Making Town Halls more accountable to Local people
* Restoring public trust in politics
The Conservative Party website (click HERE) says what the party stands for. If you compare and contrast this with the Tories plans for regeneration and Future shape, it is clear that they are not following Party Policy.
On the subject of Democracy, the Tories say "We need radical change to restore public trust in politics and increase public engagement in the decision-making process." (Click HERE to see their full views on Democracy).
I'd suggest that "Future Shape" discussions would be a good place to start this radical change. I wondered why a senior Tory would bother to contact me. Rather interestingly, he'd been sent the link by a local Tory supporter who was worried about the discussions. It seems that the last thing the Tories want is a high profile council carrying on in this fashion in the run up to an election.
I'm rather hoping that pressure will be brought to bear in other quarters. I'm not a fool and I realise that a Tory Council will try and implement Tory policies. What both I and (it seems) some rather senior Tories agree about, is that the "Future Shape" discussions should be carried out in a more open and honest fashion.
Oh and by the way, what did he tell me off about? Well he said that he thought the future shape blogs were very interesting and informative. He said that I really should lay off the gratuitous Brian Coleman bashing if I wanted the blogs to be taken as seriously as they should be. I think "Future shape" is important enough to listen to this advice for the time being.
A bit of discreet and friendly advice never goes amiss. Unlike our beloved Council Leader, I'm prepared to listen to advice from people on the other side of the Political Spectrum when it is sensible.
8 comments:
Watch out for the snakes in the grass Rog!
Your 'gratuitous Brian Coleman bashing' must be having a good effect to result in this contact from the Tories.
What makes you think for a moment that Coleman, Freer et al are going to take heed of your blog when deciding the future shape of Barnet? Where's the evidence (in their historical decision-making) that they've ever taken any notice of your opinion whatsoever in the past.
If you want your blogs to be taken as seriously as they should be, you need to speak the truth as you see it. I don't always agree with what you say - but I always note and respect your honesty and conviction. Its something you do marvellously well.
Its your blog and your call of course.
In the meantime 'gratuitous Brian Coleman bashing' will continue, as ever, unhindered by snakes (or indeed toads) at:
Brian Coleman (aka Mr Toad) has GOT to go!:
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=24061317432
MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/mr_toad_has_got_to_go
Dear Mr Toad has got to go,
That is a very good point which I hadn't considered. Maybe they realise that Coleman does them more damage than their ridiculous "future shape" Scheme.
Whilst the Barnet Eye editorial team ponder on the "Future Shape" of Colemanbashing, and it's merits, we are lucky to have such a reliable Outsourced provider as yourself.
A very interesting day all round
Thank you Rog.
I refer you, with respect, to your own earlier answer to that very same 'maybe':
http://barneteye.blogspot.com/2008/11/councillor-brian-coleman-youre.html
The question is surely whether you are attacking the person or what that person stands for. My criticisms of Mike Freer, for example, are not personal - I criticise the direction in which he is leading the council (for which he has no democratic mandate), his authoritarian style of leadership and his refusal to accept responsibility when things go wrong. In a mature democracy, we should be able to criticise our political masters without fear or favour.
I think the public are intelligent enough to differentiate between personal attacks and legitimate criticism.
"In a mature democracy, we should be able to criticise our political masters without fear or favour.
I think the public are intelligent enough to differentiate between personal attacks and legitimate criticism."
YES! Well said DCMD!
Following the public consultation exercise, it looks like the Colemanbashing will have to continue.
I wonder if there is something rather embarrassing coming in the pipeline?
You're the man Rog T!
Surely there couldn't be anything coming up in the pipeline that's so embarrassing as what's already gone down Cllr Coleman's pipeline.
Could there?
Why on earth would you lay off the Coleman bashing?! Tsk tsk. Re-double your efforts.
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