Freedom of Speech ....for some ?

Yesterday whilst in my local town centre I stopped to chat to two campaigners from South Devon Animal Rights Group. They were quietly positioned, armed only with a couple of League Against Cruel Sports posters. Within a couple of minutes the Police came along and asked if I found the posters offensive. I said no, of course not, as a member of LACS !

That wasn't the 'required' answer.

The police tried to move on this quiet couple in their later middle-age. The officers argued they'd received complaints, but seemed entirely unconvincing. Upon challenging this myself and what law was actually been broken and proclaiming the right to freedom of speech, Officer 5570's tune changed and I became the focus of her ire. Whatever happened to free speech ? Why is it that the police will go to all sorts of lengths to say protect provactive BNP / neo-fascist marches and their right to promote their truly 'offensive' brand of racist bile, but two quiet campaigners are harassed ? The power of the pro-hunt lobby ?

Now most larger cities usually have a posse of competing campaigners, be they pro-life activists with often graphic plackards and occasionally even a intimidatory presence outside abortion clinics, there's the SWP comic book 'revolutionaries', the fundamentalist Christian preacher, No ID Cards signature gatherers and leafletters for pubs, clubs restaurants et al. I don't have to agree with any of the above, but if they peaceably go about their business I support their right to a public space. They threaten no-one.

The example of legislation being enacted to thwart peace campaigner and anti-Iraq war protester Brian Haw from campaigning within the vicinity of Westminster is an example of how authoritarian this government is. Stopping debate in your own party is one thing, but trying to stifle freedom of speech in the country is something more sinister indeed.

Ironically further up Union Street was some local 'head the ball' [No not local UKIP members this time] explicitly approaching people and pushing a book from some cult or other and actively soliciting 'donations'. A much more intrusive action, but of course, by then the Police had gone and 'complaints' could not be heard. I had wanted to see how consistent the Police would be !

I will compain to the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary but expect precisely nothing to come of it. 1984 anyone ?

Save the Labour Party - STLP !

I've just come into possession of the STLP News (July -August 2006) edition. It carries a fascinating insight into Labour members (current and recent past 670 /704 respectively) commissioned by STLP and polled by YouGov.

* 2/3 of party members want Blair out by Conference 2007
* 50% believe policy is made exclusively by Downing Street
* Only 50% think the government is 'faithful to Labour values'
* 75% believe that rich donors have too much influence over policy / running the LP
* 55% believe the manifesto should be put to ballot of party members
* 52% see Iraq as the governments worst blunder
* 49% thought the 'slavish'following of the USA was a mistake
* 36% thought failure to raise basic tax rates was a major failing of government
* 46% felt the privatisation of public services is also a mistake.

When one sees that those with the commitment to join the Labour party are so alienated and notes the majority of issues that repel them, then the LD surely need to state our case better to such people. As a former Labour activist / councillor it saddens me to see how the Labour party has degenerated into a party without either principle or probity.

Conversely it reaffirms I was right to join the LDs. The principle of OMOV in elections, the sovereignty of conference (even if some at Cowley Street might prefer otherwise), consistent values, many of which strike a chord with Labour supporters (civil liberties, personal freedom, progressive taxation and social justice, centrality of green issues and internationalism).

In the LD there is debate. Now I'm not a great fan of gung-ho free market liberalism. I see myself as being broadly 'on the left' but still find I have more in common with 'Orange Book-ers' on issues other than economics than I do with the authoritarian left [or right]. Try the novel, very unlike New Labour idea, of putting your case and winning or losing the argument / vote !

That a majority of staff on the normally pro-Labour 'New Statesman' came out for the LD at the 2005 GE tallies with the conclusions by those traditionally Labour-inclined above. Sorry STLP at present the Labour party isn't worth saving. Why be in a party, like some I know, when you overwhelmingly disagree with it's policies? Come on in ! Put tribal loyalties aside, consider the LDs on merit.

One Promise Made - One Promise Broken

David Cameron's only firm policy pledge - to leave the mainstream centre-right EPP group in the EU Parliament - has been broken. This will not happen until 2009 at the earliest. Backtracking and breaking promises already 'Dave' ?!

My guess it will not happen at all. With Angela Merkel likely to become a major figure in Euro affairs what sense does it make to divorce oneself from the largest EU political grouping to enter a more politically 'pure' EU grouplet, albeit one with zero influence ?

Still their purist mix of Thatcherism married to authoritarism has kept them out of power since 1997 here - long may it continue ! Here's to the Simon Heffers and Norman Tebbitts of this world continuing to feel alienated. If they are successful in their attacks on modernising the Tories they'll wreak havoc with the fluffy bunny Toryism of Dave's creation. If they fail, maybe - just - maybe, socially conservative ideas will start to retreat to the margins of the Tory party and the 'nasty party' can belatedly begin to join modern liberal society. This can only be good for reasoned political debate in this country. A win-win scenario surely, even if the latter prospect makes them electorally competitive again !

For the time being I'll continue; as I have all my life, being implacably opposed to all things Tory !

The local debate with UKIP

UKIP have seen fit to select Susie Colley for the Tormohun ward in Torquay. She appears to stand for little except for visceral hatred of the Lib Dems (locally and nationally) and has an over-inflated regard for her own abilities. Hence my initial letter to the local [and very Tory-inclined] paper - The Herald Express

01 July ;

As a former resident of Tormohun ward, I have followed with interest Susie Colley's

intention to stand for election to Torbay Council next May.

In announcing her candidature she states the need to bring truth, transparency and reality back to the council.

Would this be the same Susie Colley who has promoted herself firstly in the guise of "independent" candidate for the mayoralty, then as a "community campaigner" via Torre Action Group and now surprise, surprise as a party political hack as a UK Independence Party representative, all within a few months?

It seems her much publicised petition presented to the council was nothing more than a piece of party political opportunism on an issue which the council was powerless to act upon. Her actions are hardly a vision of transparency.

The UKIP policy programme, premised as it is upon defence of sterling, withdrawal from the EU and what is calls "controlled immigration" position it on the hard right of the political spectrum uncomfortably nestling between the BNP and the right of the Conservative Party.

More importantly, these are all matters Torbay Council has no jurisdiction over and point to the irrelevance of a UKIP candidature.

What local government policies which do exist and are published on the UKIP website amount to little more than a threadbare "wish list" and none are Torbay specific.

This has resulted in UKIP having only around a dozen or so councillors across the country and them being eclipsed electorally in pursuit of the English nationalist vote by the odious BNP.

It is UKIP and Ms Colley who need to get back to reality.

In the interests of openness, through the pages of this paper, I'd like to ask if Susie Colley agrees with the policy priorities of her new party and how this then translates into standing for election to the council?

I'd also like to challenge her to name any local authority where UKIP has made a decisive and positive impact.

Whatever the travails of the Lib Dem party locally, I can see in Cllrs Hayman and Faulkner representatives working hard all year round for the ward, be that through the recent crime survey, attempts to halt the closure of Hele Co-op, the obvious physical improvements in Torre and the taking up of constituent casework, of which I personally have been a beneficiary.

Granted they haven't continually courted media publicity like Ms Colley, but they deserve to be supported again, should they offer themselves for re-election next May.

In addition to the qualities earmarked by Susie Colley, I'd argue a councillor also needs to show good judgement and consistency.

Susie's attack on mayor Bye's allowances was especially cheap politics. I don't recall her rejecting these figures when she was a mayoral candidate.

Indeed, UKIP have been among mayor Bye's biggest cheerleaders since he assumed office and were heavily in support of the expensive and less democratic system of local government we are now saddled with in the Bay.

And, at European Parliament level UKIP voted in July 2004 against a proposal to cap MEPs salary at £60,000 (plus generous expenses).

All UKIP MEPs voted against the proposal, flying in the face of one of their supposed fundamental aims: to stop the alleged financial drain the EU presents the tax payer.

UKIP's opposition and non-attendance have achieved nothing positive in Europe, but cost much.

Let us not repeat this mistake locally next May and please no more hypocritical strictures from UKIP over elected representatives' allowances.

In summary, ego, populism, personal invective and opportunism are no substitute for detailed policy ideas, consistency and hard work.

I trust the voters of Tormohun will reject the divisive and fractious presence Ms Colley would bring to the town hall and at the polls next May once again vote for those Liberal Democrats who currently and continually strive to get things done for the ward.


Her reply published on 14 July reads :

I write in answer to Barrie Wood's letter (Your View, July 11) which attacks both myself and UKIP.

I assume Mr Wood's attack is a sign he and his Lib Dem colleagues fear what might happen to them at next May's council elections.

Perhaps I should be flattered because they wouldn't attack me unless they feared the opposition I would bring to the council chamber.

I would like to take this opportunity to equate him with facts rather than the suppositions which he has written.

Firstly, I stood as an independent in last year's mayoral election as I was sick and tired of the deception, lies and vacillations of the majority of councillors.

I financed my own campaign and had the help of family and friends.

For some time I have been vociferous in my position as the spokesperson for Torre Community Action Group when I voice the opinions of the residents of both Torre and Tormohun.

Earlier this year UKIP helped me ascertain some detail I was unclear about and their help enabled me to clarify several issues that were of concern.

Until the disgusting way I was treated at a council meeting in February by several councillors when I represented Torre Community Action Group I had no desire or intention of standing for election next May.

However, as I am a firm believer in "either do something constructive or put up and shut up" I decided I was no longer prepared to tolerate the machinations of some of our councillors.

As I also have no desire to be ruled by some anarchists based in Europe, I decided enough was enough and as UKIP and I clearly have the same beliefs I felt together we might be able to restore some sanity and order to Torbay Council.

If common sense prevails among the electorate at next year's elections, those who cause the current disharmony in the council will be removed from office, and those of us who have the best interests of the Bay as our concerns will endeavour to bring prosperity back to our beautiful area.


Finally I responded thus (published 22 July)

SUSIE IS DODGING THE ISSUE

11:00 - 22 July 2006
Susie Colley singularly failed to answer the substantive questions I posed to her in this paper in response to her declared intention to be a UK Independence Party standard bearer at the next local elections.

I asked her how UKIP's principal policy platform of withdrawal from the EU, defence of sterling and promoting what they call "controlled" immigration is in any way relevant to being a candidate for election to Torbay Council.

Additionally, I challenged her to name any local authority where UKIP has made a decisive and positive impact. I still await her reply on both matters.

Similarly with her party having been very supportive of the expensive executive mayor model of local government and indeed the Conservative mayor himself, I'd like to know what qualitative difference would there be in approach and policy that she'd take as a would-be UKIP councillor than that offered by the Tories?

All I know so far is she thinks she can do much better than most incumbent councillors and she "clearly has the same beliefs" as UKIP.

As a candidate for a fringe party with no record of achievement in local government, I think it only right UKIP's views are scrutinised and brought out in the open.

Where UKIP do hold elected office, in the EU Parliament, I am happy to debate their record with her and her party.

To imply, as she does, we are ruled by "anarchists based in Europe" clearly shows a lack of political understanding of either Europe or anarchism.

Good job it is her views on Torbay which mostly concern me.

I look forward to some straight answers from Ms Colley.


Now I'd be interested to hear of anyones' responses to fighting UKIP electorally. Any interesting tales to tell ? Do they in your locality fit the image of 'BNP in blazers' meets the Tory Monday club of old ?

Further, to continue the debate some 'good news' stories about Liberal successes in Europe would be helpful, for this isn't my strongest policy area. Thanks !

Leicester

The Times yesterday carried the following report :

ONCE, things were simple. Some members of Leicester City Council were Conservatives, some were Liberal Democrats, and when they got together they formed a ruling coalition.

Unfortunately it all got rather complicated when the Tory group leader decided that he would like to join the Lib Dems. Rather than retiring his blue rosette and crossing the floor, Roman Scuplak merely added a (figurative) yellow ribbon to his lapel. He told Local Government Chronicle (July 13): “I am still leader of the Conservative group but for offical purposes I am classed as a Liberal Democrat.” The town clerk doesn’t see it that way. “A councillor may be a member of (only) one group at a time,” Tom Stephenson ruled.

However, it appears likely that this dual-partisanship approach is more about pragmatism than party politics. The Lib Dem group has split, leaving the coalition at risk of losing its majority on some committees — including the one that’s due to decide the chief executive’s bonus. Or, as the Labour leader put it: “It is an attempt to rig the employment committee to ensure (that the opposition) does not have majority and cannot vote down the chief executive’s bonus.” And the Lib Dem leader’s response: “It is nothing of the sort.”

For those not in the know Roman Scuplak - in my days in that city at least - was an authoritarian, socially conservative, Thatcherite. If he's a liberal, let alone a Liberal, then my name is Brian Clough ! Basically, the group of SEVEN that split from the Lib Dem group and now called the Focus Team should be entitled to a number of committee places, including one on that which decides the Chief Exec's pay. The remaining Lib Dem group, in a coalition with the Tories, want to push through a big increase for the council's principal employee. The Focus Team would combine with Labour to frustrate this move. Even before this fall out it appears from talking to sources in that city that the juniour party in the coalition - the Tories - were the tail wagging the coalition dog.

It begs the question why the Lib Dems got politically into bed with the Tories. A previous attempt at coalition following the 2003 elections crashed and burned in pretty spectacular and prompt fashion. The Tory personnel has not changed to any great degree so why sup with the devil twice ? And, to join a party for purely political manoeuvring brings the Lib Dems, Tories and Cllr Scuplak into disrepute. Both parties should act to kick him out of their respective parties.

No wonder people don't trust politicians and shun the political process when confronted by shameless dishonesty such as this.

I'm sure I'll be criticised by Lib Dems for publicly raising this issue but are blogs just meant to be 'good news' pieces ? The Lib Dems in Leicester are out of order end of story in my view. Anyone care to say different ?

SAO - Sending Out the Wrong Message !

It is disappointing to read that DELGA and ALDTU are to lose [at least for the time being] their SAO status within the Lib Dem party.

The crude and arbitary numbers rule of a membership of 250 has accounted for the Association of Liberal Democrat Trade Unionists. The party's initial position on the minimum wage deterred some erstwhile Labour supporting friends from voting for us at the GE, despite agreeing with us on many more policy positions than the government. We cannot be seen to have nothing to say about workplace democracy and rights at work. In short, the perception is amongst some that we are anti-TUs.

For once Blair is right ! Fairness not favours is what we seek. Moreover, if we are to champion social justice we can better understand the aspirations and struggles of ordinary working people through constructive dialogue with trade unions and trade unionists, many of whom represent what could almost be called the 'working poor'.

YOU can help ! If you'd like to know more about ALDTU and would like to help us reclaim our SAO position why not join us if you are a party member ! Contact me for more details [torbayred@yahoo.co.uk].

DELGA's position, for whatever reason, is a disaster. Having claimed the greatest percentage of the three main parties of the 'pink' vote, to lose SAO status would send out a poor message to the LGBT community, both within and without the party.

I look forward to both organisations reclaiming their SAO status at the earliest opportunity and ask Lib Dems to give their full backing to both.

Barrie Wood
ALDTU EC Member
Torquay.

Tory Executive Mayor 'improving' Torbay !

The Tory executive Mayor of Torbay and his all-Conservative cabinet is clearly 'improving' the fortunes of the bay. I have been a staunch critic of the mayor and believe Marcus Wood (Torbay Tory PPC) to have been less than fulsome publicly in support of his Tory Mayor on the council. This prompted him to write on his blog : "I think Nick Bye is the best thing to happen to Torbay in a generation - and so do a large and growing number of the people who live here - and I would hate to think that anyone thought that I had any doubts" The results below are from Marcus' Tory blog (as of 090706). Expect a few Tories will be rounded up now to give the vote a differing flavour ! I think Torbay Council is :
Very poor, and getting worse	11 votes
Very poor, but improving slowly	4 votes
Poor, but not as bad as people say	1 vote
Poor, but no worse than most other Councils	3 votes
Not too bad.	1 vote
Moderately good, trying hard to be better	0 votes
Moderately good, could do better	1 vote
What is all the fuss about? They are fine by me	5 votes

I will be delighted to remind you and the people of Torbay of the above quote come the next General Election. I am very happy too, to tie the fortunes of Mayor Bye and yourself together. It'll be interesting to see whose judgement is right !

On a different tack I wouldn't make use of such polls. The poll count is so low to be nothing more than useless, albeit currently amusing in it's findings ! Online polls are notoriously unreliable don't do them Marcus !

Labour the Competition ? Tories the Enemy ?

As the title of my blog suggests I am a left-leaning member of the Lib Dems, even if the left -right divide is being increasingly little more important than the authoritarian / liberal axis that divides parties. 17 years ago I was a Labour councillor, but that party's authoritarian drift, the illegal war in Iraq, pro-nuclear stance, lukewarm engagement with Europe and paternalism meant they left me as much as I left them. That is not to deny the attractiveness of the Lib Dems : commitment to personal freedom, social justice, progressive taxation and the environment are all bone-fide reasons for progressives to consider supporting the party. And, for members, add greater internal party democracy !

Despite the above, this 'Labour' government has done some good things. For example, Gordon Brown with a mixture of skill and good luck has ensured generally capable stewardship of the economy. Measures like the national minimum wage, tax credits [albeit complicated] to help those on limited incomes, increased [but not always well targeted] increases in spending on education, devolution to Scotland and Wales are all plus points.

The Tories, be it the fake 'liberal' Tories of Cameron projection or the legion of 'nasty' Thatcherite Tories would have enacted none of these measures. The mask of the new liberal Tories is slipping, as evidenced by their opposition to the European Convention on Human Rights. To me the Tories are still the enemy. It is between Labour and ourselves, in competition, to offer progressive alternatives. So I do see Labour [ and the Greens and continuing Liberal Party] as competition and the Tories as political foes. I dread the political arithmetic at the next GE making a Tory/ Lib Dem coalition even a faint possibility for even discussion, although I think a grand coalition of ideas as we already have in places between Labour and the Tories, suggest they'd make better putative partners for the Conservatives!

Lib Dems have achieved much in sharing government with Labour in Scotland and previously with a measure of success in Wales. But how would other readers react to a Westminster tie-up with the Tories ? Do you see yourself as equidistant between the two main parties ? What would be your second voting preference, if you have one ?

For my part, unless I could see a huge tranche of Lib Dem proposals likely to be implemented any formal co-operation with the Tories at a national level would probably mean me exiting the party.

The Tories, for me, [ouside of the BNP / UKIP 'headbangers'] remain the principal focus of opposition. Your thoughts ?

It's Not My Fault Says Tory Mayor (Again) !

Letter to the 'Herald Express' 060706

Nick Bye's outburst directed at what he describes as Lib Dems 'holding

back' the resort reported in your paper on July 1 is becoming something
of a habit for the mayor. Another month, another issue and another 'it's
not my fault' plea from the mayor. It's those 'nasty' Lib Dems again
says Nick. This is becoming something of a regular pantomime dame
performance from the Mayor.

I was half expecting a press release from Nick blaming the Lib Dems for
England's world cup defeat, global warming and the state of the music
charts this week, but I guess that is still to come !

The reality is this : Nick Bye hasn't even been able to garner regular
support from even the three disaffected former Tories on the council - never mind the Lib Dems ! The Torbay Group and the now independent Cllr Oxley have frequently voted against the mayor. Knowing the 'political arithmetic' at the Town Hall and the potential for gridlock the inability to accommodate such people says more about Nick that it does of Torbay Councillors. It is you Nick, with your inability to bring even the Tory-inclined on board, your limited vision for the bay and failure to recognise that the new [separate] role of councillors is now one of scrutiny of decisions made by you and your all-Conservative cabinet. Councillors are doing that job, even if you don't like being held to account. Now is the time for you to do yours, as the sole seat of power at the Town Hall, but crucially in co-operation with councillors of all stripes.

This is the moment too, albeit belatedly perhaps, for magnanimity,
personal responsibility and leadership from you Mr Bye. Are you up to it ?

Irrespective of this, the media briefings against councillors needs to
stop. It demeans you, your office and fellow councillors !

Letter to Herald Express 050706

As a former resident of Tormohun ward I have followed with interest Susie Colley's intention to stand for election to Torbay Council next May. In announcing her candidature she states the need to bring truth, transparency and reality back to the council.

Would this be the same Susie Colley who has assiduously promoted herself firstly in the guise of 'independent' candidate for the mayoralty, then as a 'community campaigner' via Torre Action Group and now surprise, surprise as a party political hack as a UK Independence Party representative, all within a few months ? It seems her much publicised petition presented to the Council was nothing more than a piece of party political opportunism on an issue which the council was powerless to act upon. Her actions are hardly a vision of transparency.

The UKIP policy programme, premised as it is upon defence of sterling, withdrawal from the EU and what is calls 'controlled immigration' position it on the hard right of the political spectrum uncomfortably nestling between the BNP and the right of the Conservative Party. More importantly, these are all matters that Torbay Council has no jurisdiction over and point to the irrelevance of a UKIP candidature. What local government policies that do exist and are published on the UKIP website amount to little more than a threadbare 'wish list' and none are Torbay specific.This has resulted in UKIP having only around a dozen or so councillors across the country and them being eclipsed electorally in pursuit of the English nationalist vote by the odious BNP. It is UKIP and Ms Colley that need to get back to reality ! No wonder the Conservative party leader David Cameron remarked recently that UKIP members were ''fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists, mostly" !

In the interests of openness, through the pages of this paper, I'd like to ask if Susie Colley agrees with the policy priorities of her new party and how this then translates into standing for election to the council ? I'd also like to challenge her to name any local authority where UKIP has made a decisive and positive impact.

Whatever the travails of the Lib Dem party locally I can see in Councillors Hayman and Faulkner representatives working hard all year round for the ward, be that be through the recent crime survey, attempts to halt the closure of Hele Co-op, the obvious physical improvements in Torre and the taking up of constituent casework, of which I personally have been a beneficiary. Granted they haven't continually courted media publicity like Ms. Colley, but they deserve to be supported again, should they offer themselves for re-election next May.

In addition to the qualities earmarked by Susie Colley, I'd argue that a councillor also needs to show good judgement and consistency. Susie's attack on Mayor Bye's allowances was especially cheap politics. I don't recall her rejecting these figures when she was a mayoral candidate. Indeed, UKIP have been amongst Mayor Bye's biggest cheerleaders since he assumed office and were heavily in support of the expensive and less democratic system of local government we are now saddled with in the bay. And, at European Parliament level UKIP voted in July 2004 against a proposal to cap MEPs salary at £60,000 (plus generous expenses). All UKIP MEPs voted against the proposal, flying in the face of one of their supposed fundamental aims - to stop the alleged financial drain the EU presents the tax payer. UKIP's oppositionalism and non-attendance have achieved nothing positive in Europe but cost much. Let us not repeat this mistake locally next May and please no more hypocritical strictures from UKIP over elected representatives' allowances.

In summary, ego, populism, personal invective and opportunism are no substitute for detailed policy ideas, consistency and hard work. I trust the voters of Tormohum will reject the divisive and fractious presence Ms Colley would bring to the Town Hall and at the polls next May once again vote for those Liberal Democrats who currently and continually strive to get things done for the ward.