I just recieved this reply from councillor Petch.
"Hello,
Thank you for your questions which you have e-mailed me.
Whilst you have asked for my help in ...(.who to choose to vote for in the next election,)...while I am very flattered that you have asked me,which is very commendable that you care so much
to put in so much time and effort to mail me on such a matter, however ,I am not sure if you aware that in fact I am not standing in the next election, it actually is Councillor Sean Chaytor,
also if I were I would have to follow the Labour Party Manifesto of which I'm bound by as a Labour Party member ,therefore, as you are enquiring specifically for "my thoughts" this would in
fact be as per the manifesto,as I represent the Labour Party.
Kind Regards,
Brenda Petch."
I have copied and pasted it exactly as I recieved it. It is poorly written and I find it very difficult to read (and I also suspect she is trying to be patronising) but I think it basically condenses to this. She is frightened to deviate from any party line and so states that her views and aims are the same as that of the party manifesto. An all too familiar position I feel. No wonder people don't vote.
I wonder if she even knows what clause IV is/was.
The standard of councillors (In my city anyway) needs to seriously improve. We need people with vision and the courage of their convictions.
We don't need people who have no imagination or who just tow the party line. We don't need people like Brenda Petch.
Anyway,this is my e-mailed reply to her.
"Thank you for your reply Councillor Petch.
It would appear from what you are saying that you don't actually represent those that voted for you. You do what the party tells you to. A disturbing and all too familiar position at all levels of politics. I am pleased that you won't be standing next time because this city needs less party lap dogs and more dynamic and intelligent councillors."
I'm sure she isn't bothered. Shes collected her "wages" over the years and off she goes.
3 comments:
Yeah she's playing it safe with the "I follow the labour party manifesto" that way she doesn't need to actually answer your questions lol. I loved your reply! Oh yeah and what is clause IV?
Clause IV sets out the aims and values of the labour party. The original version read:
"To secure for the workers by hand or by brain the full fruits of their industry and the most equitable distribution thereof that may be possible upon the basis of the common ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange, and the best obtainable system of popular administration and control of each industry or service."
Tony Blair changed it and it now reads :
"The Labour Party is a democratic socialist party. It believes that by the strength of our common endeavour we achieve more than we achieve alone, so as to create for each of us the means to realise our true potential and for all of us a community in which power, wealth and opportunity are in the hands of the many, not the few, where the rights we enjoy reflect the duties we owe, and where we live together, freely, in a spirit of solidarity, tolerance and respect."
The original version was generally thought to mean nationalisation of the economy. Blairs version is more "modern" i.e it panders to the middle class's and severes some of the roots of the labour party.
Apparently Neil Kinnock called his cat Claws 4.
Excellent! I have seen a book in Waterstones which I am going to buy! I think it's called 'The Future of Socialism' and was written like 50 years ago, but is supposed to be the book that "New Labour" base their whole ideals upon!
You've also had me reading the communist manifesto you bugger! Also my mate says he's gonna lend me a good book on Stalin!
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