by Paul Scully | May 16, 2009 | News |
David Cameron gave up on his planned Party Election Broadcast on TV this week to turn his attention to the only political issue of the week, that of MPs’ expenses. Speaking directly to the camera, he detailed the action that he and the parliamentary party were taking now to tackle the disintegration of public confidence in politicians. He started the broadcast with that rarest of words in politics, sorry.
As others have reported, this approach demonstrated that at least one of the leaders actually realised the severity of the problem and was prepared to address it rather than ploughing on regardless. In stark contrast, the Labour party put out an anti-Conservative video, almost totally unrelated to the elections ahead. Sutton resident Adrian Short has highlighted the disingenuous approach of the LibDems in their election literature. It is ironic that the main proponents of greater proportional representation in elections mislead people to think that the European election is a two-horse race here, with statistics from the last General Election to back up their claims, when it is in fact a regional election. On June 4th we will be voting for a party list of candidates to represent the whole of London in the European Parliament. The LibDems may be close to the Conservatives in Sutton, but this is far from true in most other parts of the capital. This is not an election where you need to consider voting tactically. Simply put the cross next to the party that you believe represents you best. If you need help working this out, have a look at the website Vote Match.
by Paul Scully | May 15, 2009 | News |
Several trees have been felled to cover the MPs’ expenses story over the last week and there is little that I can add apart from my horror at some of the more excessive stories and my disappointment that the majority of the MPs who are working hard trying to
accomplish what they set out to do when seeking election, are being tarred with the same brush. Local councillors tend to get written off as feathering our own nests as well, despite the fact that there is no scope for expenses as far as I am aware, beyond travel for lead councillors representing the authority on official non-political business.
Gordon Brown hasn’t come out of this well but he has been consistent in his slightly creepy detachment from reality. Have a look at these two videos of interviews filmed a couple of weeks apart. The first is a Channel 4 interview about the Youtube appearance and his 11th hour backtracking from a daily allowance (known in Brussels as SOSO – sign in, sod off.) The second is a more recent appearance on BBC when he was caught on the hop by David Cameron’s firm line. Both times he tried to accuse the interviewer that they had their facts wrong. Both times, the interviewer was spot on.
![Small Steps for Blog Power]()
by Paul Scully | May 14, 2009 | News |
Nine days ago, I wrote about the lack of care taken about keeping the Council Offices’ front door reasonably inviting. It is a small matter but since it is often the first thing that visitors see when coming to the Council, it should demonstrate a standard of care that the Local Authority aspires to acheive across the Borough.
Someone has taken note and got the Marigolds on, scrubbing away the green stains that have built up after months of rainwater leaking from the gutter. The leak still appears to be there so I hope that a permanent repair is next. Thank you to whoever sorted this out. Now, whilst I have your attention, what can you do about this £8million of taxpayers’ money that you are spending on the controversial Sutton Life Centre?
![Small Steps for Blog Power]()
by Paul Scully | May 13, 2009 | News |
I’m still a little dazed this evening after hearing the sad, sad news that my colleague and friend Chris Dunlop died yesterday. Chris was a councillor for Nonsuch ward and worked really hard as the sole Conservative representative, tackling issues for all constituents. He was always keen to help residents and colleagues whenever he could.
His particular interest was education. He sat on a few committees looking at standards across the borough and was passionate about his role as a governor through some difficult times at Overton Grange. Music for young people was a particular key issue for him as he campaigned for a suitable venue for schools’ orchestras to play in Sutton. In his ward, he campaigned to keep decent leisure facilities in the west of the borough and recently worked closely with Philippa Stroud to set up the Friends of Cuddington Park.
The smile in his council portrait photo is true to his personality, a jovial man who would make time for people, look for the good in people but a straight speaker. His work as an IT network specialist, took him around the country. He fitted in his Council work as best as he could as well as a home life with his wife Michelle, and children, Amelia and Harry.
Chris, the shock of your untimely passing will go, but I’ll miss you; the memories will remain.
by Paul Scully | May 13, 2009 | News |
I came across a German article about ‘Die Umstrittene £8million Sutton Leben Zentrum’ (Controversial £8million Sutton Life Centre) the other day. However, the Germans referred to it as ‘Sutton’s Apocalyptic Playhouse’. Whatever your view of the centre is, the ‘virtual’ nature of the lessons in safety may prevent the situation in the video above.
Of course, British police are very different. I’m not sure that dropping a truncheon on his foot would have garnered the same response. Suffice to say, Sutton’s LibDem councillors don’t need lessons from this DEA agent in how to shoot themselves in the foot.
