A BNP councillor – Value for money?
27 Nov 2009
If you’ve read this blog for a while you will know by now that I am no fan of the BNP.
Don’t get me wrong I would fight for their right to exist and for your right to vote for them. That is what makes our country great, a democracy built on the principles of free speech.
The content of this article is my opinion, you may agree or disagree, that your choice. I am not saying I am right in this piece either, it's just my belief. If you want to post an opposing stance, great go for it.
Great thing about a comment article is that it doesn't have to be balanced. The balance needs to be provided by you the reader.
After a recent short lived dalliance with the Liberal Democrats, I now find myself slap bang in the middle of a political wilderness. No party based on the performance in the council chamber is floating my boat. The impact of this, at a local level, is that I often break out in a cold sweat in at the thought of getting into the polling booth, pencil poised and at a loss who’s box to tick.
I have been following local politics for years and I can’t ever remember feeling so insecure in my political beliefs.
It’s like being at a party. When the buffet opens there is so much choice your mouth waters in anticipation, that is until you pick a vol-au- vant up and you realise that you don’t like the filling. Or the Victoria sponge has butter cream in it and you can’t have any because you are allergic to it. Or the trifle has loads of sherry in and you are a recovering alcoholic!
That’s where I’m at politically I’m afraid, each way I turn there is something that does not quite sit right with me.
Now the BNP are like a sandwich at that buffet, the problem is they have a Marmite filling and you know, you either love it or hate it. Thank God there are far more people can’t stand Marmite than those who love it.
The BNP claim around £100,000 collectively in allowances per year from us the council tax payers of Stoke-on-Trent. The have 2 chairs positions and 2 vice chairs ans sit on various committees [apart from David Marfleet who doesn't sit on a single committee], they have good attendance at full council [apart from Melanie Baddeley with some 69%], from what we are led to believe they work hard in their wards.
So why am I so against them you may well ask? Well I have to be honest and say it isn’t what they do in their wards it’s more what they don’t say in the council chamber.
All 60 ward councillors have a fairly decent reputation for getting through the case load at ward level.
Councillors Like Mick Salih firmly believe that ward work must come first, but by God when he gets into that chamber or sits on the Scrutiny Management Committee he’s like a dog with a bone. When he has hold of something he just doesn’t let go! And it isn’t all negative either. When he opposes there is always a structured reason for it. Take the new position of the paid Independent chair of the NSRP. He opposes it, he has called it in, hit out at officers for advertising the position before the call in was exhausted and all the way along he has said that he opposes it because he feels that the chair should be the political leader of our council.
Now the BNP don’t contribute at all. Alby & Ellie have taken over £32,000 in allowances and I honestly can not remember the last time either of them spoke at full council whether that is to support or oppose an issue. I have yet to hear them put anything forward as an alternative. They did not speak out about Chris Harman’s pay off, they had no opinion on councillors not being informed of key decisions before the press. They did not support or oppose the 243 redundancies that the council are about to finalise. They have simply just sat there and had their attendance mark and then left as early as they could.
It is not good enough. The people that they represent deserve better. Don’t they have a duty to try and improve the City as well as serve their wards? Are they not obligated to put fresh policy ideas and initiatives forward. Isn’t being pro-active the best way of trying to win more support?
The last time I can honestly remember them putting something before the chamber was when a couple of years ago when they opposed the budget. Their main objection was the translation service that the council provides, yet they completely forgot/ignored the fact that translation covers signing services for the deaf and CD’s etc for the blind.
We are coming up to an election year and I want to see all parties putting their manifesto before the people of this city. We should judge parties on what they will do to improve the city and front-line services. If any party fails to lay their policies before the electorate, do they really deserve our vote.
Let’s see every party campaigning hard to win our support. Let them earn our vote. Above all let’s see honest and informative election claims.
I hope that the BNP in this city do not stoop to the level displayed in Barking where the leaflets they put out claiming that the council were housing and paying African immigrants to live in a specific area. This was found out to be a blatant lie!
Let us not see mis-leading claims made on TV by high ranking Stoke BNP officers claiming to have provided CCTV to combat anti-social behaviour when in fact it was down to the dedication of normal residents.
If any party, especially the BNP, want to win our support let it be by fair methods not foul.
If the BNP want to continue this tactic of non-committal silence within our chamber then let them be exposed for it. A BNP councillor may be willing to provide luncheon clubs, dog walking and gardening services for the elderly but there is more to representing the WHOLE community and indeed the city at large.
Each political group on our council should submit a mission and vision statement for the city so that we can see how good their intentions are.
If they can not be bothered to share their aspirations with us then I ask you honestly – will they be good value for money and more importantly should they be allowed to get away with it?
BNP take note, we will be watching and listening………..
new site crap
well I've got to say it, youv'e found a new way of getting rid of your posters.
Patience.
Firstly I would like to ask for some patience from all readers/posters/contributors. This has been a massive job for Mike & the Team [not me!] and it will take some time to get everything in place. Please try and support our team instead of knocking and being negative. Remember Rome wasn't built in a day. I believe with your help and support we will get there....
_________________________________________________________
I love Stoke-on-Trent. We Are just trying to get the stories out there... follow me on Twitter @Tony_Walley
Tony you'll get there when
Tony you'll get there when you assert yourself (do at least try?) and point out that the old P&P flourished simply because you always had a very light hand on the Tiller.
Who made the old place so vibrant and addictive?
Barnsey, Pondo, Warren, Gary Elsby, Terry Turbo, et al. Where are they?
Tony, you've got to get off your arse and be a bit assertive here or it's dead on it's feet. For goodness sake kill the 'your post is awaiting moderation' NOW!
I mean, Moderated. By bloody who?
It is Sunday and so far we
It is Sunday and so far we have had more comments today than last Sunday...
Remember: Britain invented time zones, so that means the French sit down to lunch when we tell them it is 1 O'clock and that is what makes us Great.
Don't rest on whatever
Don't rest on whatever laurels you might be seduced into thinking you have.
Nothing is done and dusted with this new site.
I note you appear to be against all forms of prejudice:
Just to confirm that, would you care to amend your (hey!)signature from:
'Remember: Britain invented time zones, so that means the French sit down to lunch when we tell them it is 1 O'clock and that is what makes us Great." (THEY DON'T)
To: 'Remember: Britain invented time zones, so that means the Pakistanis, the people of the Indian sub continent, Asians in general, sit down to lunch when we tell them it is 1 O'clock and that is what makes us Great."
But you daren't dare you?
Pooter Pooter Pooter, I have
Pooter Pooter Pooter,
I have far better things to be doing that listening to you rambling on because you have decided that you don't like the new site.
Well I'm afraid to say, that's life, we knew that some people may not like the site some would just accept it and get on with it and some would like it.
My signature is there for testing purposes, as and when I feel like it I will delete it or change it.
Of course person of your superior wit and intellect will be able to create their own site and have it moderated exactly and they want.
Remember: Britain invented time zones, so that means the French sit down to lunch when we tell them it is 1 O'clock and that is what makes us Great.
"My signature is there for
"My signature is there for testing purposes, as and when I feel like it I will delete it or change it."
Might not agree with it Mike but would argue that you have the right to post your insulting, bigoted opinion of the French, our nearest European Neighbours.
I'd argue that on the 'all inclusive, non prejudiced' Leftie/lib site you seem hell-bent on turning it into others should have the opportunity to challenge?
So: just to clarify: it's ok to hit the French with ignorant, bigoted Comments.
Er, any other European countries included on your OK list too - Irish? Poles? Germans?
Just to get it right. But no criticism, however relevant or constructive whatsoever, of any third world/ex colonial country then?
Get Tone back in right away, you haven't got a clue as what being a Moderator is.
Pooter wrote:"My signature is
Might not agree with it Mike but would argue that you have the right to post your insulting, bigoted opinion of the French, our nearest European Neighbours.
I'd argue that on the 'all inclusive, non prejudiced' Leftie/lib site you seem hell-bent on turning it into others should have the opportunity to challenge?
So: just to clarify: it's ok to hit the French with ignorant, bigoted Comments.
Er, any other European countries included on your OK list too - Irish? Poles? Germans?
Just to get it right. But no criticism, however relevant or constructive whatsoever, of any third world/ex colonial country then?
Get Tone back in right away, you haven't got a clue as what being a Moderator is.
Er but it seems the place is working as far as it goes. Also the dead hand of the leftie type Socialist censor seems to be surprisingly inactive so please accept a small helping of faint praise
My posts don't get that
My posts don't get that treatment, must just be who you are!!
Thanks for the positive
Thanks for the positive feedback..
Remember: Britain invented time zones, so that means the French sit down to lunch when we tell them it is 1 O'clock and that is what makes us Great.
BNP Councillors
In North west Leicestershire BNP councillors take less in expenses than any other Councillor (they refused an increase last year and stay on the previous years rate) They have the best party attendence of all parties. Cllrs meller and Partner attend many more meetings than they have too and speak at most council meetings putting forward sensible motions which the others fail to support even when its in the best interests of the local people.
Maybe in the NW Leics but not here.
Well it is good to read that BNP councillors do contribute to the debate and put ideas and motions forward in the chambers of Leicestershire but I am only being honest here. 2 contributions in 9.5 hrs of council debate is really not good enough....
_________________________________________________________
I love Stoke-on-Trent. We Are just trying to get the stories out there... follow me on Twitter @Tony_Walley
I've tried
sorry I,ve tried to sort this site out but have not got a degree in computer science.
Will go to the Sentinel website untill you sort this garbage out.
Maybe the bright spark who put this together can explain it to us.
OK so rather than posting
OK so rather than posting anonymously why not start by putting your name where it asks you so we know who you are. Then maybe elaborate on what you are struggling with so we can help you..
Remember: Britain invented time zones, so that means the French sit down to lunch when we tell them it is 1 O'clock and that is what makes us Great.
sentinel
Have tried again to post on this site but it is so mixed up going to the sentinel.
BNP Councillors
just remember B.N.P. councillors are new to this and are watching and learning, they are not thier scratching their butts (first priority is to look after the ward that voted them in, the old parties have had years to sort problems out, they are up against the old parties which are well established, and have no shortage of funding from big businesses here and abroad to the Unions funding of the opposite side of the debate. As the British National Party is no accepting ethnic members and candidates, they will have a far larger skills and financial base, i`m very sure the near future will see a change for the good of the B.N.P.
In your piece you say that
In your piece you say that 'We should judge parties on what they will do to improve the city and front-line services' I take it from this you will be voting BNP, as there is no question that they have the best policies on law, education, immigration and benefits that will bring this country away from its undoubted path towards becoming anorther part of the third world.
The only thing that is slowing the BNP's rise towards power is the constant racism slurs not their first class manifesto.
I will be voting BNP for the first time come the next election in which I have very little doubt that their current momentum will secure them a handfull of seats and my vote will continue to go their way untill a pary from the political elite wake up and put the foundations of this country first!!! (instead of every tom, dick and harry from around the world FACT:£193m in foreign aid to countrys such as sri lanka, as to a pittyfull £1m for the people of this countrys recent flood disasters)
p.s. Goodbye to Cadbury's anorther part of britains great institution and here's to anorther few thousand heading for the dole queues MERRY XMAS!!!
Exactly! I think the BNP
Exactly! I think the BNP should scrap foreign aid, and to show they are true nationalists: pull out all British interests in those countries who produce cheap consumer goods and/or contain the natural resources needed to make them.
Then immigrants can return home to the jobs created, freeing up the job market for the honest hard-working indigenous people, and more living space to avoid areas liable to flooding.
Oh, and happy winter solstice!
God bless Nick Griffiths
Nick Griffiths is the best thing to happen to the UK in recent years. Many Britains do not beleive in many politically elite destructive habits centering on the UK. May Nich Griffith grow & grow in goodness & power. Free speech - post this comment.
Nick Griffiths...
With pleasure....
Remember: Britain invented time zones, so that means the French sit down to lunch when we tell them it is 1 O'clock and that is what makes us Great.
Good ole' "Nich
Good ole' "Nich Griffith"
Plaid Cymru's certainly going to be a force to be reckoned with given this level of support here in England!!!
Why the nosey parker
Why the nosey parker questions,i.e. name, where posting from when one wants to contribute?
If one doesn't wish to submit to this leftie driven 1984 impudent questioning will it be possible to post under 'Guest'?
You have lost me.. You have
You have lost me..
You have posted under 'guest' so I'm not sure of the relevance of the comment. If you can elaborate maybe we can help.
Remember: Britain invented time zones, so that means the French sit down to lunch when we tell them it is 1 O'clock and that is what makes us Great.
I apologise, frustration
I apologise, frustration borne out of not being able to register despite numerous attempts. I do accept that there's going to be a few tweaks, as I imagine is the case with all new sites.
I know you have a separate thread for comments/suggestions regarding the site but as I'm not yet sure if they'd get through I'll post them here.
My main concern is that the way it's looking this site will be subject to heavy control/censorship from above which was not the case on the old site where we largely moderated ourselves. It was this that made it (the old site) such a success.
"Please feel free to join in the discussions on the site but please remember, racist & homophobic comments will not be tolerated nor will personal attacks, libellous, defamatory or abusive comments."
I do hope my fears for this new site with it's new regime are unfounded.
If you feel this post would be better moved to the comments on the new site thread please feel free to move it.
Again Pooter I had none of
Again Pooter I had none of these problems registering. Click, type, clickety-click, job done. Maybe it's just you?
Firstly, I have friends who
Firstly, I have friends who live in Thurrock who say that the BNP councillor there is very hard working and a pleasant person. Also remember that if a BNP councillor is in the minority the other parties will often 'gang up' as it were and give them less time to speak - believe me, it happens!
Secondly, I will echo some comments above, I will be changing my vote to BNP at the election as I find their honesty a breath of fresh air after all the lies and hypocricy of Labour and the rest.
Strange, it seems all these
Strange, it seems all these BNP supporters "have friends in... (insert town)" and they are voting for them "for the first time".
Nigel wrote:Strange, it seems
I think it's called reading the policies and making up your own mind - you are allowed to change your mind and not be led like a little sheep which diehard liblabcon supporters continue to do.
Yeah! Does seem a bit
Yeah! Does seem a bit strange!
That people have a different
That people have a different opinion to you? - it's all the rage! Maybe you should try it some day!
SOT City Council Expenses
SOT City Council Expenses List for 2008/9
1
ADRIAN KNAPPER (LABOUR)
£2,368.85
2
ROSS IRVING (CON)
£1,433.26
3
JEAN EDWARDS (LABOUR)
£1,205.00
4
KIERAN CLARKE (LIB DEM)
£774.34
5
PETER KENT BAGULEY (PEOPLE PARTY)
£698.91
6
ELLIE WALKER (BNP)
£626.18
7
JOY GARNER (LABOUR)
£565.52
8
IAN MITCHELL (CITY INDY)
£560.67
9
BRIAN WARD (CITY INDY)
£494..98
10
MARK MEREDITH (LABOUR)
£475.27
Cllr Mike Barnes - Longton South
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing"
http://potteye.blogspot.com/
Barnsey - thanks for taking
Barnsey - thanks for taking the trouble to dig up the figures and post that - really.
Thanx. Just for info I
Thanx. Just for info I claimed..................................................................................................................................................................................... £0
Cllr Mike Barnes - Longton South
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing"
http://potteye.blogspot.com/
TOP TEN Councillors pay for
TOP TEN Councillors pay for 2008/9 (EXCLUDING THE EXPENSES)
1
MARK MEREDITH (LABOUR)
£80,147.20
2
JOY GARNER (LABOUR)
£26,021.08
3
ABLY WALKER (BNP)
£21, 576.58
4
JEAN BOWERS (LIB DEM)
£20,611.18
5
ROGER IBBS (?)
£20,370.64
6
ROSS IRVING (CON)
£18,854.51
7=
JOAN BELL (LABOUR)
£18,128.70
7=
ADRIAN KNAPPER (LABOUR)
£18,128.70
7=
HAZEL LYTH (CON)
£18,128.70
10
DEBRA GRATTON (LABOUR)
£17,876.54
NB: 13 COUNCILLORS EARNED JUST £9,159,69
Cllr Mike Barnes - Longton South
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing"
http://potteye.blogspot.com/
Here's some more figures for
Here's some more figures for you. 11 council officers
earn between £80,001 and £90,000, so at the very least they cost us £880,000.
All 60 councillors cost combined, £899,000. It isn't
the councillors that cost us, it's these greedy officers.
Switzerland looks set to impose a ban on the building of minarets on mosques. Glad to see there's still commonsense amongst european natives.
Craig Pond, glad you had the
Craig Pond, glad you had the wizzo intelligence to jump through all the barriers to simply register yourself - you have haven't you?
Hope the others, Barnsey, Gary, Warren, David Jack and his stage partner Shawn manage to get through too.
It's a bit like a wartime adventure all this, waiting with baited breath for a posting, telling one that they've made it isn't it?
Bloody exciting anyway.
You're so sweet Craig.....I
You're so sweet Craig.....I didn't think you cared..Arrrrrr
Cllr Mike Barnes - Longton South
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing"
http://potteye.blogspot.com/
Thanks cllr Barnes but what
Thanks cllr Barnes but what is you point of showing labour to be highest claimers of expensives? Have you never claimed expenses
¨°o.O O.o°¨°o.O O.o°¨°o.O O.o°¨°o.O O.o°¨°o.O O.o°¨°o.O
¨°o. Keeping an eye on Labours past pledges http://labourstodo.tk/
¨°o. Non-Party Candidates 2011 don't split your vote reserve a ward now
¨°o. http://nonpartycandidates.tk/
I have just shown the facts
I have just shown the facts and list as it stands - that is it. Somebody asked about expenses - well this is the top ten list - FACT.
I haven't claimed at all for the last 4 years at all (i think), nil, nothing, and have claimed virtually nothing before that.
I am not saying its right or wrong - its just the facts - no judgement - no criticism - its there for others to judge - that's the list - black and white
Cllr Mike Barnes - Longton South
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing"
http://potteye.blogspot.com/
You claimed £162 in 2007-2008
You claimed £162 in 2007-2008 ;) did someone else fill your claim forms in when member of labour group
So thanks for the FACTS, I just never saw anyone mention exoenses thats all.
Maybe if Cllr Knapper moved back to Stoke he could reduce his expenses.
and yes I claimed expense mostly for Faredays and used the Council taxi service
¨°o.O O.o°¨°o.O O.o°¨°o.O O.o°¨°o.O O.o°¨°o.O O.o°¨°o.O
¨°o. Keeping an eye on Labours past pledges http://labourstodo.tk/
¨°o. Non-Party Candidates 2011 don't split your vote reserve a ward now
¨°o. http://nonpartycandidates.tk/
What I really want to see is
What I really want to see is the council meetings webcast so that the public can really see what they get for their money. I have been asking for this for the last 6/7 years.
All too often the BNP councillors have all gone hours before the end. They walked out at the leadership vote etc...
Most councillors are on 3 or 4 committees. Cllr Marfleet of the BNP is on nothing at all.
I don't know about Tony or anybody else who has come to the council, but has Cllr Marfleet ever said anything at all, anywhere, to represent his constituents, because I have not heard it down the civic, not one single word. Can he speak?
Answers on a postage stamp to ..PnP...
Cllr Mike Barnes - Longton South
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing"
http://potteye.blogspot.com/
Potteye wrote: Answers on a
Answers on a postage stamp to ..PnP...
Ha,ha,ha!! 10/10 for that one I think!
Seriously, Cllr Marfleet has
Seriously, Cllr Marfleet has never spoken at full council in all the time I have covered them. Neither has has Burgess or Sandland.
The only 2 contributions from the BNP in the last 9.5hrs of council debate have come from Cllr Batkin.
It is all part of the ploy if you ask me, coming up to an election - say nowt.
Remember the sketch from 'Dad's Army' when the boys were under interrogation from the SS officer "Vot iss Your Name?" and the reply from Cpt Mainwaring: " Don't tell him Pike!"
It will end in tears I'm telling you.....
_________________________________________________________
I love Stoke-on-Trent. We Are just trying to get the stories out there... follow me on Twitter @Tony_Walley
Webcasting was part of egov
Webcasting was part of egov what committees have you taken your proposal to?
Posted from bus :)
¨°o.O O.o°¨°o.O O.o°¨°o.O O.o°¨°o.O O.o°¨°o.O O.o°¨°o.O
¨°o. Keeping an eye on Labours past pledges http://labourstodo.tk/
¨°o. Non-Party Candidates 2011 don't split your vote reserve a ward now
¨°o. http://nonpartycandidates.tk/
The council are looking in to
The council are looking in to webcasting council meetings apparently.
We have offered to run a webcast of a meeting for them at no cost to the council...
Remember: Britain invented time zones, so that means the French sit down to lunch when we tell them it is 1 O'clock and that is what makes us Great.
Nick Griffin has made another
Nick Griffin has made another massive misjugment I see-now it seems he has said that Gibraltar should be surrendered to the Spanish.
I think that this is a particularly devastating mistake on his part, because the BNP talk the language of pride in Britain and here he is talking about surrendering British territary to a European challenger. No doubt the BNP would have surrendered the Falklands too!
So that is now proof positive hat there is nothing patriotic about the BNP. It will also be a very effective argument against them if the main parties choose to use it.
If the BNP had any sense they'd now be calling for Griffin's head on a plate.
The Head of Democratic
The Head of Democratic Services looked into webcasting some time ago - costed it and visited some others doing it - but then others went cold on the idea and it got buried.
Cllr Mike Barnes - Longton South
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing"
http://potteye.blogspot.com/
We have made the offer, and
We have made the offer, and even asked if we could 'just do it' but alas silence.
Remember: Britain invented time zones, so that means the French sit down to lunch when we tell them it is 1 O'clock and that is what makes us Great.
Is any of our councilors
Is any of our councilors value for our taxes?
The question should be are our "officers of the council" worth their excessive pay packets, even the new joker we are paying for?
They aren't exactly saving us money are they?
Terry new joker? the guy
Terry new joker? the guy hasn't even started yet - give him a break eh?
_________________________________________________________
I love Stoke-on-Trent. We Are just trying to get the stories out there... follow me on Twitter @Tony_Walley
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