Saturday 28 March 2009

TDC COUNCILLOR'S BLOG ALLOWS COMMENT ACCUSING ANOTHER COUNCILLOR OF TREASON?










Well what a strange 'blogging world' we have in Thanet.
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I am sure readers are aware that Cllr David Green (Labour) on 'Eastcliff Matters' seems to have been 'bloggered' and has run foul of a Standards Complaint about his blog. On my last post I commented that Cllr Mark Nottingham (Labour) on 'From One End of Kent' may have exposed himself to a similar complaint and suggested that Councillors need to take care in running blogs and that Cllr Simon Moores (Conservative) on 'Thanet Life' perhaps sets the standard in Thanet for them to emulate.
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Some of course, will see this as a 'dastardly' attempt by TDC Conservatives to close down Labour Councillor's Blogs who may have allowed comments against Conservative Councillors on their blogs that breach 'Standards required of TDC Councillors'.
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What are readers to make then, of Cllr Ken Gregory (Conservative) on 'Village Voice'.
Please feel free to go across to Village Voice, the link is below, and read the comments that have been posted and allowed to stand, from Rockyracoon (aka 'Annoying Bloke').

https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=2956080782499881433&postID=1790319749811785803&isPopup=true
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What I find extraordinary is that Cllr Gregory, appointed as a Conservative (as opposed to his previous appointment under Labour) to Chair of Planning last year, seems to have forgotten he is now a Conservative!
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Otherwise, why would he allow a comment to stand on 'Village Voice' (amongst many others), accusing a certain fellow Conservative Councillor of 'Treason'? Here is just one (suitably edited) extract:
" (21) In my view Cllr XXXXXX committed Treason within the meanings of both the 1351 Act and The Treason Felony Act 1848."
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Well, how absolutely extraordinary!
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Are we about to see a new twist on a 'Complaint to Standards' i. e. a Conservative Councillor making a complaint about a Conservative 'Blogger' Cllr as opposed to a Labour Cllr 'Blogger'?
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This would be a novel situation. What is perhaps more worrying is the motivation behind allowing this 'character assassination' of a fellow Conservative member to be printed on a 'Conservative' Blog?
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If I was a Conservative Cllr, I think I would begin to wonder what this is really all about.
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There may of course be a very simple explanation.
As Cllr Gregory last commented on his own 'Blog' at 14.16 on 28th March, he may not have spotted the item in question yet. Which leads me to the point that perhaps Councillors blogging need to ensure they have 'Comment Moderation' switched on and need perhaps to read very carefully what is contained in posts.
I will remove this whole posting should that be the case and apologise to Cllr Gregory and sympathise with him on the 'hazards' of running a 'blog'.
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UPDATE
Cllr Gregory has stated that he is quite happy to leave the post on Village Voice standing. He is entitled to do so. However, I am glad I am not a colleague and fellow Conservative Councillor of his; with a 'colleague' and fellow party member like him, who needs 'Labour' blogs to allow criticism of Conservative Councillors?
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I am therefore happy to allow comment again on this site and will leave this post up.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

You're all as bad as each other. Instead of sorting out the Isle's problems you spend your time bitching about each other and trying to catch each other out. You're like a bunch of schoolkids without the excuse that you will mature as you get older. No wonder we can't get anyone decent to stand for Council. When will you get it through your thick skulls? We're all fed up with you and we want a change.

Anonymous said...

Given you know who started "in my opinion..." it's more of a personal feeling than a statement of fact ... interesting even so.

Bertie Biggles said...

Let me start with Richard Card's postings of 10.19 and 11.16.

Richard, as I have said before, whilst I wish you luck in pursuit of some serious issues, I am not prepared to let you use Strife as a 'forum' to discuss them. If you are successful, we will all know about it and will be able to comment in due course. My issue is not with the veracity or otherwise of your posting on Village Voice.

10.27, I have edited your comment simply because I don't agree with your description! Please forgive me.

"Keep up Bertie. Rocky is a well known local **** who has been posting that stuff for years. Bill Hayton is about as subversive as my grandmas slippers, but he does enjoy putting the boot into his own side on occasions. Good on him."

29 March 2009 10:27

Anonymous said...

It's getting worse. We now find that Councillor Tomlinson has reported Dave Green to the Standards Comittee because of "something that appeared on his blog." Wake up Councilor Tomlinson. It isn't all about you. Thousands are threatened with redundancy. The Isle is descending into dark times. ALL of your efforts should be directed towards helping people, not misusing the system to try to score political points over your opponents. You are not worthy of office. Get out, now.

Bertie Biggles said...

22.37, I know these are difficult times for many but please try and be civil. Frankly , I have no problems with The Standard's system. If the complaint is warranted, it will be upheld. If it is not,then fine. Unless we know exactly what the issue is, we should perhaps reserve judgement. I have no evidence that Cllr Tomlinson is 'unworthy' of office and I suspect neither do you. In that case, please do not get too carried away!

Anonymous said...

i have to say it is not the first time i think 2 of the councillors are the leader's henchmen - sooner they are all out the better!