Posted by JLW on Wednesday Jun 08, 16:29
John Leech has responded to our request that he submit a fortnightly column to the site.
He has declined, saying, "Given that the website has been set up to undermine me in any way it can I have no hesitation in declining your offer. As previously stated I am not prepared to have anything to do with a site which seeks to misrepresent the truth and continues to retain information that the administrator knows to be false."
This site does not seek to misrepresent the truth, and all comments are owned by the person that posted them.
+ tags coming soon
( 32 Comments )
Ghulam Murtaza
Wednesday Jun 08, 18:06
Well done to John Leech for not letting embittered Labour Party activists set the agenda. Why on earth would he co-operate with people whose sole purpose is to undermine him?
I'm sure Mr Leech as MP will continue to highlight issues such as Post Office closures in Withington, the Metrolink delay, the broken promises on Tuition fees and all the rest of it!
Presumably the local paper will continue to print their "Westminster column", so John Leech could use that to communicate with residents, just as his predecessor did.
Paul Berry
Wednesday Jun 08, 18:16
It seems bizare that John Leech could be expected to write a column for this abusive website.
Hopefully our new MP will publish more than the ONE "annual" report produced by his predecessor in 18 years representing the area!
Maureen Holland
Wednesday Jun 08, 18:20
This is terrible news. Why oh why won't John Leech assist our efforts to destroy him?
Alan
Wednesday Jun 08, 18:53
The fact that John Leech won't contribute to the site on a fortnightly basis just goes to show what a spineless politician he is. He has devoted a ridiculous amount of his time emailing people about this site in addition running to the papers complaining. Perhaps if he used this time to put forward his point and rebutt what he believes to be wrong instead of just complaining then he would find it a more productive use of his time.
I truly hope that the paper continues with the Westminster column, as most of his constituents won't be able to attend any of his surgeries it would be helpful to have some form of communication from him!
Lets face it, he is still too preoccupied in council business, he still doesn't have an office or a website and constituents still have to email to his council address as he still hasn't got a parliament one.
Perhaps less time spent running around after administrators of websites that just highlight his unprincipled and scurrilous activities; and more time on setting up an office and dealing with constituent problems.
Val
Wednesday Jun 08, 19:10
Guys, I've just thought of something - if we'd put in half as much effort before the election, maybe Keith would still be our MP?
That crafty John Leech, he's not going to meet us on our level, he's going to continue the successful campaigns that got him elected. Brilliant!
Tim
Wednesday Jun 08, 19:17
Did you really think he would be stupid enough to submit a column to a website specifically set up to damage him? And if this website is 'to hold John Leech account' for his actions as an MP, where was Keith Bradley Watch? No this is just anti Lib Dem.
One day the Labour party will stop their lies about this being impartial. And admit it.
Sarah Jackson- Old Lansdowne Rd. W.Didsbury
Wednesday Jun 08, 20:04
Tim,
i'm not a Labour supporter but i think that this is a fair forum for people to air their views. I thought that the whole thing about lib dems were being 'liberal'. let people have there views and don't assume that just beacuse someone is astute enough to know when they're being lied to, that they're just sour labour supporters. grow up, and allow others the right to freedom of speech
Alan
Wednesday Jun 08, 20:29
Val, I know people who worked tirelessly for Keith during his time as MP, not just during the election campaign. John Leech's campaigns were successful not because they were based on real issues but because they were based on scaremongering lies!!! Open your eyes!!
Mike
Wednesday Jun 08, 21:08
"Open your eyes!" ????
- that sounds the death-rattle of Manchester Labour. You folks genuinely don't get it. When you win elections, it is only proper. But when someone else wins, you cannot accept it, and thrash around looking for excuses.
Why not have some dignity and accept the verdict of the people of Manchester Withington? They have chosen a vigorous and youthful new MP to represent them. You should respect their decision.
Val
Wednesday Jun 08, 21:15
Maybe there are indeed lessons for us in this result? I always supported Chris Paul, Mike Amesbury and others who make personal attacks every week on the sitting Liberal Democrats.
Now I'm not so sure if this is the right thing to do...
Steve
Wednesday Jun 08, 21:20
Could someone explain to me how this site is aiming to undermine John Leech? OK some of the people posting on it may not be unbaised in their opinions, but that doesn't mean that it is undermining him. Keith Bradley had a website which is still there: www.keithbradley.org.uk which was regularly updated with what Keith did as an MP - I'm sure it is more to do with cost that only one yearly update got put out rather than want. John Leech does not have a website, so it is a real oppertunity for him to get in touch with his constituents and let me repeat my question - HOW DOES THIS WEBSITE UNDERMINE JOHN LEECH?
Mike
Wednesday Jun 08, 21:36
Steve, I think the founders of the website have made it quite clear that they hate John Leech and the Liberal Democrats, and would do anything they could to undermine him.
Check out the web-link below, where Alan the moderator makes it quite clear that he and "a group of us" have set up this website "in opposition to the new Manchester Withington MP, John Leech".
http://www.democrats.com/node/4827
Be reasonable, Steve, and accept what is obvious - this website exists to undermine the new MP.
Sarah J
Wednesday Jun 08, 21:41
Why don't you people listen?
john leech has been given the chance to have his say- you can't get more fair than that. if this website was bias, people like Mike and Tim wouldn't be able to get their views across.
At the end of the day, we probably all want the same thing, which is a decent MP. john Leech seems to have fallen at the first few hurdles already.
Administrator
Wednesday Jun 08, 21:43
Three points mike:
1) The comments are not moderated, so Alan cannot be a "moderator"
2) The website which that link refers to is Politics Watch - www.politicswatch.org.uk
3) This website does not seek to undermine John Leech. I set up this website, because John Leech misled people about Christie Hospital closing. I think you would agree that people are more than welcome to post comments on the website, and they do not get deleted if they argue for John Leech. I think it is unreasonable to suggest the website is biased or unfair, but I welcome your suggestions for improvement.
Mike
Wednesday Jun 08, 22:10
"Why don't you people listen?"
"Open your eyes!"
etc etc etc etc
Dear old Alan & Sarah J, I AM listening! I hear the people of Withington and I accept their verdict in the recent election!
It behoves you both to do likewise!
Sarah J
Wednesday Jun 08, 22:32
Mike,
I am not arguing the result of the election, but it is wholly fair to have a forum where people are able to question the integrity of their MP- I know if i had a job with so much responsilibity and i were being questioned about my position I was welcome the chance to defend myself. it would appear that John Leech has been rumbled for the chancer he is.
Sarah J
Not a Labour voter, but won't be taken for a fool
Len Draycott
Wednesday Jun 08, 22:50
Hey Ho
Ghulam Murtaza - Disgraced former Labour Councillor in Rochdale kicked out of the party for failing to declare a conviction and jail sentence...now sticking up for John and the Lib Dems. Interesting stuff.
Look people, the issue is fairly obvious stuff. John Leech ran a Save Christie Hospital Campaign. A month after the General Election and he is still failing to provide a justification/credible explanation for having put the fear into local people.
Nobody with Labour affiliations is claiming this is the sole reason that he won. But it is painfully clear, considering Neil Goodwin's strog rebuke AND John's eagerness to deflect criticism/fudge the issue, that this campaign was wholly misleading.
So people put your party politics aside and hone in on the facts. There's your reason this website exists.
Yep, we can talk around Blair/Withington Hospital/Iraq, whatever you like but don't pretend that the Lib Dems have/can excuse themselves on Christie.
And as for Lib Dem criticism of this site, can you really be any more sanctimonious?
Anyone who visited www.vote-2005.co.uk during the election and various Labour Watch blogs will get my drift.
Pots and kettles...
Mike Amesbury
Wednesday Jun 08, 22:50
Very typical of a Lib Dem, campaigns on an agenda that had no regard for the truth, gets elected and will not be held accountable for his actions. The people of Manchester are watching you and will make an informed choice at the next General Election.
Colin Dobbie
Wednesday Jun 08, 23:46
As I predicted, John Leech will not contribute to this website. I am not surprised. Perhaps he could have explained the Lib. Dem. campaign in Withington which was based on lies, and scare tactics. Victory was his, but it was a grubby and treacherous victory. I expect a certain amount of untruths from politicians, but this campaign was the worst, most disgraceful campaign ever fought in the U.K. let us not forget; how he 'electorally blackmailed' the uneducated and simple, those with cancer, those aged and sick and scared them into voting Lib. Dem. Unforgivable, particularly poignant is the fact that another Lib. Dem. M.P. expired from cancer recently in Manchester; I hear that she was an excellent M.P. John Leech....Resign now!
Alan
Wednesday Jun 08, 23:48
Mike, you are clearly getting yourself into a fluster just like your man Leech is. As the Administrator points out I am not a moderator on this site and in fact have nothing to do with it.. except the occasional post! My website is completely different and the only affiliation that I have with this site is that I have created a link to it on my site - as the administrator of this site has kindly done on his.
In response to your comments, no I don't hate John Leech, that is a very strong word. My issue is about his campaign tactics, his organisation after the election (office, surgeries etc)and the fact that all he seems to be spending his time on is complaining about this site.
On my site I have highlighted what I believe to be unacceptable behaviour from someone that is now in a very responsible position. If Mr Leech, yourself or any one else can't deal with or accept that then tough!! I give ample opportunity for people like yourself to post on the site or email in. I think it is just another example to show how the Lib Dem's don't like criticism. They don't like it because they know that their policies are non- sensical and that the current MP for Manchester Withington used cancer patients and Christie Hospital as a self serving campaign tool.
In response to the link you provide, I have received a number of emails from America; some say what a good site it is and others just discuss the comparisons between British and American local politics.
In conclusion,yes I am opposed to John Leech, I didn't vote for him and I don't agree with what he stands for. The difference is, instead of just complaining and moaning about it I have attempted, as has the administrator of this site, to bring to light the issues which we believe to be unacceptable... again, if you don't like it tough!!
Graham Cliff
Thursday Jun 09, 05:04
Why do malicious web sites like this exist?
I know that because of my question it will be "edited" from this site.
John is a responsible politician.
Gutter press web advocacy demeans the NET.
What a sad bunch of intellects(?) lie behind these pages?
Administrator
Thursday Jun 09, 05:28
Actually, your comment won't be "edited", or changed in any way. The only comment that will be changed are those that are wilfully offensive.
Why does this website exist? Because John Leech misled people about Chrisite Hospital closing. If we can't trust him to tell the truth about cancer services in our constituency what can we trust him on? The point is to make sure that what he is doing is made available through one central open forum. I do not understand what is malicious about this website? Are the lead stories malicious? I don't think they are, and maybe some comments are but you have a chance to respond to them if you want - it is an open forum.
I think a more appropriate question is why wouldn't a website like this exist?
Alan
Thursday Jun 09, 12:14
Graham, pornography demeans the NET not a website that actively encourages debate within the local community. The sad people are people like you Graham who won't (can't) debate and therefore have no other course of action other than to discredit people who do. Perhaps you can enlighten us all as to what is so malicious, specifically, about this site. Furthermore I would like to point out that most of these comments are no where near as malicious as the comments posted on Vote2005.com in the run up to the election which was clearly just a Lib Dem forum, which Mr Leech contributed to, set up to discredit Keith Bradley and the Labour Party.
On a last point, I would suggest that John Leech is as responsible a politician as Hitler was a thoroughly nice guy.
i.e. (for those of you who believed that John's Christie campaign was true) NOT!!
Shanghai Jim
Thursday Jun 09, 17:04
The LibDems, particularly in Manchester, remind me of some vaguely disgruntled teenagers - we don't like 'stuff' and we want to change 'things',"ja know wot I mean." However, with little or no knowledge of what to change or how to do it.
The Christies issue is but one example. Yes, some proposals were drawn up that could have seen a re-organization of surgical care. Indecently, these proposals are now very unlikely to materialize. However, to represent this as a treat to the future of the hospital is at best a misrepresentation, and most likely a blatant lie.
LibDem councilors took part in that 'save Christies Hospital' leaflet, they must be held account also.
There are many good, honest and decent Liberal Democrats out there I'm sure. For them, John Leech, his underlings and the Manchester LibDem councilors are burden on their shoulders.
Ian
Thursday Jun 09, 18:16
Good point Jim - Messrs Sandiford, Cameraon, Gallagher, Fisher (who she?) Firth, Bethell, Lewis, Glover, et al are all equally accountable on the Christie issue...having shown their concern by giving up 10 minutes of their valuable time for a photo op.
Although there are some interesting absences on that pic - Perhaps Aunty Audrey, Simon Wheale and Tony Parkison (with his legal knowledge) rightly thought better than to manipulate cancer patients in such a crude way.
Perhaps there are some people with integrity within the Lib Dem ranks after all.
Andrew
Friday Jun 10, 21:41
How can you expect a man to comment on a website set up by a jelous labour party member who has set out to discredit him? After reading an artical on you in the Manchester Metro I am not suprised to see you are a Labour party supporter and this website is just a chance to moan. How about a Conservative MP for Withington? I live in Tatton constituency with my Mp the shadow chancellor George Osborne who does a wondeful job and no malicous websites have been set up about him.
Alan
Sunday Jun 12, 09:54
Andrew, why is this a malicious website, any one can post on it, the administrator even invited Mr Leech to submit comments as a rebutal since he seems so concerned about it.
As far as a Tory MP for Withington, I think if you look at the election results for the constituency you will see that the answer to that is 'no thanks'.
If you try reading all the postings on this site you will see why it has been set up. It isn't the fact that Mr Leech is a Lib Dem but the fact that he ran an unprincipled campaign using the fear of cancer patients in an attempt to gain votes. I'm sure that not even the Tories or your MP in Tatton would go as far as that to get elected!
Ed Vaughan
Sunday Jun 12, 17:31
John Leech has already shown himself to be a person more concerned with feathering his own nest, than with pusuing the interests of his constituents.
He appears to be intent on building a healthy bank balance for the time when Withington voters tell him to pack his tent and move on.
Nice to see him at the Didsbury Festival on Saturday - not. Was he too busy counting his assets;
or perhaps he was out lobbying to save Christie Hospital?
He's a loose cannon for the LibDems and will undoubtedly, in the not too distant future, blast himself out of Westminster.
Nice to see Keith bradley and family in Didsbury Park yesterday; and good to see the high regard that many local people still hold him in.
Ed Vaughan
Sunday Jun 12, 17:31
John Leech has already shown himself to be a person more concerned with feathering his own nest, than with pusuing the interests of his constituents.
He appears to be intent on building a healthy bank balance for the time when Withington voters tell him to pack his tent and move on.
Nice to see him at the Didsbury Festival on Saturday - not. Was he too busy counting his assets;
or perhaps he was out lobbying to save Christie Hospital?
He's a loose cannon for the LibDems and will undoubtedly, in the not too distant future, blast himself out of Westminster.
Nice to see Keith bradley and family in Didsbury Park yesterday; and good to see the high regard that many local people still hold him in.
Thomas
Sunday Jun 12, 17:46
I didn't see him at the Didsbury Festival, but apparently some of my friends did - I went and had a look round and apparently he'd made an appearance at one of the stalls related to Christie hospital.
Ed Vaughan
Tuesday Jun 14, 18:12
Yeh? Some of my friends saw Lord Lucan; riding Shergar, while having a drink from the Holy Grail.
Ed Vaughan
Tuesday Jun 14, 22:58
Be careful what you wish for Andrew... one website for George Osborne coming up.(G)
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