Posted by Steve James on Friday May 12, 09:21
John Leech has taken part in his first transport debate. Despite hoping the debate would "be on something very specific" and being "alarmed when he saw the title 'Cycling'", he felt the debate was "very interesting"
Some interesting comments were made by Mr Leech including:
"To be fair to the Government – no one has mentioned this – one of the main reasons for cycling rates not being as good as they are elsewhere is our pretty poor weather."
"I am sure that poor weather is the only reason that the right hon. Member for Witney (Mr. Cameron) has a car following him to work with his suit and shoes, because he does not want to spend the rest of the day in a soggy suit and shoes. Instead of having a car following him, perhaps he ought to get a wardrobe"
"Perhaps Members of Parliament need to do a little more. Rather than give 20p a mile for cycling and 40p a mile for cars, perhaps we should turn that round and give 40p a mile for cycling and 20p a mile for cars."
John also raised important points including the provision of storage facilities for bicycles, location and convenience of cycle lanes and stressed the importance of public consultation over these matters.
+ tags coming soon
( 107 Comments )
Steve James
Friday May 12, 17:55
Author comment:
I am incredibly chuffed that my MP is so perceptive and feel that this incisive viewpoint totally justifies the two salaries he claims as an elected representative. What will he tell us next? If you drive a car you might have to fill it with petrol occasionally?
peter h
Saturday May 13, 06:50
what a pathetic childish comment, steve. In case you hadn't noticed, Manchester's LABOUR council has launched a "love your bike" initiative.
John, as local MP, has taken the trouble to speak out in favour of bikes.
I would assume that he would get applauded for that, as he deserves.. I'd also assume that the local Labour MPs would do the same, but I suppose that would be too much trouble.
Manchester has the highest number of students in Europe. You'd expect it to be a bike friendly city.
So support the man when he takes an initiative in support of Manchester, stop spewing out puerile claptrap like that just because he's a lib dem.
Alan
Saturday May 13, 12:20
Cycling to work!!?? What am I supposed to do with my suit? How would I shower when I get to work?? Not very practical really.
As for cyclists in general I think they're a damned nuisance swaying about all over the road and getting in the way! As far as I'm concerned if cyclists want to use the road then they should pay road tax like the rest of us who drive to work and get financially screwed at every turn by the government for doing so!
Thomas
Saturday May 13, 12:37
I completely disagree with Alan. Cyclists aren't a "damn nuisance" on the roads, but often it is inconvenient and difficult for them to ride safely. A major gripe I have with cycle lanes (and I think they are a great idea) is that they all too often have a line of cars parked down them. I think a cycle lanes should be illegal to park in. I think John makes a good point about cycle lanes though - often they are badly planned.
I take your point on wearing a suit to work - some people have their car follow them with it (sorry, I had to say it!), but seriously I know a few people who leave their suits at work and just carry a shirt in each day in their bag. If you are lucky your employer might provide showers (mine does).
Finally on road tax, I have to admit that I'm not sure who pays for what, but I think the council pay for the roads in Manchester from our council taxes rather than from road tax. I don't know about you Alan, but cyclists paying to use the motorways would seem a little unfair really... Anyway, the damage caused to the roads and environment by bicycles is minute and people should be encouraged to cycle when it is possible (i.e. taxing them to do it is a bad idea).
peter h
Saturday May 13, 17:57
good lord, i have to agree with thomas for once.
Alan, I cycle about 100 miles a week. AND I have - and tax - 3 vehicles.
Sorry, but your argument doesnt hold water. most cyclists are car owners or part of a car owning family, so they do pay road tax.
perhaps you'd also like pedestrians to pay road tax? after all, they have to cross the road - free of charge the bounders!
trouble with bike lanes is that they have to be part of an integrated system to work properly. you can't just paint a line on a road and call it a bike lane. theyre fairly useless like that.
in fairness to alan, it would help if kids actually got taught how to use bikes on the road.
oh, and you can get suits from people like rohan which can screw up and go in a bag and come out perfectly wearable. I use them for long distance travel.
Alan
Saturday May 13, 18:38
Approaching 60 and cycling 100 miles a week.... Peter, I'm impressed! You almost put me to shame!
peter h
Saturday May 13, 22:32
you should try it. keeps you fit, its good for the environment, its fun, you get to see things you miss in a car, and it saves you money. most of my cycling is nothing more adventurous than running local errands. saves a fortune in petrol and parking. and you start finding offroad paths to all sorts of places. you can get from didsbury to warrington offroad, or up to ashton or down to stockport. you'd be amazed at what you find in places youve known 20 years.
Alan
Sunday May 14, 17:10
Fitness wise I've never warmed to cycling I don't know why? The last time I went cycling I was in the South of France and porbably only went 2 miles but was walking like John Wayne for the next two days. I can run marathons, spend hours in the gym etc but cycling just hits the wrong spots too hard for me.
You are correct you do miss things when you are in the car but for me driving is for getting from A to B and as long as I've got my cigs and the radio blaring I'm happy plus I really enjoy driving. I'll have to watch out which cyclist I'm beeping my horn at Peter, it may well be you!
peter h
Monday May 15, 00:15
sod politics. we spent the afternoon at sale sharks cheering them till we were hoarse. wonderful, absolutely wonderful. then we watched braveheart on telly and realised where mel gibson had nicked his fight scenes from.
Steve James
Tuesday May 16, 11:26
Peter - never thought you'd heed the advice to get on your bike.
peter h
Tuesday May 16, 17:19
I didnt. Been on a bike for 45 years.
you guys are really missing a trick you know. you keep knocking john leech when he doesnt deserve it and completely ignore the fact that Lib Dems are being led by somebody who's not up to the job. Ming Campbell is out of his depth, and I suspect the Lib Dem MPs are beginning to realise they've screwed up. could be bad news for your enemies steve.
Steve James
Wednesday May 17, 10:31
Peter
Yep, I think there will be Lib Dem leadership bloodletting ahead of the next General Election but I think your comments about Ming can also apply to John. Big on perception, lacking in delivery and policy.
peter h
Wednesday May 17, 19:50
rubbish.
John will make a bloody good local MP in the same way as he was a bloody good councillor and for the same reasons.
I can say from personal experience that matters that this family have aproached him about have been promptly and efficiently dealt with in a far better way than KB ever did.
All KB did was to write anodyne letters to appear to do something.
John actually took action.
And I say that as a constituent, not as any kind of political activist. We have no political allegiance in that way.
And, even if lib dems have maybe picked the wrong leader, at least he was elected.
Labour appears to have some kind of kingly succession - tony blair seems to think he has the right to nominate this country's next prime minister. Oh really? Who gave him that right?
Alan
Wednesday May 17, 19:59
Peter, when you say that John always took action as opposed to Keith are you talking about John the Cllr v Keith the MP or are you talking about John since he has become MP. There is a significant difference!
peter h
Wednesday May 17, 22:45
both.
Steve James
Thursday May 18, 15:13
Ok Peter...Call My Bluff time...provide examples...
Thomas
Thursday May 18, 20:36
Well I'm still waiting on a reply to my letter sent on 9th January from John, though he says he refuses to reply to it.
I've said this before, but I can't stress it enough. John Leech shouldn't ignore me because I am a member of the Labour party or for any other reason - he is MY MP.
When I write to my MP to express concern about potential job cuts by my employer (I won't be affected), I don't think he should ignore me.
Being an MP means you represent people, regardless of whether you think they will vote for you. I know that Keith Bradley worked tirelessly for his constituents regardless of their political views.
Alan
Thursday May 18, 21:32
Peter talks about John going to resident meetings all the time, which granted is commendable but as a Cllr, always in the constituency, he had plenty of time to do that. Keith was in London every week Mon-Fri representing the constituency in Parliament as an MP should do. I also know that, as Thomas says, he worked tirelessly to address constituents concerns, and where he could help them; regardles of political affiliation. Forget residents meetings Peter, John has got a hell of a lot to learn!!!
peter h
Thursday May 18, 23:02
no i will not provide examples. they were private matters to this family. Sorry.
I'm sure john does have a lot to learn and he obviously won't be properly effective yet in all sorts of ways..
No doubt KB was the same when he became an MP and took time to bed in properly before he could function effectively.
you need to give any MP 12-18 months in order to have a clear view of his performance, and none of you 3 will judge him impartially any way.
From our point of view, so far so good, but it's too soon to judge. We are confident though that he'll deliver handsomely. We're not confident that his party will. They seem a bit rudderless at the moment
Alan, I'm sure KB did a good job in many ways, but our experience with him individually was not good , and unfortunately for him he was Labour's rep here when Labour shut withington hospital, buggered us about over schools and took us to war in iraq, and paid the appropriate price.
We may vote labour again, but not until blair and most of what he stands for has gone. I think that will take a long time, personally, and that gordon brown will not be a good leader. I wouldn't put money on labour winning the next election with a workable majority. then finally we may see PR and some actual democracy in this country.
Thomas, given the fact you have made it your life's work to undermine John Leech, you can scarcely be surprised if he refuses to play your game. He's there to do a job, not to play political games with you. No doubt he will assume , probably correctly , that you are trying to entrap him.
Steve James
Friday May 19, 09:28
Peter, I respect your privacy issues but equally, how much longer can you go around making sweeping statements without supporting them up with credible examples. Hardly validates your point of view does it? The bare fact of the matter is that I want an MP that influences and delivers investment and improvements to my locality. John is big on perception and good at getting trashy propaganda laden with exaggeration through doors, but what about the bigger picture? Keith's problem was that he was a diplomat foremost so much of his work was done behind the scenes. He didn't pander to media agendas, nor did he adopt a rent-a-quote mentality to the local rags. Just quietly and efficiently went about his work, dealing with individuals and agencies directly and not expecting a fanfare when he got results. Not trying to put the guy on a pedestal but he is a genuine guy who guys about his locality foremost.
Look, nobody posting on this board believes that Labour is perfect (honestly) but can you truthfully say that any other political party would have delivered the changes that have transformed Manchester over the last decade? C'mon, look how far the city has come. Yes, there are big issues with poverty, crime etc that need addressing, but Manchester is a vibrant, dynamic, get-ahead city. Contrast that to 20 years ago. Try, if you can, to imagine the damage caused by Lib Dem policies that would hamper job creation, the fight against crime, economic growth etc etc.
The Lib Dems might seem fluffy, charming lovely people but they are simply charlatans when it comes to policies...saying all things to appease all people. Cuddling up to the right-wing Tories in the South, positioning themselves to the left of Labour in the inner cities.
Sorry love, tabloid headlines aside, I know which of the three political parties have the superior domestic policies...and if it helps, it ain't the Lib Dems or the Tories.
I admire the conviction you have in your arguments but a lot of what you say is either riddled in contradiction or unsubstantiated by fact.
The fact John Leech has not replied to Tom's mail, written as a constituent, is both scandalous and petty.
I mean, were you aware that John Leech used message boards to deride Keith Bradley in the months before the General Election? Then he gets elected a plays aloof/holier-than-thou. He's an MP there to represent people regardless of their political affiliation.
The man (John...not Tom!) has more faces than Big Ben and holding him to account/getting him to justify his actions is nothing more than a expectation everybody has of an elected politician.
Before you spew venom, can you please tell me what, exactly, John Leech has delivered/achieved in the last 12 months? (apart from leaflets and piss-poor letters to voters purporting to have been written in biro!)
Steve James
Friday May 19, 09:37
Peter, I respect your privacy issues but equally, how much longer can you go around making sweeping statements without supporting them up with credible examples. Hardly validates your point of view does it? The bare fact of the matter is that I want an MP that influences and delivers investment and improvements to my locality. John is big on perception and good at getting trashy propaganda laden with exaggeration through doors, but what about the bigger picture? Keith's problem was that he was a diplomat foremost so much of his work was done behind the scenes. He didn't pander to media agendas, nor did he adopt a rent-a-quote mentality to the local rags. Just quietly and efficiently went about his work, dealing with individuals and agencies directly and not expecting a fanfare when he got results. Not trying to put the guy on a pedestal but he is a genuine guy who guys about his locality foremost.
Look, nobody posting on this board believes that Labour is perfect (honestly) but can you truthfully say that any other political party would have delivered the changes that have transformed Manchester over the last decade? C'mon, look how far the city has come. Yes, there are big issues with poverty, crime etc that need addressing, but Manchester is a vibrant, dynamic, get-ahead city. Contrast that to 20 years ago. Try, if you can, to imagine the damage caused by Lib Dem policies that would hamper job creation, the fight against crime, economic growth etc etc.
The Lib Dems might seem fluffy, charming lovely people but they are simply charlatans when it comes to policies...saying all things to appease all people. Cuddling up to the right-wing Tories in the South, positioning themselves to the left of Labour in the inner cities.
Sorry love, tabloid headlines aside, I know which of the three political parties have the superior domestic policies...and if it helps, it ain't the Lib Dems or the Tories.
I admire the conviction you have in your arguments but a lot of what you say is either riddled in contradiction or unsubstantiated by fact.
The fact John Leech has not replied to Tom's mail, written as a constituent, is both scandalous and petty.
I mean, were you aware that John Leech used message boards to deride Keith Bradley in the months before the General Election? Then he gets elected a plays aloof/holier-than-thou. He's an MP there to represent people regardless of their political affiliation.
The man (John...not Tom!) has more faces than Big Ben and holding him to account/getting him to justify his actions is nothing more than a expectation everybody has of an elected politician.
Before you spew venom, can you please tell me what, exactly, John Leech has delivered/achieved in the last 12 months? (apart from leaflets and piss-poor letters to voters purporting to have been written in biro!)
Thomas
Friday May 19, 10:43
Peter: I think it is unfair to say that it is my "life's work to undermine John Leech". All I have done is create a website that allows constituents to contribute and discuss what John Leech has done for the constituency.
I happen to believe that he hasn't done much, and I also believe that Keith Bradley did a better job than him - regardless of political persuasion. My position is simple and clear – I am a member of the Labour party, I believe in the values represented by Clause IV (See http://www.labour.org.uk/aboutlabour), and I believe that with a Labour MP and a Labour Government we can (and have) change the lives of people through policies that promote social justice and equality.
I don’t criticise John for everything that he does and I will hold my hands up and congratulate him for any achievements he makes. I have contacted John in the past about his views and how he will represent the constituency, and he usually replies very quickly. However, I wrote to him on the 9th January about investment in Science, Technology and research, and he ignored my letter. When I saw him at the count for the local elections on 4th May, I went up to him and offered my hand, which he refused to shake. He said that he didn’t want to “have anything to do with me” and wasn’t going to reply to my letter.
I recently wrote expressing my concerns about potential job losses where I work, a letter which again I have had no reply to. I accept that if I was writing weekly to criticise Liberal Democrat policy he has every right to ignore me, but when I write about important issues that he should be representing me on in Parliament I find it unacceptable to ignore me because of my political beliefs or any personal differences we may have.
Steve James
Friday May 19, 18:09
..alternatively you are Beelzebub..probably..when Peter replies...
peter h
Friday May 19, 23:21
first of all don't give me that crap about keith bradley not pandering to the press. his face was forever in the local press, and he rent-a-quoted with the best of them. It was a running joke in this house as to what photo her'd been in this week in the reporter.
And why not? Let's be honest - it's part of a politician's job to do that. All of them do it, and theyre fools not to do it. KB and JL no doubt both do it equally well.
Secondly, although I am not a political activist, I've been a labour supporter for over 40 years.
I'm from a bloody mining village. We were over the moon in 97 when a viable labour government finally came to power, and stayed that way for a couple of years till we began to realise the true colours of Tony Blair, culminating in the betrayal which is Iraq.
I stopped supporting labour with huge regret.
So if I spew out venom, it is not as a lib dem - I don't even KNOW what their national policies are, but as a socialist who feels betrayed by the slime that has infected Labour.
And if you believe in clause 4 Thomas, how on earth can you support Tony Blair trying to run every government department on business lines, PFIs, selling off state assets and s forth?
Our water sources owned by the French, the coast guard about to be sold to canada, British Gas to Russia! Public transport owned by the biggest bunch of tossers this side of pancake tuesday.
I voted Lib Dem against the blairites, not for Lib Dems.
Having said all that, my impression of John Leech is that he's still finding his feet, it will take him time to do so, and that he will make a bloody good local MP.
And I can completely understand him turning against Thomas. Thomas is attempting to undermine him and he reacts accordingly.
As for my "evidence", Steve, this family has contacted him on 3 separate issues and he has reacted each time - twice by phoning us to discuss things.
You can believe that or not believe it. But I have no reason to lie.
And, I repeat, based on his vigorous activity as a councillor, I'm sure he'll apply the same approach as an MP.
Finally, I completely agree that Manchester is a bloody good city and in many ways really well run, far better run than most cities in this country.
But you must equally accept some things are not well run - education , police, parts of the local NHS, for instance.
And when that happens, the fact that one party dominates the council chamber is a bad thing because it allows the ruling party to avoid proper scrutiny.
We badly need PR in this country to counterbalance that sort of situation. In Manchester, Labour would still be the biggest single party, but it would have to pay more attention to opposing views.
By the way ,Steve, Manchester isn't a great city because of it'd council. It's a great city because of its people. It's a pretty unique, vibrant city in all sorts of ways, very few of them anything to do with its local councillors.
Alan
Sunday May 21, 20:48
Peter, who do you think should be the next leader of the Labour party? I agree about Gordon Brown, I don't think he would make a good leader and I don't really want to see him as PM; although I do think he has done an excellent job as Chancellor (certainly when comparing him to his predecessors) Personally I would like to see Peter Hain as the next leader although I doubt that will hapen. I think the leadership contest will be very interesting, I certainly don't think that it will be a slick transition - and so it shouldn't be!!
Thomas Graham Watch
Monday May 22, 08:54
Perhaps Thomas could answer the question put some time ago about why he pretended not to know who set up this website? I think this raises serious questions about his integrity. Also, by his own admission he doesn't actually live in Manchester anymore, so why should John Leech reply to him? Clearly he has kept his vote in Manchester because Labour are in third place in his home constituency. Where is it Thomas? Salisbury?
As for Alan Gormley. Have you written to John Leech as though you are one of his constituents? Have you answered the question about whether you work for the Labour Party? Isn't it funny that the only response we get is "let's look at the ISP where this contribution has come from".
Who is "Steve James"
Monday May 22, 09:02
Dear Steve
You ask how long Peter h can go on making sweeping statements, and then you suggest that John Leech used message boards during the GE to slag off KB. Where is your evidence. Having spoken to John, this is clearing a load of b******s, pardon my French. You have just made that up. Next you'll be trying to suggest that the Lib Dems want to switch half the street lights off in Manchester. Oh, hang on a minute, Labour have done that already.
Steve James
Monday May 22, 09:19
Peter..no evidence, no attempt to answer the question about *what* John has physically delivered/achieved for the locality on the last 12 months.
Cllr Whitmore - both myself and 3/4 friends used to post on a national website set up prior to the last General. Each constituency had its own blog. The site has since closed but John and his Oldham lackey Mr Glover used to post regularly and yes, I have proof it was John himself.
So who is telling untruths (that is if you've asked him!)... Mr Leech, myself or you?
And then you wonder why we get uptight with the mistruths and exaggerations that come from the Lib Dems.
You have more front than Blackpool Promenade.
What are they talking about?
Monday May 22, 11:30
In response to whoever is attacking Labour's integrity about the streetlights issue. Cllr Keith Whitmore probably or someone else.
We never said that Manchester Lib Dems had plans to do that. We simply told the electorate that Liberal Democrat controlled Stockport council were doing that. What we actually said was that Labour councillors would vote against any future plans by Manchester Lib Dems to switch off street lights and make the city an unsafe place to live.
And you lot are fine ones to insinuate dirty campaign tricks. Withington 2005 anyone?!
Steve James
Monday May 22, 11:46
It doesn't even merit getting uptight about. So much doesn't stack up or melts under scrutiny. It's this constant "butter wouldn't melt" bullsh*t that (thankfully) more people are beginning to see through.
No integrity
Monday May 22, 11:52
Backed up by 4 labour gains this year
Thomas
Monday May 22, 18:19
I think you will find that I do live in Manchester - I, like most other students, am registered to vote where my family lives. In fact I return to Manchester most weekends.
I don't need to justify myself to you - this website has always been a forum that people can air their views about their local Member of Parliament. The website was previously run by a group of people with varying political views who were upset by the campaign that John Leech ran about Christie Hospital.
Alan does not work for the Labour Party, and as far as I know has never been employed by either Keith Bradley or the Labour Party.
The only person that needs to justify themselves here is OUR MP - John Leech should not just ignore constituents who write to him with genuine concerns because he disagrees with their political views. My Lib Dem MP seems either incapable or too lazy to address his constituents concerns.
Dave
Monday May 22, 18:40
Purely out of curiosity, will this site continue if John Leech is voted out at the next general election? Will it be "Joe Bloggs" Labour MP watch? or "joe Bloggs" independent MP watch? etc etc
peter h
Monday May 22, 18:42
Thomas, Yes John IS your MP. But equally you are trying to undermine him and lose him his job. So what do you expect him to do?
There's no point in your coming on with "he's my MP so he has to take it" lark.
That's hypocritical.A few months ago, I made some comments about your work and you hit the roof and banned me from your website. You will remember why. You felt threatened by my actions and banned me from this website. JOhn is doing the same as you for the same reason.
Thomas
Monday May 22, 18:59
Dave - certainly. I am happy to keep the site running if we have a different MP at the next election, though it might be time for me to hand the code to someone else if I have finished university and am no longer living in the constituency.
Peter - what do you think I should do? I don't aim to undermine him (or at least certainly not through this site) and as I'm sure you appreciate, the comments you made were a completely different issue to the one I am talking about. What do you think I do to undermine him?
Steve James
Monday May 22, 19:13
Peter
You just don't get it do you? An MP is supposed to represent all of his constituents, regardless of political affiliation.
Back in the real world, people hold elected representatives to account. Mr Leech is clearly not the fluffy, dynamic man of action, man of integrity, some people thought he was/is. You can't answer questions I've posed and seem incredibly blinkered...no...monotonous with your arguments. So less of the pomposity and a bit more objectivity eh?
Dave
Monday May 22, 19:13
Not that I think it will be likely, but I do hope we get an independent MP in Manchester South next time round, Martin Bell.... if you are out there, come to Chorlton/Didsbury/Withington/Burnage etc
Alan
Monday May 22, 19:47
Yet again I have to explain myself, as a Cllr Mr Whitmore you should perhaps do your research and find that I have already answered these questions.
No I don't work for the Labour Party, no I didn't work for Keith Bradley I just helped with his campaign (unpaid) and no I have never written to John Leech as a constituent during the time I was not a constituent.
As for integrity, anyone that is too scared to post their own name and take ownership of their comments has no integrity!! Pathetic!!
peter h
Monday May 22, 19:54
steve, what question won't I answer? If you mean what this family approached john leech about, well, to repeat yet again, they were private matters, nothing to do with this website. The only matter not private was about cycling in the city. And, as you know, he actually that issue in parliament, like any mahcester MP should do.
.
And yes I DO get it. Any MP, John included, leads a very busy life. It's only natural that he will have to prioritize his life, and if he has to choose between tackling the concerns of his ordinary constituents and dealing with politically loaded questions from his enemies who are onloy asking questions in order to get ammunition to use against him, he would be in dereliction of his duty if he did NOT put his normal constituents first, or weed out what he regarded as time wasters.
If thomas finds that genuine enquiries on his part suffer because of this, then he only has himself to blame.
And thomas, the comments I made to you touched on a different issue, but the principle is the same.
I was tackling an issue I feel VERY strongly about. you felt my input threatened your livelihood, and refused to discuss it and shut me out.
I accepted that. You should accept it from John when he appears to do the same to you. THe details may differ, but the principle is identical.
Alan, I'm the wrong person to ask who should be next labour leader. My point was purely that the Labour party members should choose, not tony blair. There are a lot of gifted Labour MPs. Leaders need charisma though. Peter Hain? Dunno. That might be me of course.....................
2 jobs
Monday May 22, 22:46
The next labour leader will be chosen by labour party members, labour MPs and trade unions.
Tony Blair will not choose the next leader as he alone is not the labour party.
The next leader will not be Hain. I'd rather have McDonnell or Simpson than him.
Steve James
Tuesday May 23, 12:06
Peter - I've just spent six seconds to scroll up and recover the question you avoided:
Peter.."...no attempt to answer the question about *what* John has physically delivered/achieved for the locality on the last 12 months."
Over to you love...
Alan
Tuesday May 23, 16:46
Steve, I imagine that Peter will not take too kindly to being called 'love', secondly, the reason that the question has been avoided is because there is no answer. John has achieved/delivered nothing!
2 Jobs
Tuesday May 23, 18:51
Lets be fair - John has saved every post office from closure, stopped the Christie Hospital from closing and helped the Lib Dems get their best council election result in recent years.
The other 2 jobs
Tuesday May 23, 21:18
1) Saved every post office - no that was the CWU and the lefty labour MPs that signed the edm and lobbied the govnt cos lets be fair the govnt don't actually care what the lib dems think.
2)Stopped Christies closing - um it was never going to close so thats a load of crap.
3) Best council result - if you counbt losing 4 seats while labour are getting hammered nationally as good!!
peter h
Tuesday May 23, 22:13
well, he's kept giving you lot apopleptic fits, which is worth his salary.
he's done the same as most MPs. He's represented us in parliament and no doubt dealt with many hundreds of constituents' concerns - apart from Thomas, apparently. I'm totally confident that he will have acquitted himself well, just like he did as a councillor. He ceetainly hasn't lost touch with the voters - which Keith Bradley appeared to do.
The one that has apopleptic fits
Wednesday May 24, 00:05
Keith was a good bloke, I don't see in what way he lost touch with his voters.
Dave
Wednesday May 24, 08:53
To "The one that has apopleptic fits" Keith was great until he voted to go to war (which he did at the second vote!)
Keith was also great until the party he represented allowed for GM crops to be grown in this country; introduced student tutition fees (some much for Labour values of free education for all!); allowed PFI in hospitals and schools (aka Privatisation); introduced ASBO's; etc etc. I would have happily voted for him if he had stood down as a Labour MP and had stood as an indpendent, as I could just about forgive him for the whole Iraq issue, however, since he stood for a party that uses/abuse the name Labour, I felt I could not. When Labour get sorted out, I might consider voting for them again, until then, in my ward, the only real choice at the moment (and it is far from perfect, don't get me wrong) is the Lib Dems.
The one that has apopleptic fits
Wednesday May 24, 10:47
Yep thats right, no ASBOS let people behave how they want, roam the streets, create havoc.
Cos thats what a labour govnt that cares about the MANY that abide by the law and not the FEW that break it should behave.
Dave
Wednesday May 24, 12:46
Yep, ASBO's are so effective that 42% of them are breached, and that's according to the Home Office
Steve James
Wednesday May 24, 14:24
Dave - good point about the constituency demographic and labour's national policies that might have/did do for Keith. We've rehearsed the Iraw War vote issue no end of times.
Peter - you've as good as admitted you'd rather have an MP who makes soundbites than gets their hands dirty and gets things delivered on the ground.
I didn't have much time for your baseless arguments in the first place. Now I have even less.
Alan - all is fair in love and war, darling.
Dave
Wednesday May 24, 15:12
Just like we've rehearsed the Christies issue no end of times.
I do like this site, but the whole Iraq/Christie issue refuses to go away (and I know I am just to blame as anyone else who regularly contributes here)
Labourite
Wednesday May 24, 16:02
The reason the Iraq/Christies issue won't go away is that John lied about it.
Dave
Wednesday May 24, 16:22
What John lied about Iraq? I don't think so, I think you'll find that it was the head of the Labour party who lied about that, in case you forgot the man who lied to us about Iraq is also the prime minister the guy who wants to promote democracy across Iraq, yet he only got voted in with 28% of the vote!
2 Jobs John
Wednesday May 24, 16:31
I'm intruiged as to how Peter H can know that John Leech is an excellent local councillor. Since you live in Didsbury, John has never been your councillor, so how do you know?
Labourite
Wednesday May 24, 17:57
No Keith voted against the war, John insinuated that he didn't
peter h
Wednesday May 24, 22:39
because john leech was always actively involved in issues round here that concerned us. Bradley never showed his face , and paid the price.
peter h
Wednesday May 24, 22:49
steve, you really should stop trying to insult people. You're not very good at it. You try really hard, but it's all rather like being savaged by a dead sheep as Dennis Healey once said. the reason you have "no time" for my arguments is because you have no answers to them, just tantrums.
For what its worth , I said that all MPs have to indulge in soundbites, it's part of their job. I didnt say I liked it. I doubt if anybody contributing to this website likes such things, but theyre a reality of modern life.
try a bit harder stevie . give us all a laugh. froth at the mouth a bit more
hmmm . . . .
Wednesday May 24, 23:17
John looks like a 2nd hand car salesman that has never been to school
Keith looks like a well educated man of the world
No which one I'd go for
Dave
Thursday May 25, 08:47
"No which one I go for" sounds like your in need of a "well educated man"
Dave
Thursday May 25, 08:51
"2 Jobs John" I've commented on here for a long time now, and Peter, Alan, Thomas and the rest of the regulars know I think John Leech was/is a good councillor as I have made several comments about what he gets up to where I live (part of his ward!). However, I am still waiting to see how good an MP he is. That said, I am giving him chance as I know that I couldn't gain all the knowledge and skills to do my job in just over a year, so what makes people think that an MP should be great at their job in just over a year?
Dave
Thursday May 25, 08:58
I apologise to you "Blairite" he didn't vote for the war, but he still stood as an MP for a party that was hellbent on invading Iraq on false pretences! That is when I stopped supporting the Labour party, and if my MP had any morals, he would have done the same, in my opinion!
Dave
Thursday May 25, 10:19
Going through some of my posts, it looks like I am in need of a "well educated man" too! lol
Eitherway, I am glad I can see past stereotypes
peter h
Thursday May 25, 20:33
looks like a second hand car salesman that's never been to school?
how exactly do you arrive at thar conclusion?
Or is that what passes for wit in new labour circles? If so, you're half way there.
Alan
Thursday May 25, 20:37
This is all geting a bit boring now, even I'm tiring of slagging off John's appearance, talking about Christies, the Iraq War etc. I think we've all established what every one thinks with regards to these issues and those views are not going to change. Is it not time to move on and talk about something else!!
Dave
Thursday May 25, 21:39
Alan you are quite right!
One thing I found interesting was the Tories are in support of Heroin Shooting Rooms, yet the so called Liberal Democrats are not!
peter h
Thursday May 25, 22:43
I'm old enough to remember heroin addicts being able to get their drugs on prescription. It was a fairly effective way of controlling the drug's growth and stopped a lot of people dying. Most junkies who die do so because of contaminated needles or the unpredictable stength and purity of the drug. Prescribed drugs help minimize that.
Sale versus leicester saturdsy by the way....beats any drug
Dave
Monday May 29, 19:38
I see Blair has the lowest approval ratings for a Labour Prime Minister since post-1945. That must be quite a challenge! lol
Labourite
Monday May 29, 21:28
It is th 1st time in a long time that Labour have been weak when the tories have been strong.
The main problem is that all this infighting is keeping our real achievements off the front page.
Dave
Tuesday May 30, 08:38
Labour haven't had many real achievements since their first term in office (as far as I can remember). During the first term in office I thought they could do no wrong! But how wrong was I?
Dave
Tuesday May 30, 16:09
I've noticed that an advert for amnesty international is now in the righthand side of the screen. Interesting, especially when this site is run by a self-confessed Labour supporter. (I say interesting, because the Labour Government have come under scrutiny by Amnesty International!)
Dave
Tuesday May 30, 16:15
I wonder if John Prescott will go? Or will he be like Tony and too arrogant to resign?
Dave
Tuesday May 30, 16:16
Two of my posts have failed to appear? Why is that?
Thomas
Tuesday May 30, 20:35
Sorry your posts didn't appear - I haven't been aware of any difficulties with the site but I'll investigate them. Did you manage to post them in the end (I see there are three posts from you today)?
Why is it interesting that there is an Amnesty International banner on this site? As I believe I've pointed out - I'm not the Labour Government!
I think John Prescott will go.
peter h
Tuesday May 30, 23:36
dave
of course labour has recent achievements.
Iraq
Health service finances
home office in a shambles
university lecturers on strike
10% clearup rate on violent crime
average house prices beyond 1st time buyers
highest level of personal debt ever
longest working hours in europe
most expensive trains in europe
immigration policy in meltdown
highest prison population in europe
19th out of 24 in eurovision
nhs dental service in crisis
pension age to increase to 68
highest paid co directors in europe
manufacturing industry evaporating
civil liberties disappearing in the name of security
nofree education past secondary level
socialism abolished
10% of "exports" actually VAT fraud
patricia hewitt
john prescott
tessa jowell
peter mandelson
geoffrey robinson
david blunkett
dr david kelly
free holidays with berlusconi
cheir blair's hair bill
croquet at dorney wood
imprisonment without trial
what more could you ask for?
Thomas
Tuesday May 30, 23:48
Do you really disagree with the new pension plans peter?
peter h
Wednesday May 31, 17:48
yes thomas. pensioners are vulnerable and gordon brown severed the earning related link years ago. he is trying to prevaricate in the worst politcal way at the moment to avoid restoring it properly whilst seeming to be sympathetic. A labour government should live by the policy of from each according to his means, to each according to his needs. they do not.
just check out mps' and cabinet ministers' pension levels, by the way for sheer hypocrisy.
peter h
Wednesday May 31, 17:57
And answer me this.
Couple of years back, IKEA wanted to open a store in Stockport, bringing hundreds of jobs, thousands of visitors, massive revenue.
The council wanted it. The local people wanted it.
Prescott threw it out - on the grounds, I believe, of traffic congestion and effect on local shops.
Magically, they then apply to open up 5 miles up the Road in Ashton.
And oddly enough they get approval, and it is under construction.
Tell me. Labourites, why this happened?
As regards congestion, the Ashton site is close to one of the worst, most congested exits on the M60 and in an already congested bit of ashton, whereas the stockport one was right next to M60.
As regards local shops, the towns both have similar shops and are 5 minutes apart from each other on the M60. So the effects of IKEA on Ashton will be the same as they would have been on Stockport, good and bad.
The only difference I can see is that
Stockport is Lib Dem Controlled,
Ashton is Tameside - Labour controlled.
So why did Mr Prescott's department reject stockport but not Ashton?
Critical friend
Wednesday May 31, 19:46
Iraq - yes we have stuffed up royally but do you think the Iraqi people are better or worse without Sadaam?
Health service finances - the Government have finally stop bailing the health service out when it mismanages its budget.
home office in a shambles - agreed
university lecturers on strike - erm mainly due to the disgraceful behaviour of UCEA. In the speech the AUT made to students today they infact paid tribute to Tony Blair and Alan Johnson.
10% clearup rate on violent crime - so Blair's tough on crime policies are in fact welcome then? Including ID cards?!
average house prices beyond 1st time buyers - workers in the public sector in expensive areas get public money to help them onto the property ladder.
highest level of personal debt ever - could be something to do with Blair's erosion of a free education
longest working hours in europe - would you prefer that it was like France where the labour laws are so inflexible that you can't actually get a job.
most expensive trains in europe - the train service was even worse when it was in public ownership so don't harbour some ridiculous hope that by privatising the system we've somehow made it worse.
immigration policy in meltdown - no, we're only just starting to get tough on it in a sensible way. We won't have open borders like some looney lefties want us to but neither will we prescribe to this racist ideal that Britain should be kept British.
highest prison population in europe - that could be because we send too many people to prison. Would you rather they roamed the streets?
19th out of 24 in eurovision - who cares?!
nhs dental service in crisis - agreed
pension age to increase to 68 - and rightly so. People live longer, they must work longer, it is not difficult to understand. We've also finally linked pensions backed to earnings which all the main trade union leaders seem to be very happy with.
highest paid co directors in europe - yes I agree that is fundamentally wrong under a labour government
manufacturing industry evaporating - mainly because it is cheaper to make things in places like China. However, Britain's economy is thriving in other ways.
civil liberties disappearing in the name of security - And? You wouldn't be talking about your human rights if you end up the victim of a terrorist attck.
nofree education past secondary level - and that I fundamentally disagree with BUT surely you can't believe that someone on minimum wage should pay the same for their education as some rich kid from Eton.
socialism abolished - would you like the whole country out on strike and dead bodies piling up in the streets? Cos thats what happened last time we had full blown socialism.
10% of "exports" actually VAT fraud - no idea what thats about
patricia hewitt - I think the rough treatment shes getting is testomony to how far the NHS has come under labour.
john prescott - the guy is entitled to a private life even though I believe what he did was wrong and immoral. I think the whole croquet episode has undertones of complete class prejudice. So what if he plays croquet. Would we even be having this discussion if Michael Heseltine was DPM.
tessa jowell - bad taste in men
peter mandelson - nad judgement but as the creator of new labour, the man that got us electable the nation has a lot to thank him for. Without him you would have had another 9 years of tory rule.
david blunkett - once again bad judgement
dr david kelly - and Alastair Cambell went as a result. Don't even try blaming the PLP for that.
free holidays with berlusconi - what cos hes a labour PM hes not allowed free holidays?
cheir blair's hair bill - quite ridiculous especially considering how hard constituencys work to raise money
imprisonment without trial - and for blowing yourself up on a bus in London, indiscriminately killing innocent civilians that is no more than you deserve.
Dave
Wednesday May 31, 19:51
Erm... critical friend, if someone blows themselves up, prison is a little late!
Critical friend
Wednesday May 31, 20:31
Sorry for not being clear, perhaps I shud have said, masterminding a terrorist attack.
Alan
Wednesday May 31, 20:38
"Critical Friend"...At last someone on this site that speaks some bloody sense.
Peter, with regards to IKEA I agree, Prescott is an idiot and he should go, he did something similar near where I live and now green belt land has become a series of commercial eyesores and house prices have dropped from £1million+ to almost half that!!! There is plenty of brown field sites available but this was not considered!
peter h
Wednesday May 31, 22:43
THe mess in iraq is symptomatic of western interference - as was sadaam in the first place. the west should let the arabs run there own affairs.
the government and health service are not separate entities. If the health service fiances are a shambles, it is the government which is to blame, since the government is in charge
lecturers pay has been allowed to fall behind, that's why theyre up in arms.
Blair came to office NINE YEARS AGO pledging to be tough on crime. In that time clearup rates have dropped from 15% 10 10% and violent crime has risen. Poliicies are not working. Personally , I love the idea of ID cards.
average house prices. What about those not in the public sector? My daughter works in her shop and her boyfriend in a call centre. They don't get public money. Don't they have a right to a house? House prices are too high all round because government has allowed banks to lend too much money. Hence property price explosion
france has got nothing to do with our longest hours. Red Herring, mate. We should have shorter hours. It's supposed to be part of the deal with modern hi tech life.
no point in comparing our trains now with how they used to be. that's pots and kettles. Look at how they work in europe - better and cheaper and therefore making better contribition to transport infrastructure. The mess was created by tories. Labour has failed to sort it out.
prisom population. Yes I would prefer that most of them were free and contributing to society or doing meaningful penance via community service - or in rememdial classes, or mental hospital. Current and exs lord chief justices both said so this week.
prison really should be last resort for dasngerous people and they should be in there forever if necessary to protect the innocent. whole balance is wrong
pension age does not need to go up. people need to contribute properly throughout their working lives, that's all
civil liberties should be sacrosanct. terrorist activities are direct result of us using repression elsewhere any way. we can't afford to lose our civil liberties on the offchance that some nutter blows himself up once in a while.
education. you miss the point. the bloke from eton can afford to pay for his education. people on minimum wage can't. if its free for everybody, then everybody gets their chance, and the bloke from eton will pay in other ways - taxes.
VAT fraud. It's called Carousel fraud. Look it up. It's a symptom of massively underfunded Customs and Excise not have staff to monitor the system. It is massive and costing the country a fortune.
David Kelly - so who was selling autogrpahed copies of the hutton report last week?
Berlusconi - are you seriously condoning blair holidaying with people like him?
imprisonment without trial. If these people are guilty of crimes, then bring them to trial. Otherwise do not claim that they are guilty of crimes when you have no evidence.
Critical friend
Wednesday May 31, 23:51
Right I'm not going over old ground because I could spend weeks refuting your points and we would get nowhere as we will not agree.
But there is something that I have to say on the John Prescott issue. Forgetting for a minute about the fact that he has been putting himself about a bit.
Who gives one if he plays croquet? Like I said the right wing media would have nothing to say if David Cameron played croquet. No it’s because he’s a labour MP, a trade unionist and visibly has working class roots.
There are many other reasons that he should be sacked. The royal cock up that he has made with housing, the lack of any cohesive direction on transport, another. But not the fact that he plays croquet for goodness sake.
peter h
Thursday Jun 01, 09:02
actually I rather like prescott. he brings colour to things and speaks his mind.
Dave
Thursday Jun 01, 09:17
We are supposed to be a "fair and just society", how can that be if we lock up people without trail? Sounds like USA to me, and just look at their justice system!!!!!!
Dave
Thursday Jun 01, 11:34
So Peter likes Johnny Jags/Jabs etc Prescott?
Out of curiousity, and since John Leech isn't in the news much, I thought it would be interesting to see who everyone's favourite politican is (living and or dead) I thought as a way of keeping things ticking on the forum.
Personally, I always liked Robin Cook and John Smith, such a great loss to the Labour Party. I do wonder how different the Labour Party would be if John had lived to lead it to victory in 1997.
peter h
Thursday Jun 01, 23:20
i like prescott because he is very human, very down to earth, no airs and graces. sometimes he's a pillock, but so are all of us.
my favourite is probably dennis healey or roy jenkins.
john smith is hard to beat too.
or maybe clare short - all lsbour people with bigtime conscience and no time for spin
Alan
Friday Jun 02, 07:58
Claire Short is an idiot and in response to your comments Dave about a fair and just society, you are right that is what we should be but we are up against people who wouldn't know the meaning of the word!. We need to adapt in a way that we can control the problem of terrorism and if that means locking people up without trial as a means to stop attrocities wil 9/11 and 7/7 then crack on!
Dave
Friday Jun 02, 09:19
But on what grounds do we lock people up Alan? Because "they look like a terrorist?" Because they speak out against the "West"? Because they used to go to school 15 years ago with a known terrorist? Because they vote "lib Dem"? lol
Labourite
Friday Jun 02, 14:35
Favourite MPs:
John Smith and Neil Kinnock
peter h
Friday Jun 02, 17:56
come on, Alan, exactly whom do you lock up without trial?
the "problem" of terrorism is almost always caused by political ineptitude.
Sort that out and you sort out terrorism.
In Ireland it was caused by British attempts to colonise and rule Ireland, and largely stopped when we finally came down on the side of justice for the Nationalists.
Islamic terrorism is the direct result of meddling in Arab lands for Western interests at the expense of arab interests.
If this country made it patently obvious that it was on the side of justice for the common man in Arabia, that "terrorism" would melt away rapidly.
Without undermining our own freedoms in any way.
Like JF Kennedy said, if you refuse the people the right to peacful revolution, you make violent revolution inevitable.
Alan
Saturday Jun 03, 17:01
Peter we are talking cause and effect here, fair enough. I agree with what you say but the effect of that cause is there and it is a problem. A complete withdrawl of all Western troops from the middle east would not stop it! We have to take action against it plain and simple! As for locking up without trial, lets clarify that! I am talking about taking someone in for questioning and keeping them for questioning as long as is needed; who do we lock up and question indefinately, I don't know? Ask the Security Services that is there job and since there has been no further major incidents in our country since 7/7 I would suggest that they are doing it well!
peter h
Saturday Jun 03, 23:01
the quickest and simplest way is to change our foreign policy, not to throw out our civil liberties. If those troops in iraq really had been there to get rid of sadaam and seriously help ira recover, rather than to promote US interests, then we'd be seen as conquering hneroes out there.
Alan
Sunday Jun 04, 14:51
I agree but the sad fact is that we went out there to secure our oil interests and that humanitarian assistance was aside of that. However, alot of good has been done in the country and there are alot of grateful Iraqi people. You are using the views and actions of the minority in an attempt to persuade us that it is the majority speaking!
peter h
Sunday Jun 04, 21:36
at least you accept that blair was lying when he said it was because of WMD.
I havent heard any grateful iraqi people on tv or radio or read of any in the press?
labourite
Monday Jun 05, 12:20
What apart from those that aren't getting slaughtered by Saadam?
Dave
Monday Jun 05, 13:04
http://www.iraqbodycount.org/
Labourite, I am sure if you ask those that aren't getting slaughtered by Saadam, "Do they feel better off without him?", I am sure they will answer you, but you might not hear the answer as they get shot by USA/UK forces, or blown to pieces by a suicide bomber, or die of illness treatable if it wasn't for a crisis with hospitals etc, etc.
According to Iraq Body Count, the death toll is now around 40,000 civilians since the USA led invasion, not bad statistics for a country "better off without Saadam"
Local Voter
Monday Jun 05, 15:21
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5046306.stm
I see that John Leech is going to enjoy a free ticket to the World Cup supplied by McDonalds!
Alan
Wednesday Jun 07, 19:06
Dave, why don't you ask the 1 million men women and children buried in the desert after having been raped, torured, burned alive, beaten and murdered by Saddam's Regime.
Dave
Thursday Jun 08, 09:05
Alan, I am not saying that Saddam's regime was all fluffy and sweet, far from it. However, I do wonder how come he is more evil than he was back in 1991? Why didn't the USA do something back then? I also think that the USA/UK have made a right hash of a job in Iraq, and I believe that a civil war will develop out of the mess we have made!
peter h
Thursday Jun 08, 14:43
Alan
Remember Sadam only survived in the first place because the West armed and supported him in their Middle East power politics.
In the end, it is up to the Iraqis to sort out their politics , not us.
And you should not assume that what works here will work there any way. Their religion,politics, culture, philosophy, economy, history, are all totally different to us, so their way forward isn't the same as ours.
Right now , I'm in Shanghai, and it pisses me off to here wellmeaning people spouting off about "repression", lack of democracy etc in China . Chinese peoples' mentality is totally different to ours, and we should leave them to make their own rules. Same principle.
Steve
Thursday Jun 08, 14:47
That would be fine Peter if it was their democratically elected government that was making decisions for them. Unfortunately it is not.
China signed up to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html (can you access that in China?), and should honour that pledge.
Do you enjoy reading the BBC News website in China?
peter h
Friday Jun 09, 16:09
steve, with respect, visit china first and then comment.
I am sitting right now in the middle of shanghai watching BBC News 24. I have the choice of that, CNN, and various others, including Taiwanese TV.
All totally uncensored.
And I have got onto this website by typing www.google.co.uk. Not some crap about googoo, or whatever. No blockage whatsoever. If I can do it, the chinese can -and do.
I appreciate thye sicerity of what you say about China, but you in turn should appreciate that those who tell you about China have got agendas of their own which colour what they choose to tell you and not tell you.
Most of my chinese friends know all about tianamen square - a couple were there - and it irritates them. But they get far more irritated by incessant western attempts to use it to blacken their country.
We all had things like that. Try Bloody sunday in derry in 1979 for starters? Ohio state university 1968, Allene in Chile, Sandanistas?
Freedom of Information Act ? Guantanamo Bay? H-Blocks? Algerian elections in the 1990s? Berlusconi?
Shit happens.
There are 1500 million inhabitants here. How on earth can you begin to suppress 1500 million people? You can't . 20 minutes walking round any city here will tell you these are not repressed people.
It might not be a "free democracy" as you as a westerner might define it, but Chinese insitutions reflect accurately the chinese temeperament and history.
I will not try to give you a lesson in China, but one of the reasons that a form of communism has survived here ( and it is TOTALLY different to Soviet communism) is that the concept of communism fits quite comfortably next to the concept of Taoism, around which Chinese thought has been based for thousands of years, just like western culture is shaped by abrahamic religions.
horses for courses. Reading about Taoism will tell you more about China than any biased crap about tianamen square. It explains the mentality.
And, finally, USA execute more people per capita than China, and China has never invaded another country with the possible exception of tibet - which they claim to be part of China any way. Even if you count tibet as an invasion, USA and UK have invaded more countries in the last 5 years than China has in the last 5000 years. Yet everybody from UK to Germany to Japan has invaded China.
come and check it out. it will open your eyes.
Alan
Friday Jun 09, 21:06
Peter I'm not one of these lets shove democracy in peoples faces kind of person. If different forms of government work then they should stay. From my limited knowledge of China it would seem that they are well on their way to being a major player on the world field, a strong and growing economy etc. Yes we did arm Iraq, we armed Al Queda during the russo-afghan conflict. I can't do anything about that oter than say we were wrong. I really don't know what to say anymore. Personally I don't care about oil interests, I care about the fact that over 1 million Iraqi civilians have died under Saddam because of his brutal methods. Something had to be done and something has. One of my main issues is that we are too keen to intervene where we benefit. Look at Africa, we should be going in and sorting it out but we don't because we, as a country, don't benefit. If anything is wrong then it's that!!!!
peter h
Friday Jun 09, 23:20
alan, we are just one little country. we can't sort out everybody else's ills, so we prioritise what matter most to us. It's only natural even it appears selfish. As for the rest, that is why we have UN - to be a global troubleshooter. Maybe one day it will work properly, although even as it stands it is better than nothing.
just to change tack a little - our factory boss in shanghai was complaining yesterday that local peasants kept nicking his guard dogs to eat...............puts didsbury festival into context somehow. life is beyond parody sometimes
It's three jobs. Crap MP, crap councillor, fat unfit footballer.
Sunday Jun 18, 18:15
Cycle - This item is supposed to be about cycling!!!! John Leech signed a daft Lembit opik EDM to allow motorbikes in bus/bike lanes in westminster but failed to sign a sensible one trying to get mini motorbikes and such like off our paths and bridleways. Mr Leech may pose on a bike in the paper but he is no friend of the cyclist.
Recycling - one of the Lib Dem themes in their hugely unsuccessful local election campaign (10-0 drubbing by Labour) was recycling. Yet Lib Dem Liverpool is recycling only about half as much despite a long Lib Dem tenure and £100 higher council Tax. Liverpool is in the bottom ten national;ly out of nearly 400 authorities. Manchester is towards the top of the metros and cities and will hit 18% this year and 22% next. The only recycling Lib Dems are doing properly are fibs.
Finally - I think the person who keeps saying they are a Labour supporter, voted for Leech, and think he has the making of a good MP is mistaken about two of those things!
Dave
Tuesday Jun 20, 11:54
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5098126.stm
And B Liar is a good role model when it comes to sustainable transport! Blair Force One
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