Try a little logical discipline Anne

Dear Anne

An accidental benefit of sorts gained from being irregular with your blogging is that I eventually respond to an article, having grown fed up with seeing the same article day after day and your misinformation unquestioned.

I refer to your three week-old post entitled “Stop Kidding us about the Spy Car Councillor Cox”.

I am not minded to defend Cllr Cox in particular, for as charming as he is he is still the political enemy. What I do not like is lazy assumptions and policies that will ultimately undermine the council’s ability to deliver for its people.

So, to your article: You produce evidence that indicates that the rate of parking notifications has changed markedly. I do not deny this. What I struggle with your assertion that this is because “the traffic penalty adjudicator James Richardson ruled the use of the vehicle to be out of line with government recommendations”.

This irks me, not least because you have no proof that this is the case. Whilst what you say could be true, so could the following

• The Spy Cars operated in fewer hours
• Motorists behaviour has modified
• The operators of the Spy Cars have responded to concerns over their application of commonsense
• Different routes were employed
• There were fewer vehicles on the road

I make no special claim for any of these; I only state that any have as much chance of being true. In fact, my money would be on a combination of factors.

I am not sure why the Spy Car being used to raise revenue is such a bad thing. The council has to find money and I cannot see why this could not come from stupid and irresponsible motorists. Ultimately, motorists who obey the law pay no fines.

As for targeting – again isn’t this to be commended? There are parking black spots in our town and to focus on these makes sense to me. I know that you, for instance, have requested that these vehicles visit places in your ward – isn’t this targeting?

I have no special knowledge of Shoeburyness but I have seen no evidence to back up your claim that Cllr Cox is “kidding” anyone. You may be opposed to the idea of enforcement by these vehicles, but you cannot deny that bad and irresponsible parking is both a hindrance and a hazard. Perhaps we should abandon all traffic enforcement in your ward – I suspect your ears would soon be burning if this was to happen.

Instead of scaremongering you should come up with good argument as to why your ward should be exempt from traffic rules that the rest of us have to obey.

As for your blogging in general – tell Bernard to pull his finger out!

Sincerely

In breathless anticipation

Southend’s political blogging community is a decidedly mixed bunch. Some are assiduous in regularly updating their blogs whilst others are intermittent in their contributions. Conservative councillor Louise Burdett is in the latter category. Her contributions resemble annual entrants in a floral competition; she blooms in August, where she has a spurt of activity. She then goes into hibernation, seemingly building up her reserves for eleven months before once again regaling us with her world view.

Her last contribution (August 23rd) is a real tease: entitled My thoughts on education Part 1. This is more than a hint of things to come, although when part 2 does finally arrive will we be left wondering whether this is the middle instalment of a trilogy? Does the Kursaal Tormentor espy a career as a serial writer whilst she develops a penchant for the cliff-hanger? Will she reveal the remainder of her thoughts on education – did the butler do it?

My metaphorical breathe-holding continues …

Do the Independent Group know who their councillors are?

It is more than five months since the last lot of local elections in Southend-on-Sea, more than enough time for even the busiest of website administrators to update the most basic of information – or so you would have thought.

The Independent Group’s website has a page dedicated to its councillors, and this shows Anthony Delaney as one of their number. He retired from the council chamber in May.

The page also omits to mention their three new councillors: Stephen Aylen, Brian Ayling, and Ric Morgan.

I have maintained party websites and so I know the amount of work involved. No-one expects instant updates, but five months is pretty poor, especially as some of the Independents have been known to criticise the council website. Still, wouldn’t want to accuse them of double standards.

Not yet muzzled

Some Independent councillors are seeking to limit councillor blogging. Cllrs Terry, Chalk and Woodley are arguing that blogs, such as this, stifle debate. Their argument runs that people like me, by exposing confidential emails, interrupt discourse. Their argument falls down when it is pointed out that I have actually published nothing that can be described as confidential.

Cllr Chalk has even argued that by publishing information I have muddied the waters – I am guilty, she asserts, of attempting information overload.

These Independents are seeking to amend the councillors’ code of conduct in an attempt to muzzle voices that they do not approve of.

Whilst attempts have been made to have my conduct disciplined I have yet to be placed on the naughty step.

What have I written, you may inquire, that has caused such a stir? Well, much councillor umbrage was taken over my opposition to Council Teas, and I published Cllr Crystall’s wish for the privatisation of the meals on wheels service (with his permission). I was called a bully for stating that no Independent representative was present as a shadow portfolio holders meeting.

Call me insensitive, but I do not see that any of these are particularly inflammatory (or, to use Cllr Terry’s words – “anti-democratic”).

I like to think that I am enhancing debate. This blog is a mixture of news, debate, and self-indulgent twaddle. The news bits, I hope, inform. If the Independents wish for a secret society then I guess they are entitled to hold that view – I, however, like to think that my blog is a small window into the way my town is run. Imperfect and biased, all too true – but I have no objections to my opponents putting their versions out there.

A hammer, some nails, and a plate of jelly

Councillor Anne Chalk

24 August 2012	A Challenge for Councillor Cox	Tony Cox
22 August 2012	Wacky Leaks	Me
21 July 2012	Gone but not forgotten
3 July 2012	Massive Announcement after 50 Years	Me
31 May 2012	Exposing internal emails	Tony Cox
23 May 2012	Campaign to stop Beach Huts on East beach	Peter Ashley
18 May 2012	Spy Cars forced to use common sense	Tony Cox

Councillor Martin Terry

28 June 2012	THE LGA AND LOCAL ELECTION REPORT
29 April 2012	BILGE PUMP CONTROLLER TORY CHAIRMAN SPEAKS OUT	Anna Waite
25 April 2012	DESPERATE PARTY POLITICS
24 April 2012	NEWS UPDATE FROM ANNA WAITES BILGE PUMPS	Anna Waite
18 April 2012	NEW TORY TACTIC TO LOSE ELECTION BY OPERATING BIG FAT BILGE PUMP	Anna Waite
12 April 2012	Find your Polling Station
12 April 2012	ATTACK ON RESIDENTS, NO ANSWERS YET?	Tony Cox

The above two tables show the posts that are currently on the front page of two Independent councillors’ blogs. The third column indicates who they have had a swipe at in these posts.

Now, I am not above having a swipe at my opponents, although I hope this is at their words and deeds and is not personal. Yet any perusal through this blog will find that I mostly concentrate on issues.

I get off lightly compared to Tony Cox and Anna Waite; I expect criticism if for no other reason than that I write more than most. What I do object is when these Independents cry foul over the merest hint of a slight and then indulge in obsessive personality politics themselves.

I can object to much in the politics of Tony Cox and Anna Waite, but at least I know what they stand for. The Independents write little that can be interpreted as policy, largely as their disparate group find it hard to have a fixed opinion on anything. Being anti-politics is a nice shield to hide behind when you have nothing to contribute to the issues of the day.

I do allow two exceptions amongst the Independents. Claire Bibby may mutilate our beautiful language at times, but she does at least try to tackle the issues of the day and I am not afraid to admit I am a regular reader of her blog. Brain Ayling writes little, but we are comrades-in-arms against some of the maddening development decisions taken by Southend-on-Sea Borough council.

For the rest, arguing with the Independents is rather akin to nailing jelly to a wall.

A lack of confidence

I accept that there is bound to be mud-slinging in politics, but I would hope that some attempt at accuracy would be attempted.

A number of people, most recently Cllr Chalk, have accused me of publishing confidential emails – this is a lie. I have leaked one email, that on Council Teas, and I felt (and still believe) that there was public interest in this. This email was not marked as confidential, and I would hope that the Southend-on-Sea Borough Council would be open and honest on what it spends its money on.

I get many emails, most of which remain private. I have sought permission to publish on the rare occasion when I have wanted to.

The problem is is that some people think they can say stupid things and get away with it, and be hypocritical and not have this exposed.

As to whether putting information out is “bombarding the public” – I would rather do this than operate as a secret society.

Various and vicarious

Having a voice online, and holding anything like a high profile position in the Labour Party, means that one’s utterances are often taken as the Voice of Labour. High profile means any officer position within the local organisation, or being elected.

I am not the Voice of Labour, not always anyway. I have had that role; being a Parliamentary candidate (twice) meant that I have been the Labour voice in Rayleigh (2005) and Castle Point (2010).

I can be the Voice. My (gradually reducing) roles mean that I can speak authoritatively on some matters. Otherwise, my views are the mere opinion of someone who happens to be a member of the Labour Party.

There are a number of Labour-supporting blogs in my corner of Essex. We do not all sound the same, and sometimes we disagree. We are not clones of each other, and debate and disagreement is an essential part of the political process. Actually, Labour in my corner of Essex is pretty united, but differences of opinion are there from time to time.

The official voice of the party locally is usually through the office of press officer. Each CLP, the LCF, and the Labour Group has a press officer and it must happen one day when they all express contrary opinions.

The web is a newish battleground politically, growing in importance but not yet the deciding factor in elections. However, I can attest that this blog, for instance, becomes a lot more popular in the few weeks before polling day and I am sure this is true for other blogs.

It is noticeable that some politicians create blogs just for the short campaign. The quality of debate is mixed, although I accept that what I like to read is a matter of taste. I do read the blogs of my opponents, and some of them I actually enjoy. Some of what they write makes me wince, but I can imagine that my occasional forays into absurdity must make my opponents wonder about my sanity (and to be honest I do wonder myself).

So, what blogs would I recommend? I still think Tony Cox is best amongst the Tories. He ticks a number of boxes for me: he writes regularly, speaks his mind, and comes across as a decent (if misguided) human being. The Independents give the appearance of having taken to the internet just for the short campaign, and too many are identikit copies of each other. Claire Bibby may be in desperate need of a proof-reader, but at least she sounds genuine and does not bang on about Anna Waite all the time.

Neil Monnery is guilty of being over-wordy, and occasionally maudlin, but his blog does include some real gems. He has little competition amongst Liberal Democrats in Southend, but if one also includes Online Focus (from Rochford) he would still stand out as the best from the yellows. I used to really enjoy Online Focus, but it has rather lost any political content of late.

I am an unashamed fan of Jack Monroe, but if I was to pick another Labour blog I would go for Ian Gilbert’s. He writes well, but not frequently enough for my liking. I am convinced that if anyone wants to make an impact as a blogger than one thing they have to crack is to have regular new material.

Southchurch Village Socialist

A new left-wing blog has surfaced in Southend-on-Sea, the Southchurch Village Socialist. (Quite who came up with the idea that Southchurch is a village I do not know, but they obviously have not been to Southchurch in a century or so!)

My earliest memories of Labour in Southend as a newly joined member, back in 1996, has Ian Pope as the chair. In those days Mark Flewitt was our treasure, he was a socialist then, and Joyce Mapp was secretary.

I look forward to reading more from Ian, his first post Martin Terry – Drowning Not Waving? showing much promise. I am not convinced that having a picture of me on his front page will widen his readership though!

Rhetoric and reality: stop reading this rubbish and find a better blog

In between the bits about food A Girl Called Jack is the finest political read in Southend. Unlike my poor prose about rather dry subjects, Ms Monroe manages an authenticity that this prole struggles to come close to.

It is quite a journey. I recommend starting at the beginning (Boycott Workfare: National Day Of Action 3rd March 2012) and working your way through every last syllable. I was rather slow on the uptake, it was two days before I stumbled upon this genius called Jack, and her Voting: Why Should I Bother? started a journey towards friendship. Watch out – she will be a Labour councillor in Southend at some point.

Sometimes her writing makes me angry, angry at the injustices that are meted out somewhat indiscriminately. Her latest painful epistle demonstrates how easy it is to kick those already down. I know what unemployment looks like – my father never worked again from when I was six (and he was 52). I lived through the poverty and shame, literally withstood his frustration, a victim too.

It is not easy being a staunch defender of the dispossessed, disadvantaged, poor, immigrant, addicted, criminal, deviant; many of my friends think I enjoy an argument for the sake of it. It is a lot harder belonging to one of these categories.

Prejudices are even harder to overcome when the climate of fear is encouraged, scapegoats and monsters dreamed up in the media, and everyone has a story about how the unemployed/immigrant/criminal are living the life of Reilly whilst the rest of us drudges are shackled to taxes that support these seemingly indolent unwanted.

Where is the Big Society? I am staring at presentations showing that more cuts are to come, thinking about those desperately in need of support that are going to see this greatly reduced, and feeling largely impotent. And whilst my colleagues are haggling over who gets what scrutiny committee my friend loses her job.

Read Jacks’ blog and get angry. There has got to be a better way of running this world – help me find it.

Juliet

Mimicry, it is said, is the sincerest form of flattery.

Councillor Anne Chalk has become my troll, for she is plagiarising my work. She could at least credit me, but maybe netiquette is not her thing. Unlike Anne, I acknowledge and link all the time.

If I had been born a girl I would have been named ‘Juliet’. I was not. The Shoebury Troll has re-named me, or perhaps she believes I have had gender-reassignment surgery.

Councillor Chalk obviously has no sense of irony – her criticism of Kevin Robinson is rich indeed coming from someone who also stood in St Luke’s recently. Unlike Anne, Kevin lived in St Luke’s when he stood there, and is now standing in Westborough because he moved there.

Since the troll does not like party politics, can she explain why her Independent Group is not a party? Now a number have begun blogging we can see just how independent they really are. (We can also see what poor bloggers they are too). The same post appears on three Independent Group blogs (Councillor Anne Chalk, Brian Ayling, Councillor Martin Terry) – perhaps they are aiming to bore the electorate into submission. Or are their blogs part of some ‘spot the difference’ game?

Anne Chalk: unoriginal, unprincipled, and useless.