Topic: | Re:It's such a shame... | |
Posted by: | Phil Andrews | |
Date/Time: | 09/05/10 12:45:00 |
Robin That was a silly comment, and completely unnecessary as it must be obvious to anybody reading this forum that far from being bitter my view at the moment is that the new councillors should be given a chance to show what they can do before anybody should think about criticising them. On the night of the count I had the opportunity to speak to one of the candidates who replaced us in Isleworth and was moved by his real sincerity, eagerness to succeed and general likability. It is true that his colleagues have not come across to me in the same way but I accept that it takes two to make an argument and I honestly do want to see them achieve for my community because if they do there is no argument, is there? Yes, I do consider it unlikely that the new administration will be able to honour its promises because they are so clearly proposterous. A hundred new police officers in each ward, for instance, amounts to a total of 2000 throughout the borough and even at the lower end of the salary scale this would add some £50 million per year to the council's budget. As each administration traditionally has to perform a delicate juggling act to find £10m per year just to keep the Council Tax increase to zero I am at a loss to see how Labour is going to add £50m and still cut the tax, but that is not my problem. A Labour official whom I challenged on this assures me it has all been costed, and the honourable course of action for any potential critic would be to wait and see. It seems to me that you only operate in one gear and spoil for a fight whether others wish to engage in one or not. I now know from personal experience that one can lose council seats as well as win them when circumstances change, sometimes outside of our own control, and whilst I can understand and excuse your ungracious triumphalism at this moment in time I really hope that your approach is not indicative of a similar attitude on the part of your new councillors in Isleworth and Syon, as well as elsewhere on the local authority. |