(Warning: this post contains facts and documentation. If you are of a nervous disposition and are easily confused by evidence you may wish to skip the post before posting the obligatory comment saying ‘It’s all spin!’)
There are a couple of loose ends to tidy-up from the non-emergency, non-Liberal Democrat meeting featuring a cycle lane that Harry Cole and Guido Fawkes got so wrong during the week.
Getting a story wrong is, in itself, something many bloggers (including myself) have experienced. But even after having the errors in the story pointed out to him, Harry Cole has continued to try to defend it.
Not to mention as his politeness slipped a bit the other comment addressed to me: “You’re either delusional or knowingly denying the obvious”.
So just to sort those subsequent claims from him…
In response to the point that it wasn’t a Liberal Democrat meeting, but in fact one that council officers and non-Lib Dem councillors had been invited to, Harry Cole continued to claim otherwise: “funny the independents were not invited then as they should have been”.
Untrue – both the email invitation to the meeting on 20 April 2011 and the reminded email invitation of 23 May 2011 went to non-Liberal Democrat councillors.
In response to the point about the cycle route, Harry Cole protested: “two hours on a cycle lane? Who are you kidding?”
Well, the whole two hours weren’t spent on the cycle lane, sure.
There were other matters discussed too.
Such as as local car park.
You can read the agenda for the “emergency” meeting in all its glory here. If you really want (and trust me, it’s not worth it) you can zoom in on satellite imagery to see the car park in question for yourself via Google Maps.
Note, by the way the date on the agenda – 31 March 2011 – which confirms what I’ve also been told about the plans for the meeting having been set in March, in other words before the publication of the claims about Chris Huhne’s driving or election expenses.
Possibly psychics were involved in the meeting scheduling?
That’s a puzzle I’ll leave to our readers along with this one: how could someone have known both enough about the meeting to tip off Harry Cole or Guido but also so little about the meeting that not only such an error-riddled initial report was made but that Harry Cole has kept on defending it?
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6 Comments
Somebody who enjoys reading the Guido blog will most likely not respond to fact.
I’d like to think I represent the quiet majority who do not care.
Sincerely yours.
There is an old phrase “don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story”.
Once allegations are made about any politician, especially one who happens to be a government minister (whether founded or unfounded) then the media sharks start circling looking for blood.
Logic doesn’t work, facts don’t work against a group of politically-motivated bloggers intent on having their friends parrot their ideas in order to spread the seeds of doubt in people’s minds. It’s all about (unfortunately) who shouts the loudest….
So this Committee holds regular off the books meetings where council business is discussed. Nice to see democracy in action.
One thing though, it would quite easy for a “team meeting” to abandon its agenda if the only attendees were from one party. Never mind though, at least there’s now evidence that it wasn’t an emergency meeting.
“So this Committee holds regular off the books meetings where council business is discussed. Nice to see democracy in action.” – No, it is on the books, hence the links above. And your further comments seem to be innuendo and nothing else.
Mark, I have always taught my children not to “rub it in” when proven right…….
However in this case I would tell them there are exceptions to every rule.
My worry is that there is, quite rightly given the allegations, a police enquiry underway. If he is charged and then tried this type of rubbish can affect peoples perceptions and help diminish the chances of a truly unbiased Jury. Some people posted earlier this week that you shouldn’t highlight oter blogs misinformation. I disagree and keep up the good work.
I hope Hune survives as he is, in my opinion, the best of the party’s ministers. If however he is shown to be guilty then clearly he needs to go. The worst outcome will be if they state there is insufficient evidence to achieve a conviction. I would like them to either charge or say they have found no substance int he allegations. I trust the police to investigate more than I will ever trust our pathic excuse for news media.
Henry,
Neither this meeting nor the next meeting mentioned on the agenda are publicized on any of the various council or community websites. The offical committee meetings are but these team meetings aren’t.
And did you really mean to say innuendo?