This is the leaflet the Labour Party is delivering through letter-boxes in a ward where the sitting Conservative councillor — Cllr Azam Janjua, a Reading resident for half a century — is facing a Labour opponent, Eileen McElligott. See if you can notice the oh-so-subtle way in which Labour puts its lips together to dog-whistle:
You read that right:
“Eileen McElligott … was born and bred in Reading … She will fight for us here … because she is one of us.”
I would like to take this opportunity apologise for making derogatory comments during the BBC Question Time programme on the 27th January especially those relating to Chuka Umunna MP. I made a lot of comments that were insulting that night and I regret that.
In respect of one particular tweet, no offense was meant but I absolutely acknowledge that it was recklessly worded and liable to an interpretation that was never intended. For that I would like to offer my sincere apologies to Mr Umunna and
1. What’s your formative political memory?
The morning after the 1992 election – remembering my parents’ disappointment that Labour hadn’t won (again) and the pervading sense of gloom of another Tory government.
I also remember one election in the 80s when my parents displayed an SDP and a Labour poster in the same window!
2. When did you start blogging?
2007
3. Why did you start blogging?
I started because I wanted to communicate to my constituents what I did as a councillor on their behalf.
4. What five words would you use to describe your blog?
Local
Personal
Topical
Passionate
Committed
5. What five words would you use to describe your political views?
Humanistic
Instinctive
Pragmatic
Empathetic
Social
6. Which post have you most liked writing in the last year (and why)?
It’s the post I wrote about the budget-making process in Reading Council. I felt proud to have played a role in delivering one of the most difficult budgets in Reading Council’s history whilst protecting key services, and I wanted to contrast our approach with that taken by Labour opposition which I thought was totally lacking, obviously.
7. Which post have you most liked reading in the last year (and why)?
I really enjoy Mark Thomposon’s posts as they are always intelligent and thought-provoking. I enjoyed this post as I thought it was a point that need making about Labour.
The Lib Dem councillor at the centre of the “racist” Twitter storm has been suspended from his party.
Cllr Warren Swaine quoted an Ali G catchphrase “Is it because I is black” in a tweet about mixed race Labour MP Chuka Umunna when he was appearing on Question Time…
Henk van Klaveren, Liberal Democrat national office spokesman, said: “The Liberal Democrats have a zero tolerance policy on racist comments and behaviour. The regional party has suspended Councillor Warren Swaine pending further investigation.”
HM Revenue and Customs set an approved mileage rate of 40p per mile for using your own car on work. That makes for a good yardstick to judge mileage allowances against and various parts of the public sector I’ve come across pay either this figure or a bit more or less.
But I’ve never come across anything quite like Reading Council:
About 400 council staff get a whopping £2.10 for every mile they travel by car.
Martin6th Jun - 10:54pm Jo Bourke: It looks unlikely that these problems will be anywhere near resolved in 2024, not only quite likely worse than in 2010, but falling...
David Raw6th Jun - 9:37pm Talking about Covid, I hope that Jamie,and maybe Roger, feel they can persuade their colleagues at Westminster to protest about another matter that has appeared...
Matthew Huntbach6th Jun - 8:23pm @ Peter Martin Brexit did happen, but not until after another general election, and it was stated strongly in that general election that Brexit had...
Peter Martin6th Jun - 7:34pm @ Matthew, "The real reason Brexit did not happen was that Brexiteers refused to compromise." Just on a point of information: Brexit did happen. Naturally...
Joseph Bourke6th Jun - 7:31pm The leader of the Liberal Democrats will need to address three big political challenges over the remaining term of this Parliament while implementing the recommendations...
Peter Martin6th Jun - 7:23pm Why did the Lib Dems lose badly in 2015? I would say it was mainly because many of us "lefties" considered that the main objective...
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