|
|
Richmond upon Thames Liberal Democrats:Covering the constituencies of Twickenham and Richmond Park |
'Blind support' for front bench [Letter to the RTT Jan 27]
January 28, 2012 11:51 AM
• [Jan 27] Cllr Gareth Roberts writes: CONSERVATIVE group at Tuesday's council demonstrated that, whatever the position is nationally, the nasty party is alive and well locally.
Rather than support a Liberal Democrat motion as tabled, calling upon the council to ensure no council employee is paid less than the London living wage, as set by Mayor Boris Johnson, Cllr Arbour, with the full support of Lord True, tabled an amendment supporting the substantive part of the motion yet attacking the national Lib Dem party for paying wages at less than the living wage level. That the exact same state of affairs exists within the Conservative Party did not seem to concern them.
The Conservatives were offered two opportunities to withdraw the amendment so that the chamber could be united in supporting the original motion; they refused to do so on both occasions. The wrecking amendment made it impossible for the Lib Dem group to support the amended motion and so, on an issue which should have united the chamber, Tory tribalism caused unnecessary division.
The current controlling faction within the Conservative group seems to have forgotten why they were ejected from power in 2006. They became bloated and arrogant. It is disappointing, therefore, the remnants of the discredited 2002 - 06 administration exert a disproportionate influence on the group's newly elected councillors.
These new councillors form 50 % of the Conservative group on the council, so it is within their power to curb the excesses of the tribal dinosaurs that populate their front benches and usher in a new culture of progressive Conservatism in the borough. However, rather than seize the prize which is within their reach they offer their blind support to the excesses of their front benches, cheering as they go.
In seconding Cllr Arbour's wrecking amendment, his ward colleague Cllr Gareth Evans made reference, without it hint of irony, to the sorts of behaviour which turns the general public away from politics. I would suggest the behaviour of the Conservatives is precisely the sort of thing which is guaranteed to make the voting public sick.
The group should be ashamed of themselves: councillors who are hoping to be returned to office in 2014 should give long and hard consideration as to whether their electorate would be impressed by their behaviour.
• Liberal Democrats win 'living wage' for council staff paid poverty wages