newspapers are dying - I very rarely read one on paper these days, and His Master's Voice is soon to shuffle off the mortal coil. It has now published the following two letters, which I republish here as a reminder of what happened. Mr Salter has been making a lot of noise in the Home Affairs Select Committee to try to drown out the chorus of disapproval of his pusillanimous, cowardly both-ways-at-once stance in yelling and shouting in the media about supporting the Gurkhas but then abstaining in the parliamentary vote because he "didn't want to vote against the government", but there are still those of us with ears to hear:
Gurkhas should be fast tracked to stay
By abstaining from the Commons vote on Gurkhas’ rights Martin Salter, the Labour MP for Reading West, betrayed the people he claims to represent.
As chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Gurkhas’ Rights he wrote to fellow Labour MPs urging them to sign up to the revolt.
He said: “This is a moral issue and far more important than narrow party political squabbling. This is about doing the right thing by people who risked their lives for us.”
Then he abstained from voting, betraying all those who supported him.
Thankfully other Labour Party rebels were morally stronger and the result was an all party coalition that defeated the Government’s plans.
The Government lost the vote in the House of Commons by 267 to 246, the first time a government has lost an opposition day debate since 1978. One ministerial aide, Stephen Pound, resigned from the Government to vote with the rebels, saying “I couldn’t look my Gurkha friends in the eye if I wasn’t doing everything I can to attempt to match their contribution to our country with our support for them.”
Madan Kumar Gurung, 57, from Reading, served as a Gurkha for 24 years.
He said the result was a “historic victory” for the Gurkhas and “I would like to thank the loving and lovely people of Britain form the bottom of my Gurkha heart. Having fought so hard it is a great feeling to know that my colleagues will be able to stay here.”
The Green Party supports Gurkhas and their families. Rob White put a motion to last year’s conference which achieved overwhelming support.
Gurkhas have played an active front line part in the British Army’s activities in times of war and peace for nearly 200 years. In this period approximately 300,000 have fought alongside United Kingdom soldiers with the loss of 45,000 of them.
Gurkhas and their families should be given fast track eligibility for either the right to remain or for citizenship.
You can read more about this issue at www.gurkhajustice.org.uk
Adrian Windisch,
Reading Green Party
Despite his fine words MP abstained in vote
Recently Reading West MP Martin Salter has been speaking eloquently and emotionally in support of Gurkhas’ residence rights, having made himself chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Gurkhas’ rights.
Despite talking the talk, Martin again showed he wasn’t up to walking the walk. On April 29 he abstained in a Commons vote on a motion supporting Gurkhas’ settlement rights.
The 27 Labour rebels who joined with the opposition to defeat the Government included a ministerial aide who resigned his role to support the revolt.
In contrast, after all his fine words, Mr Salter couldn’t bring himself to put his vote where his mouth was despite not even having anything to lose as he is standing down as an MP.
Backing the Gurkhas? With his cowardice and hypocrisy Martin isn’t even worth a gherkin.
David Akroyd,
address supplied
Thursday, 7 May 2009
Wednesday, 6 May 2009
Reading West selection
As I posted a copy of a report about Mark Bennett, who I thought, and still think, was the only candidate who could win Reading West for Labour, it seems fair to post his reply, here:
Dear Friends
I just wanted to thank you for your support whilst I was a candidate in the Reading West selection. I say was because I am no longer a candidate. I won't comment here on the process but I was not shortlisted, despite the nominations and goodwill I received.With a council by-election ongoing in Lambeth and my council portfolio (community safety) there are many day-to-day challenges to get on with. My enthusiasm is undimmed.I will also be doing the London to Brighton bike ride in June and it would cheer me up if you could think about sponsoring me!http://www.justgiving.com/cllrmarkbennettBack to Reading West, you may have seen the following in the Sunday Telegraph (if you did I hope you don't buy it), which I would like to comment on."Another battlefield on which Labour’s future will be settled is the selection of general election candidates.The Sunday Telegraph has uncovered an attempt to parachute a Blairite into a winnable seat following the fiasco at Erith & Thamesmead where a bid to win the selection for Georgia Gould, the 22-year-old daughter of Lord Gould, Mr Blair’s polling guru, has ended up with an investigation into alleged tampering with postal votes.In Reading West, where retiring MP Martin Salter hands over a Labour majority of more than 4,600, Mark Bennett, who used to be Alastair Campbell’s deputy at 10 Downing Street and who was said to have been the author of a critical memo about Gordon Brown, suddenly joined the contest “from nowhere” according to local sources.Armed with glossily printed letters to party members, Mr Bennett won significant support before falling to a pincer movement and failing to make the final shortlist.However, Labour sources expect Blairites to use similar techniques across the country where seats suddenly become vacant in a bid to “change the face of the parliamentary Labour Party” and bolster the chances of a Blairite candidate in a future leadership election."
I have written the following letter to the Sunday Telegraph.
Dear Sir
Patrick Hennessy's article describing me as a 'Blairite' parachute candidate in Reading West needs correction.I do not identify as Blairite, Brownite, New Labour, Old Labour or any of the labels that are attached to people by others for their own negative purposes. I identify only as Labour and totally disapprove of factions seeking to out-left or out-right each other.I have been a Labour activist for 17 years, and a trade unionist for longer. I started work as a hospital porter aged 17 while Margaret Thatcher was prime minister. That does not make me a Thatcherite, and to label me a Blairite because I worked at Downing Street (as a civil servant) from 1997-2001 is equally simplistic. It is true I worked for Alastair Campbell in Downing Street, but I was not his deputy as Mr Hennessy claims. I was a researcher, as a glance at his diaries will show.Nor was there any parachuting in Reading West - it was my own decision to stand and like many other candidates I have pounded the pavements alone. There was no machine helping me. The 'significant support' referred to came from across the Labour movement, and I am grateful for it. As for 'glossily printed letters' to members - such luxuries were not open to me. I have never been wealthy and come from a working class, Labour-supporting family rooted in Reading and Berkshire. I have known Reading since I was a baby. My grandfather, Tom Bennett, was born into poverty in what is now Reading West and I have family living and working across Reading. So describing me as "from nowhere" in respect of Reading West or Labour politics is false. I have worked hard as a Labour councillor in Lambeth for four years, with a crime portfolio, so I am not untested as a working politician.I do not recognise the 'memo critical of Gordon Brown' to which Mr Hennessy refers, and in fact I volunteer for Go Fourth: The Campaign for a Labour Fourth Term. I believe in party unity and in Labour in government. I will continue to do so. Finally, I offer whoever is finally selected in Reading West my best wishes.Yours faithfullyCllr Mark BennettCabinet Member for Community SafetyLabour and Co-operative councillor for Streatham SouthLondon Borough of LambethAnyway, members of this group, apologies for a longwinded email and thanks so much for your support. It meant a lot.Yours everMark
It is on his facebook group, which is where I saw it.
Dear Friends
I just wanted to thank you for your support whilst I was a candidate in the Reading West selection. I say was because I am no longer a candidate. I won't comment here on the process but I was not shortlisted, despite the nominations and goodwill I received.With a council by-election ongoing in Lambeth and my council portfolio (community safety) there are many day-to-day challenges to get on with. My enthusiasm is undimmed.I will also be doing the London to Brighton bike ride in June and it would cheer me up if you could think about sponsoring me!http://www.justgiving.com/cllrmarkbennettBack to Reading West, you may have seen the following in the Sunday Telegraph (if you did I hope you don't buy it), which I would like to comment on."Another battlefield on which Labour’s future will be settled is the selection of general election candidates.The Sunday Telegraph has uncovered an attempt to parachute a Blairite into a winnable seat following the fiasco at Erith & Thamesmead where a bid to win the selection for Georgia Gould, the 22-year-old daughter of Lord Gould, Mr Blair’s polling guru, has ended up with an investigation into alleged tampering with postal votes.In Reading West, where retiring MP Martin Salter hands over a Labour majority of more than 4,600, Mark Bennett, who used to be Alastair Campbell’s deputy at 10 Downing Street and who was said to have been the author of a critical memo about Gordon Brown, suddenly joined the contest “from nowhere” according to local sources.Armed with glossily printed letters to party members, Mr Bennett won significant support before falling to a pincer movement and failing to make the final shortlist.However, Labour sources expect Blairites to use similar techniques across the country where seats suddenly become vacant in a bid to “change the face of the parliamentary Labour Party” and bolster the chances of a Blairite candidate in a future leadership election."
I have written the following letter to the Sunday Telegraph.
Dear Sir
Patrick Hennessy's article describing me as a 'Blairite' parachute candidate in Reading West needs correction.I do not identify as Blairite, Brownite, New Labour, Old Labour or any of the labels that are attached to people by others for their own negative purposes. I identify only as Labour and totally disapprove of factions seeking to out-left or out-right each other.I have been a Labour activist for 17 years, and a trade unionist for longer. I started work as a hospital porter aged 17 while Margaret Thatcher was prime minister. That does not make me a Thatcherite, and to label me a Blairite because I worked at Downing Street (as a civil servant) from 1997-2001 is equally simplistic. It is true I worked for Alastair Campbell in Downing Street, but I was not his deputy as Mr Hennessy claims. I was a researcher, as a glance at his diaries will show.Nor was there any parachuting in Reading West - it was my own decision to stand and like many other candidates I have pounded the pavements alone. There was no machine helping me. The 'significant support' referred to came from across the Labour movement, and I am grateful for it. As for 'glossily printed letters' to members - such luxuries were not open to me. I have never been wealthy and come from a working class, Labour-supporting family rooted in Reading and Berkshire. I have known Reading since I was a baby. My grandfather, Tom Bennett, was born into poverty in what is now Reading West and I have family living and working across Reading. So describing me as "from nowhere" in respect of Reading West or Labour politics is false. I have worked hard as a Labour councillor in Lambeth for four years, with a crime portfolio, so I am not untested as a working politician.I do not recognise the 'memo critical of Gordon Brown' to which Mr Hennessy refers, and in fact I volunteer for Go Fourth: The Campaign for a Labour Fourth Term. I believe in party unity and in Labour in government. I will continue to do so. Finally, I offer whoever is finally selected in Reading West my best wishes.Yours faithfullyCllr Mark BennettCabinet Member for Community SafetyLabour and Co-operative councillor for Streatham SouthLondon Borough of LambethAnyway, members of this group, apologies for a longwinded email and thanks so much for your support. It meant a lot.Yours everMark
It is on his facebook group, which is where I saw it.
Crossrail again
Mayor Livingstone was very keen on the Crossrail project, and so is Mayor Johnson. Reading Borough Council was quite keen to begin with and then stopped lobbying for it. So its western end will be at Maidenhead not Reading. This was the policy of then lead councillor for transport John Howarth (59), proprietor, Public Impact Ltd (remember "Your better off with Labour"?) - ask him why. When Parliament voted on Crossrail in 2005 Martin Salter - you're ahead of me - abstained. Still at least shamed chief executive of Reading Borough Council Trish Haines had to go. The Conservative Party policy on Crossrail seems a bit vague at present however, fences should not be sat on here. His Master's Voice reports Cllr Tony Page (103), current lead councillor for transport in Reading, as saying this about Crossrail: if Crossrail ever emerges from London it will come to Reading. Er no it won't Tony. There are no plans, and no money, to bring it to Reading. Why not?
His Master's Voice
put up a piece dated yesterday titled "Salter's seat" - how crap is that? No Parliamentary, or any other electoral, seat "belongs" to anyone at all. Note the coded language - one of the candidates is called Denise Headley and she is described as "shadowing" - some stuff about her here - so that's her doubly disqualified then. I would love to be wrong about this.
Monday, 4 May 2009
pincer movement
is what did for the only likely winner for Labour in Reading West, Mark Bennett. the VitalRead blog agrees with me, here:
In Reading West, where retiring MP Martin Salter hands over a Labour majority of more than 4,600, Mark Bennett, who used to be Alastair Campbell’s deputy at 10 Downing Street and who was said to have been the author of a critical memo about Gordon Brown, suddenly joined the contest “from nowhere” according to local sources.
although those "local sources" are likely to be talking arse, as they often do. Anyway, Mark Bennett did not make the shortlist, although a couple of GIRLS did! We can't have THAT of course.
Armed with glossily printed letters to party members, Mr Bennett won significant support before falling to a pincer movement and failing to make the final shortlist
so who was against him then?
Thanks to everyone who has commented on the demise of my blog and its reinstatement here. Investigations continue as to how this has happened, and the strong hint in Salter's last Westminster Diary column, which railed against political bloggers and referred obliquely to legal action, did not escape me. Looks like I might have to go autonomous rather than being a rent-free tenant on blogger.com as I have been up to now. Being autonomous pays better anyway.
In Reading West, where retiring MP Martin Salter hands over a Labour majority of more than 4,600, Mark Bennett, who used to be Alastair Campbell’s deputy at 10 Downing Street and who was said to have been the author of a critical memo about Gordon Brown, suddenly joined the contest “from nowhere” according to local sources.
although those "local sources" are likely to be talking arse, as they often do. Anyway, Mark Bennett did not make the shortlist, although a couple of GIRLS did! We can't have THAT of course.
Armed with glossily printed letters to party members, Mr Bennett won significant support before falling to a pincer movement and failing to make the final shortlist
so who was against him then?
Thanks to everyone who has commented on the demise of my blog and its reinstatement here. Investigations continue as to how this has happened, and the strong hint in Salter's last Westminster Diary column, which railed against political bloggers and referred obliquely to legal action, did not escape me. Looks like I might have to go autonomous rather than being a rent-free tenant on blogger.com as I have been up to now. Being autonomous pays better anyway.
Friday, 1 May 2009
great questions
to which the answer is No.
the point having been well made by Cllr Willis here
where he asks the question "Has Martin Salter No Shame?" I have known Mr Salter for well over 20 years but even I am disappointed now. He asked a Prime Minister's Question this week, after months of gurning for the media about Gurkhas. He spoke in Parliament about going to the funeral of a Gurkha veteran from Reading. (That veteran was, of course, a Reading East constituent.) Then there was a LibDem motion - on the Gurkha veterans' issue. Then there was a vote. He abstained. He used the same line in the media he has used many times before, notably when he abstained on Crossrail, namely that he would not vote against the government because he had received "private assurances" on the issue. This even though he had pledged to use "all Parliamentary means" to campaign for the Gurkhas. Except speaking in the House on the issue. He was silent throughout the debate, if he was there at all. And did not vote, obviously. Those two little letters after the name, "MP" mean that you are, er, a Member of Parliament, and that your place is there. If Mr Salter changed his mind on the Gurkha issue, as he is entitled to do, then given that he had been a clanging cymbal for the media, and had also made a self-justificatory statement, published uncritically by the Daily Telegraph, on his U-turn, why did he not stand up in the House and state his position? His constituents deserve that much, even though it was a deceased Reading East constituent he had most recently spoken about. An amendment was tabled in his name as well as in that of George Howarth, a Labour MP I always found to be honourable and decent though we did not always agree. But he did not speak to it. Did not speak at all. Only to the newspapers. Shame. Shame.
He didn't use this line when he abstained on Iraq He just lied.
Which is worse?
the point having been well made by Cllr Willis here
where he asks the question "Has Martin Salter No Shame?" I have known Mr Salter for well over 20 years but even I am disappointed now. He asked a Prime Minister's Question this week, after months of gurning for the media about Gurkhas. He spoke in Parliament about going to the funeral of a Gurkha veteran from Reading. (That veteran was, of course, a Reading East constituent.) Then there was a LibDem motion - on the Gurkha veterans' issue. Then there was a vote. He abstained. He used the same line in the media he has used many times before, notably when he abstained on Crossrail, namely that he would not vote against the government because he had received "private assurances" on the issue. This even though he had pledged to use "all Parliamentary means" to campaign for the Gurkhas. Except speaking in the House on the issue. He was silent throughout the debate, if he was there at all. And did not vote, obviously. Those two little letters after the name, "MP" mean that you are, er, a Member of Parliament, and that your place is there. If Mr Salter changed his mind on the Gurkha issue, as he is entitled to do, then given that he had been a clanging cymbal for the media, and had also made a self-justificatory statement, published uncritically by the Daily Telegraph, on his U-turn, why did he not stand up in the House and state his position? His constituents deserve that much, even though it was a deceased Reading East constituent he had most recently spoken about. An amendment was tabled in his name as well as in that of George Howarth, a Labour MP I always found to be honourable and decent though we did not always agree. But he did not speak to it. Did not speak at all. Only to the newspapers. Shame. Shame.
He didn't use this line when he abstained on Iraq He just lied.
Which is worse?
they'll never take me alive!
I'm still here! as someone once said! while attempting to fix the suppression of my janestheone blog I am here for the time being. All this is quite difficult to do from a holiday hotel in Madeira where there is no wifi (apparently the demographic which usually stays there does not request it, hah that will change you mark my words) trying to do it on my BlackBerry or by plugging my ancient comedy laptop into a dodgy-looking socket in an even dodgier cafe. Anyway, no excuses. If I am being sued then this is Hugely Glamorous. However I suspect I am not being. chiz.
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