bullying in the news

now here is an interesting post about bullying, by Adrian Windisch. I still haven't said everything I know about this, and there are people who got out of Reading Labour and who are still picking up the emotional pieces. However, the corrupt little clique at the heart of Reading Labour is almost gone. Former Cllr Howarth says he is no longer political, so he continues to be Martin Salter's brain bank. The boat-owning Mr S himself will be out of the political picture soon, though I suspect he will remain the flunkey of Reading Borough Council for a while. Dictatorship Dave "moronic members of the public" Sutton is long gone, gratifyingly booted out by the electorate. And I do not imagine that the corrupt clique will retain the leadership of Reading Borough Council beyond the next few weeks. And whoever is Prime Minister will have faced the electorate in order to get that position. I have just read former Labour General Secretary Peter Watt's book, straplined "cowardice and betrayal at the heart of New Labour". Watt was done over, mainly by Gordon, when matters which had been there before his time were exposed. And he didn't like it. When will they learn that a kicked dog is likely to bite you next time round?

Significant other and I were sorting out some of his old photos last night, and boy did we find some interesting ones.

Teresa Pearce

is the Labour candidate for Erith and Thamesmead,, as any fule kno. When I published some gossip about her, bringing up events from her past, on this blog recently, she wrote to me, not denying the allegations but threatening legal action. I left the post where it was. It is still there. She has had plenty of time since then to commence legal action, but I have heard nothing. So she has gone off the idea. Pity. I was looking forward to hearing her tell a packed courtroom she didn't vomit in Brighton, and to hearing those who were present testify to the contrary. How unbelievably pompous it is for a private individual to threaten to sue, especially when that private individual hopes to be in public life as an MP in the near future. If she can't abide unpleasant coverage she had better not go into public life. And if she does not want horrid things to be said about her she had better not behave in a way which attracts such coverage.

ain't Google wunnerful?

I have never understood why Google alerts come up as they do, sometimes long after the event. Here is one that pinged into my inbox yesterday evening. It is part of the record of a meeting of the Planning Committee of Reading Borough Council from 6th April 2005. Yes, that's right, just before the general election of that year. Parliament was prorogued on 11th April as I recall.

Present: Councillor Waite (Chair);
	Councillors Chaudhri, Collins, Crisp, Dymond, Green, Hanley, Page, Pugh, Ruhemann, R Stainthorp, and Stevens.
	Apologies: Councillors Hoskin, Janjua and Weston.
	RESOLVED ITEMS
	The Chair reported that Item 12, 58/64 Northumberland Avenue (application number 04/001436/FUL) had been withdrawn.
	88. MINUTES
	The Minutes of the meeting held on 9 March 2005 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
	89. QUESTIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH STANDING ORDER 36
	The following question was asked in accordance with Standing Order 36:
	Question from Councillor Crisp:
	The Chair of the Planning Applications Committee will be aware of the result of the recent legal action taken by Martin Salter MP against Councillor Wilson and Mr Ewan Cameron. Among their allegations was a claim that Martin Salter placed pressure on council officers and the Leader of the Council to reach a particular decision in my ward. Could he advise me of what action he is taking now that these allegations have been shown to be entirely baseless?
	Reply from Councillor Waite (Chair):
	I share Councillor Crisp’s concerns. As Chair of this committee I often receive feedback about the planning system in Reading, the vast majority of which is complimentary. It is also clear that this Committee and the planning process is held in high regard. That is due in no small part to the acknowledged integrity of elected members of all parties.
	I am sure that it is of concern to all of us that unsubstantiated allegations involving a planning application, decided by this committee, should have been used as part of a personal smear campaign. I have therefore reported this matter to the Chair of the Standards Panel and to the opposition leaders.
	I do not believe it is appropriate to discuss this matter further here, and some members may also feel restricted as they are also members of the Standards Panel. But I will ask that the Panel’s findings are reported in full to a future Planning Committee. I'd more or less forgotten about those events. The legal case was lost because the plaintiffs mistakenly llnked the allegations about the planning application with Mr Salter's attempt, back in 1998, to have then Cllr Sutton removed as leader of the council. He changed his mind about this once Cllr Sutton agreed to do Mr Salter's bidding in all things in exchange for Mr S's use of his position as MP entirely to promote Reading Borough Council. Which is what happened, as we know. Sorry this post is coming out like this btw, I don't know how to stop it doing it. But the allegations were not "baseless" at all, as then Cllr Waite was well aware. They were entirely true. Mr Salter had a family connection with the Workers' Educational Association, then based in west central Reading in a building occupied by Pastor Joel Thomas and his church. HIs congregation was growing and he had found new premises in Portman Road Reading, for which he needed planning permission. When he took possession of the POrtman Road building the WEA would become homeless. So Mr Salter said, in my hearing, at a liaison meeting between the Reading MPs and Reading Borough Council leader and officers, "It would be helpful if some obstacles could be put in the way of that planning application". However then Cllr Sutton did not think he could help in this way. That was in June 2002 and it was the last such liaison meeting I attended. I had had enough of the corruption and bullying. Anyway, thanks Mr Google for pointing this out after all this time.

it feels good

I have finished my novel. Took about 18 months to write, what with having a full-time job and all. It's not the first book I've written, but it is the first novel. It is called Priors Gardens. That's it for now.

so now we know

what Mr Salter is going to do next - this from the Financial Times, so it must be true.

“I have a slight problem being the MP for the area because everybody talks to me while I’m fishing,” he grins sardonically. “That’s why I’ve just bought a boat, because then they can’t get to you.”
He plans to spend more time exploring the Thames in his new boat after he stands down from parliament at the next election – a decision taken long before the rush of expenses-driven departures in recent months. At 56, he appears to have more fishing ambitions left than political ones: “If I had a choice between being a member of the cabinet and catching a 3lb roach, I’d probably take the roach.” I don’t think he’s joking.

come back Tony!

Independent Jones has vanished:




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12 hours ago

woman on top?

here is what Iain Dale has to say about Claire Ward, the Labour MP for Watford who featured in a steamy News of the World story a few years ago which related to some incidents which took place during a visit by members of the Parliamentary Armed Forces Scheme, including myself, to Kosovo. On that occasion she behaved like a slapper and lied about it afterwards. After the story appeared a Labour Party press officer rang me to say that she was suing the paper and could I confirm that it was all rubbish. No I could not, I said, and what was more if it came to court they had better not call me as a witness (which I was) because I wasn't going to lie under oath. Long silence on the other end of the phone. No libel action against the Screws. Anyway, here is Dale on Ward:

I do not think it is over the top to call Claire Ward a liar. Hopefully she will get her comeuppance in a few weeks and will lose her seat.

For him rather strong language.