Not guilty
Three of the Conservative councillors involved in the Kensingtongate donations row have got off on technicalities, whilst Ron Bell remains in the spotlight of the Standards Board for England.
The issue, I thought, was whether they knew about the donation or not. Not so. The issue was in fact whether they knew about the donation whilst acting as a councillor.
As you may remember, Peter Callow issued a letter to all of his councillors asking them to sign if they didn’t know about the donation.
Councillor Jim Houldsworth was let off because he didn’t have a personal interest in the donation and as a result was not required to register it. So does that mean he knew about it or not? I think it does.
As for Cllr Ian Fowler and Cllr Tony Lee, they were also cleared because they were not acting as councillors (when they took the money): they were acting as part of Ron Bell’s campaign team. So by signing the letter to say that they didn’t know about the donation they’re speaking from their councillor persona. But as people, I think at least for Ian Fowler as the person responsible for the finances of Ron Bell’s campaign he has to have known about it and has a personal interest in it.
I wonder what the outcome for Ron Bell will be. After all, he clearly has a personal interest but was he acting as a councillor?
I can’t imagine the comments lasting very long on the Gasjet so feel free to let rip here.
Absolute whitwash as far as Fowler and Lee are concerned! They may not have had anything to do with the donations (as councillors!) but they signed the letter as a councillor in which they stated they knew nothing about the donations!!!!!
If this isn’t bringing the office of Councillor into disrepute then what is?
Glad Houldsworth got off, he is one of a very small number of honest councillors!
Bell is up to his neck in it!
I do not think the matter is dead yet, I believe there may still be trouble at mill regarding the branch finances and a Fylde Borough Councillor.
They are all a bunch tossers. Hang the lot. Bell first.
haha do u mean the man or by his appendage?
rofl.
who is not a tosser then
Next MP for Blackpool Hip Hip………………
Things just keep getting worse in Blackpool politics, the choices are eroding like an iceberg in the Dead Sea. We have a useless Liebour MP is 13 years who shows a complete lack of committment to Blackpool, a so-called expenses ‘saint’ but only because he never lives in Blackpool. A pro-smoking muppet who keeps getting free publicity from the Gasjet who doesn’t give a toss about Blackpool, a yet to be announced Lib Dem candidate (rumoured to be Doreen Holt) or a Conservative councillor with a tainted reputation. Those outthere on the Gasjet who think Marsden is a ‘wonderful’ MP be careful what you wish for because Blackpool will suffer if Marsden stays in. LABOUR OUT 2010 MARSDEN OUT 2010
Much as it pains me to say it, out of the declared (officially & unofficially) candidates, Marsden is streets ahead. None of the others would even be half as effective as him, which I know isn’t great!!!
Unfortunately yes, looks like Blackpool is condemned to 5 more years of useless Marsden, god help us.
It pains me, too, but I think he might actually make a better opposition MP than one who sits with the governing party.
It’s still a sore point for many that he won’t commit to his constituency by making it his home, though.
Do you know, I find myself agreeing with these last few postings about Marsden. Dont think it will stop me voting BNP though.
Good for you skeet, I just desperately want Marsden out, he shows no committment to Blackpool at all, he doesn’t even live here for god sake. On May 6 (subject to change if the polls aren’t going Brown’s way!!!) hopefully Marsden will be toppled and Labour booted out of Blackpool for good and Hamish Howitt humiliated again. That’s on a good day.
The government are rubbing their hands with joy at the latest polls. An unpopular government going into a election trailing by single digits time and time again history has shown us this can be turned around. The government have reason to feel hopeful.
Labour for another 5 years god help us, the only positive is that they will be left to clean up their own mess for a change. They bankrupt the country and leave it to another Government to take the blame, they can pay for their own mistakes for once.