IT IS often said that Conservatives seek to protect their own, with little regard for the people they are supposed to represent, but following the budget showdown at the town hall in recent weeks Simon Blackburn demonstrated that Labour are no different as he bailed out Boundary Library by giving the entire Brunswick ward budget of £20,000 to the library’s book fund, despite official figures demonstrating that there are no members of Boundary Library that live in Brunswick.
We can instantly see that the residents of Brunswick have been given a raw deal by their councillors. This cash from their ward could have gone to schools, churches, road repairs, road safety, trees, hedges, flower beds, Scouts, Cubs, Guides, social clubs and so on, but instead it was channelled into a library that nobody in Brunswick uses. The sub total of cash spent in their ward by councillors Blackburn and Coleman this year is zero.
The other half of the story tells us why family members of councillors should not be allowed to stand for council. It’s well known that Simon’s live-in partner Gillian Campbell is standing in Park ward (containing the aforementioned library), and questions must be asked about whether this cash is actually going to help this library survive (given that the cut it has been hit with is much more than £20,000) or whether it is nothing other than a sweetener to boost the popularity of Ms Campbell.
In the same way that Labour threw money it didn’t have at deprived areas in the run up to the General Election, is Simon Blackburn trying to buy votes in Grange Park using taxpayers’ money to boost the chances of his partner?
‘Bolly’ gosh, its those expenses again
Maxine Callow read out an interesting list of Simon Blackburn’s expenses in the town hall which make the actual recorded and published expenses for the Labour leader pale into insignificance.
Many of Blackpool’s councillors sit on external boards and committees, many of which are based in London. As such they have to travel there on a semi-regular basis.
However, unlike many councillors who have “downgraded” their taxpayer-funded first class rail tickets to economy class, Simon Blackburn prefers to drive: at great cost to the taxpayer. Each return trip made by Simon to London between September 2008 and September 2009 cost between £252.60 and £318.68 in petrol money which is more than the cost of a taxi, more than the cost of a first class return rail ticket, and more than twice the cost of a return flight from Manchester on BMI.
In total, Simon Blackburn claimed £1173.66 in mileage expenses from 4 trips during this period which works out at a nice little “bankers bonus” for him. 
Indeed, with this money he could purchase almost 48 bottles of Bollinger champagne.
It is unclear what rate was claimed for this mileage, but given that a return trip to London is about 500 miles, if you work it backwards the claimed rate fluctuates between 50 and 60 pence a mile. An average car consumes around 20 pence a mile in fuel. Therefore, if travelling down the motorway in an average car at 70mph, one could claim an expenses rate of up to £42 per hour and make a profit of £28 per hour.
And there’s more. Simon has stayed overnight on multiple occasions during his London trips, and all of them on the taxpayer.
If you remember, September 2008 was the start of the global financial meltdown and as such the seeds of recession were planted in the UK. The private sector started taking immediate hits as people reigned in their spending.
Being a Labour leader, you would expect regardless of the big, black cloud of financial oblivion hovering over the top of society that Simon would stay in modest hotel accommodation providing just the basic levels of amenities to keep the taxpayer burden down. Not so.
In fact, Simon has lapped it up in luxury £187-a-night Crowne Plaza hotels with breakfasts costing up to £10. In addition to the mileage expenses claimed by Simon for the four trips to London in 2009, he claimed £366.00 in accommodation expenses, including a stay at the plush £179-a-night Thistle hotel in Westminster. This makes the £120-130 per night claimed by Conservative MPs Paul Maynard and Mark Menzies look modest.
The first question to ask is whether hotel stays were actually necessary: after all, it takes just two hours to travel between London and Preston on one of Richard Branson’s cash machines. Did the fact that Blackburn used his car necessitate an overnight stay? At least one stay results in him returning home before 10am the following day.
On one occasion during the course of a trip to London on the 18th of February 2009, Simon claimed for two breakfasts at a total of £20.50. He must have been hungry: for this money you can buy 48 rashers of bacon at Morrisons, 85 free range medium eggs from Tesco or 61 ‘Taste the Difference’ sausages from Sainsburys. He also claimed for two lunches on the 7th of April 2010.
I am aware that Blackpool Council can claim back some or maybe all of these expenses from the Local Government Authority which is perhaps why we do not see them appear on the allowances and expenses sheets published on the council website, but either way, it’s taxpayers money nonetheless.
It also demonstrates that even the official figures about expenses on the Blackpool Council website are misleading, and that whilst your councillor might well have a clean record when it comes to the expenses sheet, it doesn’t mean they aren’t living it up on the taxpayer.
There is in my view no sane reason for Mr Blackburn to drive to London and incur the level of cost that he has – unless other people are in the car with him. In my view, if a councillor requires a trip to London, they should all be forced to travel in the same way, and this way should be a compromise between cost and time taken to get to London. Driving is not only the most expensive way to travel to London, but it takes the longest: common sense dictates that standard class rail is the way councillors should travel on these jaunts.
The big question is, though, how much are the rest of our councillors really claiming on expenses?
The small matter of using the Brunswick Ward budget to bail out Grange Park Library is in itself scandalous and should be reason enough for those voters in Brunswick, to boot out Blackburn. Would be easier to understand if Brunswick was a ward without problems of its’ own.
This coupled with the fact that Blackburn’s partner is standing as a prospective candidate in Park, stinks. After all there are other libraries, just as deserving which are closing too. Perhaps our resident Rocket Scientists could work out why the donation went entirely to Park Ward? It also adds weight to the Gazette letter, where in his reply to the Councils’ budget announcement, Blackburn supposedly made repeated remarks, naming councillor Peter Collins of Park Ward as being at fault, again taking the opportunity to prepare the ground for his partner Gillian Campbell.
Does anyone still think that this man is going to be any better? Messiah – I think not, just another grubby money grabber, in it for self-gratification.
Would be usefull to get the facts right Phil, and not speculate or stir the crap.
I suggest you do your research on this one.
Normally you are so accurate and get the story right, Nail on Head Job, but not this time.
Contact Legal & Democratic Services in Town Hall, they will willing give you all the correct details that are in the public domain.
Not rocket science.
So….. Man of the People, are you saying this is not true? If not why not say which bits aren’t true?
i think it would be best if Phil checked the official facts
err….. he has!
Man of the People please answer simply the following 2 questions for my benefit. I would not wish to form any opinion based on falsehood. These points concern me more than ripping off expenses.
1. Is it correct that the entire Brunswick Ward budget was handed to Park Ward for the library?
2. Is it correct that Mr Blackburn used his speech, in reply to the Tory budget announcement, to highlight Peter Collins, several times.
Thank you
Maurice.
Re Above,
POINT 1 as far as I am aware no money has been handed over to anyone yet. But if it is at least keeping a library open, a centre of learning and excellence is good money spent in my book.
POINT 2, I cant comment as I was not present in the town hall at the time.
My point is this, would you rather a library close, so you can sit on your fat arse, making daft comments on here all the time. or would you rather the residents of grange, layton, and brunswick who use the library suffer by losing this great facility in the city learning centre……… errrrrrrrr OVER to you.
Labour closed four of these ‘centres of excellence’ then.
But lets get real: Boundary library is hardly a centre of excellence. You will note, of course, that it was Steve Weaver that forced the closure of that library by axing the relevant budget. You can’t say that the Tories chose it ‘because it’s Grange Park’ because currently it is equally a Tory area as it is Labour if the democratically elected representatives are anything to go by.
As I said before, there are NO members of Boundary that live in Brunswick. None.
I understand that Simon Blackburn wants to keep it open in some kind of Big Society kind of arrangement, with volunteers.
I should also add that Boundary was not the only library to be closed. Why did Mereside Library receive no backing from Simon Blackburn?
Thanks for the ‘ nearly’ reply. I think we all know the answers to the 2 questions but obviously it would stick in your craw to answer honestly. It would appear that most of the daft comments come from you, fat arse or not. “Borrowed time” for Jon Bamborough. What is that all about? Heads up to Philtheone, that his identity is known? Are you that stupid?
Just to help you along, since when did any of the residents of Brunswick Ward visit Grange Park Library? How will they suffer? by this library closing?
Layton has its’ own library, again are Layton residents going to suffer by this closure as you suggest? “Centre of Excellence” you must be joking.
It is a fact that the closure would be a sad loss but I don’t think residents of Brunswick will feel the chill wind. Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrr OVER TO YOU
Where do you think the information came from?
I have the sheet from Legal and Democratic right here, and what’s more, I can reveal that none of the expenses were claimed back from the LGA, so all of these expenses came from the Blackpool taxpayer.
Regarding the library, well, I don’t think I have any questions to answer on that one, do I?
These ward budgets have been abused by Many Councillors since their introduction 7 years ago. I am in the process of compiling a dossier on this very subject and several Councillors may end up being referred to the Councils’ standards committee.
really Cllr jon and what did you use your allowance/budget for then, care to explain…………………
Certainly, it’s a matter of public record. Most of the ward budget from Steven Bate and I went into the CCTV camera and posts, the majority of the remaining funds went to projects within the local parks.
We didn’t spend any money on things outside the ward, or on books with nameplates implying that we had personally donated them, neither did we use the money to benefit any religious organisations.
We certainly didn’t use it as in Park Ward to pay for “dropped kerbs” for certain individuals.
I think saving a Library is a good use of 20 grand, if it’s the difference from it shutting or staying open Kudos to the councillors. I know there my not be anyone from that ward which is registered at the Library but if you are registered at one council Library you can use them all. I sorry but I can’t find it in my hart to have ago at any councillor for this because.
However it does raise the question how this sort of ward budget is spent and what guidelines there are for it?
It’s not though is it John, because the cut to libraries was £90,000. Simon Blackburn has, or said he was going to, give £20,000 to the book fund.
What about the staff fund? What about the cost of maintenance? etc etc.
Not sustainable.
Volunteers to run the library? Not unheard of but without a book fund the library would die. I would hope that money like this isn’t being used for political ends but then again I hope I would win the lotto yesterday didn’t happen
I was thinking more along the lines of “Volunteers? Labour?” lol
Yes LOL
bit like joe best giving his entire £20k ward budget to the Marton Windmill Trust which is owned by the council by the way, this building whilst looking pretty lit up at night serves little purpose, it only opens the odd weekend a year, staff by a doddering old couple, who have little else to do.
NOW thats a waste of ward funding, at least keeping a library thats well used and need open is a better project / option.
As for the residents of brunswick being short changed, I think not, a lot of work has been done around the ward, and all bearing in mind best value practise…..
Phil is just mud slinging again………… no wonder we can only get the third party councillors posting on here………………… darned shame………………
Is Simon or is he not going to give his entire year’s ward budget to another (distant) ward?
If the answer is yes, then it means NO MONEY has been spent in Brunswick this year by Simon Blackburn and Gary Coleman.
Joe Best might well have done it in Clifton, and I don’t agree with giving it all to the Windmill Trust or whatever, but he’s not been in the town hall recently shouting his mouth off about it.
Boundary library is not well used, that’s why it was closed. In fact, Layton library has more members from Grange Park than Boundary does. Common sense tells you that if you have a list of 6 or 7 libraries and you are told by your chief executive that two have to go, you close the least busy ones. This is what happened.
You should be fully aware, after all, Labour closed four libraries when they were in power.
No comment on Labour closing so many libraries, Man of the People? If what the Tories are said to be doing is bad, then Labour must have been twice as bad.
I think the one sided comments by your party leader Phil say it all, yet again the gazette have only printed one side of the story. to be honest I dont know why anyone actually entertains commenting in the gazette they never print what is actually quoted DO THEY.
Still no comment on Labour closing four libraries?
Not read the Gazette as I don’t buy it myself, but on their site I see both leaders get chance to comment.
As for why the Queens Park residents are supposedly stepping up to run this library for free, this indeed adds to the mystery of “why the obsession with Boundary”… maybe even Grange Park residents don’t want it!
I don’t believe any libraries should have been cut, but that was the hand that was dealt by Steve Weaver to the relevant department. Blame the ConDems if you want, or blame Labour for bailing out the banks and spending the country into the shit.
It’s not uncommon for councillors to give money to book funds, but usually this would be to their nearest library. To pump your whole ward budget into a library that’s had all of its money cut is not only terrible for Brunswick residents who have had not a penny spent this year by Cllrs Blackburn and Coleman but also a big risk.
It would have made more sense to me to back a library that is staying open and make it better than to scrimp and save to run an already quiet library on a skeleton crew of volunteers with no further funding in the pipeline (unless Labour councillors are going to keep funding it).
End of the day, whether this library stays open or not, Labour are not the party of the libraries because they closed not one library, not two libraries, not three libraries but FOUR libraries last time they were in!
Not the messiah. A very naughty boy.
Excellent article Phil, but Labour seem to feel Park Ward is pretty much a foregone conclusion in May. Peter Collins is a truly great public servant who puts his constituents before party politics and I think it would be a great shame if he was to lose the seat. Mr Collins also recognises that Park Ward extends beyond Grange Park. It also includes some of Blackpool’s leafiest streets including North Park Drive, Heron Way and Newton Drive but the Labour councillor’s/candidates don’t seem to recognise that. In a letter to the Gazette recently Park Labour Councillor Brian Doherty rather amusingly referred to his ward as ‘Grange Park Ward’ and once on this site candidate Gillian Campbell also referred to it as ‘Grange Park Ward’. I think it says a lot when councillors don’t even know their own wards.
I guess it’s because that’s the only part of the ward that votes for them!
dont make me laugh
if peter collins is such a great councillor “man of the people” how come he votes with Mr Callow on every issue and never ever challenges any decisions etc.
AND I very much Doubt Gillian Campbell would comment on this site, doubt she even looks. Being a hard working candidate, mother etc………… wonder were she finds the time to read this twaddle…………
Mr Cox you have been very quite, does Councillor Callow know your comenting again. if he dont he does now………… ha ha.
There’s a search box up the top there. Type in Gillian Campbell and see what you come up with.
Spot on Phil, here is a link actually quoting her http://philtheone.com/2010/08/time-to-close-the-cabinet/ and notice how she says true to my word ‘I will be standing in Grange Park’, proving both her and Doherty don’t even recognise the wider expanses of their ward.
obliged thank you will check that out, many thanks
Sound like lack of control on expenses, same as the Fees Office was with MPs, will those in authority do something about it, hardly likely, all pigs in the trough. Be interesting to know just how much in claimed for taxis by our “lack of independent thought” councillors.
Fantastic piece of work Phil.
Please give some serious consideration to standing for Council in May , we need people like you on the Council.
excellent work Phil,labour = tory = shite.
The yorkshire ripper wrote a letter to the gasjet about this ward, lol:
I ATTENDED the town hall to hear the setting of the council budget for 2011/2012.
This was the first time I had attended such a meeting and was keen, though apprehensive, to hear what cuts to services would be proposed. The Tory council leader duly read out the grim news, then the Labour group leader Coun Blackburn spoke in reply.
His speech was long and played to Labour supporters in the viewing gallery, but what alarmed me was his personal attack on Conservative Coun Peter Collins of Park Ward.
Coun Blackburn’s words were, “You’re going to hear your name mentioned a lot today Coun Collins”.
I asked the person next to me why Coun Collins was being singled out and he told me Coun Blackburn’s partner, Gillian Campbell, would be standing against Coun Collins in Park Wood in the forthcoming election.
Coun Blackburn has a right and a duty to oppose the Conservative budget plans but surely councillors should be supporting their constituents, not helping their family members get elected.
Unpleasant as the proposed cuts are going to be, I did not hear how either Labour or the Lib Dems would find the funds to avoid the proposed cuts. The financial mess the country is in will take time to rectify, but postponing necessary cuts now will only prolong hardship.
(Name and address supplied)
ALTHOUGH the Blue Badge has a picture of the disabled person, when displayed correctly in a vehicle the picture is not visible.
It is on the opposite side of the badge to the written details of the issuer, expiry date, etc., which must by law be displayed.
Surely this is an open invitation to fraudulent use and the badge should be redesigned to show both the picture and the relevant written information on the same side.
P SUTCLIFFE
Nethway Avenue
Blackpool
Failed at copying and pasting there Harold, but still gave me a laugh! End of the day you can’t blame SB for hammering Peter Collins, after all, Park is a natural Labour seat and if they don’t get Collins out it looks like a massive failure all round.
I know it wasnt him but when I saw sutcliffe I couldnt resist,lol
Phil, in your opinion what are callows cahnces at the next election???loads of people at work today were raging on about the plan to reduce the seafront lanes and all these unwanted cycle paths, its really getting people going.
Callow will get elected as a councillor for Norbreck.
Unless the Tories win with a massive landslide, he wont be the council leader.
Good, like the picture of simon,looks demonic,lol
with the likes of Mr Christian COX standing as a candidate the torys have little chance. Mind you Mr Bambrough is on borrowed time also………… Well I think so anyway.
How am I on borrowed time? I’m not a Councillor! Yet.
And I dont think you will be !!! rumour has it Labour are running a dam good campaign in your proposed ward, Dont think you have much of a chance this time Jon, but hey fella god loves a tryier. If you had to pay a deposit one things you would lose it…………….
Oh well you can always take up gardening……………
I presume this was some kind of joke. I have seen and have photographic evidence of the Christmas cards that Labour sent out in that ward, and guess what? They couldn’t even spell the name of the ward correctly.
Ancorsholme. And they got it wrong twice. Nice one.
As I understand it the campaign by Labour in that ward goes a little something like this;
“pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes, pot holes”
You got that wrong Phil its
Pot holes pot holes pot holes……….
It ain’t over till the fat lady sings.
…. and I’ve put on loads of weight since stopping smoking and my voice has gone all high pitched!
Putting out leaflets spelling the name of the ward wrong doesn’t go down very well.
Neither does putting out a leaflet advertising a meeting that has already gone!
As I have said elsewhere, the honeymoon is over for Simon Blackburn and his Labour Party. Let battle commence……
Perhaps if we had leaflets made showing the good residents of Norbreck Callows 2007 manifesto and its failings along with further information, then perhaps the good people of Norbreck would decide enough is enough and vote for someone else, same goes for the Fowlers Waterloo ward. I am up for it, I truly would like to see a totally independent council who could work together for the good of Blackpool for a change, rather than having whips to make them tow the party leaders line.
I would certainly like to see an end to husband and wife teams, whether its through marriage or common law. I feel sorry for Cllr Blackburn if he is driving to London as it is an horrendous place to drive to, If someone offered me £400.00 to drive them their I would refuse. I always catch the train now and arrive nice and relaxed and this allows me to catch up with things, thanks to the free wireless internet in first class and there are huge savings if you pre plan your journey in advance I still maintain that allowing generous allowances and expenses attracts the wrong sort of people into this role, as we have seen from this story it raises issues on their integrity.
i certainly wouldnt want to drive the journey to london, M6, M42, M40, A40(m) into london not the best journey. I know i did it every friday night for a number of years. And dont forget the conjestion charge, and the mad parking costs in london. Perhaps the old saying “let the train take the strain” is the best option in my opinion, but thats upto the people concerned. But I wouldnt go first class the new virgin trains are decent in standard class……….
Whats this dig at Blackburn week………. or has phil had enough of digging at his old freind Mr Callow, according to Cllr Fowler he lives near Phil…….. (Seems like they know who you are phil)
They do know who I am. Most, if not all councillors do, as do many who comment on here. How else do you think Callow and Fowler post their legal threats to me and harass me on the telephone?
So thanks for the heads up, but, I know.
good point phil sorry for pointing out the obvious, was having a senior moment AGAIN.
Excellent article and worthy of an investigative journalism award.
The chances of getting Blackburn or anyone close to him to explain why taxpayers funds have been pi$$ed up the wall like this will fall on deaf ears.
Shame the gazette cannot run articles like this!! And that most of the sheeple in the wards mentioned are too thick to see what is going on beyond the end of their noses and the lastest episode of eastenders and will sadly return these mumpties at the election.
If he’s getting 50 to 60 pence per mile, I do hope he’s declaring it to the Inland Revenue as it’s above the government’s approved mileage rate !
Yeah, I thought that too.
I can only assume that under the “mileage” column on this spreadsheet I have been sent, it includes parking, congestion charge, etc!
I can’t believe that anyone would willingly drive to London rather then catch the train from Preston. I do this journey at least twice a month if you are going to a meeting then the train gives you that extra time to prep or to sleep. The only reason I can think of for someone wanting to drive down is their idiot or they making something on it. Having said that Simon is not the only councillor which does this so perhaps I am the idiot for catching a comfortable train and relaxing for 2 and a bit hours.
Great article. The truly alarming thing is that Blackburn is likely to be leader of the council in less than two months – a reflection less on his ‘abilities’ than of the failures of the Callow regime, the uselessness of some of the councillors elected for the Tories last time, the Lib Dem unpopularity as the coalition drags the country back into the dark ages and, most of all, the lack of a genuine independent movement in Blackpool that can rise above politics and provide a real alternative.
Quite frankly I’m glad I’m not eligible to vote this time, as it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to find two candidates worth putting a cross by. And I’ve never not voted in my life.
http://stevedunthorne.wordpress.com/
WELL OLD CHAP IF YOU AINT VOTING THEN YOU AINT GOT MUCH OF A SAY THEN HAVE YOU.
If you did a bet job of convincing him to vote for your (Simons) party, then he may do. He certainly won’t be voting for a party that insults him though.
Never said i was a labourite Jon, I may just be one of yours, or was, might be something to do with being sold down the river by the Con Dem party
If you were ever a Lib Dem then we are well rid you homophobic idiot!
your conduct Mr Bambrough is certainly not that one expects from a) and experienced councillor or b) a candidate seeking elections.
And homophobic I a certainly am not……………… i think you should read tangerine tits comments for that sort of comment.
talk about walk into a set up thanks jon…………
Tangerine Tit? I bet that you wouldn’t say that to my face.
You are the one who continually shouts foul and accuses people of racism and bigotry (without any evidence of such) and then thinks it’s ok to use personal insult. Make up your mind.
You are to my mind the worst kind of creature who hides behind a nickname to pontificate and insult yet would not have the balls to identify himself to others on this forum.
I think you’re a cunt but to my mind even more so because you’re a cunt that can’t spell!
I won’t be voting in the local elections as I’m not a UK resident and am therefore inelgible to do so. I will be voting [YES] in the referendum on fair voting
I’ve already decided who I’m going to vote for and although I despise the LibDems nationally for their EU stance amongst other policies, locally I am happy that their councillors will not be whipped unlike the other two main parties.
I am resident in Brunswick Ward so what choice do I have?
Labour? Not a bloody cat in hell’s chance after 13 years of profligacy, lies, spin and war.
Conservative? Not a chance at the local level as we have returned to the bad old days of tory corruption in the townhall.
UKIP? Although this is a party who’s ideals I support on a national level it is irrelevant in Blackpool at a local level except as a protest vote. However, locally they have proved themselves a right bunch of cretins with their disunity and promotion of Hamish Howett as their candidate so I think that I’ll decline.
BNP? They would put me and my family in a concentration camp err perhaps not
Liberal Democrats? As I said above their councillors are not whipped and anyway Jon Bamboro has a cool leather hat. Any party in Blackpool that has such people and fashion sense deserves my vote!!!
Independents? Sadly I haven’t got a clue who any of them are.
That’s just it, in the local political sphere, national stuff is not relevant. I believe locally its more about the people, but if the party tells them all how to vote then you have to look at who the leaders are, because they will be calling the shots.
You can have a constructive discussion with Jon, but if any recent experience with Maxine Callow is anything to go by, it would be difficult to have one with her.
I imagine you could have a constructive discussion with Simon Blackburn, and indeed I have had several face-to-face constructive discussions with Labour councillors milling about the town hall. They all seem fairly clued up and nice people. Unfortunately when they went into the chamber, they just spout off national stuff. VAT, Police cuts, NHS cuts, etc. Blackpool council can’t influence these, so why waste everyone’s time?
If I were Simon Blackburn, I’d take a copy of the Tory 2007 manifesto into the council chamber, read it out, and ask them to say how many of these things have been achieved.
Phil you latest comment is very intersting, have you Councillor Blackburns email address or perhaps you could send him one, I read it when you posted it on here, and didnt stop laughing……….. Results, achivements by this council my arse.
Intersting point about national policys effecting local issues.
DEBATE………………..
cheers………
cllr.simon.blackburn@blackpool.gov.uk
I agree TT thats why i will be voting lib dem, to get those wyre foreskin/vincent/ghandis dildo cunts out.
HEG your comments and language are disgusting……….. not big nor clever, your swearing like you do ————- not amused
VOR,get back to wanking over you fluffy puffy Orwellian LCC PC diversity manual,you dont like my language,tough,my languange bears no comparison to the DEEDS of this cartel council thats hell bent on creating MASSIVE congestion in my town at the ratepayers expense,get a fuckin grip, get your fuckin priorities right.You dont like bad language?
What the fuck are you doing on this site then?
Its called free speech, something you and your labour lacky friends would love to erase.
Sich Fuckin Heil!
Harold would not be Harold IMHO if he didn’t express himself in his own inimitable fashion and he’s been posting here long before VOR or myself have.
Actually I think that Harold’s linguistic excess and almost pathological fascination for Zyklon B add much needed colour to what otherwise might be simply a dry and soulless political discussion forum.
Totally agree, the site would not be what it is without Harold. You have to look past the ‘linguistic excess’ and see that all his points, fundamentally, are totally on the money! The rants and raves are not for the sake of it, they are the voice of an oppressed majority in Wyre who are having shite schemes forced upon them such that their lives are being made a misery.
In many cases the calm approach does not work and more radical steps have to be taken. You only have to look at the spectre of an anti-council leaflet being deployed by taxi drivers and suddenly Callow is agreeable to some suggestions made by them. It is fundamentally sad that extreme measures have to be taken, but if calling someone a ‘brain-dead fuckwit’ rather than a naughty boy has the desired effect, I have no problem with it.
One only has to look at the Islam debate to see that behind the mask, there is a massive pulsating organism of intelligence residing in Harold’s cranium. I expected fireworks on that, but it was intelligent, calm and actually quite interesting to read for someone like me that has no interest in religion.
In fact, Harold, you’ve not written me an article for ages!
I need to get writing phil, cheers.
your last comments may well be why no one in the council takes this site seriously I dont know
Maybe, but I don’t actually care. I’m not forcing anyone to read this.
Aye the Islam debate Harold had with myself and others was a classic and at no point did it degenerate into name-calling (“Bigot”, “Racist” etc the kind of things we’ve come to expect of the so-called “Politically Correct” on this forum ).
It was good un TT,full marks to you Sir!
Not there so I rely on hearsay, not a good defence of a political standpoint whilst others only want to know what is fact or another litany of political truths.
A quick perusal at the Barnsley electorate illuminates the dire depth that political engagement has evolved too. No matter how profound the issue, with Lieber supporters it revolves round dogma, pure and simple. Blue Rosette Brigade can’t tell simple truths, Red Flag Flyers can’t recognise it if they ever saw it. Yellow Badge Holders are too busy covering up the binges of their leaders in The Trough.
Will subscriber MotP, thank Dog I isn’t one of the PEEPPULL, please answer on the debate he chose to sidetrack?
Let there be truth. Lieber supporters were out in strength, all four of them, not 100 yards from the home of the late Chris Whiteside, offering their interpretation and concerns on Sure Start. Not a mention of the twofold theft of my pension, the lack of my representation because I am not homosexual, nor a laber supporter and capable of participation in lucid political debate. So every injustice to my comrades who sacrificed youth and in many instances life, we have to stay stum to the new PC Mafia. I personally don’t give a shit about peoples sexual leanings, as long as they keep it in their bedrooms and don’t frighten the animals. But when they use their sexuality to silence former servicemen and women from open and honest debate…. It is an insult to the wonderful people who do their duty and have their reward stolen by devious politicians. I for one do not attend Remembrance Day in Blackpool as long as YOUR MP minces onto MY parade.
So, how many of you Lieber stalwarts actually attend Lieber political meetings? About the same half dozen in number or so who attend non-existent Conservative policy meetings.
your a biggoted disgrace rear-bummer
Here we go again the usual shite from this marxist pansy!
In what way is Notareargunner’s post bigoted?
This is God knows how many times I’ve asked this pillock to explain his idiotic and strident PC whinging.
Answer the fucking question or fuck off!
I don’t mind being a bigot, if you use the original definition – a concerned citizen. Maybe you should defame the speaker on QuestionTime the other evening news.bbc.co.uk, the renowned Historian Dr David Starkey, a self professed person of dubious sexual needs.
It always reminds me of the occasion a subject of another sexual persuasion was bragging to his female bar staff and said out loud, “you’ve never lived until you’ve sha**ed a man.” They were in a taxi and I was driving. ” Have you ever sha**ed a man, ” he continued as his hand slipped over the handbrake.
“Plenty,” said I, “with government issue ammunition. That really f^^ks men.” The hand was hastily withdrawn.
Now back to the subject. How much does Councillor Simon Blackburn get over the £43.90 open return rail fare?
lol lol priceless!
Will have some further info on his rail trips this week.
and mr tory supporter phil the one……… how many raid trips have mr callow and weaver and fowler done in the last 2 yrs first class. Can you answer that one for me also.
No
that just about sums up your conservative perverse attitude, telling only one side of the story.
I assume it makes you feel better………… oh well cometh the day,
Why does it matter whether the council takes this forum seriously or not? I think that you take yourself and your opinions too seriously.
They do take this site seriously VOR, very seriously, because aside from all the obscenities(mainly by me but TT is gonaa be no 1 before long,lol) they cant evade the validity and accuracy of the points made, thats what scares them.
I belive your conservative chum Cllr Fowler does occasionaly browse this site when there is nothing interesting on TV ie the test card…….. but as for being taken seriously really the majority of the views on here are a joke.
Points accurate, really only the points you want to put accross. bit like the gazette so one sided. thats the problem with reporting its all one sided sensationalisum.
VOR, if the majority of the views on here are a joke, why do you waste your time coming on here?
Yet more total bollocks. I have logs of Cllr Fowler’s accessing the site. He knows this because I have already blocked him once, yet still he subverts my technical measures and continues to access the site. Believe me it looks more like he spends more time on here than viewing anything on TV.
If you don’t like the site, you can always fuck off to another site that supports Labour and only Labour. Writing about Simon Blackburn’s expenses is something I want to do to demonstrate that whilst he might be in the paper saying he’s going to save all the jobs with imaginary money and save all the libraries with his ward budget, he still lives it up on travel and accommodation expenses even more than the local Conservative MPs do and it’s all paid for by the hard-working taxpayer.
As for writing about Fowler or Callow’s expenses, yes, I could do, but since they’re Conservative, everyone expects them to be claiming for everything and probably getting a bankers bonus from all their rich friends in the city as well as claiming for a duck island. Looks like I’ve been reading the Old Labour Almanac again.
yet but isnt the name of the game to give a full unbaised account, recounting both sides of the story…… or is that not your intention.
I find it amusing the Cllr Fowler does actually browse this site…….
One wonders if the rest of the Conservative higher-archy do so, I can just see the Callows and Dame Lilly Henderson crouching over there laptops reading all this drival…………. you have to admit its quite funny.
I bet you can’t see them, they don’t have laptops!
Yet again another leftwinger who feels unbiased means total agreement with their out-of-date ideological views. I suggest Voice of Reason that you spend less time reading crap mascerading as fact in the Mirror or the Guardian.
VOR, I didn’t notice you complaining that I hadn’t “balanced” my slating of Sheila and Roy Haskett with a slating of a Labour councillor.
Consider this the counterweight.
I find it amusing that you browse this site since you keep saying how much drivel is on it and how crap it is.
Come on Chris you have to smile it was such a long time ago when people banged on about the left wing biased of the EG but now if you read some of the comments posted on it you would think it was the new torygraph. There are a lot of blinkered people who will follow their parties drum no matter where it leads them you only have to read some postings from yourself and Christian Cox to see that.
John,
I don’t think that people who know me personally would agree that I follow the Conservative Party drum no matter where it leads me.
Roll on may the 5th! lol
Harold mate. I wouldn’t dream of trying to compete for the title of champion of the world (or the Fylde Coast) in linguistic excess. It’s all yours but I shall from time to time use my linguistic abilities to take the piss out of those who deserve it. I am, according to some, a cunning linguist
Its always a pleasure to see you articulating your talents, I see a great future for you Sir!
” I for one do not attend Remembrance Day in Blackpool as long as YOUR MP minces onto MY parade.”
Bob on!
Your parade, your a disgrace to any uniform you may have had the privilage of wearing. Your Regt must have been happy to see you go old boy………..
a month or two in MCDC Colchester would have been too good for you. I have wipped better of my shoe in stanley park, your just one biggoted racist nasty piece of work. Tangerine Tit.
NOW GET out of my face Nob Jockey………..
I will not respond to your comments further as you appear to be getting sexual gratification from my sensible comments…
MCDC Colchester? You seem to be au fait with that establishment and for your imformation not all soldiers serve in regiments, some actually serve in corps as well. You don’t know who I am, what uniform(s) I’ve worn, what ranks I’ve held or what I’ve done yet you seem intent on provoking a reaction from me at every opportunity.
You try to imply that you’re an ex-serviceman who held a rank of some responsibility or distinction. However, taken that your spelling and grammar are atrocious and dyslexia is no excuse (I’ve known several gifted individuals how have conquered that difficulty), you are not IMHO of the education to have held any rank of substance. Indeed, I very much doubt that you’ve served in the regular armed forces at all or perhaps you were deemed unsuitable. Your affectation of “Old boy” does not make you look like an officer, indeed it makes you look like what you are: pretentious and supercilious.
Your lack of respect to those who have served this country on this forum is telling and I can tell you catagorically that ex-forces people tend not to insult each other in that manner.
I’m delighted that you don’t want to respond further to my posts as, like many on this forum, I am thoroughly weary of reading your drivel.
Point of order gentlemen!!!!!
It is actually the MCTC Colchester..
Military Correction and Training Centre…..
Anyone who has been in the services will know what it is…..
http://www.army.mod.uk/agc/provost/2157.aspx
stands corrected
Oh!! So you wear Surgical Boots? I preferred Boots SV. You had to be a real soldier to were them
I cant help my affliction, I know what I want to say, just it dont come out written right lol.
TT if you email, me I will fill you in on my Armed Forces Service no problem, just not for broadcast generally thats all. mjones500@yahoo.co.uk
olive branch…………
Phil,
does the 48 rashers of Morrison’s bacon included the 17% donated to United Utilities through excess agua? Or is that direct to Dutch water?
Peter callow has just been on look North west,praising blackpool,theres me thinking hes the first performer to walk on the comedy carpet,lol