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| A Storm in a Tea Cup! ---
03 Mar 2010
POLICE are examining a complaint that a parliamentary candidate was featured on council literature.
Durham Police received the complaint after business-style cards with a photograph of Darlington’s Labour parliamentary candidate Jenny Chapman were handed out at a teacher training day earlier this month.
Police have confirmed they are considering the complaint and the council may also carry out an investigation.
But Ms Chapman, a borough councillor, dismissed the row as a “storm in a tea cup” and insisted that the cards were produced to illustrate success stories from Darlington’s schools.
“Even complaints which are politically motivated should be investigated,” she said.
“It is doubtful whether 100 cards will influence anyone’s vote.”
She is right that 100 cards will not influence anyone’s vote but that is not the point, the point is the rules have been broken, she is dismissing the incident because “only” 100 cards were produced, would 1000 or 10,000 card have made it more serious, of course not, the rules were broken irrespective of the number of cards produced.
It is like saying, well I only stole 1 Mars bar but there are 99 left so it doesn’t matter.
Or driving 3 miles over the speed limit and then complaining when you get a ticket because 3 miles doesn’t make a difference.
Laws, rules and regulations underpin our maintenance of a law abiding society but clearly Jenny Chapman has little regard for the rules as she refers to the situation as a “storm in a teacup”, demonstrating that she is not taking the matter seriously.
For those who want to listen she is giving a clear message there that she has little regard for the rules, are these qualities that we want to see in an MP for Darlington, I think not!
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Comments (14) |
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Gill Cartwright said....
"Thanks, Alan."
15 Mar 201017:58
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13 Apr 201011:23
Alan Macnab said....
"Support the Striking Transport Workers
Thank you for your support. I was mearly reinforcing what I said earlier on another blog. Creepy prat - oh no. Who are you by the way?
Alan "
27 Mar 201015:41
Gill Cartwright said....
"The serious nature of the situation is summed up perfectly by Alan McNab on Mike Barkers blog https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7565935975551949363&postID=5284423220257518034&pli=1
Alan is a Lib Dem but I commend people for talking sense irrespective of their political allegiances.
Alan Macnab writes.....
I think I am qualified to write about what I have read on here. I spent 32 years in local government. There was a clear line during my time in local government between officers who advise and implement policies and manage services which people need and politicians who are there to represent all the people in their wards and govern the Borough in the best interests of all the people, young and old.
At no time during my time in local government was that line crossed. It is a rule that officers give advice and guidance to their political masters and mistresses free of political opinion and influence, they MUST NOT express a political view and they MUST NOT seek to influence the electorate by publishing material which expresses a political opinion. There is legislation which covers this although I cannot put my hand on it at the moment.
What appears to have happened here is that line has been crossed and
political opinion has been expressed by officers.
Mistakes do not just happen. Officers know that they must not make a political statement.
This is a very grave situation indeed. An apology cannot wash away this incident. Firm action must be taken and changes made to ensure that this incident does not ever happen again within Darlington Borough Council."
03 Mar 201020:01
Labour Voter said....
"I don't know... you Tories have been told to stop distributing your latest leaflet which carries a "Printed by..." but not a "Published by..." or a “Promoted by and on behalf of” imprint. Yet you’re still distributing it to your hearts content - even to areas which are not in the Darlington Constituency.
How bad is that, not to know where Darlington starts and ends, yet your legget wants to be our MP. And that’s what he would do if ever elected… legget!
Your thousands of these leaflets (made from our rain forests) stacked up waiting to be delivered, must be immediately withdraw and destroyed. As all literature during any election period in support of a candidate must carry details of its publisher (the candidate's agent) and the address at which he can be contacted.
If your lot continue to distribute this leaflet from now onwards, having already been alerted to this mistake, further action will be pursued by the Returning Officer. tut tut!
"
07 Mar 201020:59
Labour Voter said....
""Serious nature of the situation" indeed!"
07 Mar 201021:09
Gill Cartwright said....
"Labour Voter AKA, Labour Councillor, answers on a postcard as to which ward?
Dont hide behind an alias!"
08 Mar 201021:03
Mark R Burton said....
"lol - Why am I always the person you blame for spurious post on here Gill... surely I can't be the only person who breezes past from time to time to see where you've been on your holiday's or whether Mike's been to ASDA for more banana's? xxx"
08 Mar 201028:47
Gill Cartwright said....
"You are very welcome as Mark R Burton and thanks for the kisses!"
09 Mar 201018:34
Alan Macnab said....
"Gill
Thank you for copying my posting on Mike's blog. Can I reiterate please that officers publishing and distributing material which intentionally or unitentionally (mistakenly) seeks to support a politician standing in an election and to influence voting sets a very dangerous precedent for democracy in this country and in this Borough. As I have said before all council officers know the boundaries which they must not cross. They receive this information when they are appointed and during their employment.
I am shocked and apalled by this and have never known an incident of this nature happening before. The incident undermines completely and utterly the netrality and impartiality of council officers. Are we now so far down the road where officers have become politicised?
Alan "
09 Mar 201025:12
Alan Macnab said....
"Sorry Gill the word 'neutrality' in line 12 was not spelt correctly in the above posting.
Alan"
09 Mar 201025:34
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