Bully Boy Tactics

Posted By: Liz Thirsk
Date Posted: 29/08/2007

When I was persuaded to stand for council I believed I knew what I was going into.
I believed that all councillors, no matter what their political persuasion, were there for the same propose
That is to serve the people of Rochdale.
I was quite aware that my opposition would monitor my political prowess and comment, however unfavourably, but I was not prepared for the personal slurs and insults.
Let me say, I entered the political arena knowing full well that all my past history would be up for dissection.
I have always been totally honest about all aspects of my personal and business life.
It is no secret that I had a bad business experience 5 years ago that led to my being declared insolvent. This was a very black time in my life and I tried all ways to avoid this happening. I don’t intend to lay bare all the details at this point, except to say that I had (or at least thought I had) the support of the then Labour MP Lorna Fitzsimons.
I suppose it should not have come as a surprise that as soon as my name was announced as a Lib Dem candidate the leader of the Labour group started passing scathing remarks to other Lib Dems.
In fact the first time I encountered this individual in the Town Hall dining room, he shouted to me that I was doing well for a bankrupt.
I will not be intimidated by anybody and went to great pains to tell him so.
Later that same week, one of the Labour councillors took me to one side and apologised for his leader’s behaviour.
Since then I have been subjected to many Labour cronies sending letters to the Observer using phrases such as “bankrupt of ideas”.
I can honestly say that none of the letters had a single truthful or valid political purpose.
I recently sat on a scrutiny panel, this same individual decided to sit next to me. I was absolutely astonished to watch him fill out numerous private papers and then to write his talking politics column during the meeting.
It was no coincidence that my column of the same day contained the answers to his banal ramblings.
I have often been accused of needing somebody to write my letters and columns for me.
All I will say to that is that to underestimate my intellect is tantamount to mistaking kindness for weakness.
I have been elected to do a job for my Ward and I fully intend to get on with that job. No amount of bully boy tactics will stop me.
It is way past time that the Labour councillors put a stop to this trail of destruction and applied themselves to also getting on with the job.
The electorate are not stupid and they don’t like unfair play. Be warned.