Sh-h-h-h-h-h! Don't mention local politics

Posted By: Ibrar Khan
Date Posted: 14/12/2008

I am not surprised that Malcolm Bruce and Zulfiqar Ali want to talk about Gordon Brown, the Queen’s Speech and anything else but the failed local policies for which the Liberal Democrats are responsible for in Rochdale.

They are, after all, local politicians, so why not talk about local politics in Rochdale? Perhaps it’s because they will do anything to divert attention from the fact that their party’s disastrous policies are creating nothing but anger, resentment and disbelief in our Borough.

I am sure readers want to know what these people are doing to better our town. Not read Zulf’s hopeless attempt to analyse the effectiveness of national fiscal policy.

People in Rochdale will not be fooled by this shabby ploy. 

Why are their council diaries not full of compelling arguments and real conviction to justify the flawed process behind their terrible pay and grading review that has just seen thousands of workers have their wages slashed? Or an explanation for their party’s plans to defy widespread public opinion and turn a large area of open space at Springfield Park into a private golf driving range? Or an apology for their ‘zero star’ Supporting People housing services?

And why hasn’t Rochdale’s so called ‘transport boss’ passed any comment on the TIF referendum result?

The truth is the Lib Dems want power without responsibility.

But even with the benefit of £1.5million of public money being spent every year on propaganda to help them try and cover up their mistakes, it’s plain to see what a mess they’re making.

I was not surprised to see Alan Taylor try and blame the Labour Party for his Council’s hard-nosed and flawed pay and grading review. This is a familiar trick that usually follows every unpopular policy they introduce. It’s desperate spinning of the worst kind. They will try and claim that Labour agreed with this policy and indeed supported it, when the reality is nothing of the sort. The Labour Group were never given the detail of this flawed process and have been continually kept in the dark about their plans to address the unequal pay structures across the Council. Jim Dobbin is right to say that the outcome of this farce has given Rochdale workers the worst outcome in England.

Like everyone else in politics, I wish Alan Taylor a speedy recovery. Local politics is not the same without him so let's hope he is back in full health soon and able to return to public life. I just hope that on his return he is not embarrassed by the foolish words that have been put in his mouth by Dave Hennigan during his absence.