Forum Topic

Green candidate withdraws from Brentford & Isleworth

http://www.brentfordtw8.com/default.asp?section=community&link=http://neighbournet.com/server/common/polbandi2017green.htmThat's given me a dilemma, and some others I've no doubt.  Some reassurances over Church Street might help Ruth Cadbury's cause enormously right now.  The question is does she want it badly enough to be prepared to stand up to her colleagues on the Council?Or to put it another way, if the boot was on the other foot does she really think they would be prepared to put their futures on the line for her?

Phil Andrews ● 3015d15 Comments

It's why I'm voting Tory for the first time ever got to punish Labour somehow I usually vote for the smallest party on the list.

Chris White ● 3013d

Isn't it about time that residents of Isleworth and Brentford  stopped voting for labour Councillors the amount of times they have been stitched up by them. All I can say they must have a death wish and like being told, you do what we say and to hell with democracy.

Bernard Allen ● 3013d

but the big difference is that Mary came alone not flanked by cohort of councillors like Ruth ! Also Mary stuck to her guns and not afraid to take on council to help us. If hostess unlike Ruth sure would not have reproved ambulance officers for attending session, though invited, in uniform - perhaps straight from work ?

Diana Vivienne Keay ● 3013d

Would have been good then had she listened to the legitimate concerns of the 700+ opposed to closure and reacted accordingly  wouldn't it?

Paul Gibbs ● 3014d

I'm sure that Ruth has had many a 'cuppa' with residents.

Anne England ● 3014d

Ruth Cadbury was a councillor on the IBAF (Isleworth and Brentford Area Forum) when it triggered idea of closure of Church st overturning efforts of previous traffic officer and residents' association to investigate compromise. I booked appointment in her MP surgery to discuss expecting privacy.  She came with cohort of councillors! After some months of trial agreed to approach Curran to shorten it but then appeared in photo shot with pro closure group at Church st Xmas party in street.  Tho husband hospital governor she seemed oblivious of impact on West Mid hospital for provision Medical services, regular and emergency and response to incident Heathrow and not attend hospital function to maintain a balance. Her message for permanent closure with immovable barrier a "win win" situation.  Any reversal now seem hypocritical and out of political expediency in view of general election. At least Mary Macleod listened, as busy MP made time to share a cuppa and our concerns with a group in tiny cottage opposite Syon and not afraid to put head above parapet with council to discuss them.

Diana Vivienne Keay ● 3014d

Corbyn and his team are also promoting the concept of a New Politics, one which is inclusive, democratic and participatory.  Again this would seem entirely at odds with the way his party behaves locally.It is truly ironic that during this campaign members of the local party will be working to bring about the election of a government which will represent everything they have set their faces against, and this tells us much about the way in which tribal politics operates today.  I am just hoping that if it does happen Jeremy Corbyn will be true to his word, because if he is what will follow will be very interesting to say the least.

Phil Andrews ● 3014d

Steve, I can only agree. Jeremy Corbyn comes across as an earnest and committed chap.he has though assembled the most lacklustre shadow cabinet in living memory with no real 'inspiring personalities' among them now that Andy Burnham has gone.Sadly Hounslow and Ealing are diktat controlled models of how not to run a responsive local council and seem to exist solely to serve the interests of the few rather than the many, the total antithesis of the Labour election slogan "For the many, not the few".

Paul Gibbs ● 3014d

I might be available for an 'open church street' leaflet drop .....

Sarah Felstead ● 3014d

"I'd have thought 700 odd votes here were well worth some clarification on this vexed matter,"I agree. Considering the close contest between Ruth and Mary last time, 700 is a lot of people (voters) who are very upset, plus of course many hundreds more who didn't voice opinion until after the closure was made final by the idiot Councillors who live nowhere near Church Street. Even though this issue is not too important to many across Chiswick & Brentford it raises serious questions about the Labour Party and its lack of respect for basic democracy and honesty. As much as people are scornful of Corbyn and his leadership qualities and capability, I believe that most would agree that he is an honest and decent person. A shame that local councillors are so lacking in integrity or quality and are just puppets and muppets of whoever holds the strings.

Steve Taylor ● 3014d

The constituency incorporates Brentford, Osterley, half of Hounslow and the large bulk of Chiswick, where Church Street is unlikely to be an issue with the majority of voters.  Like you say, I would expect any initiative by residents to come at next year's council elections rather than at this contest.

Phil Andrews ● 3014d

I am surprised we don't have an 'open church street' candidate ...but maybe that is for next year?

Sarah Felstead ● 3015d

It would be cynical in the extreme for a candidate to claim this now. The matter was high profile for long enough for Ruth Cadbury to have actually shown opposition to the closure and support for the overwhelming majority who opposed it before it was a 'done deal'.

Paul Gibbs ● 3015d

Seems we have a three-way fight between the main parties.  Maybe we are heading back to the seventies after all?

Phil Andrews ● 3015d

I really hope that Ruth takes this opportunity to reassure people in Isleworth that her intention was never to support the pro Church St. closure lobby, I had hoped she might have already done this. The pro-closure lobby presentation certainly gave the firm impression that they had her backing, never mind what they are saying now. I'd have thought 700 odd votes here were well worth some clarification on this vexed matter, and that's without what she could pick up elsewhere in the constituency.

Vanessa Smith ● 3015d