Forum Topic

St Paul's gives Cadbury a right pasting

I see our MP Ruth Cadbury was loitering at St Paul's School gates today, and with a crew from the BBC in tow. A very balanced piece has since aired on London News.But for those actually there it was all rather different. Mrs C was thoroughly put in her place for her less than supportive stance on the redevelopment plans for Morrison’s, and which are a great concern to many St Paul's parents. There was also an astounding absence of decorum from our rather unrepentant MP, as she faced off to at least one of the parents. Good manners 2, Mrs Cadbury 0.They think it's all over. At least come Friday, it will be....

Tim Barnes ● 2991d10 Comments

Many of us struggling with the dilemma.To me it comes down to leadership. At the national level Labour has a leader with principles, integrity, who engages with people and who truly represents the many, not the few. So that's an easy choice.At the local level? Well, let's not go there but that's an easy choice too.

Nick Kilby ● 2989d

It is a huge dilemma. I am appalled at the way Hounslows Labour council is run with the bullying and nasty edge to it. The way good councillors are sidelined and the way in which executives and leadership operate with such secrecy.But it's not uncommon for an MP of the same party to speak out or clearly not agree with the actions of it's council.It has not really happened and whilst I like our MP, am not very happy about voting for her. Primarily for sitting on the fence too much.I quite like most of the ideas from Mr Corbyn but the precedent set by Local Labour councils with their lack of ability to get things right but carry on regardless and the possibility of Diane Abbott and other overblown and deluded types being in Government positions is as worrying as the tories getting back in .A huge dilemma indeed.

Raymond Havelock ● 2989d

This has been a dilemma for many Steve, particularly in the Isleworth area.

Phil Andrews ● 2989d

I actually like Ruth as she stands her ground and strikes me as being strong and stable. However, not sure I can support a party which boasts such undemocratic local Councillors as Guy Lambert who votes only to please his Leader and cares not a jot about the local community. How can we support a party which shows no remorse about stabbing residents in the back and is intent on destroying the environment?

Steve Taylor ● 2990d

You are completely wrong.  I suggest you do check on this before dismissing as it is all on record.The 'survey' was carried out to 'meet' a predetermined criteria.It completely ignores the deprivation of direct sunlight and the low levels of ambient light thus requiring artificial lighting.This will apply for most of the academic year.In fact the effects of this goes beyond the school and inflicts a lot of other problems.It was contested and challenged and an equally informed demonstration of the light deficiencies presented to the council and the planning committee.I understand it will cost a lot of money to have a fully independent survey and with the developers and parts of the  council seemingly in cahoots, it's apparent that every rule, regulation and legal aspect would be applied to face down any further action. This is why Ms Cadbury and the completely aloof GLA representative have so badly let down not just existing residents but a future generation of local children. She could have done so much more but sat on the fence and left it to 3 local councillors to fight their own machine.

Raymond Havelock ● 2990d

'no sunlight from November to March' - without checking on this, I am pretty sure that this is not the case (studies were done by outside agencies and were not contested). While not a brilliant scheme, I can't see that you do the cause any good by making false claims or exaggerating the situation.I was at the St Paul's meeting re this development and it seemed to me that a good number of the mums present seemed annoyed as much as anything at not being able to park in the Morrison's car park when they stopped to pick up their children. From what I remember of the meeting, there will still be parking on site and hopefully the mums will also pop into the stores (when built) to do a bit of shopping.After all that, I will say that I don't particularly like the scheme but as has already been established, there are only so many grounds on which such developments can be scuppered.

Anne England ● 2990d

The very same who side stepped the whole Morrisons debacle when other local MPs step in and support the local opinion, particularly when it gets difficult for Councillors.She did Nothing.Not for the first time with poor development decisions.Funny how so many MPs will pontificate about world issues that they cannot do anything about but avoid local issues in which they could do a lot more about.Her only saving grace is that her rival candidates are little better.

Raymond Havelock ● 2990d

Are saying Ruth Cadbury was using St Paul's School for a TV campaign news piece backdrop ? This is the school she has turned her back on and completely ignored the thousands of plea's for help regarding the Morrisons development! How dare she do this, talk about out of touch, does she not realise the suffering the children will be put through every winter with no sunlight from November to March! Good on the parent that caught her..unbelievable.

Alan Branch ● 2990d

Found Cadbury very tetchy in the past when she feels she is being attacked. I have had run ins with her, when she was a Cllr, over heritage issues and, in my opinion, she has done nothing for the preservation of Brentford from the time she was a Cllr till now.

Neil Chippendale ● 2990d

Tim, thanks for that. It's a reminder for Ruth's supporters - and having knocked on many doors in Brentford over the last couple of years I've met many supporters and only a very few detractors - that it's very important to get out and vote on Thursday.

Guy Lambert ● 2991d