"It’s disappointing that Phil can’t see that if we all work together as a team then we can succeed in sorting out this problem once and for all."ChrisThis is political spin at its very very best, and I sincerely congratulate you on the speed with which you have picked up the ways and methods of your party in preparation for what you have been led to believe will be a term of office as an Isleworth Labour councillor and an ensuing political career. As a new user of this forum you may be unfamiliar with the nature of the "debate" (one-sided as it usually is, other than for the intervention of the occasional pseudonymed raider who lights the touchpaper and retires). Unfortunately anybody who has followed the fortunes of Isleworth "politics" over recent years will appreciate the true hilarity of your remarks. Since when has New Labour ever attempted to work with anybody else, let alone with the Community Group, in trying to improve the lot of local people for the benefit of all? It is your party's arrogant sectarianism which has been at the root of the political divide in Isleworth for a generation. Political advantage for the party and for its own sake, as opposed to the community interest, has always been the determining factor behind everything Labour has done.The truth is, as well you know, that your party has always remained aloof from the residents' movement in Isleworth and your interest in it has coincided only with the approach of the local elections and your participation in them. Thus far your involvement as far as I can see has been restricted to publishing leaflets claiming sole credit for the work of residents' groups such as the Worple Avenue Residents' Association, whose request for a grant for work on an environmental project was recently announced to the world through an article in the local Times accompanied by a photograph of yourself (as well as the usual uninformed inaccuracies as to the nature of the application), even though you had no connection with the application, nor even with the association or the estate it serves. By attempting to politicise this application you knew full well that you were placing it in jeopardy. Fortunately the Area Committee had been availed of the facts beforehand and we approved it regardless.Your protestations of support for the Mogden residents' initiative cut little ice when one considers that MRAG have asked you to stop delivering a leaflet which clearly gives the reader the false impression that every thing is fine (and by implication that local people no longer need to support the legal claim), and that you have ignored their request and continue to circulate it. This little scam of yours is a blatant attempt to sabotage an action which you have professed to support. Your belated intervention in this debate and on this forum is indicative only of your party's sense of panic as a result of MRAG having cottoned on to your little game and alerting their hundreds of contacts throughout the community to it. In sporting circles this is known as an own-goal. If you really cared about the campaign you would withdraw the leaflet, simple as that.Chris, I have told your handler before that if he and you genuinely wish to support existing residents' initiatives then we would be only too pleased to receive your backing. Heck, if your comments which I have reproduced at the top of this posting were a sincere statement of your party's approach to things then we wouldn't even be participating in this election. That you choose confrontation instead leaves nobody in any doubt that it isn't.My 'phone number is 07762 711678, or I can be contacted by e-mail at phil@communitygroup.org.uk. Should you wish to make contact with a sincere offer of support, or even if you should require my assistance in familiarising yourself with local issues so that your leaflets can at least reflect the true facts, then I would be genuinely happy to help.Go on Chris - prove me wrong, I dare you.
Phil Andrews ● 7076d