Forum Topic

Cllr Samantha davies has made a statement onthe Chiswick site

Its well worth a read, I am sure Jim will post it on this site..Its on the threads the main page does not cover the main issue yet.

Dave Hughes ● 6442d7 Comments

Perhaps I can make things clear.Samantha Davies has resigned the Conservative Whip.Her reasons for doing this, as stated in her email to the Group Whip and copied to me as Association Chairman, are that she did not accept the new Association rules for the re-selection of Councillors for the 2010 local elections.No other reason was given by Samantha at the time she resigned. Her statement as issued on the Chiswick W4 web site is news to both me and councillors that I have spoken to.

John Davies ● 6439d

Well Samantha Davies seems to disagree with you hence she quit the Tories

Dave Hughes ● 6441d

Somebody has kindly pointed out to me that the Hounslow Homes Board nominations for 2002/03 were later amended to read thus:Connie Sandhu (unsuccessful Labour candidate)Stuart Walmsley (unsuccessful Labour candidate)Councillor Ilyas Khwaja (Labour)Mel Collins (unsuccessful Labour candidate)Janet Tindall (unsuccessful Labour candidate)The message to the electorate seems to have been loud and clear:  "If you dare not to elect the people we believe should be governing you, then we'll ignore your wishes and give them council posts anyway because we know best."

Phil Andrews ● 6441d

According to David Hughes, evidently a gradute of the Alan Sheerins school of role reversal: "The Tories want to go back to the old committee structure as it gives them control of who they want to run services with out any local accountabilty and they dont have to have political balance"Herewith an example of the New Labour Party's commitment to political balance:Hounslow Homes Board under New Labour administration:Councillor John Cooper (Labour)Councillor Mike Hunt (Labour)Councillor Ilyas Khwaja (Labour)Mel Collins (unsuccessful Labour candidate)Janet Tindall (unsuccessful Labour candidate)Hounslow Homes Board under coalition administration:Councillor Raj Bath (Labour)Councillor John Cooper (Labour)Councillor Samantha Davies (Conservative, now Independent)Councillor Paul Fisher (Community)Councillor Gillian Hutchinson (Conservative)After having been criticised by the Audit Commission for its insistence upon one-party control of the Hounslow Homes Board, the New Labour administration latterly, and reluctantly, ceded one seat to Luke Kirton of ABeeC.Mayors and Deputy Mayors under New Labour administration:2002  John Connelly (Labour), Sohan Sangha (Labour)2003  Roger Clarke (Labour), Dalbir Cheema (Labour)2004  Dalbir Cheema (Labour), Peta Vaught (Labour)2005  Darshan Grewal (Labour), Mohammed Chaudhary (Labour)Mayors and Deputy Mayors under coalition administration:2006  Felicity Barwood (Cons.), Allan Wilson (Cons.)2007  Andy Morgan-Watts (Lib Dem), Caroline Andrews (ICG)Despite the Liberal Democrats not being a part of the coalition, the two parties to the coalition both honoured their pre-election commitment to open this non-political office up to parties outside of the administration.What short memories David must hope the readers of this forum have.

Phil Andrews ● 6441d

"a lot of us suspected that the Tories would destroy local democratic decision making in order as we have seen before to gain what can only be described as control freakery."To me it is just beyond belief that a member of the local New Labour Party would have the sheer gall to make a statement such as this.But please let me reassure anybody who may have been taken in by David's chutzpah that there is absolutely no question of the Area Committees having their power diminished under the current administration.  I am happy to be quoted on that.Fwiw, I wholeheartedly agree with his view that the ACs should have more wide ranging powers and bigger budgets.  Speaking seriously, perhaps for once, I would welcome his suggestions as to how this might be achieved.

Phil Andrews ● 6442d

Yes thats right I am impressed with Samantha's explanation and her moral and ethical stand..way to go girl..a lot of us suspected that the Tories would destroy local democratic decision making in order as we have seen before to gain what can only be described as control freakery.The main thrust seems to be do away with the Area Committes which means local decision making being taken away from your locally elected Cllrs and being made by those who dont know your area and second trying to control political power from the center. The Tories want to go back to the old committee structure as it gives them control of who they want to run services with out any local accountabilty and they dont have to have political balance....good or bad at least there is a role for all councillors within the new structure.....I say good or bad as there are things which I think are good like the area committees but they should have more wide ranging powers and bigger budgets..what do you think!!

Dave Hughes ● 6442d

From reading it I'd say that she has been very honest, she clearly has some issues that have also been a source of concern with residents too, politics is very difficult when you find yourself at odds with your party, in cases like that I think you have to listen to your conscience and damn the consequences.

Vanessa Smith ● 6442d