SteveI wasn't happy with some aspects of the Labour campaign in Isleworth and there certainly was some attempt to stir up tensions but I don't believe this was the reason for the outcome being as it was. Consider the following:1. The swing from the ICG to Labour in Syon, where the Labour campaign was relatively clean, was considerably larger than that in Isleworth.2. Of the four polling districts in Isleworth ward it was the one that includes Ivybridge, where most of the unpleasantness took place, which saw them make the least progress. Indeed my perception was that Labour's lead over us in this polling district was actually smaller than it had been in 2006.3. To my knowledge there was no similar campaign against independents elsewhere in the borough such as John Connelly or Peter Hills, and they were more heavily defeated than we were.As Neil has said I was a member of the National Front once and it is not unreasonable therefore that opponents should mention the fact, provided it is not used as a stick to beat others with no such background or as a means of fomenting tension.It is my hope that now they have achieved their goal of winning council seats and prepare themselves for the serious business of representing their constituents the new councillors will hereafter take a more mature approach to political engagement in Isleworth and put some of this nonsense behind them (I should add that to my knowledge only two of the Labour team engaged in this activity - to his credit Ed Mayne did not feature in any report of it that I received). Ironically now that I am no longer an elected member I will now have a lot more time to the anti-racist work that I am involved in in other areas, doubtless against this continued backdrop of allegations of a fascist agenda! Tis a funny old world indeed.
Phil Andrews ● 5840d