Anyone made a secret Freedom Of Info request about me ? Andrew?

[Royboy39]

Originally Posted by garinda

I've posted my feelings on a different national site just today, but briefly I think what Jacqui Smith has done is totally unacceptable.

She certainly is a woman of no strong principles.

I'd sack her.

Again I've posted on here before that after so long all power seems to corrupt, and this government reminds me of John Major's, which certainly isn't a favourable comparison.

(By the way, when's your twin brother, Royboy1, coming back from his holidays, the one who says white is black, if I'd said it was the other way around?)

Twin brother I have none....Banter is one thing but smart arsed comments from whatever scource tends to get my back up.
Read what I say and dont interpret what I say as an an excuse for you to score brownie points on the forum.
Have you ever done a search on the opposition?

[Bagpuss]

Originally Posted by Eric

But if your post reflects how you, and no doubt many others, vote locally, why bother with party politics at all at this level of govt.?

You've got it in one Eric, I've asked this question many times and still not got a good answer.

[lindsay ormerod]

Originally Posted by Bagpuss

As I'm from the same ward I totally agree with you Lindsay.

Like Garinda in the locals I vote for the best person for the job but the General Election is different.

Agreed, and my allegiance lies with our MP whom I believe is an honest, trustworthy and hard working man, again I have met Greg on many occasions and have had no reason to doubt his integrity, on occasions when I have needed his help and advice he has been available and most helpful. All I could ask of an MP has been delivered in a timely and polite fashion. he readily makes himself available for his constituents and often answers questions directly on here, no airs and graces, just honesty.
I admire that as a quality and that is why I would vote for him without hesitation.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Royboy39

Twin brother I have none....Banter is one thing but smart arsed comments from whatever scource tends to get my back up.
Read what I say and dont interpret what I say as an an excuse for you to score brownie points on the forum.
Have you ever done a search on the opposition?

My remark certainly wasn't intended to be seen as a smart arsed comment.

I just ysed my humour to point out that for once we seem to be in total agreement about something. No more, no less.

I've actually enjoyed debating a subject with you, where we both weren't making silly digs.

[Royboy39]

Originally Posted by garinda

My remark certainly wasn't intended to be seen as a smart arsed comment.

I just ysed my humour to point out that for once we seem to be in total agreement about something. No more, no less.

I've actually enjoyed debating a subject with you, where we both weren't making silly digs.

Answer the question Gary....Have you ever done a search on the opposition? and was it kept secret?

[Bernard Dawson]

Originally Posted by Eric

But it would be different if you were voting for the national govt. wouldn't it? When what you are voting for is a party that best reflects you views on which direction the country should go? But if your post reflects how you, and no doubt many others, vote locally, why bother with party politics at all at this level of govt.? All it seems to do is generate pages of insult and innuendo, which, altho' it is entertaining, is still "a tale told by an idiot" etc.

Eric. It can be overstated the amount of disagreements between the parties on the council. Whilst there are clearly differences, there also a fair degree of cross party working on a lot of issues. But it's the knock about stuff that get's the headlines

Incidentally you mentioned the number of councillors we have. It's not that long ago that we changed to 35 councillors. We used to have 47 councillors,and there are some on the council who would like us to go back to that. I hasten to add I am not one of them.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Eric

But it would be different if you were voting for the national govt. wouldn't it? When what you are voting for is a party that best reflects you views on which direction the country should go? But if your post reflects how you, and no doubt many others, vote locally, why bother with party politics at all at this level of govt.? All it seems to do is generate pages of insult and innuendo, which, altho' it is entertaining, is still "a tale told by an idiot" etc.

It is a very difficult choice to make sometimes, balancing the mertits of a man or woman versus the party they are a member of.

I said earlier our last M.P. Ken Hargreaves is a good person, and I think did a very good job as M.P. for Hyndburn. I didn't vote for him, at the one election he stood before I moved away, because he was also a member of a party who formed a government whose policies didn't benefit this area, or the country.

Again the last time he stood the government had been in power for so long they were morally corrupt, in my opinion.

Happily I have total faith in the person who now represents the area in which I live. Greg Pope will do his upmost for Hyndburn, the country as a whole, and is someone not afraid to stand up to those he sees as wrong, even when it's his own party's top brass.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Royboy39

Answer the question Gary....Have you ever done a search on the opposition? and was it kept secret?

Blimey, it's like the Spanish Inquisition!

I've actually got friends here tonight, and am only supposed to be popping on here when I have to go in the kitchen!

Happy to be a not very good host, for once, and I'll try and answer youir question.

I probably don't understand what you mean, but as for doing a search on the oppposition, I honestly don't see things as being so straightforward.

I try to keep informed with information about lots of issues, from as many different sources as possible, and then make my own mind up.

Like I say, I haven't always voted for the same particular party, so personally I don't see anyone as 'opposition'. It could be anyone I see as doing the right or wrong thing, regardles of which party they represent.

As I said way back in this thread. My criticism of our council leader isn't personal, or party political.

I'd happily keep my gob firmly shut, regardless as to the colour of his rosette, if I thought he was doing a good job for the borough.

If I haven't answered the question you asked, I apologise, but this bottle of wine is needed elsewhere now, and I'd better go and pour it.

[Royboy39]

Originally Posted by garinda

Blimey, it's like the Spanish Inquisition!

I've actually got friends here tonight, and am only supposed to be popping on here when I have to go in the kitchen!

Happy to be a not very good host, for once, and I'll try and answer youir question.

I probably don't understand what you mean, but as for doing a search on the oppposition, I honestly don't see things as being so straightforward.

I try to keep informed with information about lots of issues, from as many different sources as possible, and then make my own mind up.

Like I say, I haven't always voted for the same particular party, so personally I don't see anyone as 'opposition'. It could be anyone I see as doing the right or wrong thing, regardles of which party they represent.

As I said way back in this thread. My criticism of our council leader isn't personal, or party political.

I'd happily keep my gob firmly shut, regardless as to the colour of his rosette, if I thought he was doing a good job for the borough.

If I haven't answered the question you asked, I apologise, but this bottle of wine is needed elsewhere now, and I'd better go and pour it.

You say in past an current post you were a sucess in business and have proved it.
The original question was, as I read it, has anyone the right to check on the credentials of the opposition in secret...I think they do.

And I hope you are giving your guests the best that Spain can offer. Wine from Ribero Del Duero....or some such?

[Eric]

Originally Posted by garinda

It is a very difficult choice to make sometimes, balancing the mertits of a man or woman versus the party they are a member of.

I said earlier our last M.P. Ken Hargreaves is a good person, and I think did a very good job as M.P. for Hyndburn. I didn't vote for him, at the one election he stood before I moved away, because he was also a member of a party who formed a government whose policies didn't benefit this area, or the country.

Again the last time he stood the government had been in power for so long they were morally corrupt, in my opinion.

Happily I have total faith in the person who now represents the area in which I live. Greg Pope will do his upmost for Hyndburn, the country as a whole, and is someone not afraid to stand up to those he sees as wrong, even when it's his own party's top brass.

I know what you mean .... about a decade ago Kingston and the Islands was represented by Flora McDonald ... a "red" tory and a great MP ... but she got the boot because she represented the Progressive Conservative Party ... and in that election Canadian voters punished the PCs taking them from a majority in parliament to a rump of only 4 members ... poor Flora didn't have a snowball's chance in hell of winning, even tho', personally, she was very popular. That Greg Pope doesn't sound like a bad dude ... there are lots of positive comments about him.

[shillelagh]

as far as i know the parties are the ones who pay for the leaflets and volunteers from the parties deliver them ... sometimes in the area where they live or nearby. Now if the councillors arent a member of a party then they would have to pay for their leaflets themselves. Now to print a leaflet, with a photograph on round a ward (the photograph so then people know who it is thats standing), will probably cost around £500 plus then you have to deliver the said leaflet to the constituents. To pay for it to be delivered you would depending on how many houses there were in that ward could cost another £300/£400 if you dont have enough volunteers to help you deliver them. Then also on top of that is canvassing - knocking on doors and speaking to the voters, and election day itself which if someone said theyd vote for you and then say i cant get to the polling station .. are you going to have a someone driving round in a car to take them? Also with a party backing you you have the adverts in newspapers, tv etc.

Before anyone says anything i've had plenty of experience on elections i've stood for election twice ... never mind the years i've spent canvassing and election days etc.... With party backing it is easier unless you have a large base of people you can call on to help you.

[turkishdelight]

Can someone please answer me that question.Has anyone the right to check on the credentials of the opposition in secret?

[Eric]

Originally Posted by turkishdelight

Can someone please answer me that question.Has anyone the right to check on the credentials of the opposition in secret?

In the States, FBI ... In Canada, RCMP ... in England ... I dunno

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Royboy39

You say in past an current post you were a sucess in business and have proved it.
The original question was, as I read it, has anyone the right to check on the credentials of the opposition in secret...I think they do.

And I hope you are giving your guests the best that Spain can offer. Wine from Ribero Del Duero....or some such?

Oh I see what you mean now.

I honestly don't know if a source is named when someone requests information under the Freedom of Information Act, as I've never needed to use it.

I do think the act is a good thing. Transparency in public affairs can only be for the good of democracy. In theory, so as not to be hypocritical about the openess it claims to uncover, I do think the person's name who requested the information should be made known.

I believe none of this should really be an issue, as I think public offical's expenses and allowances should be made public, and open to public scrutiny.

As I said earlier knowing the depths the current Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, has stooped to, in playing the system to feather her own nest, is morally wrong, and I'm glad that the information is in the public arena.

So yes, people have the moral right to request information under the Freedom of Information Act, just as they have the legal right, but in all fairness their identity shouldn't be hidden.

[cashman]

Originally Posted by Royboy39

The original question was, as I read it, has anyone the right to check on the credentials of the opposition in secret...I think they do.

think thats a good question n from my point of view has two answers, first it depends what arena yer in, in business i would say yes, some cases even essential fer obvious reasons. second MPs/Councillors are elected and paid for by the electorate, n as such should be open n transparent, end of the day its our money. which they are not, ok theres FOI, which is law as it stands, anyone digging into these areas therefore to me should be just as transparent, until that day we will always have silly political games cos some of these will have ulterior motives,that is just as obvious, so fer the second part i say NO they should not have the right to dig in secret.