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Tuesday 5 October 2021

A GOOD MAN SAVED

The Dame remembers the days when local councils were peopled by independently minded councillors. 

They stood as Independents so as to follow their conscience without some Little Hitler/Stalin/Mao of a Council leader telling them what or what not to think.

On RBKC we have Ian Henderson, councillor for Colville Ward. 

Ian defied the Certifiable wing of his party to join a cross-party food delivery service for those in need.

This caused such a ruckus the 'Certifiables' decided that he be cast into utter political darkness for daring to be filmed with Conservative councillors.

Fortunately, commonsense intervened and a first-class councillor, popular with everybody, has been allowed to carry on doing what he excels at....helping those who elected him.

91 comments:

  1. The Henderson Case sums up for the Labour Party their existential dilemma. Henderson, a sensible socialist is prey for the crazy mob led by Emma' Medici' Dent Coad. Like her Medici forbears EDC is a mistress of knife in the back intriguing....

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  2. Henderson is a fine man. He knocks the pretentious Emma Dent Coad in to cock hats. Henderson has no snobbish prententions: whereas Emma des Medici, Columbus, Dent, D'oyly et Coad is nothing but a stuck up, crushing snob. She has an ego that would fill the Albert Hall.

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  3. There are very few decent Councillors on RBKC. Henderson is one of them. Emma has form for antisemitism -"liking" an antisemitic trope on social media to apologise later for doing so.

    What did she think she was doing endorsing a virulent antisemitic social media feed in the first place?

    An imbecile would have known that the comment she approved of was made by a hater of Jewish people.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 18:14 which tweet was this? Could you post the link?

      Delete
    2. Mrs S. M Rossiter6 October 2021 at 13:30

      It wasn't a tweet.

      Emma Dent Coad endorsed an outrageous antisemitic trope by LIKING IT ON FACEBOOK.

      Read all about it https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/labour-mp-liked-facebook-comment-claiming-israel-disgraces-jews/

      Delete
    3. She racially insulted the Black guy who stood for the Tories as Mayor of London. I don't know how she got away with it.

      Delete
    4. Crawling around Corbyn is how she gets away with it. Loyalty.

      Delete
    5. Even Corbyn got wise and dumped her,she was too extremist even for him .

      Delete
  4. Unquestionably there is a repugnant cabal of bullies that sought to rid the Labour Party of Henderson in RBK&C. A scurrilous report comprised of vile hearsay, that belittled Cllr Henderson and trivialised all the meaningful work he has done was produced by Tumble Dryer Mason and used as a blunt tool to derail him. Fortunately the Party could not ignore the multiple witnesses and evidence produced to clinically dissect and dismiss the appalling picture painted by Mason. The self-serving hypocrits Dent Coad, Mason, Hanson et al, should all consider their positions now they have been outed as the architects of this outrageous witch hunt.

    This entire episode really needs some deep investigation as it is significantly damaging the values and perceptions of the Labour Party and will discourage other bright, free thinking people like Henderson who get things done, from joining and seeking election. The fact that the old “Tumble Dryer” has been an incumbent for 27 years is not an indication of success and satisfaction amongst voters; it represents something far more sinister e.g contempt for the electorate and a ‘me first’ mindset.

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    Replies
    1. Milord, the Dame is honoured to have you commenting. Having a Tory Party 'Big Beast' contributing to her little blog rather dismisses the French Marxist Bruno de Florence's claim that no one of any stature reads her.

      Delete
    2. Totally agree Ian got me involved in the Labour party but after spending the last three years witnessing EDC and her cronies despicable behaviour and bullying I'm considering leaving as
      I can't stomach having to work with these people anymore

      Delete
  5. Something of the night about them.6 October 2021 at 13:34

    Dent Coad, Mason and Hanson have something of the night about them. Henderson is a decent bloke.

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  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  7. They say that the last election was stolen from Labour by the Lib Dems telling lies.

    Does anyone know why Sam Gymiah was not prosecuted after Labour reported him to the police?

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    Replies
    1. Seeing the light6 October 2021 at 18:18

      This link might throw some light on why Gymiah was not prosecuted.

      https://architectsforsocialhousing.co.uk/2019/11/15/a-vote-for-labour-is-a-vote-for-emma-dent-coad/

      Delete
    2. The Truth, the whole Truth and, nothing but the Truth6 October 2021 at 19:59

      Just read this amazing article by Architects for Social Housing. It appears that we may not have been told, the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth by some.

      Did the Lib Dems lie about Emma? The devil is, as always, in the detail.

      Delete
    3. The "detail" is problematic and far from clear. Many questions need to be answered. Will we ever get to the bottom of it.

      Delete
    4. I've read the article.

      It's written by someone who clearly has no experience of how this Council actually operates given the given the overwhelming Tory majority.

      Or how the TMO actually operated, where the Board were for show and the CEO was simply told what to do by the Cabinet Member for Housing (Rock et al) and the Director of Housing at the Council.

      Or perhaps they do and the goal of the piece is mere obfuscation?

      The Masterplan for North Ken is also hardly a secret. What appears to be a secret (to the author at least) is the simple fact that the local Labour party did not propose it, support it or agree to it. In fact had the Council try to implement any of it the opposition would have been massive given how it effectively proposed demolishing huge swathes of Council housing in the north of the borough.

      The whole thing reads like an attempted whitewash by a Tory supporter.

      Delete
    5. The Chair of the Housing Committee is Labour Councillor Kasim Ali.
      And you claim to have an extensive privileged view of RBKC processes.
      Think you might like to brush up on your homework.
      Think you need to start using better paint as your 'whitewashing ' is not convincing.

      Delete
    6. A descendant of Queen Gertrude.10 October 2021 at 16:33

      Hi 09.57.

      I most certainly do have experience and knowledge as to how this Tory Council and the TMO operated. More importantly, I understand how Emma Dent Coad operated in both of these settings and the strategies that she employed to very little good purpose over many years.

      No matter how Emma Dent Coad's acolytes slice and dice it, the forensic analysis set out in the article by Architects for Social Housing shows that her vigorous attempts to distance herself from anything to do with the disastrous refurbishment of Grenfell Tower do not stand up to scrutiny. At the very least she has some explaining to do or as the article reasonably suggests something to hide. I always suspected that this was a case of the lady doth protest too much.

      Delete
  8. So she repeats racist comments and now its could seem she has anti-semitic tendencies. Not very 'cuddly leftie ' is it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. We should know because we paid for the investigation.

    Can you use the Freedom of Information Act to get a copy of the Crown Prosecution Service's decision.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Forde inquiry is coming up soon and is expected to find the opposite that the very whistleblowers are the very ones who did not deal with complaints.

      Delete
    2. The Forde Inquiry is an internal Labour Party Report and if what I have heard is anything to go by it will probably be less than objective. Let's be honest, it is not in the Labour Party's interests to admit it had a racist leader who was belligerent and irascible if anyone called him out.

      The BBC found evidence that Corbyn's Office intervened in disciplinary processes that the "Whistleblowers" were trying to pursue against Corbyn's friends; very ethical and even handed.

      Corbyn thinks that holding certain political opinions, being a Jewish Zionist, means that you cannot understand irony. Culture, religion and politics have nothing to do with the ability to understand irony. Directing remarks of that character at individual jews attending a meeting that he hosted in parliament is racist. How will the Forde Inquiry square that circle?

      He endorsed a community mural, racist graffiti, containing a grotesque depiction of Jews. He would now have us all believe that he did not look at the locus in quo before defending it. Surely, this man who wanted to be Prime Minister does not expect us to believe that he opposed the actions of the Labour Council that wanted to remove something so horribly racist without looking at it first to see if the LABOUR Council was justified. It is like signing something without reading it and I do not believe that Corbyn would be so stupid.

      Corbyn is around anti-semitism so often that I do not think he knows what it is. He needs to go on an anti-semitism awareness training course to become more politically aware.

      What concerns me is that Emma, my former MP, endorsed a rank anti-semitic facebook remark and when called out apologised. Why did she endorse this comment? Is it what she really thinks?

      Ian Henderson is a moral, decent human being, who saved a social housing estate from destruction. He does not resort to racism. I wonder why some left wingers dislike him.

      Delete
    3. A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse.7 October 2021 at 14:45

      The Forde Inquiry was set up under Jenny Formby who was very close to Corbyn. Say no more, hey.

      The panel did not have a Jewish person appointed to it. The MacPherson Inquiry had a Black Person on the panel, so why did Labour not appoint a Jewish person to Forde's panel?

      Delete
    4. No Jewish voice on the panel. Sounds like a Formby, McClusky and Corbyn sham. I bet EDC told them that they should have a Jewish person on it.

      Delete
  10. Ian Henderson would never resort to anything racist or anti-semitic.

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  11. As a resident with Jewish family members I am shocked and appalled at this individuals' behaviour. How is she still allowed on a public platform when she is clearly full of bile and hatred for those she represents. Surely she should resign and hang her head in shame. What would EDCs hero Tony Benn think of this ?

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  12. She got away with racism towards a Black politician and she has got away with nastiness about Jewish people.

    ReplyDelete
  13. The labour Party is a safe haven for racists. The Equalities and Human Rights' Commission found it institutionally anti-semitic under Corbyn.

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    Replies
    1. Forde inquiry is expected to say the opposite; the 'Whistleblowers' were the very people who did not deal with the complaints in the first place and then sued Labour for damages for mistakes of their own making.

      Delete
    2. The Forde Inquiry was set up under Jenny Formby who was very close to Corbyn. Say no more, hey.

      The panel did not have a Jewish person appointed to it. The MacPherson Inquiry had a Black Person on the panel, so why did Labour not appoint a Jewish person to Forde's panel?

      Delete
  14. It is disappointing that Labour could not keep their grievences to one side especially during a pandemic when we all needed unite at such a dire time.

    Most of us in the borough are Conservatives with a social conscience unlike those who claim to be Conservatives but have run Kensington Chelsea into the ground and in the pockets of developers; even less concern for social housing residents (Grenfell etc).

    Henderson puts his money where his mouth is, even before he was a councillor. Probably could stand as London Mayor or MP. He could always become independent but he is loyal to true Labour ideals rather than tow party line.

    Shame that not very much was done by EDC whilst an MP and applied more pressure to the council when she had the chance. Could have had the councillors investigated for corruption.

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    Replies
    1. There was corruption at the TMO whilst she was on its Board. What did she do about it?

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    2. Took the money and ran.

      Delete
  15. The Forde Inquiry is an internal Labour Party Report and if what I have heard is anything to go by it will probably be less than objective. Let's be honest, it is not in the Labour Party's interests to admit it had a racist leader who was belligerent and irascible if anyone called him out.

    The BBC found evidence that Corbyn's Office intervened in disciplinary processes that the "Whistleblowers" were trying to pursue against Corbyn's friends; very ethical and even handed.

    Corbyn thinks that holding certain political opinions, being a Jewish Zionist, means that you cannot understand irony. Culture, religion and politics have nothing to do with the ability to understand irony. Directing remarks of that character at individual jews attending a meeting that he hosted in parliament is racist. How will the Forde Inquiry square that circle?

    He endorsed a community mural, racist graffiti, containing a grotesque depiction of Jews. He would now have us all believe that he did not look at the locus in quo before defending it. Surely, this man who wanted to be Prime Minister does not expect us to believe that he opposed the actions of the Labour Council that wanted to remove something so horribly racist without looking at it first to see if the LABOUR Council was justified. It is like signing something without reading it and I do not believe that Corbyn would be so stupid.

    Corbyn is around anti-semitism so often that I do not think he knows what it is. He needs to go on an anti-semitism awareness training course to become more politically aware.

    What concerns me is that Emma, my former MP, endorsed a rank anti-semitic facebook remark and when called out apologised. Why did she endorse this comment? Is it what she really thinks?

    Ian Henderson is a moral, decent human being, who saved a social housing estate from destruction. He does not resort to racism. I wonder why some left wingers dislike him.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Ian is disliked because he is seen as a threat to Emma Dent Coad making a come back at the next election. She has said that she would only ever stand again in Kensington. When she said that she did not forsee a strong popular man coming on to the political scene to see her off. Hence the current goings on in Kensington Labour.

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  17. I have just read the article by Architects for Social Justice. We could do with more left wingers of their calibre on Kensington and Chelsea Council. I knew Ian as a neighbour on the Sutton Estate. He would never "cynically exploit" the Grenfell fire for party political advantage.

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    Replies
    1. It's Architects for Social Housing. And they're clearly not left wing. They're raison d'etre appears to be to promote the idea that it's Labour councils socially cleansing London not Tory ones. Really? Was Hammersmith & Fulham some kind of anomaly then? Talk about talking bollocks!

      Delete
    2. They were talking about Emma Dent Coads role at the TMO. Stop trying to deflect from the failings of a lazy Councilor who grovelled at the Tory demands. She should have stood up and not sat on the sidelines taking the Tory shilling.

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    3. The article was more focused in the failings of Emma Dent Coad than Labour Councils.

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    4. Architects for Social Housing have done more to promote justice than Emma Dent Coad has ever done. They have shown up Emma very successfully.

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    5. Can anyone highlight any of EDCs achievements ?

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    6. She made the KCTMO stop referring to its Chairman as such. She made the Board call that person a "Chair."

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  18. Dear Dame,

    How many people have visited this page so far.

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  19. Gosh, dame, that's a lot of people reading this in just a few days.

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  20. I cannot forgive Emma for the way that she treated a woman who attended a public meeting following the fire at Grenfell Tower. The woman concerned had lost her husband in the fire. He jumped to his death so that he did not burn or choke in the fire. This widow had serious legitimate criticisms about the role of the Fire Brigade. Emma failed to engage with this woman because she did not want to hear it. Emma decided that her left wing strategy would be to exonerate the Brigade and blame the nasty Tories. Party political advantage was clearly very important to the newly elected Labour MP. We now know, thanks to the brilliance of Sir Martin Moore Bick and his Team that Senior Officials of the Fire Brigade did not do so well on that dreadful night. The Fire Brigade's practices, procedures and advice could have been much better.

    It seems that Emma's arrogance and social class superiority knows no bounds.

    Who needs Grenfell Survivors when Emma decides
    what is best for them.

    I am sure that Ian Henderson, Felicity Buchan or Victoria Borwick would have been more adept at dealing with this situation.

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    Replies
    1. I agree with you. She knows best.

      Delete
  21. It is unfortunate that the Grenfell Tower fire and the Covid 19 pandemic have done nothing to improve the conduct of the conduct of the hard left in Kensington Labour. Their top dog mentality, silly game playing and the way they treat a very moral man like Ian Henderson shows how loathsome they really are. Emma Dent Coad and her clique have not realised that it is easy to be hard but not all that difficult to behave decently. The qualities of the late (and very likeable) James Brokenshire MP is what the "Kensington Nasty Party" should try to emulate.

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    Replies
    1. Honi soit qui mal y pense.9 October 2021 at 21:54

      Hear, hear Hard Labour.

      It was very childish of Emma to draw a hangman image of Shaun Bailey being hanged. She begrudgingly apologised saying "if" he is offended, I apologise.....he has said much worse about himself.

      Delete
    2. What was she trying to achieve when she drew that image and posted it on her blog ?

      Delete
    3. expressing her feelings of hatred to a Black person. When she did it, she never thought that she would have to con her left wing mates, Corbyn and Abbott, about her true intentions.

      Delete
  22. Lets not beat about the bush9 October 2021 at 23:47

    The real problem in RBK&C is that the opposition has always faced a pretty stark choice - to either "work with" the Tory majority (and hope to apply a bit of "influence", and try to soften the blow to your constituency) or oppose them (and vent from the side-lines, because you're clearly in the minority and have no real power).

    Pat Mason and Emma Dent Coad appear to have decided to opt for the latter and are now engaged in "total opposition". This might seem unwise, perhaps even short-sighted, until you consider the simple truth that the Labour group has historically opted to work with the Council, try to apply some influence and soften the blow, since before the TMO was created. Sadly, enabling the Council in that way is how you end up with twenty one years of the TMO and then Grenfell. And given that the Council appears to have learnt absolutely nothing from the whole TMO and Grenfell
    episode it's hard to argue with that choice.

    I am sure more than one current and former Labour Councillor has asked themselves whether supporting, or at least going along with, the Council's housing strategy, and the TMO that lay at the heart of it, for those twenty one years was in any way a good idea.


    Perhaps it is best to be totally honest with your constituency and tell them the Tory-run Council is out to shaft them, because, at the end of the day, they are.

    Ian Henderson is a nice bloke. I have met him. I don't doubt his intentions one bit. But by working with the Council he is in enabling and legitimising them. And his Labour colleagues that sing from the same collaborative hymn sheet are doing the same.

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    Replies
    1. Now this is a turn up for the books or should I say the bush. You expect us to believe that Mason and Coad have the right strategy. The TMO was a disaster. Coad was on it four and a half years. She let tenants suffer and supported the TMO. She was told time and time again how bad it was. Am I being cynical when you ask us to believe that Coad has seen the light and is opposing Housing policy because she and Mason now realise that the stance that the both took over many, many years backing the Tory Council was wrong. Coad will achieve nothing except divide her Party because the Tories are determined she will achieve nothing.

      Delete
    2. Dent Coad the misguided one10 October 2021 at 09:24

      Dent Coad is misguided. Now let me see.

      She is misguided in the way that she treats Henderson. She is setting her stall out to make
      a come back at the next General Election. She knows that Henderson commands respect and is an obstacle to her getting back in.

      She was misguided when she served on the TMO Board for four years and four months and allowed the TMO to see off Council tenants - toeing the collective responsibility line at all times.

      She was misguided when she was Convenor of Opposition Group Councillors for a year which is why they sacked her and brought in Atkinson to do the job.

      She was misguided when she repeated nasty comments about Shaun Bailey supposedly made to her by a Black woman. She repeated these highly prejudicial racist remarks because she agreed with them and they suited the point that she wanted to make. How horrid!

      She was misguided when she told a woman who objected to her expressing support for the Fire Brigade after the Grenfell Tower fire that "she had not decided what her position would be." That poor woman whose husband had jumped to his death had very real concerns about the Fire Brigade on that night and the Moore Bick Inquiry agreed with her. She did not heed the warning she was given.

      She was misguided when she "liked" an antisemitic facebook article containing a virulent antisemitic trope that a well adjusted ten year old child would know was wrong.

      She was similarly misguided when she objected to the appointment of Sir Martin Moore Bick as Grenfell Inquiry Chairman. She told the BBC that she had always taken her lead on these things from the people she represented and her constituents did not want him. One of her constituents did not want her singing the praises of the Fire Brigade whose practices were found later wanting.

      She was misguided when she commended the Council over its decision to refurbish Grenfell saying that it proved that the Council had listened.

      She can of course disagree with Henderson but the nastiness is misguided and wrong.

      Delete
    3. Missing the point10 October 2021 at 11:28

      I am not particularly concerned with Mason and Dent Coad. I don't know them.

      I simply pointed out the choice facing the largest opposition group in RBK&C - to cooperate or to oppose. For many years the Labour group cooperated. It is now opposing. Cooperating resulted in twenty one years of the TMO. Who knows what some actual opposition will bring us?

      Delete
    4. Emma DC was "misguided" using a quotation from Roald Dahl's book to make the point that, in her opinion, Theresa May is "ugly."

      Did she get her impetus for antisemitism from Roald Dahl?

      Delete
    5. 10.28 I would like to refer you to you own headline.

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    6. So a years boycott, a year lost to the Pandemic. Two Labour Chairs picking up the dosh. What kind of non opposition is that ?
      What did those two years achieve ?
      Are the Conservatives bothered about non participation ?
      It's all very well coming up with the student library politics , but you need to get in the real world.

      Delete
    7. The real world gave us 21 years of the TMO.

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    8. And your point?

      Delete
  23. Its fine for the 'privileged left' to sit on the sidelines picking up an RBKC paycheck and refuse to believe that in that act alone they themselves are legitimizing RBKC. Again the 'privileged left's believing they are above such things and that well intentioned Councillors should sup from the cup of dogma instead of doing practical things to enable and better the lives of residents. Those Labour Councillors who sat on the regeneration panel for the Lanc West sitting on their high horse, and trying to drive a false narrative against effective Councillors to cover up their own only too visible failings, that have been repeated time and time again.
    Sit on the sidelines and count your cash. Why even bother to stand for Council when you dont endorse the process.Why would you do that? Oh yes. The Councillor Stipend and Allowances.
    We all know the former MP was so fond of it , she reneged on her promise to relinquish her Councillor stipend , blocking anyone from taking the Councillor position, so she could employ more staff for her failed office, with the cash.
    Do us a favour and stop lying and stand down.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hate to break it to you but Tory Councillors in Labour run Councils often do very little constructive work and spend much of their time simply opposing whatever the current administration propose.

      Just look at Hammersmith and Fulham, where not only to the Tory Councillors just oppose (and collect the stipends whilst doing so) but so does the Tory MP.

      Delete
    2. You seem to have an unusual insight into the working of Tory Councillors. Or you could be making it up.

      Delete
    3. So the Tory Councillors in Hammersmith and Fulham work with and support the current Labour administration do they? Give me a break.

      They complain about everything and they oppose everything. They're not constructive and they're not helpful and everything they do is driven by a need to undermine the Council and secure whatever possible electoral advantage that might bring.

      Unfortunately they're probably stuffed. H&F is unlikely to go blue any time soon. They need to adjust to the reality of permanent opposition. That should apparently be to work with the Council productively so as to justify they allowances. I won't be holding my breath.

      Delete
    4. So do you think it would be more productive in H and F for the residents if the opposition offered constructive criticism or should they carry on as they are. What method delivers more for residents ?

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    5. @12:11.

      Since when have most Councillors really cared about delivering more for residents?

      From where I'm standing it's all about not pissing off your electoral base too much, placating those that insist on being "active in the community", sucking up to potential supporters and basically ensuring your re-election next time around.

      That's what most Councillors, and Tory Councillors in particular, seem to spend most of their time and efforts on.

      Except those in positions of actual power. They tend to develop a megalomaniacal Nero complex and eventually believe they can do no wrong (see Kim).

      Those that don't fit into that mould tend to move on. In some cases because having seen how it all really works they decide they don't actually like it very much.

      Delete
    6. Time that mould was broken.

      Delete
  24. What has Mason and Dent-Codes' policy of 'total opposition'achieved ? Mason standing outside the Grenfell Inquiry with a Pig Mask. What leadership, I wonder if Charlemagne would have thought of that. The one year off all Council Scutiny Committees as reaction to the closing down of the Grenfell Scrutiny Committee, when the real reason allegedly, was that Dent Coad could have a double hip operation. What did that year off achieve -except allow Dent-Coad to become more mobile and Mason to push his credentials for a leading role in the 'Portobello Pantomime '.
    Did they both relinquish their Healthy allowances , of course not . It's ok for the Labour officers to benefit from the 'failed' RBKC .But of course the other who attempt to access similar support are deemed naive and traitors. When will people wake up as see what 'fakers and takers' the privileged left really are. We know who you are.

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    Replies
    1. Nothing has changed10 October 2021 at 11:17

      Would the TMO have been with us for twenty one years without the support of the Labour group? That is the question.

      And let's not kid ourselves the Labour group did support the TMO. Many of the Labour Councillors that sat on the relevant Scrutiny Committees over the years (Hoiers et al) went out of their way to support the TMO and they didn't do it begrudgingly they did it enthusiastically and wholeheartedly.

      For those living in Council housing the current regime at RBK&C is a direct continuation of the previous regime.

      Kim is no better than Rock. Goldring is no better than Black. Most of the staff are the same having been TUPEd across. Their behaviour is as bad as it ever was. Nothing has actually changed.

      The current Labour strategy may well be childish and ineffective but at least they're not just going along with it all and pretending it's all going to be alright. Because it isn't. It's just as shit as it ever was.

      Delete
    2. So what do you propose the opposition do ?

      Delete
    3. Interesting, Nothing has changed. I agree with everything you say apart from your last paragraph.

      One thing loony left politicians have never learned is that if there is to be conflict it must be useful. I agree that the strategy being followed by Coad and Mason "is childish and ineffectual" but behaving that way just to be oppositionist is not useful, constructive and does nothing to enhance Labour's election prospects; nor improve the lot of tenants. Coad and Mason would be more comfortable at Momentum.

      Delete
  25. Going along with the Councils Housing Strategy 23.47. Isn't the Chair of the Housing Committee Labour Councillor Kasim Ali. Why would the Labour Party not follow the instruction and leadership of their own Chair. So 23.47 are you saying the Councils Housing Policy is failing because of the Leadership of the Labour Chair ?

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    Replies
    1. What is the remit of the Housing Committee? Are they deciding what the Council's Housing Management do or do not do? Do they have any direct control over the Council's current regeneration proposals such as those at Trellick Tower? Let's not kid ourselves Councillor Ali may be useless but the Council would not have given him or his Committee any real power to curtail their plans.

      Delete
    2. It was that Committee that signed off on the plan ?

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    3. The "useless" ones, 11.09, are Councillors Dent Coad and Mason. Dent Coad had the chance to make a difference when she was on the TMO and she blew it obeying the dictat of Juliet Rawlings and Reg Kerr Bell albeit with a good dose of vitriol and nastiness thrown in.

      Delete
    4. I thought the Chair of the Housing Committee was paid 25k plus a Councillor Allowance of 11k. I thought the 25k is to give the Chair the time to scrutinise the decision of the Council and to make recommendations. As part of the regeneration project signed off by Councillor Ali is partly in his ward, are you suggesting he had no knowledge or power to influence this decision. I have seen Councillor Ali on Holiday several times since he was promoted. Surely he would not have jetted off if he was unsure about these projects.

      Delete
    5. It was all a con10 October 2021 at 11:46

      Given the prevalence of sycophantic residents such as Rawlings and Kerr-Bell, the three Tory reps and the independents that were less than independent the Council had ensured that there was never any real danger of anything approaching serious rebellion from the TMO Board.

      The Council instructed Black/Evans/Perry and they instructed the Board. There may well have been a handful of dissenting voices but the majority would have always been on the Council's side. The TMO Board was always rigged in the Council's favour and that is the truth of it. Should the sole Labour Councillor on the Board have gone along with it? That is a good question and perhaps they shouldn't have.

      Sadly Kim and Goldring are not beyond playing the same games. Many of those sycophantic TMO Board members are back and playing much the same role they had on the Board on Kim and Doug's "reformed" TCC. And not only do we now have the return of Kerr-Bell and Harris but last year the Council awarded a former sycophantic TMO Board member a Mayor's Award.

      In fact it seems some Tory Councillors are making use of the Mayor's Awards to shore up their local support and repay their supporters. Should we have really expected any different? This is the Rotten Borough after all.

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    6. Emma Dent Coad was given a Mayors award for her work on the TMO..really !

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    7. Labour Councillors including the ones on the TMO knew that the TMO was horrendous. It should be to their eternal shame for supporting it when tenants told them not to. It is no good being wise after the Grenfell Disaster.

      Delete
    8. @11:38.

      What have Councillor Ali and the Housing Committee agreed to?

      The Council is currently proposing to build a new tower block next to Trellick Tower. The locals are opposed. Kim seems to spend his days trying to justify it and ignoring the results of the public consultation.

      Did Ali and the Housing Committee actually agree to the tower block? Or did they agree to something else entirely?

      It all smacks of the Council trying to have its way and then trying to offload some of the blame to someone else. Just as they've tried to do with Grenfell.

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    9. @12:07 - Better to be wise now than wise never.

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    10. Please stop trying to deflect from reality. Councillor Ali is Chair of the Housing Committee. He and his committee signed this off. What else would a Chair of a Housing Committer be doing. Are you suggesting he wasn't paying attention, and was off on Holiday with no knowledge of this ?

      Delete
    11. Now look here. You are being glib with your slick and smart riposte. I think Grenfell people would have preferred you to have been wise before the fire.

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    12. How dare you talk down to me like that. How were we supposed to know what was going on. My background is in architecture not Project Management.

      Delete
  26. If Emma had done a proper undergraduate degree at Oxbridge or Durham, she would have got the petty Student Union politics that she now plays out of her system. Perhaps, it is now time to resurrect the Ph.d studies at Liverpool.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Duchess of Rutland10 October 2021 at 12:12

    Dear Respected and Trusted Dame,

    This page is hotting up nicely this morning.

    How many views has it had?

    ReplyDelete
  28. Dearest Duchess, you cannot imagine the thrill one gets communicating with a Duchess. Were you not in one of the papers the other day exposing your legs in a rather 'pas comme il faut' way? 428 views and 88 comments and over 1000 views today.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Duchess of Rutland10 October 2021 at 22:02

    Dear Dame,

    A lady of my age only ever wears a skirt that is below the knee. You may have caught a glimpse of my finely toned calf muscles.

    ReplyDelete

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