Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Moss
Fair point, but when in Full Council you sometimes have to weigh up the bigger picture in Hyndburn. It might not affect Rishton but that particular motion had relevance to residents of my counterparts in several other wards, such as Central and Springhill. As a representative of Hyndburn I wasn't against it and I am vehemently opposed to abstaining unless it is absolutely necessary (which it rarely is).
It seemed like a tactical motion brought to council in order to show that the Conservatives are dead keen on Kashmiris. I may be wrong. However just because something doesn't affect me doesn't mean that I automatically vote against it. I have put up several motions and questions which single out Rishton but my colleagues have still voted for them.
As I have said before, I don't look forward to international motions at Full Council again.
Have we not exhausted this topic yet? There really is nothing more to say.
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I have read this post several times and It still niggles me.
Firstly, I have to correct you, Ken. You are not a representative of Hyndburn, you are
the representative of
some of the people of
Rishton. I think that you will find that there is a significant difference.
Secondly following on from my first observation, you say;
"
As a representative of Hyndburn (sic) I wasn't against it and I am vehemently opposed to abstaining unless it is absolutely necessary (which it rarely is)...
...It seemed like a tactical motion brought to council in order to show that the Conservatives are dead keen on Kashmiris.... However just because something doesn't affect me doesn't mean that I automatically vote against it."
So it seemed to you that the motion was, as you said earlier, blatant 'electioneering'. Which, while it may not be illegal is certainly morally and ethically questionable. In such a situation do you not feel that you have a responsibility to the people who elected you and whose views you represent to maintain the dignity of the of the body on which you sit by pointing out to 'electioneering' councillors, and those who encourage them, the error of their ways, if only by the simple expedient of either abstention or voting against whatever motion they bring forward.
You say the Kashmiri Motion does not affect you. Maybe not personally, even though you are certainly having to spend a good deal of time defending your position here. But it does affect the people whom you represent, of which, I am one.
Speaking personally, I am far from happy that my representative took part in a vote on a motion that he knew to be wrong and outside the competence of HBC. A vote which resulted in this Borough and its Council being held up to ridicule and contempt in both the national and international press.
And to forestall a possible rejoiner, I ridicule and criticise the Council and it's members because I see such scrutiny and correction, where necessary, as part of my civic duty.
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