Originally Posted by Less (Post 885309)

No you are wrong, he has reached those depths it's just that the figures are different.

Originally Posted by gynn (Post 885300)

Peter can take heart that he isn't the worst culprit in getting bad press over Council payments.

Did you see this?

The council 'fat cat’ earning £570,000 - Telegraph

This guy took £569,000 in one year, made up of £157,000 annual salary, £167,000 redundancy (to include not just his employment at that council, but also 20 years prior service with other employers), £239,000 paid into his pension fund so that he could start drawing the maximum possible pension straight away (even though he hasn't worked sufficient years to warrant it), and £6,000 in other lost expenses.

He even had the brass neck to claim that what he received was exactly the same as a road sweeper would get, albeit that the figures were higher. Really? Is he honestly trying to claim that a road sweeper being made redundant would be offered redundancy pay for the time he worked for other employers before the Council, would have his pension enhanced to the maximum possible if he'd worked till 65, and would get a few bob extra to cover lost allowances? I can tell you that he certainly would not, and the guy is telling an out and out lie. (allegedly)

Meanwhile, the Leader of that council has put his name to a letter to the Minister complaining that the cuts in grant will lead to front line services being lost!

You couldn't make it up, could you? And Peter has a long way to go before he reaches those depths.

Originally Posted by shillelagh (Post 885353)

slight difference between that bloke and mr britcliffe ... that was his job ... being a councillor is voluntary ...

Originally Posted by Tealeaf (Post 885386)

Maybe Councillor Britcliffe, LM, should get Max Clifford in as his publicity agent.

On second thoughts, maybe not; he'll probably charge the fees on expenses.

Originally Posted by garinda (Post 885373)

'TAXPAYER-funded trips to the Queen’s Garden Party are to become a thing of the past in Blackburn with Darwen because of spending cuts.'


;)

Originally Posted by steeljack (Post 885545)

Lets be honest here , now that Jack Straw is no longer a front bencher I doubt invites are in short supply . Think about it , who would you invite from Blackburn to a Palace garden party, Margo Grimshaw :eek: , most of them think a table cloth is a communal serviette ;)

Originally Posted by garinda (Post 885389)

I've said I'll do his P.R.

I'm much cheaper than Max Clifford.

I only charge £43,000.00 annually, for help and advice 24/7.

Originally Posted by steeljack (Post 885545)

Lets be honest here , now that Jack Straw is no longer a front bencher I doubt invites are in short supply . Think about it , who would you invite from Blackburn to a Palace garden party, Margo Grimshaw :eek: , most of them think a table cloth is a communal serviette ;)

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 885577)

Bloody hell I used to do it for nout, and did a better job of whats being done now:rolleyes:

Originally Posted by Ken Moss (Post 885581)

The problem is that there are only 168 hours in a week for publicity purposes.

If only the previous Labour government hadn't stuck so stubbornly to the Gregorian calendar....

Originally Posted by garinda (Post 885584)

Miles Parkinson is so low profile he doesn't feature on most peoples' radar.

Originally Posted by garinda (Post 885586)

An example of that being Neil.

Who last week said he was at a meeting at Scaitcliffe House, and couldn't recall the Labour leader's name.

If someone involved with community groups doesn't know it, you can bet the average voter doesn't.

Originally Posted by garinda (Post 885584)

As much as Peter Britcliffe is derided for it, love or loath him, most people know who he is.

If you ask the residents of the borough who the leader of the Labour group on the council was, I bet 95% wouldn't know the correct answer.

Miles Parkinson is so low profile he doesn't feature on most peoples' radar.

True, actions speak louder than words.

Though that doesn't help at the ballot box, if people don't know what actions you've done.

King Kenny has probably a higher public profile than Cllr. Parkinson.

You might want to offer him a few tips.

;):D

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 885592)

I have often said G. that if you stood outside the Golden Cross on a Saturday morning and stopped 100 people, no matter which ward they live in and ask them who there councillor is, 99% would say Peter Britcliffe. In the days when I was involved we used to get phone calls from every part of Hyndburn, it was very hard telling some one from Rishton that Peter wasn't their councillor, I'm sure that doesn't happen today:rolleyes:

Originally Posted by Ken Moss (Post 885591)

I think there may have been a little bit of artistic licence with memory going on there.

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 885592)

I have often said G. that if you stood outside the Golden Cross on a Saturday morning and stopped 100 people, no matter which ward they live in and ask them who there councillor is, 99% would say Peter Britcliffe. In the days when I was involved we used to get phone calls from every part of Hyndburn, it was very hard telling some one from Rishton that Peter wasn't their councillor, I'm sure that doesn't happen today:rolleyes:

Originally Posted by Ken Moss (Post 885601)

As far as my own recognition goes, most people have that 'I've seen you somewhere' look when they spot me.

Originally Posted by Ken Moss (Post 885601)

I can believe every word, although I regret to inform you that Cllr Britcliffe is almost universally panned in Rishton, even by the Conservative voters, for a perceived discrimination towards Oswaldtwistle.

It isn't just me.

As far as my own recognition goes, most people have that 'I've seen you somewhere' look when they spot me but I suspect the majority still don't really know who I am yet.

Originally Posted by garinda (Post 885609)

That's probably more due to switching on the Christmas lights the other year.

Okay Said Fred, weren't cheap, certainly compared to the £6,000.00 the Glee tribute band cost last Christmas, but you did put on a very good show.

:D:p:D

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 885610)

Glad you said yet:D

Originally Posted by Ken Moss (Post 885613)

I plan to be around long enough to shatter the Leader's dream of being in power forever and do for Rishton what I set out to do in the first place.

There comes a point where people have control for too long and start coming up with more and more ill-thought out schemes to keep in with the public. One day for one reason or another I will lose my seat and I hope when the time comes I have the humility to realise that I've outlived my usefulness and bow out gracefully.

Originally Posted by Ken Moss (Post 885591)

I think there may have been a little bit of artistic licence with memory going on there.

Originally Posted by Neil (Post 885899)

Be careful with that thinking Ken, I do know who he is but genuinely could not remember. I have never met him and I am really bad with names at the best of times.

Originally Posted by garinda (Post 885908)

Doctors usually test mental capabilities by asking if you remember the name of the Queen, and the Prime Minister.

If you reply Victoria and Gladstone, I'm afraid it's curtains for you.

You'll be forced to watch day time telly, and given the materials to make a lovely basket.

:D

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 885917)

Oh if that's the case Neil, can you make me some knackers

Originally Posted by shillelagh (Post 887133)

hows he going to live .... everythings going up .. but the expenses are frozen ....

Lancashire councillor allowances frozen (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Originally Posted by shillelagh (Post 887133)

hows he going to live

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 887230)

Strange there doesn't seem to be anything about it in the Obs today, must be too early waiting till next week

Originally Posted by Ken Moss (Post 887343)

You speak as though it is likely to get permission to be printed in The Observer.

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 887389)

No just find it strange that the Obs again don't print current stories which have appeared in other local rags previously Ken, but as I said that's become there usual trait these days 3 week old news:mad:

Originally Posted by Ken Moss (Post 887393)

The Accrington Observer needs all its stories by Wednesday evenings so some are clearly going to slip through the net until the following week but, as has been pointed out frequently, the paper has damaged its own reputation by becoming Peter Britcliffe's Good News and leaving out much of what may be seen as unfavourable for the Conservatives. To be honest, I was stunned to see the toilet story although I suppose it afforded them the opportunity to put the justification to the public.

I get the Lancashire Telegraph every day and have to say that it takes me longer to read one edition of that than The Observer these days. Shame really, it's our local paper but apart from hundreds of adverts and massive photographs which take up an awful lot of room on the page there is little which doesn't feature some 'good news' quotes from the Leader of the Council and people have wearied of it.

At least the Lancashire Telegraph does at least try to be impartial.

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 887405)

Well I don't know whether your right or wrong on that score because A) I only get the Obs occasionally and never get the telegraph (I have a look see on line)B) seeing I only get info on HBC from this web site which is slightly biased left of centre who knows:rolleyes:

Originally Posted by Ken Moss (Post 887407)

Accrington Web is probably not the best place for a balanced view of HBC and won't be until the Conservatives come out from the shadows and wave to a startled populace.

Which I wish they would.

The LT doesn't pull its punches in giving Labour an equally bad press when they cock up and I think it makes for healthier reading than being shamelessly biased towards one party.

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 887410)

We can only see what will happen if Labour do take control in May, suppose if the shoes is then on the other foot you probably won't complain too much:rolleyes:

Originally Posted by Ken Moss (Post 887411)

Fair point matey, but the fact remains that people will grow equally sick of Miles Parkinson's Good News, the difference being that he already knows this.