17 July - Conservatives’ “affront to democracy”
You will know my opinion on Motions by now;
a bunch of generally powerless busybodies pretending that they can influence
national policy. Last night Cabinet Member Diment dragged out from the back of
the Tory’s Motion cupboard an ancient one praising the Conservative Government for
increasing the number of police officers in London. Obviously that is not very
appropriate since the demise of the Conservative Government a year ago.
Councillor Diment asked for permission to amend it. It would have been helpful
if he had made it available to members of the public via the webcast so that they could form a
judgment but no one has.
Labour Leader Stefano Borella objected, basically on
the grounds that it was not an amended Motion but an entirely new one which
Councillor Diment could have had the courtesy to let him see before the meeting
but had chosen not to do so.
Not unreasonably Stefano objected. Councillor Diment had “made a mockery of the
procedures on Motions”. He was disgraceful. Stef called for a 20 minute
adjournment and was granted 15 and he and his colleagues promptly left the chamber.
In rather less than 15 minutes they returned and the debate sort of continued but only for a few seconds.
The Labour Leader said his Group would not be participating in the new Motion, Sometimes principles count, but not perhaps on the Conservative benches.
With luck the revised Motion will be made available so that taxpayers will know what
was being said in their name.