Merton resident Dawn Spragg wrote in to ask why the council was not “actively engaging” with residents about ULEZ.
At the meeting, she asked a follow-up question, saying: “How are you as our elected members engaging with the people that elected you to advise them about the ULEZ that will be inflicted on our borough on August 29.”
The answer she got was not quite what she expected, it'd be fair ro say:
Cabinet member for transport, Councillor Stephen Alambritis, claimed the scheme has cross-party support from Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour.
Oh, really? Reader, no. Not at all.
This led to outrage from the leader of the Conservative group Councillor Nick McLean who said the Merton Tories oppose the expansion.
And when blatent lies won't shut up this pesky voter, what next? Take your ball and go home, of course!
Ms Spragg’s question was one of four from the public on the ULEZ expansion. However, the other three questions were not discussed in the meeting.
When the Merton mayor, councillor Joan Henry tried to move on to the next item on the agenda she was heckled by those sitting in the public gallery, who included Piers Corbyn, brother of former Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn.
It caused Ms Spragg to move to the microphone, where residents can speak at the meeting, to ask why the other questions were not being addressed.
Cllr Henry ordered Ms Spragg to move back to her seat but when her pleas were unsuccessful the meeting was adjourned.
Much as I hate to be on the same side as Corbyn's brother, this is not democracy.
Much as the Corbyns may sit on the other side of the fence they likely share our opposition to the assault on our basic freedoms. We have been successfully divided into so many entrenched positions that a united resistance to corporate fascism is virtually impossible. A few hatchets need to be buried, or at least put aside, before we can all march together.
ReplyDeleteThe brother, maybe. I'm far less sure about the other one...
Delete