The Front Page. - Copy 98 ( Sue Nicholas Gagged, 500,000 viewings FP)
26 May 2010
You will remember very recently that our long time DoverForumite Cllr Sue Nicholas announced on these pages that she had been appointed Vice Chairman of Dover District Council. Bernard Butcher remains as Chairman but the sudden announcement about Sue took us all by surprise. A hard working lady for her community indeed, but more than a tad outspoken to say the least, and an individual firebrand who very often rattled the comfortable Conservative cages at the DDC, even though she is a Conservative herself. Sue went on to say that following this appointment she will no longer be able to post on Doverforum.
This prompted the following press release from the newly revamped, newly led, and newly re-energised Labour Group....
Maverick Tory Silenced.
The election of Conservative councillor for River, Mrs Sue Nicholas, as Vice-Chairman of Dover District Council is a clear attempt to silence a highly critical voice among the Conservative majority on the Council. While the Chairman of the Council has considerable power to control and speak at meetings, the Vice-Chairman is obliged to remain silent throughout proceedings. Gordon Cowan, Labour Shadow Leader of the Council, says: “This is the political equivalent of an enforced vow of silence. It looks good to be chosen as the Vice-Chairman of the Council but it means that you are prevented from speaking your mind at full Council meetings. I dread to think what pressure was put on the unfortunate Mrs Nicholas to get her to agree to being gagged like this.”
Cllr Mrs Nicholas, who started in active politics as a Lib-Dem, has been particularly outspoken in her criticism of recent Conservative plans to merge council housing services across four East Kent councils.
Mike Eddy, Labour Shadow Deputy Leader of the Council, says: “Sue is a maverick and always prepared to speak her mind. Her criticism of the Conservatives’ latest “big idea” has been powerful because it has been based on a deep understanding of the issues. It is a great shame that, rather than listen to her arguments on housing, her Conservative colleagues have chosen to shut her up.” Ends
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So time to break out the brown ale and award yourself a glass as a huge thanks is due to you out there the reader, and especially the contributors too who make it all happen. I would have liked to tell you all to break out the champagne but in these hard times of extreme austerity, anyone who mentions champagne gets their soft bits shoved through the butcher's mincer. See you over by the mincer! PB
"They've gagged Sue Nicholas!"
say Labour.
You will remember very recently that our long time DoverForumite Cllr Sue Nicholas announced on these pages that she had been appointed Vice Chairman of Dover District Council. Bernard Butcher remains as Chairman but the sudden announcement about Sue took us all by surprise. A hard working lady for her community indeed, but more than a tad outspoken to say the least, and an individual firebrand who very often rattled the comfortable Conservative cages at the DDC, even though she is a Conservative herself. Sue went on to say that following this appointment she will no longer be able to post on Doverforum.
This prompted the following press release from the newly revamped, newly led, and newly re-energised Labour Group....
Maverick Tory Silenced.
The election of Conservative councillor for River, Mrs Sue Nicholas, as Vice-Chairman of Dover District Council is a clear attempt to silence a highly critical voice among the Conservative majority on the Council. While the Chairman of the Council has considerable power to control and speak at meetings, the Vice-Chairman is obliged to remain silent throughout proceedings.
Cllr Mrs Nicholas, who started in active politics as a Lib-Dem, has been particularly outspoken in her criticism of recent Conservative plans to merge council housing services across four East Kent councils.
Mike Eddy, Labour Shadow Deputy Leader of the Council, says: “Sue is a maverick and always prepared to speak her mind. Her criticism of the Conservatives’ latest “big idea” has been powerful because it has been based on a deep understanding of the issues. It is a great shame that, rather than listen to her arguments on housing, her Conservative colleagues have chosen to shut her up.” Ends
Picture shows new Labour Leader Gordon Cowan.
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500,000
The sharp and oggle eyed amongst you will have noticed that this page passed through the 500,000 viewers mark around lunchtime wed May 26. The figure refers to this frontpage only (the other pages have their own figures) and the registered viewings have been accumulating over a period of approx one and a half years only. Prior to that this particular page did not exist. These figures are not bad at all for a relatively small town as we have kept this website strictly Dovorian and have not been tempted to go global, stratospheric, or even national..apart from the odd lapse into politics!
So time to break out the brown ale and award yourself a glass as a huge thanks is due to you out there the reader, and especially the contributors too who make it all happen. I would have liked to tell you all to break out the champagne but in these hard times of extreme austerity, anyone who mentions champagne gets their soft bits shoved through the butcher's mincer. See you over by the mincer! PB