Lets ask the 'kids that count'
Whilst wishing to respond to former Councillor Bill Carpenters letter, published in the Halifax Courier 1st June "It's the kids that matter" I do not think readers are interested in a blow-by-blow rebuttal of Mr Carpenter's last lengthy diatribe.
Therefore in brief, his response demonstrates to me the massive chasm between old school and out of touch Tory attitudes and the new approach to politics advocated by the English Democrats.
I believe those elected to represent should fight for what people want. Mr Carpenter seems to argue that the people should be grateful for what is decided for them. I believe democracy starts at the bottom and those elected remain accountable. Mr Carpenter apparently sees a feudal and dictatorial system to be more appropriate. Clearly, there will never be much common ground between us.
In his letter, Mr Carpenter does admit that when he went against popular opinion in the past, he lost his safe Conservative seat in Rastrick. A lesson his new leader Mr Cameron seems to have taken into account with his U turn on Tory support for Grammar Schools.
To better understand democratic attitudes, I recommend Mr Carpenter to ask the three 2004 Warley Conservative Councillors what they think of his leadership style when all 3 lost their seats due to his ‘I know best' attitude on the Wellesley Barracks issue.
Finally, should any readers be desperate to read a full rebuttal, I have posted one for Mr Carpenter as a comment to this entry.
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Anyway in both his letters, Mr Carpenter clearly demonstrates his view of Conservatism. He attempts to justify when elected why he feels it more appropriate to represent his own views rather than reflect those of the people who elected him.
I am naturally grateful also for the esteem he affords me. I have only represented Rastrick for 4 years, although this has meant fighting 3 elections. Isn’t it remarkable how many historic facts I seem to have got right. I accept I was not aware of Mr C’s actual daily sleeping habits but feel the picture is complete now he has shared this information with us. I also accept how very active (during his waking hours) he still would like to be in the Party, of which I was a member for longer than he. However, he doesn’t tell how his Conservative colleagues would like him to sleep a little longer. Why they overwhelmingly rejected his bid to be their caucus chairman last year? And yet I understand he has thrown his hat in the ring once again for 07/08.
He tells how after losing his seat in Rastrick he went on, 3 years later, to represent another seat for 20 years. Interestingly, Mr Carpenter did not attempt to regain his Rastrick seat after losing it. Did he choose instead to wait for a safer one to sit upon?
Back in 1984, there was less choice for either those unhappy with their traditional Party allegiance or wishing to protest when their elected representatives went against the will of the people. In 2007 there is now an alternative to the old left or right for those seeking common sense and popular representation. I refer here to The English Democrats Party.
This new choice will not go away just because an ‘old Tory warhorse’ shouts loudly against it. On the contrary, by seeking to belittle our growing Party, former Cllr Carpenter’s arrogance encourages more supporters to join us.
Our confidence in this new path is demonstrated by the successes of the SNP in Scotland and made necessary by the destruction of the Union by Brown/ Blair/Prescott and New Labour’s policies of Euro-friendly Regionalisation.
In his long and self-gratifying version of school events prior to 1984, I notice Mr Carpenter makes no mention of support today for our remaining Grammar Schools. Perhaps this is because he was told of his new leader’s (Mr Cameleon) impending U turn. After all, there are only so many Tory supporters you can afford to lose if you want to win a general election.
Arising from the long personal ‘1984’ explanation are two things;
1. No thoughts to ask the views of some of the kids who were effected by this solution, you know, the ‘kids that matter’.
2. The extreme arrogance that Mr Carpenter feels his ‘solution’ has contributed to any local students going on to higher education. The achievements over the years are due to the abilities of the students, the dedication of teaching staff and parental support.
In closing, I too had many opportunities to observe Mr Carpenter in Council, in the Conservative group and other places, as did my son. (Another one of the kids that matter) Neither of us were impressed by his tyrannical, un-democratic and thoroughly nasty attitude.
Mr Carpenter has the audacity to lecture me on ‘rainbow’ coalitions. At the last Council meeting (Tory-Labour carve-up) it was his local Conservative Group that refused to agree the ‘rainbow’ which was offered to them and for which I voted. And I therefore ask him to consider these two questions,
1. Had the Tories been honest during the election campaign and told voters they would enter into an alliance with Labour in order to keep their highly paid cabinet jobs, would they have won in Brighouse, Rastrick and Hipperholme & Lightcliffe?
2. Agreeing there are seven representative groups on Calderdale Council for which votes cast in May 2007 were, Tory 28%. Labour 26%, Liberal 24% and the remaining ones, 22%, how does he justify the Tories taking 100% of Cabinet when the popular vote is so evenly spread?
Finally, I say again, I would not have needed to consider a change of party flag in 2006 had the Conservatives remained true to Tory principles and not sought to compromise them with the Socialists for 30 pieces of silver.
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