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'Not a reason for the no-show' [editor's
title]
I FIND it misguided of Council supremo Ann John to cite as a reason not to address a recent public meeting that the organiser was "a Liberal Democrat with a political agenda" ('So where were you all then?', Observer, February 9). Firstly, a half-decent politician would find it within him or herself to put their agenda aside for the sake of the spirit of a public meeting. This applies as much to a panellist as the convenor. I attended the meeting and believe this is just what happened. Secondly, a debate pursued in the public interest will generally end up with hard questions about what the policy agenda and priorities should be. Just this, I believe, is the stuff of politics; which made it all the more frustrating for those in attendance not to be able to inform themselves by quizzing their local representatives. Do we not need greater diplomacy, nay wisdom, in Brent Council, so that the pubic good does not get habitually subordinated to desires for party political one-upmanship? Perhaps one should conclude that politicians differ in their ability to uphold the public good, let alone to withstand public scrutiny. Shahrar Ali |
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Letter published in |