Racists want an elected Mayor?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...tinghamshire-17892855

The Left will go to any lengths to try and get their way, they will even go as far as using the word 'Racist' to try and frighten the people of Nottingham into not voting for an Elected Mayor.

[FredPuli43]

Why does the leader of the Labour -run city council think the language 'undiplomatic' but the message justified? Extraordinary! Is the candidate a proven racist ?

[Davethedog]

"The Left will go to any lengths to try and get their way"

Who made the complaint? Never let he truth get in the way of your agenda will you.

[rojash]

"Jo Tanner, director of the campaign for directly elected mayors and Labour party member, made the complaint."

Presumably, only those Labour party members with whom you disagree are classed as "The Left" AOG.

[Gromit]

Don't really see the point of an elected mayor when we already have an elected council. Unnecessary duplication and expense.

The NO flyers are misleading. Have you just assume the NO campaign is left wingers. I know many rightwingers who are against it as well.

[ludwig]

It's pretty shoddy stuff. A leaflet that says 'Racists want an elected Mayor' handed out mainly near mosques. What's their next trick - one that says 'Paedophiles want an elected Mayor' handed out to parents at the school gates perhaps?

[anotheoldgit]

Davethedog and rojash

Unlike some of the 'left' on this site, there appears to be one member of the left who disagrees with her party's stance on this particular issue, and good for her too.

[Davethedog]

Why don't you read the F%^&*((g article before you comment

[pdq1]

Free speech is no longer allowed in this country. Is it because the general public are so thick they cannot think for themselves.

[sp1814]

What a very confusing story this is - who are 'the Left' in this story?

Are these people further 'left' than Jo Tanner?

Unlessim reading it wrong - the EDL and BNP aren't actively campaigning on the issue, so where does racism come into it??

[anotheoldgit]

The Nottingham Post.

/// About 3,000 of the leaflets – which claim the British National Party (BNP) and English Defence League (EDL) want a mayor – have been circulated at mosques and in areas of the city where there is a significant Asian population by the Nottingham Labour group. ///

Obviously the Nottingham Labour party are taking a leaf out of George Galloway's book.

[anotheoldgit]

Davethedog

/// Why don't you read the F%^&*((g article before you comment ///

"We understand that debates get heated, but personal attacks and abusive language will not be tolerated."

[FredPuli43]

It does appear that some section of the Labour Party in Nottingham thinks that the campaign will attract racist candidates or speech. The leader of 'Labour-run' Nottingham City Council, must be a member of the party unless Labour there is very unusual. He supports the idea that the campaign will be a platform for racists, justifies the message of the leaflet and merely describes the language as 'undiplomatic'. Who are the people handing out the leaflets? Are they not Labour supporters ? Or are they apolitical in this matter? And we are told that leaflets are being distributed where they will have the best effect, patently to Muslims.

Labour may not be of the traditional left, old Labour, but it can hardly deny that the leaflet emanates from, or is supported by, someone from the Party or say it is being uniquely distributed by those who aren't Labour supporters. And it is still 'left' to those on the right, and still left of the Tories.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

/// What a very confusing story this is - who are 'the Left' in this story? ///

The ruling Labour Party of Nottingham City Council.

/// Are these people further 'left' than Jo Tanner? ///

No one mentioned the 'far left' it so happens that although Jo Tanner belongs to the Labour party, she is also the director of the campaign for directly elected mayors, so it is perfectly reasonable for her to be speaking out against her own party's unacceptable practice on this issue.

/// Unlessim reading it wrong - the EDL and BNP aren't actively campaigning on the issue, so where does racism come into it?? ///

These leaflets are mainly aimed at the Black & Asian communities of Nottingham, and saying that the EDL & BNP are in favour of an Elected Mayor, and they may be putting up a candidate for the job.

Democracy at it's best, according to the Labour Party.

[anotheoldgit]

Steve.5

/// As for any racist issues I would have though that would have been RIGHT up your street. ///

Yes this news story is about the unacceptable overuse of the word 'Racist' and the playing of the 'Race Card'.

So yes in that context I agree it is 'Right Up My Street'.

[Gromit]

The whole elected Mayor thing was a Labour idea championed by John Prescott.

http://www.telegraph....d-mayors-revived.html

The parties that already hold power in a City, be them Labour or Conservative tend to be against the idea of having an elected mayor. Objection to elected mayors is across parties. Many cities have already rejected elected mayors.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

What has that got to do with the shady practices of Labour, as highlighted by this report.

Do you agree with the Labour leader of Nottingham City Council when he said "this message was justified"?

And would one expect the Tories would stoop as low as this, even if some were against an elected Mayor?

I can at least respect Jo Tanner for coming out against her party's sharp practices, so please give me a chance to respect you by also damning them by not supplying them with excuses.

[Gromit]

// A LABOUR leaflet that claims Nottingham could elect a "racist" mayor has been condemned as "irresponsible" by members of the city's Asian community.

Mohammed Yaseen, head of youth and community services at the Karimia Institute in Bobbers Mill, said they had taken the leaflets off the shelves at Bobbers Mill Community Centre.

"The literature suggests that if people have an open election there's a strong chance the BNP or EDL could be elected.

"That's irresponsible to be projecting as a potential outcome.

"We didn't expect that in any other council elections so why would they promote this unless they're fanning the flames of fear and saying to black and ethnic minority communities that if they don't support a no vote it may result in a BNP or EDL mayor?

"I think it's patronising to black and minority ethnic communities and that's who it's aimed at. I think it's irresponsible and ill informed." //

http://www.thisisnott...109-detail/story.html

Good to see you supporting the views of Nottingham's Asians AOG.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// Good to see you supporting the views of Nottingham's Asians AOG. ///

I was going to say sarcasm doesn't suit you Gromit, but actually it does, since it is said "sarcasm is the lowest form of wit".

Yes I have also read the Nottingham Post's report and I am with Nottingham's Asian's view on this, all the way.

It is a pity you are not man enough to take the same stance as these Asians and condemn your Party also.

[jno]

you shouldn't assume you know which party Gromit supports, aog, you might be surprised.