MAY I address a simple question to our MP, Rachel Maclean?
Can she honestly say that she thinks the Prime Minister adheres to the Seven Principles of Public Life (the Nolan Principles) which are the ethical standards for all public office holders?
They are: Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty and Leadership.
If her answer is ‘yes’, then I suspect her moral stance is in contrast to that of many of her constituents.
If her answer is ‘no’, then she should join other Tory backbenchers and request the PM’s resignation.
M Lee, Redditch
I WAS shocked and dismayed to see Rachel Maclean MP, on Politics Live directly after Prime Minister’s Questions last Wednesday.
I heard the person elected to represent the people of Redditch in the House of Commons, defend the indefensible.
Even when our Prime Minister has finally admitted what the country already knew, in that he had attended at least one of the many lockdown breaking parties at No 10 Downing Street, our Parliamentary representative chose to defend his actions.
She refused point blank to accept that Boris Johnson should fall on his sword, strangely labelling the countrywide public outrage as an opposition party-driven campaign, even though high profile Conservatives such Douglas Ross MSP, the Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party, has openly stated Johnson’s position is untenable.
M Tomes, Church Hill
I WONDER how many witnessed the amount of people young and old slipping and sliding all over Church Green last week during the icy weather.
I noticed the Kingfisher staff had treated their area well but where was the response from our local council? None forthcoming at all.
I wondered if hiding behind the fact that to do nothing prevents any litigation from injured citizens could be the reason.
Shame on those whose responsibility this is for not protecting Redditch citizens who pay a princely sum every year, and visitors, from a trip to A&E. They do not need the extra work.
A Burdon, Redditch
I WRITE in response to the letter published on December 31 from an anonymous source entitled ‘Has Government sleaze come to town?’, referring to my comments on the cemetery made at an overview and scrutiny meeting.
The overview and scrutiny committee is a politically neutral, non-whipped committee.
I commented it was not right to say there had been no consultation on new burial provision.
I reminded the group that every resident of Redditch had been invited to discuss their concerns with the Leader of the Council directly.
This request went out via this newspaper on the March 19, 2021. It also went on local radio and social media.
I am reliably informed that the Leader, Councillor Matt Dormer, met with many residents and read every email and letter he received.
Additionally, residents were invited to comment on the planning portal, invited to talk at the planning meeting, full council, overview and scrutiny and had comments read out at executive committee.
All of these are types of consultation.
One of our manifesto pledges was to provide new burial provision in Redditch. In the May election the people of Redditch spoke emphatically in support of our plans with the Conservatives winning a landslide victory.
Therefore, we have the mandate set out by the residents. Now of course people will always differ in opinion and may feel there wasn’t enough consultation, which is their right of course, but to say there was none is factually inaccurate.
I am democratically elected to speak on behalf of my residents and to make decisions in council chambers. Councillors are residents too who are passionate about our town.
Claims of sleaze are exactly the opposite of how I conduct myself.
Councillor E Marshall, Greenlands
TO RACHEL Maclean – on BBC Politics Live you said you could not see your children during the 2020 lockdown when the PM attended a party.
But in April 2020 you tweeted a picture of you, your husband, and your four children clapping for the NHS.
At the time I assumed this meant all of your children were living with you – because at that lockdown there was absolutely no mixing allowed between households. There were no support bubbles and outside meeting with one person was not permitted until May 13, 2020.
We know you were not allowed to move between residences – although you defended Dominic Cummings when he broke that rule.
So, were your children visiting you illegally in April 2020?
S Harvey, Southcrest
I WAS embarrassed and shocked to see the car crash interview on the BBC with MP Rachel Maclean defending the indefensible.
It is as clear as day that the Prime Minister and others broke the law and should pay the consequences for their actions. How much longer will the Conservatives have a one rule for them and a rule for the rest of us attitude?
It is clear it is not only Boris Johnson who is guilty for being untrustworthy and breaking the law, several of his MPs have also made false statements about being away from family during lockdown while evidence shows this not to be the case.
My question now is will Councillor Matt Dormer, the Leader of the Council, show the same integrity as some of his local colleagues and call for the Prime Minister to resign? Or does he feel law breaking by those in power is acceptable.
J Baker, Brockhill
