Bob Piper has been a Labour Councillor for the Abbey
Ward in Sandwell, West Midlands, for 10 years. He is a lifelong supporter of Aston Villa Football Club and a follower of Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
The views expressed here are mine in a personal capacity, not those of the Labour Party, Sandwell MBC, Aston Villa or Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Get it! Mine... just mine!
When I made a passing reference to the new magazine Total Politics being a right-wing journal earlier today, the publisher of the magazine got a bit tooty and pointed out that I was wrong, and to prove it, he said, Denis MacShane has written an article for it. Would that be the Denis MacShane who today in that left-of-centre broadsheet The Telegraph wrote this left-wing piece? The answer's obvious: cut taxes and spending:
And how can tax cuts be funded? By cutting spending. Take Labour-run Bolton Council. It decided on a zero council tax rise this year and was rewarded, rightly so, at the ballot box. When Mrs Thatcher imposed rate capping and told town halls to curb spending, a new generation of Labour council leaders rolled up their sleeves and worked within cost-cutting rules. Unlike their tax-greedy comrades of the Left in London councils, the municipal socialists of Leeds and Manchester, of Birmingham and Salford created a new style of local government by making less money go farther and finding innovative partnerships with the private sector to begin the renaissance of the great cities of England.
Interesting. I just referred to him as Mac No Shame and simultaneously wondered what on earth will a tax and spend old Commie like Blood Red Bob Piper make of the idea of outflanking the Conservatives on the right? I enjoyed the passing reference to over paid Council officials for example. Seriously though ,you cannot be in government for this long and then complain about rampant waste ? Can you ?
I wonder if , now his political life is a busted flush he is working on his TV career as an amusing and centre -ish commentator . Other media types have slithered adroitly rightwards notably Andrew Marr .
Nice
Paul Hughes said:
May 28, 2008 8:30 AM | permalink
I also thought it was a disgraceful piece. No matter what one's views on spending may be, the fact is that Mac No Shame has been a part of the current regime for years. To attempt a volte face because the electoral maths is turning is absurd.
I disagree with you completely, Bob. I am a tory non-troll. I admire, however, anyone who stands by his or her beliefs when the tide is turning. Such is the mark of a conviction politician and such is the cause of Denis's shame.
May 27, 2008 11:05 PM | permalink
Interesting. I just referred to him as Mac No Shame and simultaneously wondered what on earth will a tax and spend old Commie like Blood Red Bob Piper make of the idea of outflanking the Conservatives on the right? I enjoyed the passing reference to over paid Council officials for example. Seriously though ,you cannot be in government for this long and then complain about rampant waste ? Can you ?
I wonder if , now his political life is a busted flush he is working on his TV career as an amusing and centre -ish commentator . Other media types have slithered adroitly rightwards notably Andrew Marr .
Nice