Finally got a reply today to the challenge I gave our MP regarding the court closure and CSR, his response was "a public meeting would fail to satisfy the concerns of most of the room".

Can't argue with his response - most public meetings are like that.

I don't agree, but hey ho.

A case of turkeys don't vote for Christmas.

Well, that is a surprise! Another tory-bashing thread from broken record Garvie. Is there not a forum on your own website where you can post your bilge? Why waste BrianB's bandwidth with your apponent-smearing rubbish?

I imagine there is an identical thread over at newburytoday too?

Quoted from massifheed

Well, that is a surprise! Another tory-bashing thread from broken record Garvie. Is there not a forum on your own website where you can post your bilge? Why waste BrianB's bandwidth with your apponent-smearing rubbish?

I imagine there is an identical thread over at newburytoday too?

Tory bashing? Hardly, it's not my fault our MP is a Tory, and it's not my fault he refuses to engage in a debate. You might be happy with the way things are, but a lot of people are not. So if nobody else will publicly stand up and raise these issues with the current elected members on the council or in parliament, I WILL. There is now a choice, and if people decide to stick with the Tories then that is their choice. However, if people are made aware of the current shenanigans, maybe just maybe they will decide to vote for somebody else.

but a lot of people are not

The last election results hardly support this statement.

43.6% didn't vote for Richard Benyon. But my point is that for everyone who voted Conservative, do they all support every saving and every cut?

Quoted from richard.garvie

43.6% didn't vote for Richard Benyon.

Another surprise! You're spinning election results to try and make your position sound stronger. Taken in context, 56.4% of those who voted, voted for Benyon. The next closest candidate was Rendel who, in comparison only took 33.5%, and then of course Labour who, given your method of reporting results, 95.7% of the public didn't vote for.

Put it another way, Benyon took more votes than the rest combined.

Yes, but on the basis that he said thing like the EMA would be protected, tuition fees would not be massively hiked and that sure start centres would remain open.

How many of those who elected Richard are actually supportive of these cuts?

Quoted from richard.garvie

Yes, but on the basis that he said thing like the EMA would be protected, tuition fees would not be massively hiked and that sure start centres would remain open.

How many of those who elected Richard are actually supportive of these cuts?

Oh, right. Now, after initially quoting figures, you dont want to discuss election results?  

I'm happy to discuss them. What do you want to discuss? Labour have been third place for some time? That we didn't win the seat? That we didn't get our deposit back? That Benyon and Rendel spent twelve times more than Hannah? As I joined Labour after the election, it's not really my place to speak on behalf of the party on that campaign. But Hannah raised issues and questions that weren't raised by others, and Benyon gave very clear answers. He's already broken a lot of what he said, and from reading the Green Party site, that is something Richard does a lot.

At the next election, how can anyone believe anything he will say?

I voted against him.
Just saying.

Labour and the Conservatives both jointly have a lot to answer for

Quoted from richard.garvie

Tory bashing? Hardly, it's not my fault our MP is a Tory, and it's not my fault he refuses to engage in a debate. You might be happy with the way things are, but a lot of people are not.

Why should a busy MP engage in a public debate with you. You seem to be suffering from delusions of grandeur. I still can't determine if you are running for parliament or to become a local councillor. If it is the latter, then leave out the national politics. If the former, then I don't think this is the place for your campaigning.
I understand that RB runs a surgery for his constituents, pop along and you can let him know what's bothering you.

Quoted from brian

Why should a busy MP engage in a public debate with you. You seem to be suffering from delusions of grandeur. I still can't determine if you are running for parliament or to become a local councillor. If it is the latter, then leave out the national politics. If the former, then I don't think this is the place for your campaigning.
I understand that RB runs a surgery for his constituents, pop along and you can let him know what's bothering you.

So you are suggesting all interested parties in the closure if the courts meet up at Richard Benyon surgery so they can put their arguements against the closure and he can explain his parties point of view?  Is this not called a debate?

Quoted from brian

Why should a busy MP engage in a public debate with you. You seem to be suffering from delusions of grandeur. I still can't determine if you are running for parliament or to become a local councillor. If it is the latter, then leave out the national politics. If the former, then I don't think this is the place for your campaigning.
I understand that RB runs a surgery for his constituents, pop along and you can let him know what's bothering you.

So you are suggesting all interested parties in the closure if the courts meet up at Richard Benyon surgery so they can put their arguements against the closure and he can explain his parties point of view?  Is this not called a debate?

Quoted from jay

So you are suggesting all interested parties in the closure if the courts meet up at Richard Benyon surgery so they can put their arguements against the closure and he can explain his parties point of view?  Is this not called a debate?

What then do you think should happen everytime there is some change or ammendment that you don't agree with. Demand a debate ???

Quoted from brian

What then do you think should happen everytime there is some change or ammendment that you don't agree with. Demand a debate ???

No, but when Newbury is losing an intrinsic facility in the town, I do want to know that our MP is doing as he promised and fighting for us.  As it is, I get the iimpression he has very sloping shoulders and is taking the easy way by agreeing with the Whip.  Or do you know different, how hard did he fight Newbury's corner, if at all?

His comment, "a public meeting would fail to satisfy the concerns of most of the room" - does he know who will be in room or does he mean you are not going to agree with what I say, so I cannot be bothered meeting with you?

Come the next election, I am sure he will not be ignoring his electorate and will be only too pleased to meet with us.  Meanwhile we will have lost a facility that will never be replaced.

Quoted from brian

What then do you think should happen everytime there is some change or ammendment that you don't agree with. Demand a debate ???

Hardly a small change is it? The CSR involves a lot of seriously flawed decisions, many of which Mr Benyon said wouldn't be undertaken by his party, so we have every right to quiz him in public. There needs to be cuts, and I would support a lot of cuts that he votes for on the basis that they are required. But there are some big decisions being made that have been hidden away, and these are the ones that are related to promises our MP is about to break. Sure Start, EMA, Child Benefit, Housing Benefit and Tuition fees to get you started...