Write-Place

It's an old stunt - a low and cowardly one at that - but The Labour Party have decided to use it again, in their "campaign" for the election of two councillors for Maltby Town Council. This stunt is colloquially called "If you have nothing positive to say about your selves then slag off the opposition in any way you can, regardless of whether your comments are true or not." It is regularly used by the current government and has been used by various politicians around the globe. Now, we all know that newspapers are a great source of information, on the whole, but most of us aso know that certain newspapers can be extremely biased towards a particular issue. This is often the case in "party politics".So, to run a campaign based on newspaper headlines is surely, the lowest of the low. But The Labour Party in Maltby have seen fit to do just this on their candidates leaflet, posted through some doors recently. (I am not suggesting that this is selective del...

After a short break from this blog, I had been thinking what to write for a "returner". I needn't have bothered thinking too hard. Maltby Town Council has come up trumps again with it's continued inadequacies, which while not new, do still sometimes leave me "gobsmacked". Today 11th September, I have received a response from MTC to an FOI request I sent on 19th May. Ok - so what's 4 months between friends when it should have been replied to in 20 days ? Not a lot at all really.But you would think that in this time they might have been able to answer ALL the questions, wouldn't you ? Well, being well versed in the methods and workings of some of MTC cllrs, I am not suprised at all of course. I am also not particularly suprised that today's mail is from the "Acting Responsible Financial Officer" who is named as a totally different person who signed the mail that I received from MTC the other day. Got it ? HUH ! Ah well - just when I was ...

The release of the Lockerbie bomber, Megrahi, has caused embarrassment, outrage and crtiticism in different degrees from various ministers and officials around the world. The director of the FBI has told the Scottish Justice Secretary he was 'outraged' at Megrahi's release and says it 's made a mockery of the law and given comfort to terrorists.The Scottish First Minister says it was a 'grave error of judgment' which has damaged the reputation of Scotland. And Downing Street releases the full text of a letter sent by Gordon Brown to Colonel Gaddafi wishing him a happy Ramadan and addressing him as "Dear Muammar". Granted, the letter asked Gaddafi to 'act with sensitivity' over Megrahi's homecoming and said that a high-profile return would cause further unnecessary pain for the families of the Lockerbie victims and it would also undermine Libya's growing international reputation", but I (cynically?) think the intent was more siniste...

Dear Mr Barron and anyone concerned with democracy.... I have forwarded to you an open letter sent by Mr Don Buxton (with his permission) in response to the appalling attitude of one of your "colleagues" Mr Iain St John. Perhaps you may have seen this letter, of Mr St John's but it is unlikely as you do not use email, despite your super, up to the minute equipment. However, let's not go over old ground again. The reason for this mail is to bring to your attention the utter contempt that many of those connected to RMBC show to their constituents. I am sure that you already know this but a small reminder never goes amiss, I believe. Perhaps, like Mr St John, you may also wonder why you have been sent this "nonsense" as he describes it. Well, just to reiterate that if any cllr/or MP classes the views of the public whom they represent as nonsense, just because their views differ from the "elite" then we are in a very sorry position. From past experie...

In 2004, this incompetent Government introduced a new GP's contract which increased the pay of the doctors but also took away a lot of the services, like weekend working, and evening surgeries. The ususal mismanagement in the civil service in their financial administration showed another waste of tax payers money. Now it's been reported that the situation may be even worse than we thought. Some family doctors are now earning £300,000 or more. Am not sure if any Maltby GP's earn anywhere near this amount - I guess if they did they might be living somewhere different to Maltby - but it seems a bit excessive considering the hours they work for their local patients. I do not begrudge anyone in the NHS their hard earned pay. I know that especially in hospitals, doctors (usually junior ones) work ridiculous numbers of hours which is both immoral and dangerous. But wouldn't it be better to have the old system of your own GP comes to visit you "out of hours" and gets ...

The Rt Hon Kevin Barron MP, has made quite a few "gaffes" over the last number of months. Of course I am sure he would not call then gaffes himself, but it doesn't take much to wonder if the man is losing it/has lost it completely. There was the issue of emails - even though Kevin supports taking care of the environment, (he says) he doesn't send emails and prefers to use trees by the thousands for his correspondence. Then there was issue of him telling one of his consituents that he was not going to talk politics with them (strange for an MP) Then we had his expenses issue - the fancy printer and office furniture and the new camera he needed for his trip to New Zealand..... etc But this has to be the best one yet. As many readers of this blog know, Maltby is in the process if s truggle to stop the Secondary School becoming an Academy. Much discussion has gone on - usually without the invited MP's, Cllrs, Governors and ministers who don't turn up at meetings. ...

Dear Kevin Hall, Let’s get a few facts correct here following your “sensational” front page report and patronising editorial in today’s maltbynews. Firstly, you state the petition to dissolve Maltby Town Council is unlikely to have the effect which it’s supporters are aiming. You also state that Mr Mumford says that it is unclear what the purpose of the petition is. I can assure you that Mr Mumford has been told perfectly clearly what the purpose of the petition is for, but that if he has told you that he is uncertain, then who’s view is it that it is unlikely to have any effect? Contradiction in terms, Mr Hall. Then you state “ that RMBC are already undertaking a review in Maltby following the upheaval in the Town (sic) over the past six months.”WRONG. A governance review is taking place but not following or because of any upheaval. It is happening in numerous parishes across Rotherham. Bit of a manipulation of words there, to suit a biased view. That you have named 2 Maltby resident...