Thursday, 15 January 2009

Let’s Play ‘Guess That Political Party – UK Edition!’

It’s a popular game on US blogs, where it has often been noted that accounts of Republican misdemeanours feature a prominent ‘R’ in the story, while reports of Democrat shenanigans are often either missing the crucial ‘D’, or relegate it to the final paragraphs.

Well, the BBC has decided this is a game they’d like to play too:
A former Worcestershire council leader has pleaded guilty to stealing tens of thousands of pounds from a charity.

Ex-leader of Redditch Borough Council David Roy Cartwright, 52, admitted stealing at least £24,695 from local homeless charity Step Out Drop In.

He also admitted making false claims for the charity totalling £63,467 between June 1997 and April 2001.
Sounds like a nasty piece of work, alright, particularly as his actions contributed to the closure of this charity.
The court heard how Cartwright, who served as a councillor on three separate occasions between 1986 and 2007, had made false claims to the borough council, a charitable foundation and a government department.
Just one question – what party did he belong to? It isn’t mentioned at all in the BBC story, and you’d think it would be quite relevant, maybe even desiring of a quote about this behaviour from the party in question.

But nothing, at the time of posting this. Nothing. Nada. Zip.

But if you Google (or just read local paper websites), you can find it…
at

9 comments:

  1. Letters From A Tory15 January 2009 at 10:11

    My prediction was correct.

    Funny, that.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Old BE15 January 2009 at 10:28

    I bet he wasn't a Tory, otherwise it would have been mentioned several times.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Old BE15 January 2009 at 10:32

    Actually there is a link [on the right-hand side of the BBC article] to the local rag which mentions right at the end which purer-than-pure party he represented.

    ReplyDelete
  4. JuliaM15 January 2009 at 11:02

    Yup, that's where I got it from, which makes their coyness even less effective.

    ReplyDelete
  5. patently15 January 2009 at 13:28

    Is this the same L... err Local party that was found guilty of the worst vote fraud in recent memory?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sue15 January 2009 at 14:31

    I must say, I expect that sort of behaviour from a Labour Council. What really disappoints me is when a Conservative council behaves badly. I really think Mr Cameron should ensure this sort of stuff doesn't happen, it's inhumane and unforgivable.

    The Daily Mail also doesn't mention she is a Conservative by the way, I had to look it up.

    "A family have expressed their fury after the death of their disabled 91-year-old mother who 'was forced to take out a second mortgage to foot an unnecessary £16,000 council bill' . Thanet Council has defended its decision to charge Mrs Hacking the £16,000".

    Daily Mail


    Zeta Wiltshire Home

    Wiltshire -Thanet Council

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dr Evil15 January 2009 at 14:50

    If he had been conservative or BNP it would have been trumpeted loudly coupled with words like sleaze and vermin.

    I guessed he was Labour, and he was. the utter, utter bastard.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Dave H15 January 2009 at 15:04

    Followed the link, "The court heard how Cartwright, who served as a Labour councillor..."

    As of 15:00.

    ReplyDelete
  9. JuliaM15 January 2009 at 16:55

    "Thanet Council has defended its decision to charge Mrs Hacking the £16,000". "

    Another good reason not to vote for Call-Me-Dave's mob! If he had any nous whatsoever, he'd be straight on the phone to tell them to stop embarassing him..

    "Followed the link, "The court heard how Cartwright, who served as a Labour councillor..."

    As of 15:00."

    Interesting! I wonder if other people read it and complained, forcing them to change it...?

    ReplyDelete