I WAS worried that last week's piece about the elections in Zimbabwe would be overtaken by events.
But it's now a week later and the position has hardly changed.
I thought I knew all about the different ways in which people can rig elections.
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But I hadn't realised the most obvious -you just don't announce the results and hope everyone will eventually go away (or you deploy your official and unofficial thugs to make them do so).
Meanwhile here in East Lancashire we had an important but largely unheralded visit by a government minister last Tuesday.
Baroness Kay Andrews is not a household name or a regular on programmes such as Newsnight.
But she's a junior minister at the Department for Communities and Local Government with responsibility for planning.
She came to East Lancs as the guest of Elevate and did various visits in Blackburn, Accrington and Burnley before coming to Pendle.
She had a quick look at the impressive "gateway" group repair scheme in Brierfield before coming to Nelson to walk through part of Whitefield and look at good things (such as the heritage renovation of housing in the St Mary's conservation area) and less good things (boarded up streets still waiting for the major regeneration scheme that is planned).
Afterwards she met with Lord David Shutt (as chairman of the Whitefield Regeneration Partnership) and myself, together with Pendle staff and Max Steinberg from Elevate.
We asked for help in freeing up some of the things that are blocking progress on the big regeneration scheme.
We talked about Pendle Council projects which the government are funding through Elevate in Brierfield, Nelson and Colne, and how important it is to keep it all going for the full 15 years that was promised.
Kay may not be the most famous politician in Britain, and she may be grateful for that.
But she is very competent and quite influential behind the scenes.
We often spar across the chamber in a polite and friendly House of Lords way and I often mention East Lancashire in passing.
I believe Kay's visit will be of real benefit for our area.
Elevate did well to organise her trip - and she did say she would like to be invited back.
Posted by: Joseph Yossarian, Westminster on 12:01pm Tue 8 Apr 08
[quote]But it's now a week later and the position has hardly changed.[/quote]
Yes, the position has not changed. You are still a member of the legislature and judiciary despite being UNELECTED.
Democracy and freedom in this country is stifled and "rigged" by the continued existance of positions such as yours.
You are therefore in no position at all to lecture others about democracy.
Unless of course you intend to resign your life peerage when there are elections for the upper house.
IS THIS THE CASE?
But it's now a week later and the position has hardly changed.
Yes, the position has not changed. You are still a member of the legislature and judiciary despite being UNELECTED.
Democracy and freedom in this country is stifled and "rigged" by the continued existance of positions such as yours.
You are therefore in no position at all to lecture others about democracy.
Unless of course you intend to resign your life peerage when there are elections for the upper house.
Posted by: Nostradamos, Blackburn on 12:25pm Wed 9 Apr 08
Elevate did well to organise her trip - and she did say she would like to be invited back.
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Must have took a liking to the pies ,i reckon..(doh)
Elevate did well to organise her trip - and she did say she would like to be invited back.
--------------------
--------------------
Must have took a liking to the pies ,i reckon..(doh)
Lord Greaves did you tell of how your pendle Council has wated £12 million of the NRF funding on pet projects and we are the national disgrace for having the worst infant mortality rates in the country. You and your officers are a disgrace. How can you talk about others when you still have a colonial mentality - hopefully after May 1 elections we might not see your cat weasel face in our pendle.
Lord Greaves did you tell of how your pendle Council has wated £12 million of the NRF funding on pet projects and we are the national disgrace for having the worst infant mortality rates in the country. You and your officers are a disgrace. How can you talk about others when you still have a colonial mentality - hopefully after May 1 elections we might not see your cat weasel face in our pendle.
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