Councilor Joins Schoolbag Propaganda Debate
Phil Andrews Demands Answers As Parents Voice Support for MP
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Community election candidate Phil Andrews has written to the Chief Executive
of the London Borough of Hounslow in his capacity as an elected member
demanding an explanation for the use of schoolchildren to deliver Labour
Party election propaganda to parents in the Brentford & Isleworth
constituency.
Councillor Andrews was writing on behalf of concerned constituents as
is entitled under council rules to a written, substantive response within
ten working days.
In his letter Cllr. Andrews asked for an account of precisely what work
was undertaken by teachers or other members of staff - local authority
employees - in arranging the distribution and whether such work fell within
their job description.
A courtesy copy of Cllr. Andrews' letter was sent to the Conservative
and Liberal Democrat candidates in the constituency, as they have also
raised concerns.
Speaking this week, Councillor Andrews commented "First it was HM
Magazine, now it is our children's schoolbags. What other means can New
Labour think of to save themselves the work and expense which other candidates
have to put in to get their message across to the electorate? The public
should not be paying for the dissemination of political propaganda."
Although not everyone is outraged over the letters placed in their children's schoolbags.
In a letter to www.chiswickw4.com, a Strand-on-the-Green parent said that they were encouraged and delighted when shown the letter from their local MP Ann Keen.
The
letter also states that parents were happy that Ann Keen had used her
personal influence to secure much overdue refurbishments for the school
and were also pleasantly surprised that an MP was "prepared to not
only disclose her telephone number, but actually encourage her constituents
to use it."
"I am baffled by the idea that the letter was somehow ‘politicising’
the children. In the unlikely event that any of them actually read it,
it is almost inconceivable that they would have understood it. It also
seems to me no more than common sense to convey the letter via the children
rather than spending taxpayer’s money on postage."
The debate
looks set to continue.
April 6, 2005