Might Boris and Dom be in the clutches of Putin?
One interpretation of Mr Shackleton’s missive could be that as a Conservative councillor I am somehow in the pocket of property developers, and this is supported by the potentially libellous heading to his letter.
If Mr Shackleton actually meant to say that, he should await a letter from my solicitor. If he didn’t, then he really should be complaining to the Examiner about the heading ascribed to his letter.
Whilst I always look at any planning application on its own individual merits, the public record very clearly shows that I am unafraid to support the interests of my Kirkburton ward residents against the designs of developers.
Since my election in 2014 I have opposed proposed large-ish developments in Highburton, Flockton, Farnley Tyas and most recently Tinker Lane at Lepton.
As it happens, I have never yet found reason to champion any large-scale greenfield development proposal. I have supported brownfield development, for example in Crossley Lane at Dalton and Shop Lane in Kirkheaton, and my personal view is that brownfield sites should be developed before greenfield ones are considered.
As a Bradley resident, Mr Shackleton will, I am sure, have lobbied his three Labour councillors against the proposals to destroy Bradley Golf Course by building thousands of houses on the site.
As I recall, the Ashbrow (which includes Bradley) councillors supported Labour’s Local Plan, which I voted against on the grounds that it would destroy green belt and greenfield sites.
Mr Shackleton needs to ensure that he actually understands what he speaks of. And then think carefully before putting pen to paper.
I’M USUALLY not a fan of conspiracy theories but I heard one the other day that made me think.
Consider this; the UK was sailing along as part of the EU. We were prosperous as an important member of the world’s biggest trading bloc, enjoyed tariff-free trade and had an important voice in the world. So successful was this bloc that the US had to make compromises with it as did the Chinese and others. It even tempted countries from the former eastern bloc to want to join it. It upset the Russians and Vladimir Putin! And this is the point. A strong, united and wealthy bloc on his doorstep was seen as a challenge.
Enter Nigel Farage. Now he was never going to attract any serious support from anyone except “little Englanders” and oddballs but he was an effective stalking horse for someone who could be a success.
As soon as UKIP began to attract the interest of disaffected
Tories they had to take notice. In Boris Johnson there was an unlikely popular, if odd figure, who, if moulded properly might just provide a figurehead to take the UK out of the EU and either weaken it or even destroy it.
How else can we explain the choice of incompetent ministers, employing failures in public life, sacking civil servants, attacks on the judiciary, the armed forces, PHE and all the U-turns and inconsistencies? They are all designed to provoke civil unrest, shortages in food and medicines and the destruction of the UK as a strong force in Europe.
Of course this only works if there was someone who might organise such a coup! Wait a minute! Johnson’s chief strategist and boss in Westminster, Dominic Cummings, spent four years in Moscow!
No one is quite sure what he was doing there except he worked closely with Putin’s aides and other oligarchs.
I know it’s hard to believe but who knows why Johnson and company are so set on the destruction of the country.
It’s worth a thought. Incidentally, the country must be in a bad way if it needs me to buy a sandwich and a brew to save the economy!
Comments from MP are shocking
I AM deeply shocked and distressed by the recent comments made by the MP for Huddersfield, Barry Sheerman.
These comments are so appalling that he should resign his position as MP immediately.
Further, Barry Sheerman should be expelled from the Labour Party as many others have anti-Semitism.