Council leader should take views on board

I don’t disagree at all with helping out Afghan families, and predominantly saving their lives, anyone with a humane bone in their body would agree to it [‘Council to house Afghan families’, Kentish Express, August 19].

But I wish any councillor/ politician would recognise and take on board all opinions, without relating to people’s intelligence to win the argument.

To quote Ashford Borough Council leader Gerry Clarkson: “People may condemn it and gripe about it but frankly I don’t give a damn about that because I think the vast majority of people who are intelligent, reasonable

and sensible and realise that what we are doing is the right thing to do.”

Right to a point.

But a vast majority voted for Brexit, and were called idiots, a vast majority don’t like seeing homeless on our streets, a vast majority would like to see veterans treated better by councils and governments alike.

A vast majority have supposedly been taught in an education system that gives them a good footing in life.

A vast majority complied with rules for Covid and told they were stupid not to.

A vast majority took Covid on the chin and got on with it.

But most importantly a vast majority have voted to keep you in office for the tenure you have enjoyed.

That vast majority vote, and some of those will have conflicting views as to how you manage your office.

In a democracy you are entitled to vent such views.

If the answers you get are not appreciated, sorry unlucky.

You chose to do this job.

But to insult people’s intelligence and blanket bomb

it with such statements is distasteful.

There’s a lot of things the vast majority have asked for in this town/constituency that’s been ignored.

It would seem due to the presumption there is a lack of intelligence or understanding within the community you serve. This seems to be a general assumption made from the top tier of government downwards. Try this for size, try actually listening to the vast majority. Adrian Cussens

I strongly agree and am pleased with Cllr G Clarkson’s commitment to resettlement of the Afghan refugees and wish him well.

However I am fully against his attitude of not giving a damn for those that do not fall in line with his thinking and that they are therefore not intelligent, reasonable or sensible.

As a councillor he should be ready to listen to the feelings of all sides.

What do you think? Email letters@thekmgroup.co.uk