This week I came across an old Turkish proverb. It describes the national and local situation so well. “When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.” It’s difficult to avoid the conclusion that today’s political culture is not one of integrity and honesty to get the […]

Integrity. Here is an online definition: the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. Such as “a gentleman of complete integrity”. Synonyms: honesty · uprightness · probity · rectitude · honour · Yesterday we saw the Prime Minster of the United Kingdom make an apology. Today it is reported that a few hours later Mr Boris Johnson was telling Conservative colleagues that he was really […]

Last weekend I wrote to the MP for Saffron Walden, Mrs Kemi Badenoch, about the controversy about MPs’ additional earnings and the Parliamentary Standards Committee.  Yesterday our Member of Parliament sent me a reply. It can be read here:   From: Kemi Badenoch MP <Kemi.badenoch.mp@parliament.uk> Fri 12/11/2021 15:19  Dear Cllr Dean  Thank you for contacting […]

The following words are in italics because they are not my words. They are frightening analysis of a man who should never have found his way to his present job.   Boris Johnson should look Richard Ratcliffe in the eye. If he did, he would catch a reflection of himself that might prove painful but […]

This week in government has been bad. Why? Because one of the foundations of national and local government has been abused. Standards in Public Life are meant to be an ethical foundation that supports and guides how all politicians – whether local or national – conduct themselves on behalf of the people who elect them. […]