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Newbury Today Forum _ Random Rants _ Freedom of Speech

Posted by: Simon Kirby Jan 13 2015, 08:48 AM

In response to the Charlie Hebdo outrage Nick Clegg has been speaking up in support of free speech: http://westberkslibdems.org.uk/en/article/2015/989601/nick-clegg-people-have-to-be-free-to-offend-each-other

I quite agree with him. Freedom of Expression has been quite a cause of mine because of how the Lib Dem administration at Newbury Town Council suppress the right to Freedom of Expression. Indeed, had I accepted the condition that the Lib Dem administration placed on my retaining my allotment tenancy, that I would not make any statement critical of that administration or any of the Lib Dems associated with it without first discussing my criticism with the town clerk, then I would have been evicted just for making this post. Of course the Lib Dem administration consider it a gross breach of trust that I should have disclosed the oppressive and unlawful gagging clause, and they will not now allow me to have an allotment ever again, but I see it more like the threat of the kiddie-fiddler - "this is our little secret, and you'd better not tell anyone about it".

So I find it a bit rich being lectured by Nick Clegg on the finer points of Freedom of Expression when the Lib Dem administration of Newbury Town Council suppress that supposed freedom, using the leverage of their public services to bully people into submission and designating the more persistent as "Vexatious".

It's the freedom to criticise the state that underpins accountabily, and if we accept the loss of that freedom then we can scarcely complain when the tyranny starts.

Posted by: blackdog Jan 13 2015, 04:30 PM

Perhaps you should write to Nick Clegg explaining the attempt to gag you? It might add some spice to the ongoing Party investigation!

At the very least you need to be sure that the investigation is aware of your issues (though I suspect they may already know about them).

Posted by: Cognosco Jan 13 2015, 06:21 PM

QUOTE (blackdog @ Jan 13 2015, 04:30 PM) *
Perhaps you should write to Nick Clegg explaining the attempt to gag you? It might add some spice to the ongoing Party investigation!

At the very least you need to be sure that the investigation is aware of your issues (though I suspect they may already know about them).


I would have thought if anyone was aware of what happened to Simon, especially the gagging deal, then they would have already had an investigation over that let alone all the other underhanded goings on with this dire council? blink.gif

Do you really think they are going to come to the conclusion that the council has acted improperly? Remember there is an election looming and the bad publicity is not going to go down very well, especially for a party that has support vanishing as fast as an ice cube in the Sahara? rolleyes.gif

Posted by: NWNREADER Jan 13 2015, 09:58 PM

QUOTE (Cognosco @ Jan 13 2015, 07:21 PM) *
Do you really think they are going to come to the conclusion that the council has acted improperly? Remember there is an election looming and the bad publicity is not going to go down very well, especially for a party that has support vanishing as fast as an ice cube in the Sahara? rolleyes.gif


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-30794143

Posted by: MontyPython Jan 14 2015, 11:32 PM

Je suis Simon

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