| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Reply | |
| Posted by: | Jeremy Parkinson | |
| Date/Time: | 19/10/25 11:27:00 |
| David, I’m not calling for formality in all exchanges, rather pointing out the potential pitfalls of this kind of editorial approach. That said, probably better to have any inherent bias out in the open and the straight bat coverage on ChiswickW4.com doesn’t reveal as much about what is really going on as does John Dale’s Brentford TV site. While much of this may be gossip, there is no denying that it gives the best insight into the faction ridden Labour party in Hounslow. The picture painted there is Cllr Dunne is trying to put together a leadership challenge before next May. There is much to admire about her in my view and she possibly could make a good go of the job. Unlike most of her colleagues, who see active travel as a cloak for revenue raising opportunities, she is a true believer and is not afraid to articulate potentially unpopular policies. You and I might not like that she is convinced making life more difficult for motorist is a good outcome but we should at least give her credit for integrity for saying out loud what many will not. Doing a soft soap interview to distance herself from a policy which she plainly didn’t agree with, looks very like a first move in a challenge to Shantanu Rajawat. According to Brentford TV, the existing leader has a significant influence over which candidates will be selected to stand next time around and has already culled many potential opponents. It is speculated that the relationship between Cllr Dunne and Cllr Rajawat is poor and he did remove her as Deputy Leader. Leaving her in place at transport and then forcing her to implement a policy which she didn’t want to and alienated many of her former supporters including turning celebrity chum Jeremy Vine into a venomous critic, could have been an act of Machiavellian brilliance. She can’t reverse the Lime decision even if she does win the leadership, but she does need to act soon if she is going to make a challenge. It may be that the current leader’s grip on the party is unbreakable and she has to put her head down and suck it up. |