Council Leader Stands by Comments on Top Tories
Stands by claim that "they haven't run a p*** up in a brewery"
Hammersmith and Fulham's Conservative Council Leader Stephen Greenhalgh is standing by his controversial comments about the inexperience of the Shadow Cabinet.
His colourful remarks, which have proved highly embarrassing to some of his Tory colleagues, were made at a round table debate on November 26 on reforming local councils run by the trade magazine Public Finance.
Cllr Greenhalgh, who was appointed head of the Conservative Councils' Innovation Unit by David Cameron, said that increasing the power of councils would improve the quality of politicians.
He went on: " My mates are all in the Shadow Cabinet, waiting to get those (ministerial) boxes, being terribly excited. I went to university with them, they haven’t run a p***-up in a brewery."
Then in a reference to Shadow Chancellor George Osborne, he said: " They’re going to get a department of state, in one case running the finances of the nation."
Cllr Greenhalgh then pointed to other countries, such as France and the US, where members of the government had typically served at a regional level earlier in their careers. He said:" If you’re going to fail, fail running Alabama, fail running Texas, fail running the city of Paris – don’t just take over the country."
Cllr Greenhalgh didn't stop there. Amidst the ensuing controversy, he has issued another statement standing by his remarks. He said: " I was trying to make a serious point about our current political system that I believe does not prepare national politicians of any party adequately for public office.
"I am a passionate localist and believe we need to reinvigorate local government so that it is a nursery for politicians to hone their skills in public administration."
The Tory Party has so far refused to comment officially on these comments, but Andy Slaughter, Labour MP for Shepherds Bush and candidate for Hammersmith, has entered the fray, saying: " It’s refreshing to hear senior Tories willing to talk frankly about their own lack of fitness to take office.
" Greenhalgh’s policies in Hammersmith have been lauded by Cameron and Osborne, and Greenhalgh himself has been given senior jobs by both Cameron and Boris Johnson. Now he has given his view of their colleagues, I am sure they will value and act on his advice.
" Although I don’t always agree with Stephen Greenhalgh, I think he is spot on this time."
This is not the first time Cllr Greenhalgh and Hammersmith and Fulham Council have found themselves at odds with other Conservatives. In September Mayor Boris Johnson revealed that his officers had met with representatives of the council, urging them to change their strategy on the Tideway Tunnel, better known as the Super Sewer.
While the Mayor's draft water strategy supports the construction of the tunnel to update London's crumbling Victorian systems, the council have consistently campaigned against it.
Cllr Greenhalgh's ideas on social housing policy, set out in a pamphlet called Principles for Social Housing Reform, published in spring by think thank Localis, have also proved highly controversial, sparking protests from residents of several local estates, including Queen Caroline, where campaigning residents have set up their own blog, and even have their own protest song, Queen Caroline's Lament.
November 30, 2009
