Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
‘FROM THE LEADER'
BY NOW, many Borough residents will have received the Spring Edition of Haringey People magazine. The council's propaganda publication is always full of good news, without end. It's one of the main planks of their PR strategy (they've dropped the claim that it was distributed free or published at no cost, probably because of the absence of credibility. Our taxes pay for it.
Cat litter tray lining
Some years ago, past Councillor Alan Stanton once endorsed People mag as suitable for lining a cat litter tray. If I had a cat, I might take Alan's advice.
Purdah
Those who follow national or local politics may know of Purdah, which is the period before an election when council communications are frozen.
It's become an an area of misuse. When I served on the Planning Committee, in the run-up to an election the planning department cancelled the next committee meetings on grounds of Purdah. At the end of that meeting, one Councillor from the majority Group also on Planning, came up to me and said:
"I thought Planning was supposed to be non-political". He was right. It was an abuse of Purdah and could been seen as an excuse by council employees to down-tools.
As well as during Purdah, In the run-up to the start, mischief can take place. Here's one example:
'FROM THE LEADER'
On the inside page of People Magazine, the current leader has written two-thirds of a page extolling her leadership and what are claimed as achievements of her council.
"Labour" is not mentioned. But it is In effect, a Labour Party election publication in all but name. And paid for out of general taxation, rather than from Labour Party funds.
All perfectly fine before Purdah.
The Leader is currently one of three serving Councillors in Noel Park Ward. According to the Haringey Labour website, Peray Ahmet may be a candidate again in the same Ward. However their webpage appears to be out of date in several respects.
Tags for Forum Posts: Bounds Green, Haringey Council, Haringey People, Labour Party, Labour leaflet, Leader, Purdah
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson
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While planning committees do not have a blanket purdah the Local Government Association advises that it should not make any decisions which are high profile or controversial. It also should not agree or report on consultations during purdah.
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton
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I should make it clear that I do not share my home with a cat. Nor have I ever done so. I also lack any expertise whatsoever on suitable material to line a cat's litter tray. If you've ever picked-up and opened the Haringey People Magazine and you do have a cat at home, you will almost certainly realise that I was making an entirely unfunny joke.
I also need to apologise to any member of Haringey staff who I imagine have done their best to include genuinely useful, well written and attractively designed factual articles in the magazine. Unfortunately my eyesight is now so poor I can only read the headline and opening paras of each page.
I also saw the page mentioned by Clive Carter and headed "From the Leader". I could read those three words. But below the headline the type on the rest of the page was too small for me. I imagine that fact has its ups and downs.
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter
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At the time of writing, Labour Candidates includes
- possible de-selections
- one councillor suspended (?)
- one who is rumoured to have lived overseas for some time
- councillors who would far rather be Members of Parliament
- others who have resigned: either from the Labour Party or as a Councillor altogether
For the benefit of the electorate, should the website not be updated for the Party's candidates for the election on 7 May 2026?
I think we should be told!
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