Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Is this Site Politically Biased?
Since starting this site, I've been amazed at how suspicious certain groups have been. Between the local residents groups and the politcians I've been accused of all sorts. One group feared that I was (and I quote) "a fifth columnist for the Green Party". I've been grilled by the Lib Dems and now the Labour group have accused me of being a platform for the Lib Dems.
What are these people on?
Since the last "accusation" (if that's not too strong) was by email, I replied by mail. So for the record, I've copied a slightly edited version of my reply below:
Website Neutrality
Thank you for raising your concerns about the website. I hope I can give you a clear answer.
I have decided that I'm clearly a bit naïve. When I started this website it had a clear agenda, which was to connect people so they felt a stronger sense of belonging and could take strength from it to get engaged and help shape the place they live in. That's it, pure and simple.
During the ensuing months I've been keen to get all local stakeholders involved. When I suggested to one residents' group that the site could be useful to them, they were surprisingly defensive. (shock 1) I was quizzed by the Liberal Democrats about my agenda and subsequently told that there was a fear that I was (and I quote directly) "a fifth columnist for the Green Party". (shock 2)
Now I'm getting suspicion that I'm anti-Labour and pro Lib Dem (shock 3). You've got to see the funny side here. It's all faintly ridiculous.
Let me be clear once again, I have no party political motivation in setting up and running this site whatsoever.
- The site membership includes members from all three major parties.
- All are welcome to contribute and yes all should declare any office they hold.
- Whilst I do allow the free expression of political views I do not allow party politicking on this site. I have deleted previous comments by a councillor for this reason.
- My tolerance of political expression does not include anything which may be deemed offensive including on grounds of race, gender, religion, nationality, disability of sexual orientation and I have deleted a few comments on these grounds.
- My tolerance does not extend to comments that are personally offensive and I have deleted comments on these grounds.
I do not understand why it should be considered a problem for councillors to post on the site. If you think about any newspaper, radio show or TV show about issues, all seek and include comment from politicians. The critical issue is whether the same opportunity is afforded to all sides equally. I offer a totally unbiased opportunity to all the local parties. It is important that locals can engage with politicians, understand their views and hopefully influence them.
There's nothing offensive about political views per se. Some extreme political views ARE offensive and I will not allow those. Otherwise the only thing that's offensive is the repression of political views.
The local suspicions amaze me. I've not been involved locally before and it seems that they get in the way of progress. The only thing I'm for, the only agenda I pursue is to help build the community of Harringay and shape it as a better place to live. It's my patch, my manor. It's important to me that it gets better.
I hope I've made my position clear.
So tell me folks. Is it me? Am I unwittingly running a partisan site that's been hijacked by the Greens, or the Lib Dems, or Labour or all three? Or have I been shown the tip of the iceberg of an atmosphere of suspicion in local politics that just gets in the way?
What are these people on?
Since the last "accusation" (if that's not too strong) was by email, I replied by mail. So for the record, I've copied a slightly edited version of my reply below:
Website Neutrality
Thank you for raising your concerns about the website. I hope I can give you a clear answer.
I have decided that I'm clearly a bit naïve. When I started this website it had a clear agenda, which was to connect people so they felt a stronger sense of belonging and could take strength from it to get engaged and help shape the place they live in. That's it, pure and simple.
During the ensuing months I've been keen to get all local stakeholders involved. When I suggested to one residents' group that the site could be useful to them, they were surprisingly defensive. (shock 1) I was quizzed by the Liberal Democrats about my agenda and subsequently told that there was a fear that I was (and I quote directly) "a fifth columnist for the Green Party". (shock 2)
Now I'm getting suspicion that I'm anti-Labour and pro Lib Dem (shock 3). You've got to see the funny side here. It's all faintly ridiculous.
Let me be clear once again, I have no party political motivation in setting up and running this site whatsoever.
- The site membership includes members from all three major parties.
- All are welcome to contribute and yes all should declare any office they hold.
- Whilst I do allow the free expression of political views I do not allow party politicking on this site. I have deleted previous comments by a councillor for this reason.
- My tolerance of political expression does not include anything which may be deemed offensive including on grounds of race, gender, religion, nationality, disability of sexual orientation and I have deleted a few comments on these grounds.
- My tolerance does not extend to comments that are personally offensive and I have deleted comments on these grounds.
I do not understand why it should be considered a problem for councillors to post on the site. If you think about any newspaper, radio show or TV show about issues, all seek and include comment from politicians. The critical issue is whether the same opportunity is afforded to all sides equally. I offer a totally unbiased opportunity to all the local parties. It is important that locals can engage with politicians, understand their views and hopefully influence them.
There's nothing offensive about political views per se. Some extreme political views ARE offensive and I will not allow those. Otherwise the only thing that's offensive is the repression of political views.
The local suspicions amaze me. I've not been involved locally before and it seems that they get in the way of progress. The only thing I'm for, the only agenda I pursue is to help build the community of Harringay and shape it as a better place to live. It's my patch, my manor. It's important to me that it gets better.
I hope I've made my position clear.
So tell me folks. Is it me? Am I unwittingly running a partisan site that's been hijacked by the Greens, or the Lib Dems, or Labour or all three? Or have I been shown the tip of the iceberg of an atmosphere of suspicion in local politics that just gets in the way?
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by matt on
-
No it's not at all politically biased as a site. But that's its main threat; that it dares to represent a cross section of local views that are there for all to see ... and won't go away. There is access for all and politicians can engage or ignore. The latter ( I suggest) won't be remembered at the next election.
I think people do try to work out where you're coming from because you lead so many of the discussions, as well as obviously having started the site. This site is relatively new but has had an impact on various institutions that have been quite comfortable along their party political lines. They're a little shook up. It's to be expected!
Now, I expect everyone to vote The Monster Raving Loony Party. Thank you. :)
-
Permalink Reply by alistairj on
-
I am very surprised about this - have any of these complaints cited specific instances of political bias? It is very difficult to respond to 'you lot are a bunch of commies/fascists etc.'
Clearly we must try harder though as it doesn't sound as though anybody has accused the site of being pro or anti-Tory yet....
-
Permalink Reply by Hugh on
-
No Alistair, nothing specific - Although I have asked for examples from this latest tirade.
-
Permalink Reply by Birdy_Too on
-
It's not surprising that politicians think this is politically motivated, they can't understand that the majority of people don't tow the party line like them. We are capable of having opinions that go beyond the party manifesto.
When you say the main three parties, do you mean Respect, SWP and the Greens : )
-
Permalink Reply by Alison P on
-
What a load of ******! It is just a very easy (and pretty lazy) accusation to make when you don't like the message coming across.
I agree with Matt - I think it is thrown about by people who feel threatened and/or irritated by people who are engaging with issues in a new way (or maybe not so new - perhaps part of this is annoyance at the 'newbies' and all their thoughts on how things can be done better?).
I don't think Hugh can do more than he does already - it's pretty clear that the site isn't party affiliated, and your message cited above seems very clear to me.
-
Permalink Reply by Liz on
-
I don't think the political parties can get their heads round the idea that politically interested no longer means politically affiliated. People do want to influence the decision making process but are no longer willing to work through or get their information through the Party machines. One can now access information and issues through a previously unimaginable range of channels, and come up with a set of values and interests which doesn't need to be filtered through party ideology.
People are also searching for looser, more creative ways to get action and exchange views just like this website.
A word to any 'lurking' councillors who are reading this. This time next year, the local authorities will soon be under a statutory obligation to demonstrate how they are involving people in the democratic process at a local level. Those politicians with an ounce of sense will realise that a website like this is one of the the ways forward in engaging and motivating people but so far (with the exception of a couple of councillors) they have refused to respond or become involved. It is unfortunate that they are choosing to snipe from the sidelines and make unfounded claims of political bias rather than getting to grips with what is frankly the future of activism whether they like it or not. Councillors,remember why people vote for you, they want you to engage with their concerns, champion their locality and get the best deal possible for them. They don't care how many committees you sit on, how grand your title is or how tough your talking is (especially when its not matched with action), they will remember only what you did to improve their lives or listen to their concerns at a local level when they are marking their X on election day. And maybe they will recall a useful piece of advice, an offer of help or a clear explanation that you bothered to send them via a certain website...
-
Permalink Reply by finsburypark on
-
It's evident that you are Blah! Party biased ;-)
-
-
I think it's the form, the genre, the ever shifting shape of this medium more than the message that scares your average politico. Remember John Major, back in the 90s. For him a soap box was a real wooden soap box, solid, wooden and immobile except when his lackeys hauled it around for him. These chaps and chapesses like to have something solid and familiar. Like the old Soviets facing all that samizdat literature, no wonder they're suspicious.
-
Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
-
And I laughed, and laughed and laughed.
I thought I was paranoid.
Good night everyone...
-
Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on
-
Hugh, thank you for starting this web-site. I first met you a few weeks ago where we found a common interest in objecting to more and more gambling premises in our Borough. I have no doubt that this site is not politically biased, because we all know that it would be the end of a useful forum if it were. I doubt that significant numbers believe this site (i.e. you the site creator) is biased politically and I certainly don’t. If you have party political views, you keep them to yourself.
It is inevitable that a community site is going to raise issues that are being, or should be, addressed by the body politic and it is also inevitable that any criticism of the Council, even without mentioning party names, is perceived as criticism of the majority group of the Council.
As for elected politicians being members of this group, I am all for it. As a graduate many years ago in Political Science, I find it depressing to see the chronic, low voter turn-out in local government elections. The elected politicians must bear some responsibility for this lack of interest and if some choose to engage with the public through this channel, it must be welcomed.
You moderate with a light touch. This is a fair and equal forum after all and not subject to the harsh procedural devices so expertly deployed by the Council (eg. "you will be allowed two minutes to address the committee").
Most councillors are committed, interested people, many of whom are capable of independent thought. Individually, they can come across as reasonable and intelligent people - it is a pity that when councillors enter their Chamber, they all go tribal.
Political parties are not an end in themselves, but a means of addressing issues. It may be best that the names of political parties are avoided in this forum, the better to reduce heat and concentrate on issues.
- Clive.
© 2024 Created by Hugh.
Powered by
