Topic: Rod Bluh for the Lords By Bob Buckland

[Bobby Bingo]

"The question Bobby B is has he got the same for this one?"
No I believe it is Tricky Rikki.

[Ringer]

Now the Draconian duo cllrs Bluh and Perkins are ensconced together will they fight to see who gets to the Lords first? Perhaps Robert Buckland can make them all lords? Maybe Justin Tomlinson will get some of his people Freedom of the Borough? cllr Peter Stoddard has been around for donks a nice bloke. I am sure Bobby will have a bit of wit to share?

[Geoff Reid]

It's the Tories turn at the trough so we probably ought to expect they'll follow the usual pattern of political crony-ism.

My expectations that Cameron will make any significant electoral/procedural/parliamentary changes are admittedly very low.

[Bobby Bingo]

Ringer there is no funny side to what you are saying. The Freedom of the Borough is supposed to be a great honour and is bestowed upon people that have committed themselves to Swindon.
Yes I know as well as you that there have been occasions when they have been used for other reasons.

[Geoff Reid]

Ringer there is no funny side to what you are saying. The Freedom of the Borough is supposed to be a great honour and is bestowed upon people that have committed themselves to Swindon.
Yes I know as well as you that there have been occasions when they have been used for other reasons.

Crikey.... I just said this elsewhere on TS

Looking forward to seeing who's been given which Cabinet and committee jobs, especially those with stipends attached to them, before taking a view on whether Swindon is infected with a hyper-localised version of pork-barrel politics.

I know what we're talking about isn't exactly Pork-Barrel politics, and it isn't exactly gerrymandering, and it isn't exactly patronage etc, etc, ad infinitum, but....


It occurs to me that: Just as Bluh & Co are coming up with 'innovative', 'unique', 'vibrant' and other exciting ways to re-define the ethical framework of local politics, perhaps we ned to find suitable new words to define them. 

[Ringer]

Ringer there is no funny side to what you are saying. The Freedom of the Borough is supposed to be a great honour and is bestowed upon people that have committed themselves to Swindon.

Bobby I agree with you, can you tell the readers of TS how many were not politicians and how many women have been bestowed FOB far example in the last 90 years?

If you can answer that how many Swindon council leaders, officers and MPs have been Knighted? Sir Mike Pitt comes to mind, but I think that was for public services to Kent?

[Bobby Bingo]

Information of F.O.B. can be seen on "The Wall of Fame" at the rear of the council chamber.
Regarding getting knighted only David Stoddart comes to mind.
Mind you there are quite a few that should have "got knotted"

[Mellon]

I see Mr Wills made it into the house of lords...............that's really got to piss Bluh off!

[Ringer]

I see Mr Wills made it into the house of lords...............that's really got to piss Bluh off!

Well Justin made it to parliament so will that be a double whammey?

[Richard Symonds]

I see Mr Wills made it into the house of lords...............that's really got to piss Bluh off!

Well Justin made it to parliament so will that be a double whammey?

No, not now that he is out the way now, surely?  Mind you will Justin enjoy the same alleged heated telephone conversations about SBC funding in the same way as his predecessor Michael Wills?

[kohima]

Perhpas, Rod, who is on site, willgive us his view on recent appointments?.