United with Labour in Condemning Abuse of Councillors
Chiswick Riverside councillor Peter Thompson reports back on his week
Cllr Peter Thompson (centre) with two of his colleagues
December 4, 2022
Debate Not Hate
The Local Government Association reported that seven in ten councillors experience abuse and intimidation. The majority who experience abuse and intimidation experiencing it multiple times and half experiencing it on an ongoing basis. Members of my group have been gaslit, mocked, bullied, trolled, belittled and abused simply for carrying out the role in their community. Nasty, personal and hate-filled political language is hardly new, but now it seems to be the default feature of politics and it is having a corrosive effect on our political life. I think that this is partly this is due to the increased role that social media plays. Sitting miles away from each other, people feel free to say things online they’d never say in person. There is no middle ground anymore – no agreeing to disagree or passionately arguing about issues with respect – just name-calling and vitriol.
Given this background we approached the Labour Group and asked if they would support us in debating this issue in Borough Council and vote for the LGA motion committing us all to call out politically fuelled abusive behaviour and do more to address the impacts of abuse on mental health and wellbeing. Councillor Shantanu Rajawat happily agreed to propose the motion and it was unanimously agreed.
White Ribbon Day
Unanimity continued at the Borough Council as all Councillors happily wore a white ribbon to support White Ribbon Day. I am not generally speaking one for wearing ribbons as there are so many good causes out there and I don’t want to be guilty of virtue signalling or publicly proclaiming a view just to makes me seem like a nice person. But this one is different. White Ribbon is the UK’s leading charity engaging men and boys to end violence against women and girls. Most violence against women is committed by men. In my school we work hard with our boys to help them realise that they can take responsibility for their actions and that they should be prepared to call out harassing, sexist and violent behaviour when they see it in others. Building a world where women and girls - my wife, sister, daughters - can live their free from violence and the fear of violence is a mission we all need to sign up to.
Light, Hope and the people of Ukraine
Light is one of the oldest and most powerful symbols, found in all cultures and religions. Across the borough, in October our Hindu neighbours used lamps and fireworks to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness during Diwali. Jewish people will soon be celebrating Hanukkah or the Festivals of Light and reflecting on the importance of standing up for what’s right. Christians are lighting their Advent candles and counting down to Christmas when they celebrate the birth of Jesus who called himself “The light of the world.”
At this time of the year when we have increasingly short days and long nights and there is quite enough gloom around it is good to get the lights out as a symbol of hope. I was lucky enough this weekend to join Cllr Jo Biddolph who had organised the turning on of our Christmas lights in Chiswick. Cllr Biddolph had invited Ukrainian refugee families who have settled in Chiswick to push the switch. Seeing the joy on the faces of the children as the lights came on reminded me that amid the darkness of conflict in Ukraine our lights are a powerful symbol of an eternal truth: love is stronger than hate. Thanks to Jo’s great efforts we will have 3 more trees in Chiswick this year in addition to the one next to Hogarth's statue – one on the top of Turnham Green Terrace, one between Wild Bunch and Daniel Beds and one on Fauconberg Rod. These have been sponsored by local businesses and the Council.
Third Time Unlucky!
Councillor Lara Parizotto clearly feels strongly about the Governments approach to immigration. As there are, according to the UN, 26 million refugees across the globe it is clearly an urgent global issue. Cllr Parizotto has tabled a motion specifically on the government’s policy to have migrant asylum claims processed in Rwanda and if agreed to allow them to build their lives there three times in succession. Due to meeting cancellation and, this week, no one on her side remembering to suspend the rule that only allows us to spend 30 mins on motions, the debate has not happened. This is a complex issue. However, is it an issue that you want your councillors to spend time debating? Our constitution states that motions must be “about matters for which the Council has a responsibility or which affect the borough.” I am struggling to understand how it is the best use of our time to debate a matter that we do not have control over. It is a national issue, not one that affects the services we deliver or that we can influence. Our view of motions at Council is that they should seek a meaningful outcome and not just be used as an opportunity to stage a meaningless political debate and the writing of a letter to the Government. Don’t we have better things to debate?
Talking of which…
It wouldn’t right if a Riverside Councillor didn’t include a brief mention of the on-going debates about our Low Traffic Neighbourhood scheme. Mulling over the Chiswick Area Forum meeting a couple of weeks ago and reading the daily emails from residents on the scheme – is this a far summary of the bottom line?
The South Chiswick Liveable Neighbourhood project is causing problems regarding visitor access, speeding across the area, confusion regarding access for residents via Thames Road and the lack of non-resident access from Staveley Road, and increased traffic on Burlington Lane because of the introduction of a barrier on Staveley Road.
And so is the Council going to bring forward any solutions or suggestions for any or all these problems or do they believe that they made as many amendments as they can, and they plan to do nothing else! Clarity on this would be a nice early Christmas present.
Unlock Chiswick
As one of those who uses South Western Railways to get to work the closure of Barnes Bridge has made travel challenging. Well done to all the engineers who did a great job with the repairs and got the bridge reopened this weekend. However, on a daily basis people with mobility needs are effectively locked-out of Chiswick’s public transport network because none of the Underground stations serving Chiswick have step-free access. Furthermore, TfL and the Mayor of London have no plans to introduce step-free access to any of Chiswick’s stations.
Nick Rogers, our wonderful GLA Member, has launched an on-line petition as part of his campaign to lobby the mayor to change his mind.
Please do check it out at www.brentfordandisleworthconservatives.org.uk/unlock-chiswick
Small Business Saturday
I am writing article this on Small Business Saturday. We all know that our small businesses are vital to having thriving streets and bustling communities. They create jobs and keep Chiswick vibrant and unique. So, if you can do give them your custom so that they can continue to be at the heart of our community.
Finally can I thank, in advance, members of our local faith communities and others who will be reaching out to the people who are suffering this Christmas by bringing joy and hope into their lives.
Have a very happy Christmas.
Cllr Peter Thompson
Cllr Peter Thompson
peter.thompson@hounslow.gov.uk
07977 395810
CONSERVATIVE COUNCILLOR SURGERIES
We are back to our usual routine of holding face-to-face surgeries in Chiswick and in Gunnersbury.
Chiswick: Every Saturday from 9.30am to 10.30am at Chiswick Library (the eight Conservative councillors take this surgery in turn).
Gunnersbury: First Saturday of the month from 10am to 11am at The Gunnersbury Triangle Club, Triangle Way, off The Ridgeway, W3 8LU (at least one of the Chiswick Gunnersbury ward councillors takes this surgery).
Our Current Service Support to Chiswick
CONSERVATIVE COUNCILLORS and CONTACTS
Chiswick Gunnersbury (was Turnham Green) ward
Cllr Joanna Biddolph joanna.biddolph@hounslow.gov.uk 07976 703446
Cllr Ranjit Gill ranjit.gill@hounslow.gov.uk 07976 702956
Cllr Ron Mushiso ron.mushiso@hounslow.gov.uk 07976 702887
Chiswick Homefields ward
Cllr Jack Emsley jack.emsley@hounslow.gov.uk 07977 396017
Cllr Gerald McGregor gerald.mcgregor@hounslow.gov.uk 07866 784821
Cllr John Todd john.todd@hounslow.gov.uk 07866 784651
Chiswick Riverside ward
Cllr Peter Thompson peter.thompson@hounslow.gov.uk 07977 395810
Cllr Gabriella Giles gabriella.giles@hounslow.gov.uk 07966 270823
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