It has been something of a perverse source of pride that in my role as tweeter for the CroydonGreens I have managed to avoid getting into the routine slagging matches which occasionally plague the #Croydon timelines. The political debates on that hashtag range from interesting flow of news and information to tiresome tit-for-tat points scoring between those on the left and right as well as the politically neutral. However, you also need to reflect mood of the party activists as a whole which, after the Croydon Council meeting of Monday January 30th, was piping hot.
Briefest background: Conservative Councillors in Waddon promised to oppose an incinerator in Croydon or on the borders with Sutton. At the Council meeting Green Party members looked on in horror as Councillors Harris, Hilley and Hoare raised their hands to actively vote through the plans by a margin of 35-33. It was exactly the sort of episode that convinces most of the public that politics is rotten to the core.
After the vote the Green Party members regrouped to assess the Council meeting. Some suggested they were too honest for politics - pointing to the example of Conservative leader Mike Fisher quite rightly deriding Labour for not attending the "public" consultation of the incinerator while conveniently forgetting that no Conservative turned up either. Clearly the man has no scruples. Is that what it takes to make it in the murky world of politics?
Emotions were high so I took the decision to reflect that in a tweet which tried to sum up both what happened and our feelings towards it.
Gutless? For failing to stand up to their Conservative colleagues.#Croydon#Waddon "anti incinerator" Tory Councillors vote through adoption of incinerator.#gutless#shameful#selfserving#vile#twofaced.
Shameful? For bringing the integrity of politics down another rung of the ladder.
Selfserving? For putting their own political careers before anything else.
Twofaced? For saying one thing to get elected and doing the exact opposite when it mattered.
Vile? For the whole sorry business above.
For the word "vile" I could (and would) have used reprehensible or contemptible but, of course, twitter forces expediency of letters so "vile" it was.
It wasn't long before Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell was questioning the use of the word "vile" claiming it was totally unnecessary and suggesting that I avoid personal abuse. I responded that I was describing the actions and not the people.
This led to a debate of the word "vile". Some were amused that Mr. Barwells remark suggested the other words used were correct. Others pointed out that the word was not the issue that warranted discussion. One tweeter suggested we all grow up. I sympathise with that view.
Within the Stop The Incinerator group, reaction was mixed. Some felt it was too strong and provided a convenient smokescreen to avoid the main issue. Others felt it wasn't strong enough, given what is going on. Either way I was wondering if I had completely misunderstood the depth of meaning hidden in the word. The next morning I heard a couple of Absolute Radio presenters describing sweetcorn in a sandwich as "vile". Yes!!! Exonerated by light entertainment.
I have no quarrel with Gavin Barwell. It's good to have a local MP with a twitter account for more than just decoration. My view is that the Waddon Councillors at the heart of this matter should be more than capable of defending themselves. Now THAT would be something worth discussing.
