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Corn Exchange talk

2:20pm Tuesday 13th April 2010 in Letters

Sir – What would the good folk of Witney do without the amusement provided by Witney Town Council?

Life would be the poorer.

Craig Murray, once Her Majesty’s ambassador in Uzbekistan, and now human rights campaigner, spoke about his experiences in Witney Corn Exchange.

The town council declared this a political event, and the poster announcing the talk was removed from the Corn Exchange.

So, pronounced the town council, Craig Murray could talk in the Corn Exchange, but this could not be announced in the Corn Exchange.

Negotiations with the town clerk ended without any decision about whether Craig Murray himself would be allowed to say that he was talking.

In the event, Craig Murray spoke without further intervention from the town council. He detailed his objection to the Uzbekistan custom of dealing with dissenters by boiling them alive, a solution surely of interest to Witney Town Council.

And yes, the event was one of a series of talks on matters of public interest, organised by the Green Party in the belief that there are benefits from thinking. Craig Murray is a Liberal Democrat.

Stuart Macdonald, Prospective Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for the Witney Constituency, West End, Witney

Comments(3)

maxy2 says...
5:00pm Tue 13 Apr 10

How very odd.
Let us all hope that this is a bold new initiative by the town council to protect us all from local politics, politicians and intelligent thought. I can't help worry though who they will get to switch on the Christmas Lights this winter if they no longer feel able to ask our local MP - whoever he or she might be after May 6th.

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C ARINGAROSA says...
12:05pm Wed 14 Apr 10

I do think that the above comment raises a very interesting point about local government.I have always held the view that there should be no party politics,only independent members on local councils, so that maximum effort may be applied to the good of the electorate and not wasted argueing on party lines. As to the council generally,it is up to all of the people of Witney, when the council elections come round next year, to stop moaning, drag themselves up from their chairs and go to vote for change, or else ,they will get the council they richly deserve.

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Brennig Jones says...
2:18pm Wed 14 Apr 10

Here in our little hotbed of political activity that is Burwell Meadow, we have taken note of this lack of openness and have decided to follow the lead of our public servants.

With immediate effect all political posters and hoardings will be removed because they promote a political event.

Thank you to the good members of Witney Council for giving us all a clear way forward.

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