tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post5079712091640806192..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: Labour MP Bullies Constituent Over Gurkha LetterIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger136125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-16704788210007146062009-05-28T23:07:21.394+01:002009-05-28T23:07:21.394+01:00And as he didn’t sue me, despite repeated letters,...<I>And as he didn’t sue me, despite repeated letters, so I must be correct.</I>Or not worth suing.<br /><br />The facts are there in the links and speak for themselves.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-89458179916560349932009-05-28T17:19:53.993+01:002009-05-28T17:19:53.993+01:00I'm smearing??? I am a public face who is cont...I'm smearing??? I am a public face who is contactable and known - not "Anonymous" like you "Anonymous".<br /><br />I have the letters from Jenkins saying he will sue me unless I retract my comments when I caught him out for being less than truthful to a chamber full of councillors, press & public. And as he didn’t sue me, despite repeated letters, so I must be correct.<br /><br />– Anyway surely it is Jenkins who is smearing his own name by being so foolish or bloody-minded (take your pick – either works for me)<br /><br />It’s easy to say what you like on a blog – but not so when you make your identity known…<br /><br />…because you have to factual!Cllr Robert Pritchardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-38190771880254113612009-05-27T18:47:46.537+01:002009-05-27T18:47:46.537+01:00Oh no, it's the shocking "MP fails to answer lette...<I>Oh no, it's the shocking "MP fails to answer letter" accusation which sends him OTT.</I>Isn't that damaging?<br /><br />MP repeatedly doesn't answer questions from constituents.<br /><br />Combined with other smears from Conservative Party members (yes, you Mr Pritchard) in Tamworth (as exposed by Unity on Liberal Conspiracy <br /><A HREF="http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2009/05/24/what-dale-didnt-mention/#comment-47606" REL="nofollow">here</A> and <A HREF="http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2009/05/24/what-dale-didnt-mention/#comment-47621" REL="nofollow">here</A>it is something worth fighting. I'm sure Mr Jenkins wants a public apology and retraction rather than a court case.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-40744496376619797402009-05-27T14:12:08.465+01:002009-05-27T14:12:08.465+01:00Of course Jenkins isn't concerned about the substa...Of course Jenkins isn't concerned about the substance of the letter - his hypocrisy with respect to the Gurkhas and to the post offices - hardly surprising as he doesn't have a leg to stand on there.<br /><br />Oh no, it's the shocking "MP fails to answer letter" accusation which sends him OTT.<br /><br />Well his smokescreen has (if one can) backfired!cjcjcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-53703869950721961472009-05-27T13:41:44.307+01:002009-05-27T13:41:44.307+01:00Why are you so keen on using mercenaries from impo...Why are you so keen on using mercenaries from impoverished countries to fight 21st century wars for us?Little Richardjohnhttp://littlerichardjohn.blogspot.com/2009/05/joanna-lumley-mercenary-agency.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-87496789734426831202009-05-27T09:01:35.294+01:002009-05-27T09:01:35.294+01:00The world is full of indignant anonymous comment. ...The world is full of indignant anonymous comment. <br /><br />OK here we go... <br /><br />I said:"MPs should not threaten constituents over such ridiculous matters".<br /><br />Anon said: "Or - as you are in effect saying:<br />Conservative activists should be able to smear and libel their opponents with impunity.<br /><br />Your argument is weak, hence why you attack the person making it."<br /><br />My point is simple, he should be more robust, not so faint hearted. Take it on the chin and rise above if it is not true, dismiss it. Not issue threatening letters but be more engaging. He has made it a story by being so aggressive. No one really cares about a soon to be ex MP in a marginal they have never heard of. And that would have remained the case if he had been more restrained in his response and avoided the temptation to get legal-no doubt advised by some mediocre solicitor in a very small firm. Did you advise him? Perhaps you are him, we shall never know Anon.<br /><br />Anon said: "Your argument is weak, hence why you attack the person making it."<br /><br />It would appear his response has been disastrous. He made it into a national with a big headline and has evoked much criticism in both the printed press and online. My argument was spot on and has has been proved. If it appeared that I was attacking the man I apologise, I am sure he 'means well'. I was attacking his stupidity.Lasteddiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12313864290958514583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-18108940703589867822009-05-26T19:39:05.708+01:002009-05-26T19:39:05.708+01:00MPs should not threaten constituents over such rid...<I>MPs should not threaten constituents over such ridiculous matters</I>Or - as you are in effect saying:<br /><br />Conservative activists should be able to smear and libel their opponents with impunity.<br /><br />Your argument is weak, hence why you attack the person making it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-19792039359692612182009-05-26T18:41:03.048+01:002009-05-26T18:41:03.048+01:00A lot of anonymous contributors out there... I can...A lot of anonymous contributors out there... I can't imagine who they might be. Its simple: MPs should not threaten constituents over such ridiculous matters. A more measured response would show some tact and gravitas. If you fell strongly, vote him out, that's the answer which given his thin majority looks a dead certainty... That removes him from a position where he can bully and then he will begin to understand the more immediate concerns we all face today.Lasteddiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12313864290958514583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-82797914847522775352009-05-26T18:04:06.598+01:002009-05-26T18:04:06.598+01:00It is well recived in Tamworth that Warren Clegg i...<I>It is well recived in Tamworth that Warren Clegg is Conservative</I>Is it? What are you basing this on? Is he a local Tamworth celebrity? <br /><br />And anyway, it's not knowledge to Mail on Sunday readers, nor to readers of Iain Dale's blog.<br /><br />The fact Mr Clegg is a Conservative activist should discount the spin being placed on this that "a poor innocent student is being bullied".<br /><br />It would also give additional grounds to suspect whether Mr Clegg is being truthful in all of this - after all, he has a clear motive to smear Mr Jenkin's name in the local press.<br /><br /><I>If you look further up to Cllr Pritchard's post he claims Jenkins tried the same bullying tactics on him.</I>I can't comment on the truth of what he says. Maybe he is right, maybe he is wrong. <br /><br /><I>So there is evidence out there that the aforementioned MP has used totalitarian tactics to intimidate the younger generations on several occasions</I>Evidence = Cllr Pritchard says? And two elected politicians arguing is a bit different now isn't it?<br /><br /><I>Concerning political opinions of constituents - you should reply to all constituents</I>Mr Jenkins says he replied to the 2 previous letters Mr Clegg sent him, and that he had received no correspondence re Ghurkas. Mr Clegg says he didn't (and denies writing the 2 aforementioned letters). The truth is not yet clear. <br /><br />The only evidence is Mr Clegg said he wrote a letter which was ignored and that this was a regularly occurence on the one side, and Mr Jenkins is willing to go to court to fight this allegations if they are not withdrawn on the other<br /><br /><I>I do feel that MPs should not threaten the people they represent as this undermines democracy and free speech.</I>This wasn't a heavy-handed lawyers letter was it? It was private correspondence asking for an apology to be made and the statements Mr Clegg made to be retracted, noting that if Mr Clegg refused to retract libellous statements, he can expect the law that prevents people being libelled to be utilised by Mr Jenkins. Do you disagree with libel law? Or only its use by people whose political viewpoints you disagree with?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-16169127010882063732009-05-26T13:15:08.059+01:002009-05-26T13:15:08.059+01:00It is well recived in Tamworth that Warren Clegg i...It is well recived in Tamworth that Warren Clegg is Conservative; furthermore, if you search the Herald website all the stories Clegg has written are concerning military matters or Anti-Labour.<br /><br />The Mail on Sunday must of had a copy of the original article which implies that he doesn't agree with Labour. Thus they must of chosen to omit the fact.<br /><br />If you look further up to Cllr Pritchard's post he claims Jenkins tried the same bullying tactics on him. <br /><br />So there is evidence out there that the aforementioned MP has used totalitarian tactics to intimidate the younger generations on several occasions. It is possible that he has tried it before but they didn't speak out.<br /><br />Concerning political opinions of constituents - you should reply to all constituents.<br /><br />In my own view it is irrelevant what has happened.. I do feel that MPs should not threaten the people they represent as this undermines democracy and free speech.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-85237154987092041372009-05-26T11:37:45.844+01:002009-05-26T11:37:45.844+01:00Dear Shame Again
What planet do you come from?
L...Dear Shame Again<br /><br />What planet do you come from?<br /><br />Let's look at the facts of the story:<br /><br />* A Conservative activist writes to the local paper (without letting readers know he is a Conservative activist) complaining that he wrote to Labour MP, didn't get a reply, and never gets replies, and also making a few party political points<br /><br />* Labour MP writes private letter to Conservative activist, saying that a) he did not receive a letter re Ghurkas; b) he has previously replied to 2 letters from the Conservative activist re Gaza; and c) if the Conservative activist does not retract statement and publicly apologise, he can expect legal action to be taken <br /><br />* Conservative activist cries off to the papers - again, not making the role he plays for the Conservative Party apparent<br /><br />Surely you can see this is the word of a Conservative activist (who likes to hide this fact when talking to the media) against the word of a Labour MP and his office staff. <br /><br />Wise to wait for facts to emerge before calling the MP a "prat" or a "bully" surely? <br /><br />To me this could quite plausibly be reported as "Libelled MP asks for apology over Conservative 'dirty tricks' campaign" if you wanted to spin it another way with the facts we have.<br /><br />Why is the article not making clear that Mr Clegg is a Conservative Activist? Surely it is a highly relevant fact?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-80471332199650870772009-05-26T11:12:45.535+01:002009-05-26T11:12:45.535+01:00Dear Anonymous,
What planet do you come from? You...Dear Anonymous,<br /><br />What planet do you come from? Your contributions do not help the "Let's Love Jenkins and See His Side of the Story" movement. But yes, they will get this incident talked about. Are you absolutely sure that is what you want?Shame againnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-70188562260728851092009-05-26T10:23:38.458+01:002009-05-26T10:23:38.458+01:00Anonymous you are either an idiot or an MP if you ...<I>Anonymous you are either an idiot or an MP if you think a complaint to the paper about a local MP justifies legal threats of this kind.</I>* MP allegedly gets libelled.<br />* MP asks for public retraction and apology for alleged libel<br />* MP notes that legal action will follow if there is no retraction of alleged libel<br /><br />This is not a letter from lawyers is it? So not a particularly scary legal threat is it? All he needs to do is retract any false claims.<br />I'm sure CCHQ and the Conservative Party will stand behind him if he wants to contest.<br /><br />Do you think that MP's should allow activists from other parties looking to unseat them publicly libel them with impunity?<br /><br /><I>It is usual to start legal actions with a conciliatory approach, request for a correction and an apology.</I>Did you read the letter? That's exactly what the MP did.<br /><br /><I>The information that the writer is a student sitting finals is relevant</I>Yes, because all students sitting their finals are allowed to libel people with impunity aren't they? I forgot that important part of libel law. Thanks for correcting me.<br /><br />And the fact they are a member of Conservative Future and a Conservative activist is not hey?<br /><br />If they didn't want any hassle they should not have allegedly made things up to smear their MP.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-44100424301672513932009-05-26T10:15:25.814+01:002009-05-26T10:15:25.814+01:00He never written to the MP about Gaza nor did he r...<I>He never written to the MP about Gaza nor did he receive replies on Gaza.</I>Well, that's what Mr Clegg claims anonymous.<br /><br />Though what I can't get my head around, if this version of events is true, is why Mr Jenkins would mention that his office records show he responded to 2 previous letters in PRIVATE correspondence. Surely you see that is somewhat far-fetched? Why would Mr Jenkins do this? In anticipation of the letter being leaked? I doubt that. <br /><br />This is at the moment entirely about the word of Conservative Activist Mr Clegg versus the word of Labour MP Mr Jenkins. As Mr Clegg chose to go to the press without making the important fact he was a Conservative Activist clear to try and make as much political capital out of this as he could, and seems to be telling a far-fetched tale that he has never written or received a reply re Gaza, I think that Mr Jenkins version of events rings truer at the moment. But we don't know yet.<br /><br />I hope the facts emerge soon and all who've reported on this will publicly retract things they have said if they are wrong.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-15199102426863771822009-05-26T09:44:19.925+01:002009-05-26T09:44:19.925+01:00"Very pissed off at false allegations in the local..."Very pissed off at false allegations in the local newspaper"?<br /><br />Anonymous you are either an idiot or an MP if you think a complaint to the paper about a local MP justifies legal threats of this kind.<br /><br />I don't think MPs should ever threaten to sue their constituents unless accused of serious criminality or immorality. Not answering a letter is neither.<br /><br />It is usual to start legal actions with a conciliatory approach, request for a correction and an apology.<br /><br />The information that the writer is a student sitting finals is relevant, just as it would be if he was a timid old lady, a chronic depressive or whatever. If you fire off letters intended to frighten people whom you don't know, you may well do more harm than you intend.Shame on younoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-6411636413385368052009-05-26T07:51:57.152+01:002009-05-26T07:51:57.152+01:00He never written to the MP about Gaza nor did he r...He never written to the MP about Gaza nor did he receive replies on Gaza.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-85898055337524633332009-05-26T00:52:19.955+01:002009-05-26T00:52:19.955+01:00Anonymous - there's nothing hypocritical I can...Anonymous - there's nothing hypocritical I can see in my stance (especially as I'm not a supporter of any political party). Same goes for any M.P. of any party persuasion. It just isn't on.<br />Threatening with Messrs Sue, Grabbitt & Runne is a favourite stance of many a bully especially alongside a timescale which leaves little leeway to respond. <br />True hypocracy is having the benefit of Parliamentary privilege to speak freely regardless of accuracy and then using threats of legal action to deny it to others. It was a simple exercise to clear up any misunderstandings without legal recourse.<br />No-one should run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.gongdonkeynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-70290502718533152272009-05-25T23:02:43.594+01:002009-05-25T23:02:43.594+01:00one wonders who paid for the "legal advice"one wonders who paid for the "legal advice"Holyrood Patterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00011279364711982978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-91508601229367546922009-05-25T22:33:06.400+01:002009-05-25T22:33:06.400+01:00@gongdonkey
If this activist/MP swapped political...@gongdonkey<br /><br />If this activist/MP swapped political allegiences I'm quite sure you wouldn't be so relaxed about libel.<br /> <br /><I>But what is libellous about pointing out that the M.P. voted one way and made public statements to give the opposite impression?</I>Nothing. And that is a fair point for Conservative Activists looking to unseat their local MP to make.<br /><br />However, this isn't the only thing that was said and not what the MP is looking for a retraction and public apology for is it?<br /><br />What is libellous is (not suggesting this is the case - at the moment it is the word of a Labour MP versus a Conservative Activist who dishonestly hid this fact when complaining):<br /><br />a) Claiming they had written to an MP when they hadn't<br /><br />b) Claiming an MP didn't reply when they didn't even receive the letter<br /><br />c) Claiming they never receive a reply to correspondence from the MP when the MP had in actual fact replied to 2 of their previous letters<br /><br />What if the Conservative Activist Mr Clegg is found, in addition to dishonestly hiding their role as a local Conservative activist, to have lied about having written to Mr Jenkins and lied about never having received replies to letters when the facts emerge?<br /><br />Will your opinions change?<br /><br />What about Conservative MPs threatening legal action against Labour smears? Will you be bemoaning their actions? Or basking in the glow of your hypocrisy?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-54537441100057026832009-05-25T21:18:04.962+01:002009-05-25T21:18:04.962+01:00Given that any M.P. can make ANY allegation in Par...Given that any M.P. can make ANY allegation in Parliament without consequence really ought to concentrate Mr. Jenkins' mind on the over-reaction.<br />If the kid didn't receive a letter, then he didn't receive a letter. But what is libellous about pointing out that the M.P. voted one way and made public statements to give the opposite impression ?<br />It will be interesting to see if the other three reply to the boy's mother.<br />I once wrote to Mr. Blair having heard him live make a statement and pointed out that, as Prime Minister and being interviewed as such, it wasn't a statement that he should make or a subject he should comment on as Prime Minister. I DID get a reply - from a party apparatchic - which enclosed a transcript of the programme showing that he didn't say what myself and several aquaintances actually heard him say.<br />So she shouldn't expect much.gongdonkeynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-36386310495130979222009-05-25T19:50:11.415+01:002009-05-25T19:50:11.415+01:00Iain,
Do you not think suing for libel is a tad O...Iain,<br /><br /><I>Do you not think suing for libel is a tad OTT. Why didnt he write to the paper?</I>But he's not suing for libel is he?<br /><br />He has offered Mr Clegg the chance to publicly retract the allegations and apologise if they are false.<br /><br />Only if he fails to do this and continues with the libel will legal action be taken.<br /><br />Isn't the private correspondence approach that Mr Jenkins has engaged in a reasonable path?<br /><br />I don't remember you taking this attitude about people publicly threatening libel regarding the unpublished (by Labour at least) Draper/McBride smears. Maybe there's a difference - though I suspect that a libel case would be more successful if Mr Jenkin's version of events is true.<br /><br />One more thing - why did you fail to mention that Mr Clegg was a Conservative activist and member of Conservative Future in the article? Maybe you didn't know (as I know you are an honest and honourable man), but maybe it would be wise to update the story given the emergence of these facts.<br /><br />Surely you must see that there is at least grounds for doubt of Mr Cleggs story given his affiliation to the local and national Conservative party, and it would surely be wise to hold off when calling Mr Jenkins "a prat" and "bullying" until the full facts emerge.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-7583377319642551902009-05-25T19:01:49.305+01:002009-05-25T19:01:49.305+01:00Do you not think suing for libel is a tad OTT. Why...Do you not think suing for libel is a tad OTT. Why didnt he write to the paper?Iain Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-63396902324340450072009-05-25T18:55:55.799+01:002009-05-25T18:55:55.799+01:00IanW
The MP's a s**t and a fool of the first wate...IanW<br /><br /><I>The MP's a s**t and a fool of the first water. His heavy-handed reaction tells us all we need to know about his party's knee-jerk attitude to free speech it doesn't like</I>IanW - so you believe that asking someone to retract an (allegedly) libellous allegation that has obvious potential to cause damage is a supression of free speech?! Not only that, it wasn't an alleged libel by an ordinary voter- it was an alleged political smear by an active Conservative activist and member of Conservative Future who has dishonestly pretended not to be throughout this.<br /><br />Do you think it is ok to libel someone with impunity? Or is that only the case when the person being libelled does not share your political views?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-47283381352728374832009-05-25T17:44:56.099+01:002009-05-25T17:44:56.099+01:00The MP's a s**t and a fool of the first water. Hi...The MP's a s**t and a fool of the first water. His heavy-handed reaction tells us all we need to know about his party's knee-jerk attitude to free speech it doesn't like: it will happily use money and power to crush it, rather than lift a finger in rational response.IanWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14802289720095323373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-72488402965801553792009-05-25T16:19:39.539+01:002009-05-25T16:19:39.539+01:00I think some people commenting on this are missing...I think some people commenting on this are missing the point. We live in a democracy and the MP should of used more diplomatic means to reason before becoming aggressive and attempting 'legal redress'. As mentioned above the MP should of used the medium in which the topic was originally addressed - the local paper - I am then sure the student would of responded and and provided the required evidence; a copy of the letter as proof of postage is neigh impossible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com