Richard Baum

Last night’s council meeting was yet another slanging match between the big hitters in the Tory and Labour parties. For people supposedly acting as leaders of the community, there are times when conduct in the chamber descends to the level of a bar-room brawl. We could alleviate some of the budgetary pressures by having council meetings sponsored by Barnum and Bailey, so circus-like are the performances.

It’s serious business we go about at the Town Hall. Last night perhaps more so than any other. We’re making decisions about cutting services, setting tax levels, and coming up with new ways to provide services. It shouldn’t be treated as a political points-scoring game, or as a contest to see who can come up with the most outrageous personal slur or jump up and down the most in indignation.

Fair enough we should level criticism at one another in meetings where it’s merited. And, because we’re politicians, perhaps we should level criticism even where it’s not merited, just to put across an opposing point of view. But there’s a way to do it, and the way that the Labour and Tory leaders and finance spokespeople go at each other like comic book villains really isn’t it. It makes even the House of Commons look sane.

The Tories in particular seem incapable of saying anything out loud without lurching between arch-defensiveness and vicious personal attacks on anyone daring to question their complete mastery of both fact and public opinion. It’s like they’re hard wired to behave like schoolboys. They sometimes leave their dignity in their group meeting room along with their overcoats. For Council leaders to compare Bury with the Wiemar Republic and Zimbabwe, as occurred last night when the Tories got on their high horses, was fairly low brow and not very wise at all. We’re supposed to be the leaders of the community!

I join in the banter too, but I like to think I do it with some grace (although others may disagree - you can read my speech when I post it tomorrow!). And maybe it’s having an impact. Even though our amendment failed, it seemed so obvious last night that the Labour response to the budget statement was cribbed from (or at least based on) the contents of this website that the Leader of the Council himself commented on it! So maybe I am having a positive effect on conduct if not perhaps the budget… I know that sounds a bit arrogant, what with me saying “Ooh, you’re all naughty boys, but I have class.” But, frankly, I think it’s true, and if i go over the top I want people to tell me.

There were young people in the audience campaigning about the Youth Service. God knows what they made of it all. The way to make progress in Bury isn’t to shout and point fingers. Let’s hope they don’t learn by our example.

Rick