Thursday 18 December 2008

Leaders' legacies - Letter to The Observer 18.12.08

Dear Sir

Andrew Rawnsley is spot on regarding the need for our Prime Minister to be bold enough to leave a positive and long-lasting legacy, especially in terms of our nation’s infrastructure (If we’re going to spend, then let’s invest in Britain’s future – Observer, Comment, last week).

For too long successive governments have lacked vision in their policy making and, instead of investing in long-term initiatives, merely offer short-sighted, short-term, and wholly inadequate quick-fix solutions to address our need for the high quality public transport, energy and communication systems that Mr Rawnsley suggests.

However in order to be politically bold you have to be politically brave and make decisions, for the common good, that may well require political sacrifices. This would involve having to challenge influential groups such as the road lobby and airline, energy and communications companies, while making some tough choices that may well upset part of the electorate into the bargain. Sadly there is no politician on our political horizon prepared to make the ultimate political sacrifice, which is to relinquish power.

Yours faithfully

Ashley Gunstock
Leading Spokesperson
The Green Party - Redbridge

3 comments:

  1. Though I didn't vote for you in the two times you've ran for the party leadership (for male principal speaker, for leader), I appreciate the fact that you did run.

    However, I don't think it's on for you to call yourself a "leading spokesperson" for the national party, in a letter to a national newspaper.

    I'm the local party coordinator in Coventry, and I would never call myself that in a letter to a newspaper.

    You're not a MEP, or a group leader on a council, or a national press officer, and you lost the vote to be the party leader.

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  2. Ooops!
    That's partly my fault.

    This blog was created by me, on Ashley's behalf, and I am still fielding the comments.

    Ashley uploaded the last 3 posts on his own, with telephone tutorial, and I checked them but didn't spot it.

    Spank me, not him, I've corrected it!

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  3. I won't spank you, but you'll have to sit in the comfy chair.

    ReplyDelete