Thursday, January 10, 2008

Faraz Bhatti: Should He Cover Lib Dem Scrutiny Role?


I've just caught up with David Ottewell's blog posts from yesterday. This one talks of "Under Scrutiny" as the Group Leader of the City Council Tories, Faraz Bhatti, does not turn up for a Tuesday scrutiny committee he used to attend as Simon Ashley's whipping boy No 31.

Can't say I'm au fait with the detail of Council rules. But I'd imagine that as he's in a different party now there may be a new settlement on committee memberships? Or perhaps he was at a selection meeting as a prospective candidate for a winnable Tory constituency? Or something like that. Speculations welcome.

Mr Ottewell has his comments facility back in full working order now.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well here in Salford scrutiny appointments are allocated via each party group, so if the same thing applies in Manchester then on ceasing to be a Liberal Democrat he would not be entitled to his previous scrutiny places and would have to renegotiate.

Of course, the problem with being a group of one is that you have no-one to cover for you if you have a genuine reason for absence, and your absence is all the more noticeable.

Also, before the LibDems get all preachy about attendance perhaps they should check up on the attendance rates of their colleagues on the other side of the Irwell...

Chris Paul said...

Thanks Iain. That is exactly what I expect is the rule in Mcr. The Lib Dems would probably have made a scene had he turned up. And they are prevented from that by his staying away. Whether for court or selection or work commitment or whatever.

TheL,ib Dems may have a bad attendance rate in salford. But their own attendance this side of the Irwell is not great. They have been caught doing only a third of the supposed reports and only 50% attendance is not unknown.

Anonymous said...

If Faraz goes for Stretford again as a potential MP - but for the Conservatives - I'd like to think he'll tackle the outrage of dogging in dozens of sites around the Borough. I'll vote for him if he can take a tough moral stance on that issue.

It is sending the wildlife crazy. Almost a signature crime in the Stretford area. In Manchester they've only got it at the airport.

Chris Paul said...

Dogging? I go dogging on the banks myself. I hope you're not trying to restrict my pleasures?

Anonymous said...

No, the dogging I'm talking about is exhibitionists having sex in gaggles in certain carparks etc. Stretford is the world HQ for this thing at the moment, or at least the NW HQ. They do it in Essex too.

Anonymous said...

Stretford and Urmston Conservatives already have a Prospective MP:

http://www.markversallion.com/

Chris Paul said...

Righto. Thanks Iain. Is there not a proposal that Faraz will get to stand somewhere as part of the transfer fee?! I believe he was after Gorton as a Lib Dem. But I can't see that one having much going for it as a Tory prospect.

Anonymous said...

There has been no deal. All our target Parliamentary constituencies in the North-West have selected, and whilst others might offer opportunities in a good year they would be anything but a free ticket to Parliament.