Dirty Politics
The late Prime Minister, Margaret
Thatcher once said ‘I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly
wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they
have not a single political argument left’ and today that came true in my
campaign to be elected as a Conservative Councillor for Watling Ward in
Medway's Local Elections.
As per the Political Parties, Elections
and Referendums Act 2000, it is an offence for a printer or promoter to publish
printed election material without an imprint, and as such this communication is
in breach of the law. So whilst I should not have to justify myself, I will set
the record straight for the person(s) who anonymously circulated a leaflet to
some residents in Watling Ward and has subsequently been tweeted on the Medway
Politics, a political blog that claims to be impartial and that fails to
provide a contact address or ownership details: -
- The "Troll of
Medway" epithet – this was kindly given to me by a Member of Medway
Labour refers to the fact that I am one of very few Medway Conservatives
active on Twitter and that I oppose Medway Labour robustly through Twitter
commenting on their tweets, campaigns and poor performances in the Council
Chamber. It is only those on the left who use the epithet and it
is used as an illiberal attempt to silence me. Twitter is not a
space where only left wing commentators are allowed to occupy it is a
public forum and if you post something political you should expect a
political response. If users of Twitter do not wish to engage with me,
then they are welcome to block or not engage with me – of which very few
have.
- A Tweet which was quoted
entirely out of context and on its own was part of a very long thread of tweets
in which I was engaged in a debate with Medway Labour candidates very late
one night.
- The assertion that I ‘Reside
in the affluent area of Hempstead’ – this is no secret. All my published
material says I live in Hempstead, I have campaigned in previous local and
national elections in Hempstead & Wigmore. I was honoured to have been
asked to stand in Watling Ward as Conservative which incidentally shares a
boundary with Hempstead & Wigmore.
- ‘Claims to be a trusted
businessman’ - the total ignorance of the author of the leaflet is breath
taking and the clear charge here is that I have left a trail of failed
businesses. My record on Companies House is clear to see. I was a
registered Director of a number of limited companies during my time
serving as a Group Operations Director in a previous job. These
companies were taken over when I left the business in 2006, and these
businesses have therefore been removed as individual businesses on the
register. A search on Companies House will show you that these businesses
were taken over Yes, I own a number of businesses (which are
providing to the local economy), but I have never run or owned a business
that went into bankruptcy, administration or declared insolvent.
- ‘Doesn’t appear to care for our community’ - This comment comes without any justification or examples and I imagine wrongly based on some preconceived notion about me as a Conservative. I am actively involved in the Medway community through volunteering or via my businesses where I am able to offer jobs, apprenticeships or through donating time and resources. I am proud to be a School Governor, and my business has also provided sponsorship to a number of local community based groups and projects including the Medway Youth Council and Medway Youth Awards.
So I challenge the person(s) who have
circulated the leaflet to come out wherever you are for a debate at a time or
place that you can suggest. I am not holding my breath!
Andrew Lawrence
23rd March 2019
