|
Who
Would Be A Politician?
I was disappointed to hear that Council Leader Warren
Bradley had decided to give this year’s trip to Mipim
a miss. The South of France jamboree is an occasion
when Liverpool, alongside our competitors, has an opportunity
to showcase the best of what the city has to offer
to a
multitude of potential investors. The more traditional
among us may not like this as a way of doing business,
but, if you are going to get in front of Europe’s
big hitters then Mipim is a must – attend event.
Because of a series of negative press stories that
have appeared about him personally, and the council
he leads,
Warren Bradley felt that he would be leaving himself
open to further personal attack if he formed part of
the delegation
that will represent Liverpool at the annual event.
My initial reaction was to call on him to re-think
his decision, because
you can bet your bottom dollar the Leader of Manchester
City Council will be there. Also, those would be investors
will expect Warren to attend. And last, but not least,
I expressed the view that as a former politician myself,
I would expect elected Members to be able to deal with
the rough and tumble that is political life. However,
should it be quite a brutal/petty as what Liverpool
has witnessed
since the turn of the year?
Being shouted at and called names in the council chamber
is one thing. Being portrayed as a cowboy in the city’s
leading newspaper is quite another. And whatever the
rights and wrongs of the leaders policies and actions
in recent times, he didn’t deserve that – and
nor did his kids who no doubt ran the gauntlet of their
schoolmates on the back of such ‘clever’ journalism.
I would still call on Warren Bradley to reconsider
his decision, but fear the horse has long bolted. In
the long-term it is a decision that does neither him,
or the city, any favours.
|
