tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post3763553051060944680..comments2024-01-23T16:53:02.428+00:00Comments on Mark Thompson: My anger at Department for Transport Spin on HeathrowMark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744387583593537268noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-70018946807070280182009-01-25T14:22:00.000+00:002009-01-25T14:22:00.000+00:00Yes, there is an awful lot of wasted time and effo...Yes, there is an awful lot of wasted time and effort on paperwork and talk that achieves nothing in this country. No wonder people in Britain are so cynical.<BR/><BR/>Well, there is still hope!<BR/><BR/>A debate and vote on Heathrow expansion will take place in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 28 January 2009. <A HREF="http://e-activist.com/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=18&ea.campaign.id=2338" REL="nofollow">Greenpeace are enabling people to write a letter of support</A> which will be sent to the 57 potential Labour rebel MPs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-56704640955762181012009-01-25T14:04:00.000+00:002009-01-25T14:04:00.000+00:00Thanks Inel for your comments.I have been frustrat...Thanks Inel for your comments.<BR/><BR/>I have been frustrated for years at these sort of tricks that the government pulls.<BR/><BR/>The post office consultations were exactly the same. An attempt to apply a think coating of apparently democratic accountability to a process that has already been determined.<BR/><BR/>In the case of Heathrow it is an absolutely critical decision and it is disgusting that a Labour government can push it through like this.<BR/><BR/>I would actually like an independent inquiry into the way that these "consultation" exercises are run, how much they cost and how often they have changed a government's decision. Because if they are usually ignored then they should not be allowed to get away with claiming that they have consulted (which inplies support) when making these decisions.Mark Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00744387583593537268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-8447552028733093082009-01-25T13:51:00.000+00:002009-01-25T13:51:00.000+00:00As a respondent to the DfT consultation, I went lo...As a respondent to the DfT consultation, I went looking for a breakdown of the numbers for the 70,000 responses, because the letter we received last week from Geoff Hoon was ambiguous (to say the least).<BR/><BR/>If we had a PR company on our side, it would be running catfood-like ads stating:<BR/><BR/>"More than 3 out of 4 respondents who stated a preference expressed opposition to Heathrow expansion."<BR/><BR/>However, apart from several valiant groups opposed to Heathrow expansion, in terms of major publicity we are on our own. We have to rely on coverage in London and national newspapers to keep the topic alive in the public sphere to combat the never-ending spin that is served up by the government, especially DfT, as well as BAA, BA and other well-funded business lobbies.<BR/><BR/>Thank you for drawing attention to the spin.<BR/><BR/>More on this in <A HREF="http://inel.wordpress.com/2009/01/25/no-question-posed-to-70000-respondents-yet-half-answered-it-25337-against-8128-for-heathrow-expansion/" REL="nofollow">my post</A>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-34185281538434524872009-01-19T23:38:00.000+00:002009-01-19T23:38:00.000+00:00Indeed Dazman.Thinking a bit more about it, the wo...Indeed Dazman.<BR/><BR/>Thinking a bit more about it, the worst thing is that apart from that article in the Independent (on page 22) I have not really seen any other coverage about this.<BR/><BR/>We have all become so inured to this sort of behaviour from government that it is just accepted as normal.<BR/><BR/>I am absolutely sick of it.Mark Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00744387583593537268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-34042950237973645582009-01-19T23:34:00.000+00:002009-01-19T23:34:00.000+00:00This spin has really gone too far, Spin is destroy...This spin has really gone too far, Spin is destroying democracyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com