Forgetful Albert has a nerve

He does not deny that in desperation the Tories stripped the cupboard bare to leave the incoming Labour council with untold difficulties. He even says that they heeded a speech by Labour Councillor "Dick" Fletcher to support what they did.

Unfortunately, he is totally wrong. The budget was set in February 1986, but Richard Fletcher did not join the council until May 1986. I can also confirm that Richard was as appalled as we were by the malicious action of Albert & Co.

Yet again Albert raises the BCCI scandal. But once more his memory seems unclear. He fails to admit that investments in BCCI started when the Tories were in control of the council and he was the leader. He also fails to acknowledge that no councillor from any party objected to the investments. Nor does he recognise the shameful roles of Thatcher, Lawson and Major, not to mention the then Governor of the Bank of England, Robin Leigh-Pemberton, a friend of the Thatchers. They were in knowledge of all the facts. Furthermore, why was BCCI's rating and credit worthiness raised only months before action was taken to close it?

Indeed the Bank's liquidators have taken legal action against the Bank of England for its failure to do its job properly. The real culprits, the ex-Tory ministers, are unfortunately not in the "dock".

Finally, you have to say "what a nerve" to his comments on the bid for a hall for Woodhey School. According to our Albert, it is the Tories who are leading the demands. And he forgets history.

Was he not the Tory leader of a Tory council when we had a Tory government? What did Woodhey get then? NOTHING. Now we have a Labour council and a Labour government with new optimism for the project. All of a sudden it is a Tory priority. As I already said, you have to marvel at the sheer nerve.

COUNCILLOR JOHN BYRNE

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.