
Tory Comms policy; lots of hot air and subject to sudden movements.
Have to say am a little bit bemused by the sudden ramping up of the rhetoric by the Conservatives in advance of the budget meeting next week.
I think we can all tell they are getting rattled under pressure.
We all know the Conservative group is in acrimony at the moment but lashing out in an uncoordinated and uncontrolled way makes a Group that is nominally in control, look like its out of control and desperate.
We have reached the point where the responses to our charges are either incoherent, disingenuous or on the spurious golf course claims; simply baffling!
This is the first indication that the controlled press and management is beginning to fall apart. A group, once proud of presenting a coherent message looks divided and weak.
Power is about projection and perception; getting either wrong can be fateful.
For an opposition the current babbles are an absolute dream; Tories underneath harbour views most salient and rational people would find concerning. Allowing them to express these openly; please continue...
Foot-in-Mouth this week
i) Releasing a press statement claiming that Labour were going to sell-off the Rochester airport and Deangate Golf course, on the same day your privatise and propose the sell-off of Council care home assets.
The press release was of course baseless, but the timing was very poor indeed. Not only does it look uncaring about the major issue of the day, but it also looked deliberately timed to change the media discourse. Of course it was not, but a sensible press person would not have encouraged the Tory blogosphere to go heavy on it; which they then did.
For fact; there no supporting Council documentation or recent Labour Policy to the claims. The two issues have not been on any agenda for at least a decade - indeed so long ago - I was in my late teens when the campaign in the airport was last considered
The press will consider it a political attack and badly timed given the news that day.
Dont let it stop the Peninsula Councillor's stand in front of a Council owned golf course sign; especially a couple of days before their voters are about to be canvassed.
Conclusion: Home goal based on a fiction; not good when you need to highlight fiscal credibility in less than a week.
ii) The statement taking credit for the 11+ Test movement
Of course there is plenty of independent commentary about how this issue has been a monumental failure of political leadership. Adding to my own timeline of events, we have also seen Conservative bloggers calling for the resignation of the portfolio holder who managed this farce.
The fact is Tory Councillors parroting out a line that all is well because of them is to be scoffed at. The Tories not only hashed up the enquiry process but they were the ones who sanctioned the move of the 11+ test into the 'Test Centres' in the first place in 2006/2007.
Conclusion: Claiming credit for an action you originally proposed and pursued year after year. Apologise, apologise, apologise.
iii) The claim that Free Swimming for Pensioners and Young People was a Tory idea
Alas utterly untrue; not only was it introduced by Labour but the Tories scrapped it in 2010, before undertaking a u-turn and re-introducing the Labour policy. Of course we are very happy to see it.
Highlighting opponents achievement was and can be clever. The problem is that once challenged with the truth it reinforces the notion you are being dishonest.
iv) Claim they are responsible for the lowest Council Tax
Alas utterly untrue; the Conservative administration inherited the lowest Council tax. The origin of this Council Tax was the creation of the Unitary Authority in the late 1990s which scrapped the borough and parish council system, so reducing our tiers of government to one level. For better or worse; the Unitary Authority creation was a legacy of Medway Labour.
Highlighting opponents achievement was and can be clever. The problem is that once challenged with the truth it reinforces the notion you are being dishonest.
v) Attacking the 'fraudulent claim'
I have since linked this to the Audit Committee reports which shows that fraudulent payments from Medway Council are amongst the worst quartile in the Country.
Incidentally; appreciating the free advertising to that particular list, it was notable none of the other salient points on botched projects, sell-offs, credit card payments and historic vandalism were challenged.
Conclusion: Never highlight your opponents argument; oops I think I just have...
Oh well.
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