Owen Temple

It’s been an interesting twenty four hours for me. I’m still not used to the slippery nature of local politics, and the fact that what’s being said to your face is almost certainly not what’s being said behind your back. If only I hadn’t lead such a sheltered life!

In the twenty four hours I received an email from a friend telling me how I was being slagged off for “doing a deal” with the Labour Group. It was news to me, but probably not to the politically motivated few in the pubs and clubs who need a good conspiracy to be going on with.

At the same time I found the Lib Dems being excluded from the District Council’s publicity machine, until it reached my ears and I “kicked off”. Then suddenly we were valued members of the Derwentside District Council team again.

Finally, I heard again some rumours which I intend to investigate. The problem is that sometimes I think rumours are as likely to be designed to walk my head into a noose as they are to provide useful information to help improve or protect our town!

So that reminds me who my friends are - the ordinary people of this town who elected me and who just want to hear the truth and be given a voice. It’s important in politics to remember who your friends are, and that the people who matter are the people you are elected to represent. That’s why it’s a real disappointment to me every time I log in to the website and find no comments. Today I’d even have appreciated an offer of dodgy pharmaceuticals or cheap motor insurance! Any communication beats the indifference of silence.