Freedom of Speech Should be Upheld
Dear Editor,
Over the past weeks I have read with interest the letters and articles you have published regarding public opinion on West Park Lakes. So great is my interest I decided to attend the Great Aycliffe Council’s Recreation Committee meeting, details of which were published in the Newton News.
After attending the meeting on Wednesday 3rd September; I am totally appalled by the behaviour of our elected body. In the past I have been of the opinion that the Council Leader was an honourable and erudite gentleman.
However, I now feel compelled to express my absolute horror of the comments he made so I am writing in vindication of the rights of Newton News and Mr Robson to freedom of speech.
Within the diatribe delivered by the leader he continually referred to the use of the word’ fascist’, which he claims was written in an article by Mr Robson and subsequently published in our community newspaper, who he chastised at least twice while speaking.
On returning to my home after the meeting I immediately re-read the so called offending article that was published in the Newton News.
I would like to point out that the terminology used in the article was in fact: “environmentally fascist elite”. The more enlightened among us will already know that the term ENVIRONMENTAL FASCIST or ECO FASCISM has been debated in the Guardian. entitled,’ An alternative to the new wave of eco fascism by Micah White and refers to those who put environmental issues first and reject democratic freedom.
Thus, I was confounded to hear the Council Leader’s insinuation that Mr Robson was referring to past Political Parties operating in the early part of the last century! I am not an expert in politics, merely a public bystander, however I was amazed to witness the Council Leader wilfully use a chamber of democracy to lambast and vilify two respected members of the public.
He above all others in the room was aware that the confines of the meeting denied the two aforementioned members of the public the immediate right to reply and defend themselves in regard to his allegations.
After witnessing this debacle I will never again waste my vote on the Labour Party.
Yours a very disillusioned
ex Labour Supporter.
Elaine Lawson Simons.
