Isle of Dogs, Tower Hamlets: A strange comment by peddlers of Big Biz suddenly discovering the banana republic council they aided and abetted in...

1855 Hrs GMT

London

Sunday

05 February 2012

Editor © Muhammad Haque.

Isle of Dogs, Tower Hamlets:
A strange comment by peddlers of Big Biz suddenly discovering the banana republic council they aided and abetted in...

Why are we calling it the Isle of Dogs?

Because this is a reference back to the reality of the culture. The culture being that people who are ordinary residents of that part of Tower Hamlets, have “by their own choice” [!!!!] lacked the sense let alone the entitlement to comment authoritatively about Tower Hamlets Council.

The same corrupt, ignorant and anti-democratic culture has been responsible for the deficit in recognising the arguments that having an elected, executive mayor system foisted on the borough would make things worse for the public than would be the case if there were a really active democratic and accountable council.

The crooked elements that joined the bandwagon for foisting an executive mayor system on Tower Hamlets did so because they plotted direct personal and group gains from having access to executive decision-making in the name of a Council that was frequently being linked with having a £1 billion budget.

Sixteen months after the imposition, some of those corrupt elements are now confessing that having an elected executive mayor does not mean that there is even the basic transparency.

This is one of the many things that the following comment, published by the WHARF, a Big Biz forces outlet based in what we are calling the Isle of Dogs, confirms.

[To bew continued]

Spiral Notebook: A deafening silence

By Giles Broadbent on February 2, 2012 2:01 PM |

By Giles Broadbent

Taciturn executive mayor Lutfur Rahman's unfortunate timing continues. Each time he was asked a question at last week's Tower Hamlets Borough Council meeting he had his mouth full of the jellied fruits he received from his aunt over Christmas (for that, surely, is the only reason for his studied reluctance to speak).

Pity really. Because the silent treatment (think the little sister rather than The Artist) may be considered unbecoming, not to say rude, behaviour to the average observer unfamiliar with the mayor's predilections.

And it also may go some way to explaining why Tower Hamlets submission to become a city is more likely to be stabilising that wobbly table in reception of Buckingham Palace than inching closer to the royal Mont Blanc.

Incidentally, there is a theory going around (mostly going around my head it has to be said) that the Crossrail works out front are the cover for a much grander infrastructure project.

Rather than constructing a railway line, secret work has begun on a giant zip.

Come the day of the Great Unzipping, Wharfers will be asked to put their backs against the mainland and push the Isle of Dogs into the Thames and further away from the Sullen Republic of Tower Hamlets thus vastly increasing its chances of wooing the Queen and attaining city status.

Meanwhile, a suggestion to cure the mayor's coy diffidence, if I may: Ken Dodd tickle sticks. Councillors should be free to tickle the mayor till he spills.

The sight of the Great Leader rolling on his back, arms and legs in the air like an upturned tortoise, tittering out responses to standing orders will be much merrier than the current display and - as a bonus - it might raise a smile on the faces of residents. They have already paid for this panto - might as well leave 'em laughing.