Thanks for your support (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Thanks for your support

11:28am Thursday 25th March 2010 in

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Sir.–I write to thank everyone who has supported the mayoralty and myself during this horrendous period for Basingstoke and Deane, and me personally.

In particular, I would like to thank Barbara Hoskins for running the petition and the many councillors and ex-councillors and past mayors who have spoken out on this issue.

This is a sad and dangerous time for the most respected mayoral office in Hampshire, one of the few held as an independent borough office representing all the residents and businesses of Basingstoke and Deane – not a political nominee and spokesman for the council and its ruling party.

I do hope the public keep up their support for this vital role in an increasingly politicised world where power is everything and service to one’s fellow residents is seen as a secondary consideration and, for some, an inconvenience.

I would like to respond to Cllr Mark Ruffell and the current Conservative group he represents.

He asks me to stand aside so I can clear my name, and says he will respect me. I have witnessed his respect over the last two years for anyone who disagrees with him, as evidenced by his disgraceful behaviour at full council to distinguished ex-councillors and mayors. His respect for the mayoralty and democracy has been amply exposed and available for all to see on the webcast of many council meetings.

Why do the Conservatives continue to support me as deputy mayor this year? Surely, if I am a risk as mayor in May, I must be one now? How can they support me for the coming year as deputy again? If the mayor is incapacitated, or God forbid dies, I will take the role on any way.

The answer is simple. It is the Conservative way of “kicking things into the long grass” – a practice much used to hide real intent.

They know that to be mayor in 2011-12, I will need to be re-elected and they openly boast they will kick me out of Hatch Warren in the 2011 elections and achieve their final revenge.

Cllr Ruffell – if you want justice use your influence to have my standards hearings now, in public and ask the complainants and the expensive barrister hired by the council if they are serious about ending this punishing and inhuman delay to prove me guilty or innocent well before May.

I will meet anyone or any organisation anywhere to discuss and answer any questions about my suitability for the Office of Mayor and the complaints against me for supporting the important people in the borough – everyone.

–Councillor Phil Heath, Deputy mayor, Basingstoke and Deane