I READ the letter from George Dunning, a man who now has to manfully deal with all the problems that I had to deal with when leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council (HAS, May 6). He was writing in reply to my letter on purdah and the seeming inability of the Tees Valley Local Enterprise partnership to comment on being stripped of cash resources by ministers because of this.
I pointed out in my letter that last Thursday’s election contests passed the Tees Valley by and the LEP could have spoken if it had wished.
George points out that there was, in fact, a council by-election in Middlesbrough that day.
True, but if that was the rule, and given that that on any Thursday of any year there are council by-elections coming up somewhere, this would mean no council, government department or minister could say anything at any time. Which might come as a relief to many, I guess.
David Walsh, Saltburn.
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