It offers “audacity, boldness, brashness, brass, brazenness, chutzpah, confidence, disrespect, effrontery, gall, impertinence, impudence, insolence, lip, nerve, presumption, rudeness, sauce,” and “temerity.”
But somehow the list seems lacking, and we feel that another word should join this panoply of prose - “Austintacious.”
We know it’s only politics, the unbeautiful game, but the way that Councillor Richard “Papa Dick” Austin is dining out on the council’s improved status is sticking in other people’s throats rather than his own.
According to the borough’s press release, the report from the Audit Commission (see our blog here ) said the borough had gone from being one of the worst local authorities in the country to one of the most improved inside nine months.
Unquestionably, much of this improvement is down to the Chief Executive Richard Harbord and through him the borough staff, but that has not stopped Councillor Austin turning Mr Harbord’s racing cycle into a tandem.
The Beloved Leader was quick off the mark to write to the local papers about the achievement, and - in another letter - to launch a recruiting campaign for Boston Bypass Independent candidates at next June’s local elections.
But his latest step is one too far, according to critics.
It takes the form of a letter to all parish councillors, which in the opening paragraph says that the coalition government theme of “localism” means a greater future role for parish councils - and goes on to ask for ideas on how the borough’s 17 parishes can deliver a better, cheaper service.
But thereafter, the the remaining seven paragraphs of the letter - which is written on official borough notepaper - are little more than a party political broadcast on behalf of the Boston Bypass Independent Party ( aka DRIP - the Distributor Road Independent Party.)
This has particularly angered county, borough and parish councillor Raymond Singleton-McGuire, who has protested strongly to the Chief Executive about it, and demanded that another letter be issued to retract the first.
His attack on Councillor Austin includes phrases such as “glory seeking,” and “totally irresponsible,” and he calls the use of borough notepaper “not acceptable” and “deplorable.”
And in a masterpiece of restraint, he says that Councillor Austin “has clearly presented himself as something of a liability.”
Boston Eye couldn’t agree more, and we would like to know how often the leader has previously taken the opportunity to write to all the borough’s parish councillors in the past.
His letter is a blatant piece of propaganda, for which he is being rightly criticised.
However, the fact remains that the damage has been done, in that it is Councillor Austin who has scored the political points yet again.
Less than a week ago we warned the borough’s opposition parties - which comprise Conservatives, the Better Boston Group, and Independents including the BNP - that each time Councillor Austin’s letters appear in the papers, his party’s name is registered with voters.
So far, the other parties on Boston Borough Council are guilty of a deafening silence.
We need to hear their arguments, to read their manifestos, to be aware that there is an alternative to voting for the Bostoninnies.
Where are the local opposition group websites or blogs?
It is one thing rightly to protest when a politician pushes his luck - but fighting fire with fire is far more effective ... and there are only 220 days to go before the next local elections.
You can write to us at boston.eye@googlemail.com Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.
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