First the BBI hijack independence

in Boston

- now they mock a true Indy!

The unholy alliance between the Boston Bypass Independents and the Independent Network (key player: ex-BBC war correspondent in white suit Martin Bell) continues apace.
Regular readers may recall that the BBI was recently bragging about being "endorsed" by IN - which describes itself as "a loose association that provides support to candidates who are not members of traditional political parties."
If this is the case, we wonder why the BBI has received recognition as it is registered as a political party (albeit not traditional) with the electoral commission and as at the end of March this year had £785.96 in its campaign coffers.
Members of IN are obliged to comply with The Bell Principles, under which they pledge to:
1: abide wholeheartedly by the spirit and letter of the Seven Principles of Public Life set out by Lord Nolan in 1995: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership
2: be guided by considered evidence, our real world experience and expertise, our constituencies and our consciences
3: be free from the control of any political party, pressure group or whip
4: be non-discriminatory, ethical and committed to pluralism.
5: make decisions transparently and openly at every stage and level of the political process, enabling people to see how decisions are made and the evidence on which they are based
6: listen, consulting our communities constantly and innovatively
7: treat political opponents with courtesy and respect, challenging them when we believe they are wrong, and agreeing with them when we believe they are right
8: resist abuses of power and patronage and promote democracy at every level
9: work with other elected independents as a Group with a chosen spokesperson
10: claim expenses, salaries and compensation openly so the public can judge the value for money of our activities.
On the evidence known about the BBI to date, they should be removed from membership for failing to honour principles 3, 4,5,6,7,8,and 9 - just for starters.
On its website, the Independent Network now offers a map, headed "Your local election candidates" (see picture below, and click on it to enarge it.)

If you click on the pointer that is obviously hovering over Boston, it will inform you that your "local election candidates" are "Boston Bypass Independents - constituency Boston Borough council."
Not only is this an insult to TRUE independents, but it also seems to be a calculated attack on the longest serving Independent on Boston Borough Council - Councillor Richard Leggott.
Recently, Councillor Leggott and his colleague Councillor John Storry wrote a tongue in cheek letter to the local press, suggesting that an earlier letter from Councillor Ramonde Newell trumpeting the BBI's new found association with the Independent Network had not been reflected with an application from him to join their group.
However, on the Independent Network website, a click on the map link to the Boston Bypass Independents gives their address as the BBI blogsite.
But anyone wishing to take matters further is not - as you might expect - invited to
e-mail Councillor Newell as "campaign officer" or Councillor Richard Austin as Great Panjandrum, but are directed to contact Councillor Leggott at Boston Borough Council. (see picture below, and click on it to enarge it.)

How this might impact on Councillor Leggot's political reputation is anyone’s guess, as is how long this link has been in the public domain (the longer, the more harmful)  - but it is a damaging and disgraceful stunt to pull - even by the BBI's abnormally underhand standards.
The BBI may consider themselves a clever bunch of comedians, but they don't make us laugh here at Boston Eye.
They have gained a false place at the Independent Network's table, are are doubtless hoping that come election time anyone wanting a truly independent candidate will be tricked into believing that their nominees are the ones to vote for.
We hope that someone will intervene and get their endorsement withdrawn.

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