Slugger O'Toole

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1. Comment on Green Party NI conference, the visit of Alex Attwood, and criticism of MLAs who can’t read or believe the speeches written for them
   on 31 October 2011 at 6:29 pm

   I was the Green Party council candidate for Bangor West in the last election, which meant that I stood against both Brian and Anne. It was particularly odd to find myself standing against Brian as although he was not the Green Party candidate, many of the residents of Bangor West were not aware that he had gone independent (again). This meant quite a few awkward moments at the doors, not to mention a post here on Slugger referring to my having been “done up like a kipper” to which I did not respond at the time.

   As much as I respect what Brian has done for the Green Party in the past, and as hopeful as I am for the future of the party, the reality is that his behaviour nearly cost us this election. It was only the fact that we had a very popular candidate and a really good campaign team that we won – and even then it was extremely close. It is simply not true that he remained neutral throughout; as already stated, his election material mentioned his wife and there are pictures of them out campaigning together. The suggestion that he could ever be neutral is a bit ridiculous – of course he was always going to support his wife, and it is dishonest to pretend that he ever intended to do otherwise.

   Furthermore, as a party which does not accept corporate donations, we rely entirely on our membership to raise funds. Brian was always aware of this, and even with the 20% paid into the party he did pretty well for himself out of his association with the Green Party. Of course, both Brian and Anne continue to bring in two council salaries between them, and are virtually guaranteed to get elected to NDBC for as long as they wish to stand. Which isn’t too shabby!

   Finally, and out of politeness I won’t say too much here [removed - Mod]. When I arrived at the first post-election executive meeting in the Bangor office, Brian and Anne were already in the building and were in the process of removing everything that wasn’t nailed down, despite Brian no longer being the MLA. The four-hour executive meeting took place with half of us sitting on the floor and the rest on the few remaining chairs.

   I genuinely don’t want to seem ungracious and I feel quite conflicted about posting this, but I also feel that these comments from Brian are very discourteous towards the party which finally got him elected to the assembly. Brian did a lot for the Green Party, but he was never bigger than the party, and the disloyalty and negativity so evident in his comments here really says a lot more about him than us.

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