The film "The Ship that Died of Shame" was a famous crime drama produced in 1955 by Ealing Studios - better known as the home of British comedy.
But there's nothing funny about our adaptation – "The Leadership that Died of Shame."  It's another drama, only this time about crimes against democracy and political good practice.
Seldom have we seen a council under so much fire than Boston Borough Council has been this week.
Stories in the national newspapers, at least fifteen critical reports and letters in yesterday’s two local papers – not to mention the occasional snipe from Boston Eye  all add up to a very bleak picture indeed.
And what does the borough’s chief snake oil salesman – Leader Councillor Peter Bedford – have to say about it all?
“We are now a working model of good practice.”
As Young Mr Grace would say – “you’ve all done very well.”
So perhaps we should ignore the chorus of complaint about the chaotic state of the   “improved “Market Place and warnings that an accident is just waiting to happen.
Yet again, Boston Borough Council – whilst making threatening noises about abuse of parking regulations – pleads helplessness to act when frustrated citizens go to its door – blaming the police for non-enforcement, and promising jam tomorrow when Lincolnshire County Council takes over parking enforcement – with probably no more than two wardens.
Meanwhile, the council leaders  twiddle their  thumbs and give voters the finger.
The 85 per-cent increase in allowances for councillors over three years – highlighted in two national newspapers – is feebly dismissed with the argument that it was justified because the council’s position in the pay league was the fifth lowest in the country.
So that makes an 85% increase all right – even though staff at the authority have now missed a number of pay rises.
Unfortunately for the Boston Bypass Independents, the impression was given in the Daily Mail report that they were the instigators of the rise.
In fact it was one of the first acts of the new Conservative administration – but the BBI took the blame because the first instalment of the bumper pay rise came in the financial year beginning in April last year – even though the party was ousted a month later.
We’ve also heard complaints from opposition councillors who no longer bother to attend meetings because everything is stitched up by the less-than-magnificent-seven member cabinet.
Councillor Bedford’s response to the cabinet stifling of debate: “I think it was like that for the past four years under the BBI.”
Yes it was.
And who moaned loudest and longest about what they saw as an abuse of democracy?
The Conservative opposition of the day.
There has been no mention of the resignation of Independent Councillor Brian Rush
who declared that parts of the council were being run very badly.
“In my opinion this administration does not take adequate account of the views of the people of the Borough, nor the councillors who are elected to represent them,” he said.
“There can be no real progress until genuine democracy is embraced by those in charge.
“Councillors have a duty to speak up for what the people want, and not succumb to party leaders.”
The council reaction so far?
Erase all possible reference to Councillor Rush from its website and advertise the vacancy for the post.
Doubtless, glasses are being hoisted in the cabinet room at the loss of such a determined critic of their shabby regime.
Either the Tory leadership is being deliberately disingenuous or its members are too stupid to see that they are committing an appalling abuse of their colleagues within the wider council and the voters who elected them.
For a council leadership to be this unpopular with the voters is an utter disgrace, and Councillor Bedford and his colleagues need to get their act together and seek to improved matters as a matter of urgency rather than continue to fiddle while the people of Boston burn with rage.

 

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