THURROCK MP Jackie Doyle-Price has made her opinion clear on the suspension of Chafford Hundred councillor, Neil Rockcliffe following his controversial “Chaffrica” comments.
Speaking to YourThurrock, Jackie Doyle-Price said: “When you hold public office, you have to be aware of how written material could be interpreted.
“These comments made by councillor Rockcliffe are unhelpful and could bring the Conservative Party into disrepute.
“A lot of hard work has gone into community cohesion. During the General Election campaign, the then Shadow Minister for Community Cohesion, Baroness Warsi (now Chair of the Conservative Party) joined us on the campaign trail and she praised the work that we were doing.
“We would not want to see anything that would undermine that.
“What should ultimately happen, though, is a matter for the Thurrock Conservative Group to decide.”
Councillor Rockcliffe has been suspended by the Conservative Group.
Well – plain to see why Jackie Doyle-Price is an MP by this trite, run for the hills response. Just four valid points…………..
1. Is it a coincidence that your contrived and oh so carefully worded response took two days to surface? Call me cynical – but does anyone else think that Ms Doyle-Price just couldn’t be contacted for two days because of being a good Conservative OR because it has taken that length of time to work out how to attempt to separate herself and the Conservatives from this nasty tacky little matter that she would love to expunge into Blunder City (that’s just south of Chaffrica Jackie) never to be mentioned again
2. Next is phraseology or ‘damage limitation’. “When you hold public office, you have to be aware of how written material could be interpreted.” Please, please do not add further insult to the constituents of Chafford Hundred by even tying to hint that what was written was ambiguous. The rubbish given about Mr Rockliffe’s garden being like a jungle and therefore giving birth to the name ‘Chaffrica’ was an outrageous attempt to avoid acknowledging guilt and in no way explains his comments re Scriptwriters, Eastenders……..do I need to go on?
3. Then we have “These comments made by councillor Rockcliffe are unhelpful” as supposedly were those in Mein Kampf. I think they were slightly more than unhelpful. How about derogatory, offensive, racist and discriminatory. Point made
4. “What should ultimately happen, though, is a matter for the Thurrock Conservative Group to decide.” Is Neil Rockliffe or is he not a Conservative? Are Thurrock Conservatives a different species from Basildon Conservatives or Corringham Conservatives? Who do you think you are kidding? Backtracking , excuse making and cover ups do not serve you or the party well. As we are doing trite how about “if you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem” -Trust me I’m a Conservative – I don’t think so – sack this pathetic excuse for a councillor and do it now, while it has some meaning for all those who were humiliated and fooled by a fool.
Dear Jackie,
Since my last blogged comment i have had more of a chance to digest and consider your response to the blatant discriminatory and racist comments of Councillor Rockliffe and find your statement completely inadequate. You clearly state that this matter and i quote “could bring the Conservative Party into disrepute”. Surely it is plain for all to see that this despicable excuse for a Councillor has already brought the Party and the Council into disrepute and i totally disagree with your feeble line of passing the buck and insisting that it is a matter for the local Conservative Party to address this situation. I believe that you as the newly elected Conservative MP for Thurrock instead of seeking to distance yourself from this debacle that you should as the leading figure for the Thurrock Conservatives be dealing with this situation in sending a clear unequivocal message to all members of the Conservative cause that such blatantly racist and discriminatory comments cannot in any circumstance be tolerated. Your feeble and bland response after 2 days fails in my mind to demonstrate any such leadership on your part and appears to me that you are definitely sitting on the fence. I believe that the Monitoring Officer at Thurrock Council should become involved in this serious matter and that the Race Relations Board should become involved to ensure that we do not yet again have another brushing under the carpet of this matter and which this situation clearly has the smell of.
Come on Jackie stand up and be counted for the people and electorate of Chafford Hundred as they did for you in the general election! Fairs fair is it not?
I totally agree with Alberts comments. Is it any coincidence that Mr Rockcliffe is also councillor for North Stifford, where from every lamp post there flutters the English flag of St George, what sort of racial message is this sending out? Maybe those sitting in their ivory towers of the monitoring offices that grace New Road should actually get out into the community and see that rascism is alive, well and kicking in Thurrock and do something about it.
Albert, you really are a sad individual, surely you have something better to do with your life? The hatred you have for Mr Rockcliffe is ridiculous. I know for a fact that the councillor has a lot of support from his Chafford electorate.
Neo if iam sad you must be mad how much support do you think rockcliffe is going to get from the black electorate.