Toad Rams Rams

I read today in the Barnet Times, that Robert 'scourge-of-the-arts' Rams has launched a petition to get the 384 bus route expanded.

May I take this opportunity to remind him of his dear, close colleague: Brian 'Mr Toad' Coleman's comments on such a tactic:

"On the general subject of petitions Politicians of all Parties will tell you they usually ignore petitions, as it is not unusual to have people sign petitions for and against a particular proposal!"

Oh.

Olympic snub to Barnet. But why?

The Barnet Times reports today about the distress of poor Councillor Robert 'scourge of history and the arts' Rams, who cannot for the life of him understand why the Olympic cycle race would not want to pass through the soon-to-be cultural desert of Barnet. "I find it hard to believe that the organising committee could not find an alternative route which would allow Barnet residents to be involved."

Hmmm, you don't suppose that the organising committe remember this charming anti-Olympic rant by your close colleague, Brian 'Mr Toad' Coleman do you? Click here for bigger and readable.

I suppose its safe to assume then, that Mr Toad will not be competing in the high jump. Shame. If there was a freeloading contest on the other hand....

Tip of the hat to the Boriswatch blog for scanning and uploading the full article.

No lollipops at Brian Coleman's banquet

The ever-excellent Adam Bienkov has unearthed the detail about Brian Coleman's "completely excessive" £2,338.00 lunch - paid from Fire Brigade budgets.

Keen toad-watchers will already be aware that the full-bellied, green-skinned councillor plans to axe lollipop crossing patrols for Barnet's children.

So this got me reaching for my righteous calculator of justice and my back-of-a-fag-packet of truth. Hypothetically speaking, just how many school crossing patrols could be paid for with the money Coleman squandered on personal face-stuffing?*

If we assume that Barnet's lollipop-bearers are on the minimum wage of £5.93 per hour (this is 'EasyCouncil' Barnet we're talking about remember), and if we assume that they work for 1.5 hours a day, we can calculate that they cost a total of £8.90 each day. If we then divide the cost of Coleman's 'free' lunch by the daily cost of a lollipop patrol person we can see that Coleman's lunch excesses would pay for 262 days of lollipoop patrol. Given that they only work in term time, say 200 days per year - that's more than an entire annual post - which Coleman intends to axe - in the name of austerity of course.

*I am aware that the different budget lines makes this an impossibility

A loyal Tory writes about Brian 'Mr Toad' Coleman

"I have recently witnessed Mr Toad's bad behaviour at a meeting. He was reading other unrelated paperwork and playing with his mobiles. Then he chirped up with comments totally unrelated to the topic.

When I commented to a council official that he was very badly behaved ...they said that that is how he aways behaves.

I am a loyal Tory but this man is an embarrassment."

This was a comment left yesterday on the 'Brian Coleman (aka Mr Toad) has got to go' Facebook group page.

Brian Coleman describes the FBU.....

"A thoroughly unpleasant and nasty lot...Most are thick, can’t string a sentence together and frankly are incoherent."

These are Brian Coleman's sweet words of conciliation according to Evening Standard journalist: Ross Lydall, who has done some great reporting on the fire dispute in London.

To keep up to date with his reports, please see his blog and his Twitter feed.

Brian Coleman Hampered

Ross Lydall has a very interesting article in the Evening Standard today about the fortchcoming Fire Authority meeting on Thursday. I recommend you go and read it, but here are a couple of nuggets of information from it.

Outside, there'll be a protest to reinstate the suspended union activist and Queen's Fire Service Medal owner Sian Griffiths.

Inside, Councillor Navin Shah will be asking Brian 'Mr Toad' Coleman:

"The recent press coverage concerning the hospitality outlined below which was received by you from Asset Co prior to the award of a contract:

· Lunch to a value of £25 on 30 October 2007
· Dinner to a value of £50 on 23 July 2008
· A Harvey Nichols hamper to a value of £350 on 24 December 2008
· Dinner to a value of £40 on 19 January 2009

has been highly critical. Do you now accept that these actions reflect poor judgement and a lack of sensitivity on your part and will you now assure Londoners that such damaging conduct will not be repeated in the future?"

A good question - but I wouldn't hold your breath for a good answer from slippery Mr Toad.

Brian Coleman - Fanning the flames

As the increasingly bitter dispute within the London Fire Brigade rumbles on, fire chief Brian 'Mr Toad' Coleman has proposed cutting 16 per cent of London's fire engines.

What hope of any kind of resolution with this pig-headed fool at the helm?

As ever, Adam Bienkov has the scoop.