A story of how free speech gets you into trouble in the LibDems, I echo the views of my fellow Libertarian citizenstuart
UNDER-FIRE COUNCILLOR FACES SACK
IAIN ROBINSON
IAIN.ROBINSON@THESENTINEL.CO.UK
09:40 – 21 April 2008
City
councillor Gavin Webb could be thrown off a school's board of governors
after making controversial calls to legalise heroin and prostitution.
Liberal Democrat (Libertarian) councillor Gavin Webb's position is
being reviewed after publicly expressing controversial views.
Thistley Hough High School, in Penkhull, could now decide to sack him from its board of governors.
The
chair of governors, Gill Miller, said she is seeking advice on Mr
Webb's position in light of complaints about comments he has made.
She
said: “I have alerted the governing support unit at the city council
and the governing body is currently considering Mr Webb's position.”
Talking about drugs, Mr Webb said: “I believe we should legalise the lot, including the most harmful substance heroin.”
He has also described the police's drug-busting Operation Nemesis as a “waste of money”.
He
has also said: “The only person one can trust in protecting one's own
life, is oneself. That is why I also advocate that individuals should
have the right to carry a handgun.”
Other
controversial views expressed by Mr Webb include that drink-driving is
not a crime, that brothels should be legal and that Britain's borders should be opened up to anyone who wants to enter the country.
Stoke-on-Trent
City Council's Liberal Democrat group leader, Councillor Jean Bowers,
said she was concerned about some of the comments Mr Webb has made in
recent weeks. She said a member of the public had contacted her to
complain about some of his views.
Mr Webb, pictured, said he is aware that some of his views were unpopular, and could even jeopardise his position as a governor.
He
said: “I am getting flak from various people, but part of the role of
politicians is to tell people to take responsibility for their own
lives, instead of blaming other people.”
“At the end of the day, it's up the board of school governors whether they support me or sack me.”
Many of Mr Webb's controversial statements were made on The Sentinel's website.
Mr
Webb is also being investigated by the Standards Board of England after
an alleged four-letter outburst at a fellow councillor.
Terrible, eh? Imagine a free-thinking individual
with classical liberal views having responsibility for helping to
educate kids! Imagine where that could lead – you could have a
generation of kids growing up with the habit of thinking for themselves
instead of relying on their “betters” in the political and media
classes.
Notice that the leader of the Liberal Democrat group was quick to stab Councillor Webb in the back. I understand from Ziggy Encaoua of the Open Liberty Alliance that
Councillor Webb has now been suspended from his party. It seems the
“Lib” Dems aren't too tolerant of people expressing liberal views.
Councillor
Webb, if you happen to read this – there's a good home waiting for you
in the Libertarian Party if you want it. We're small, we're
underfunded and we don't yet have a political organisation to match the
“Lib” Dems – but we are allowed (encouraged, even) to think and speak
for ourselves.
