Dear Editor
Calne News has generously offered all candidates standing in the local elections on 1st May an opportunity to ‘introduce’ themselves. This encourages open political discussion, which in turn strengthens our local democracy.
I was a shocked to see several rude and abusive comments posted in response to what some candidates have written. Calne News has now stopped publishing comments.
An effective Town Councillor might spend on average about 10 hours pw in the role: attending meetings, listening to residents, reading reports etc.. 500 hours a year; 2,000 hours over the 4 year term. Town councillors receive no pay, allowances, or perks. They give their time for the good of the community, to help make Calne a better place to live.
The keyboard warriors who choose abuse over reason and rudeness over civility, are poisoning political debate . They deter others from joining in the discussions and I am sure also deter some potentially excellent candidates from standing for election. The Council lost one of its best members a few months ago when Cllr Michael Hudston stood down, citing abuse on social media.
We have seen how in the US these have poisoned political debate. Those piling in with nasty posts on Calne News are not offering the community anything themselves (I mention the number of hours conscientious councillors spend on council work); and effectively they are using social media as a form of intimidation - ‘dare reply and you’ll get more and worse abuse’.
That said I spoke to perhaps 50 local residents this am and pm while canvassing for Celia and every single one of them was polite.
Very few countries enjoy the degree of freedom of speech we have in the UK. But this freedom does not confer a right to air one’s prejudices and cause offence.
John Boaler
Chairman Calne Labour Party