Councillor can't speak English...so best form of defence is attack: CRY RACISM!

[Whaleboy]

Which nations do manage it then?

Looks across Atlantic

[MikeH]

I agree with Bodds for once! (not really)

I think it's a shame that people are made to feel like foriegners in their own country by people like Bodds.

[MikeH]

Damn there was a page 2!!!

[*End Is Forever*]

Last time I checked, plenty of white people in the world couldn't speak English either.

[MikeH]

I hope it was a coincidence you posted that after I posted.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
The same as Cockney's. I don't see a compelling arguement for the council to pay for the translator.

Because the public chose him.

That's how it works. In his election campaign he or his party would have had to meet the expense. However once he becomes an elected representative he can claim for those translation expenses arising from his public duty. Such expenses are not excluded, and there is no requirement to speak English to be a councillor. You just need a democratic election victory.

If it proves to be very expensive, he'll probably get crucified for it at the next election, and the resulting publicity will hit the ratings of other LibDem councillors too. Therefore they have a vested interest in him improving his English.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Lazarus and the Gimp
Because the public chose him.

Picking up where this point left off: The people voted for the Lib Dems, not him.

[our_man]

I don't really see a problem if the translator is only a temporary measure, but this councillor should work his ass off to learn to speak English if he's serious about representing people who are, after all, English and thus speak the language themselves.

As a matter of interest, how long has he lived in Britain? That's a major point that should be considered with regard to his non-existant English. It understandable if he's only been in the country for a few months.

For example, our last President, Mary Robinson, was elected to office and she admitted that her knowledge of the Irish language was extremely bad. Not a lot of people speak the language in every day situations, but it's still used in formal occasions. She started intensive courses in Irish and within a few months was extremely proficient.

I believe that if he wants to take this job seriously, he should learn English. If he has no intention of doing so, I would question his willingness to integrate into British culture. In effect he would be telling his constituents that are immigrants "look at me, I don't have to make an effort to integrate. Why should you?"

BTW, he was granted asylum simply because his business was attacked!? People have their businesses attacked every day in Ireland! Wow, the British will really grant asylum to anyone!

[Gibsie]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Picking up where this point left off: The people voted for the Lib Dems, not him.

When I voted in the local elections it clearly stated the names of the candidates by the party, and there no doubt would have been other Lib Dems on the ballot (There were four on mine I beleive).

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Picking up where this point left off: The people voted for the Lib Dems, not him.

I wouldn't presume to think I know that. He may have been personally known to many (it's just a council ward, after all). Alternatively, the fact that he has an "ethnic" name may have swayed others either way.

It makes little difference, however.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Should we have personal disclosure on ballot forms?

"G.W. Bush. Arrested three times. DUI conviction. Grasp of English tenuous. Rich parents."

[Whaleboy]

G.W. Bush. Arrested three times. DUI conviction. Grasp of English tenuous. Rich parents.

[Evil Knevil]

Actually, the best form of defence is to hold the higher ground and maintain a flexible structure to repel enemy attacks from all possible positions.

[MikeH]

What if you are in Holland?

[Evil Knevil]

Then you face downwind and burn your huge piles of hashish. Stuns and confuses the enemy