The following includes a response to Weymouth Portland & Chickerell Conservatives by Green Councillor Claudia Webb.
‘I am sharing a screenshot of a post from the local Conservative branch because I believe residents should be able to see the tone and claims being made about Green councillors in our town.
I want to respond calmly and clearly.
Blanket shaming of people because of their political party is wrong. It reduces individuals to caricatures and encourages suspicion rather than debate. It is not how local democracy should work.’
The following is what we now expect from the mouth and brain of Donald Trump.
‘My own mother and some of my friends are Conservative. I was previously a Conservative councillor myself. I would never speak about them, or about any other party, in the way that has been written about Greens. We can disagree strongly on policy without questioning one another’s character, motives or integrity.
I do not agree with every single item in the Green Party manifesto. I am sure many people in other parties would say the same about theirs. That is normal. Politics is not about blind loyalty. It is about judgement and serving your community responsibly.
I also lived in Israel for a year and developed a deeper understanding of the complexity of that region and its politics. Accusations of antisemitism are serious and should never be thrown around lightly for political effect. They matter too much for that.
What I do agree with is working hard for our residents here in Weymouth. That is what I was elected to do and that is where my focus remains.
The Green councillors I know locally are people of integrity, natural kindness and open-mindedness. They care deeply about this town and about the people who live here. You may disagree with them. That is entirely legitimate. But describing them as extremists with dark ideas beneath the surface is simply not true.
If anyone wishes to challenge a specific policy position, I welcome that discussion. Quote it accurately. Debate it honestly. That is democracy.
Weymouth deserves serious politics, respectful disagreement and representatives who focus on solving problems, not creating fear.
We can and must do better than this.’
