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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to go to the press?

72 replies

ANonna · 29/04/2013 13:37

I have received an email that was sent by a local councillor, complaining about immigration, and specifically 'ragheads'. WIBU to contact the press, as well as making a formal complaint?

OP posts:
GnocchiGnocchiWhosThere · 29/04/2013 14:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MadBusLady · 29/04/2013 14:05

I have some experience observing local politics and I would be very sceptical about this. It's a much more routinely dirty and vicious business than most people realise. How can you be so sure it's not a hoax?

If he genuinely forwarded something like this then yes, go to the press, he deserves everything he gets. But out of civil manners I would contact him/his party first and make sure he actually did press "forward". Nothing to stop you going to the press afterwards if you're at all dissatisfied with the answer.

Original poster
ANonna · 29/04/2013 14:09

I know for sure it was not a hoax. It was sent to a group of similarly positioned people from his account, and expresses in writing sentiments that he commonly expresses in person. It is 100% bona fide, I'm certain of that.

I'm reluctant to sent to his political party. What would that achieve?

OP posts:
LunaticFringe · 29/04/2013 14:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
ANonna · 29/04/2013 14:10

Sorry, was sent to other councillors, officers and some members of the public.

OP posts:
Original poster
ANonna · 29/04/2013 14:11

From personal email account.

OP posts:
mrsden · 29/04/2013 14:11

YANBU to go the Guardian, YABU if you go to the Daily Mail.

WMDinthekitchen · 29/04/2013 14:12

Reply to the email and say that the terms used are totally unacceptable. Then, report him/her to the leader of the party group in the council to which the councillor belongs, saying that you would like a response within 24 hours and that you will also report the matter using the council's own complaints procedure.

After that you could go to the press but I would first of all think about your motives for doing that (for e.g. if you are involved with another party). Going to the press can backfire spectacularly if an informant has any relevant skeletons in the cupboard (and I am not accusing you of being racist). If the local press is worth its salt it will investigate all circumstances rigorously before printing a story - and that would include your own circumstances. You may be perfectly OK with that but as someone who has considerable experience of the press and politics I would proceed with caution.

MadBusLady · 29/04/2013 14:13

Why reluctant? It doesn't limit your future actions in any way, it just gives them a chance to say, "Er, no, he says he didn't send that." But it's true you don't have to - sending it to the press will achieve the same end because the first thing they'll do is send it to his local party.

When I say I'm "sceptical", I mean I know of cases of councillors' emails being hacked (pretty clumsily usually) by opponents in order to send compromising stuff.

Manyofhorror3 · 29/04/2013 14:13

Wow! Blow it wide open! That's utterly unacceptable!

Original poster
ANonna · 29/04/2013 14:14

I don't think this is big scale politics enough for hacking, surely? And totally not out of character at all. Just the first I've seen it in writing.

OP posts:
MadBusLady · 29/04/2013 14:15

My thoughts on going to the press are similar to WMD's. It is not a thing I would do lightly unless I was really sure I had something that (a) was 100% valid/true (b) needed to be out in the public interest and (c) wasn't going to get out otherwise. It is not the no-strings option many people think.

Original poster
ANonna · 29/04/2013 14:15

Btw the party must know. The officers who received it have complained.

OP posts:
SolomanDaisy · 29/04/2013 14:16

Technically the other councillors and officers should report him to the local standards committee. If it's a councillor from a party known to be racist then the party hq won't be interested, but the main three parties certainly would. They would probably suspend membership and ask him to resign. Are you an officer? Be careful about your own code of conduct if so.

MadBusLady · 29/04/2013 14:16

Local politics is vicious precisely because the stakes are so low, as someone or other once said.

SolomanDaisy · 29/04/2013 14:17

The local party might need pressure from hq before they act.

Original poster
ANonna · 29/04/2013 14:18

I'd rather not say who I am.

How about the police first? Or is that not illegal?

OP posts:
MadBusLady · 29/04/2013 14:19

I'm using "hacked" in the silly layman's sense of guessing a password, or used a communal machine to access someone else's official mail etc. Yes, it definitely happens.

Original poster
ANonna · 29/04/2013 14:27

I really don't think so

OP posts:
Original poster
ANonna · 29/04/2013 14:27

And he hasn't denied sending it either. He has been asked to apologise

OP posts:
fuzzypicklehead · 29/04/2013 14:28

What is it that's stopping you, OP?

LunaticFringe · 29/04/2013 14:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
ANonna · 29/04/2013 14:30

What has been mentioned upthread. I don't really want myself to be the subject of any probing. I don't like any kind of limelight.

OP posts:
EuroShopperEnergyDrink · 29/04/2013 14:33

Don't send it to his political party- don't allow them to engage any crisis management at all and prepare their spin to make his actions acceptable.

Print screen and tweet on Twitter.
Private eye.
All newsdesks.

Go!

EuroShopperEnergyDrink · 29/04/2013 14:34

You won't be subject to any probing or limelight- just give them the information, you won't be mentioned or asked about it again.

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