I’m not quite sure how much sympathy we should have for Councillor Jenny Davies, Lib-Dem Councillor for Stopsley in Luton Borough Council.

According to the Borough’s website she was first elected in 1983, so she’s an old hand at the local politics game. But her reply to an unsolicited email tends to suggest that whatever her public utterances may be, she holds views that are perhaps no less prejudiced than those held by extremist parties.

Being a lawyer, I looked up the Local Adjudication – the hearing – of the complaint against her. It doesn’t tell me much more than the local paper’s story – an EXCLUSIVE for a few hours on Luton on Sunday’s website a couple of days ago.

I am not a person who is going to condemn this kind of error. I think that everyone in life is due at least a second chance, if not a third and a fourth… But I do ask about the Judgement of someone in public office who is so rampant in her views that her words are little more than pure abuse!

We all have legitimate reasons to be concerned about the extent to which large corporations, like those controlled by Rupert Murdoch, appear to influence the public agenda. Money buys power and influence. It has always been thus.

In the legal world we face the prospect that later this year lawyers may be owned by commercial interests. This is the concept of the Alternative Business Structure (ABS) – the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has written guidance for solicitors on this challenging topic.

ABSs will potentially radically change the whole legal landscape. Because of this, the rest of the world are watching. Before the advent of ABSs, the independence of lawyers was sacrosanct. Afterwards, it will not longer be.

Whatever the new rules on ABSs say, the likes of Rupert Murdoch will purchase their lawyers as a new saleable commodity.

So, Jenny Davies’ outspoken views of the Murdoch empire may well be based on a serious concern about that empire’s pervasive power and influence. But, she is in public office. She is not a pub sounding off. And abuse doesn’t win arguments. Nor is it more than a short step to actual violence.

But maybe it’s a Lib-Dem thing. Afterall, the once sainted Vince Cable was hardly less outspoken.

And, then again, Jenny Davies has been a Councillor for upwards of 20 years so she probably knows better than us.

Article posted on Wednesday, February, 16th, 2011 at 12:02 pm

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