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Labour leader Raj Chada |
Labour ring
up with a recorded pool message
AUTOMATED phone message recorded by Labour leader
Raj Chada have been sent to at least 200 residents in Kentish
Town in an attempt to set out the party’s policy on the
Prince of Wales Road swimming baths.
Just a week after the Labour group accused Lib Dem rivals of
turning the future of the swimming pool into a “political
football”, party strategists have taken the unusual step
of using new technology to hammer home their message about the
baths.
Kentish Town residents answering their phones last week were
surprised to hear Councillor Chada trumpeting the new £14-million
plan to refurbish the pool – and many only realised the
message was recorded when they unsuccessfully attempted to interrupt.
Cllr Chada saying: “Hello, this is Councillor Raj Chada,
leader of Labour Camden. I’m calling to tell you the latest
news about Kentish Town Baths, because I know that this is an
important issue in your area.
“I am pleased to tell you that Labour Camden guaranteed
the continued use of the Kentish Town Baths today, for the years
to come.”
One woman who received the message described it as an unexpected
“party political broadcast”.
Cllr Chada told the New Journal that Labour had adopted a range
of methods to get across its messages and added that the automated
phone call system was just like a letter or a leaflet.
He would not be drawn on how many people had been targeted,
adding only that “a number of people” would get the
call, although the New Journal understands at least 200 received
it.
Cllr Chada said: “I identify myself as the leader of the
council but the message is from the Labour Party.” He added
that the system was paid for by Labour funds. – not the
council purse.
Full transcript of message:
"Hello, this is Councillor Raj Chada, leader of Labour
Camden.
I'm calling to tell you the latest news about Kentish Town Baths,
because I know that this is an important issue in your area.
I am pleased to tell you that Labour Camden guaranteed the continued
use of the Kentish Town Baths today, for the years to come.
Our refurbishment programme includes the two main pools and
modernisation of the baths as a whole.
You may know that our political opponents were insisting we
spend £29 million on a full-blown and extravagant restoration
of the Baths. This would have been disastrous for the council's
finances and the level of council tax.
Labour always promised to strike the right balance between having
first class swimming pools and getting value for money for council
taxpayers, and I hope you'll agree that is what we have done
with our decision.
If you have any questions about this please do not hesitate
to contact me on ** *** *** ***.
Thanks for listening and goodbye." |
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