Statement from Cllr. Mark Hubbard in response to letter from former councillor Mike Wilson in this week’s Hereford Journal:
In response to Mike Wilson’s letter (HJ – 26th January 2011) sticking the boot into It’s Our County (Herefordshire) for supposedly not getting the facts.  He should take his own advice and get his own facts right before he peddles them in the press.
He claims correctly that no one was available from It’s Our County (IOC) to attend the Herefordshire Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, but refrains from telling people that IOC is denied a seat at that table. The Liberal Democrats with 9 councillors are given 3 seats and the Herefordshire Independents with 11 councillors are given 4 seats.  IOC with 5 councillors has none.
As Mike Wilson knows these are public meetings and all of the documentation is available publicly – you don’t always have to be present to know the facts AND what is going on behind the scenes!
He then pushes the lie that IOC is funded to the tune of £20-30k from property developers. This is where he hangs himself –  he does not have the facts, so he has made them up!
Our first AGM had a capacity audience last week, at which our treasurer reported a total income of £7470.98 – all of which has come from local people who share IOC concerns, NOT property developers. If only we did have £30k in the bank, then IOC could employ full time workers and research staff, as is the case with other national parties at local level.
He didn’t even get our colours right – green AND purple.
Mike Wilson is a seasoned local politician, with decades of experience and it shows. When they feel threatened they attack, manipulating the truth and making things up, just like all of the national parties.
It’s Our County is new, it is fresh and we have the energy and drive to take the system on and change it for the better.  I for one am glad that we lack experience. It means we will not perpetuate the political culture of the past, which, looking at it from an ordinary person’s perspective, has done Herefordshire few favours.
Mark Hubbard
Leader – It’s Our County