Cancelled For Complaining

You don’t have to like his politics to know that Mehmood Mirza has been the most consistent and energetic campaigner against fly-tipping and rubbish in the borough for the last four years.

On Facebook, on Nextdoor, indeed on any platform he can access Mr Mirza has highlighted the deplorable state of the borough’s streets. Until recently he also let the council know how well, (or not) it was performing on the council Facebook page.

And his reward for all of this effort? A thank you letter from the mayor for all of his efforts to try and improve the borough? An award for all of his hard work? An invitation to address the council on his concerns?

Yeah. In your dreams.

The reward that Mr Mirza got was to block him on the council’s Facebook page. So, we get the picture. You can say what you want on the council’s page as long as it doesn’t criticise the mayor.

So much for a “participatory democracy”. You can participate as long as you are on-message. Everything is fine. “Ignorance is Strength”, “Freedom is Slavery”. All hail Big Sister.