Cllr Paul Smith: ‘clowning around’, or just giving no-nonsense answers?

Published: 22 October, 2010
by PETER GRUNER

NEVER one to use a dozen words when one will do, environment chief Labour councillor Paul Smith was accused of “acting like a clown” at Islington’s full council meeting last Thursday.

Angry Lib Dem opposition councillors accused Cllr Smith of playing to the gallery with his “mocking” one word answers to questions – answers which tended to be either “yes” or “no”.

Asked by Lib Dem councillor John Gilbert whether there was an intention to honour the previous Lib Dem policy on the protection of trees, Cllr Smith stood up, responded “yes” , and sat down again to guffaws from his colleagues.

Speaking after the meeting, Lib Dem councillor Tracy Ismail said Cllr Smith’s one-word answers showed contempt for the meeting. 

“We needed a full explanation but Cllr Smith was acting like a clown,” Cllr Ismail added. 

“You get a feeling that Labour – with 35 councillors compared with our 13 – are gloating. They continue to be in self-congratulatory mood even though the election was last May.”

Cllr Gilbert said he had emailed Cllr Smith, on behalf of constituents, about the tree policy: “I got back an email saying only that he was responsible for trees. I asked him if he would be reviewing policy but got no answer.”

Cllr Smith said he gave a straight forward answer to a question. 

“I can’t understand what the Lib Dems are complaining about,” he said. “Would they have wanted me to go on and on?

“The big issue in this borough is that we are about to lose millions of pounds of grants as a result of their government cuts. 

“Candidly, it’s their government that are making these cuts. 

“They should be hanging their heads in shame instead of complaining that they got a satisfactory and unambiguous answer to the question they asked.”