I AM glad to support the Chronicle's campaign for 'Proper Papers Not Propaganda' against h&f news - the Tory-run council's tax payer-funded propaganda sheet. h&f news is widely recognised as a key component of the corruption of local political independence that has long been a core value of all British government institutions.
Imagine the outcry if a national UK government decided to spend taxpayers' money producing a fortnightly national propaganda paper, which it dressed up as an independent newspaper and delivered to people's homes for free. It would cause concern about the state of our democracy at an international level. Why therefore do those involved think it's ok for Hammersmith and Fulham's local government to produce this aberration? h&f news has brought our council into disrepute.
My fellow Labour councillors and I have long campaigned against the council's propaganda paper as people can read on tinyurl.com/cowanfreepress.
That's why we have pledged to dispose of h&f news in our manifesto. We will also cut council advertising, reduce the press office to a minimum and in doing so save £5million. The Chronicle is joining a long line of those appalled by the propaganda in our borough.
Last October, parliamentarians of all parties attacked it at a Select Committee. Last August, the Evening Standard published a withering exposé. And even the Tax Payers Alliance told H&F's Conservatives to 'hang their heads in shame'.
As well as h&f news, the council has purchased self-promoting (and often misleading) adverts fluttering from every lamppost. It has bought more adverts in Tube stations and even paid for a giant advertising hoarding to be strapped to a van and driven around the borough.
This taxpayer-funded political promotion has to stop.
COUNCILLOR STEPHEN COWAN Labour Leader of the Opposition Hammersmith and Fulham Council
