I told you so!

 In October 2012, Don’t Call Me Dave published a blog suggesting that Barnet Conservatives should ditch leader Richard Cornelius who was gaining a reputation as a weak and wet ditherer, unable to control his councillors. DCMD wrote:

Brian Coleman knows that his political career is in its death throes and, like a spoilt child, he is determined to take the whole Conservative Group down with him. It will undoubtedly serve them right, but it will be the residents who ultimately suffer as they end up with another ruinous Labour administration.

If the Conservatives wish to retain any credibility as a serious political party, then Mr Cornelius must be removed as leader and replaced by someone who will deal with recalcitrant and errant councillors. Time is running out if they want to hold on to power.

Brian Coleman has now published a blog, dishing the dirt on all of his former colleagues. This was as predictable as it was avoidable. But rather than just ignoring him, many of the targets of Cllr Coleman’s acerbic comments have risen to the bait and responded, thus ensuring that our Brian retains his high profile in the run up to the publication of his autobiography and the 2014 elections, in which he will stand as an independent candidate. As Phineas T. Barnum  is alleged to have remarked, “there is no such thing as bad publicity.”  

Cllr Coleman admits that he has absolutely nothing to lose, as a return to selling outdoor advertising beckons. As for ditching Richard Cornelius as leader, it may be too late to save the Conservatives now. But it won’t be Brian Coleman’s fault if they lose next year. It will be theirs.