Pontiuspilot you appearred to have walked straight into Mervyn Granshaws trap. The election of the BALPA GS is not really for this thread but I think its an important issue for all of us.
BALPA leadership have attempted to rubber stamp the re-election of Chris Darke by hushing up the requirement to re-elect him. JF is standing to prevent this. Its not relevant which candidate one prefers, but now at least CD must issue a manifesto setting out his goals so that we have a standard by which to measure his performance. For a man to receive £100000 of all our money without spelling out in detail what he intends to do for it is unacceptable.
BALPAs financial situation is currently fairly bleak, despite membership increasing significantly. There has been inadequate explanation of this anomaly. Also there is evidence, certainly of a laxness towards personal accounting, if not dishonest use of the associations funds, identifed in the accounts. Its all our money, so why has there been no open debate on this subject?
Why has MG sought to influence the outcome of the election so blatantly, using association funds to campaign on behalf of one candidate, breaking association rules in the process? Why has he sought to portray JFs nomination as a BA conspiracy and why has he sought to turn this into a 'David and Goliath' campaign with big bad JF efficiently mobilising his (minority BALPA group) BA membership against poor 'David' Darke, who only has at his disposal all the assets of the association, a mailshot to every member and a page in The Log?
There is something rotten in our association and these latest shenanigans suggest it goes all the way to the top. If 'standing ovation' CD is so confident of his support why is he trying to rig the vote? Why does MG feel he has to support him. And why are they trying to sway your opinion whilst denying their opponents the same opportunity?
Who you vote for on the day is your choice, but I would implore you to reserve judgement until both candidates have had a fair opportunity to state their case. Whichever side of the fence you're on let us all at least unite behind the principal that our association is democratic, not autocratic.