UPDATED: Green Brighton and Hove councillor talks about her fight against TB (From The Argus)
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UPDATED: Green Brighton and Hove councillor talks about her fight against TB
7:55pm Thursday 21st June 2012 in News By Tim Ridgway, Local government reporter
A councillor has spoken for the first time about battling a life-threatening illness.
Amy Kennedy has represented Preston Park ward on Brighton and Hove City Council since 2007.
However the former deputy council leader has stopped attending town hall meetings since she was diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) in January.
With some opposition councillors suggesting she stand down, the former planning and regeneration cabinet member has broken her silence on fighting the potentially deadly disease.
Coun Kennedy said: “The course of treatment, which began in February, is six months long and I am now about two-thirds of the way through.
“I am in touch with residents and ward colleagues, who have ensured that my ward duties are properly covered, but have been advised by my consultant not to sit on any committees until I've completed my treatment.
“I am better than I was but I still have TB.”
If left untreated, the disease kills more than 50% of those infected.
Coun Kennedy has briefly attended one full council meeting since being diagnosed during that time to avoid an automatic by-election being triggered.
Plans for her to continue as the council Green group deputy leader were changed in May when Phelim MacCafferty took on the role.
But Conservative councillor Dawn Barnett said: “I do not think it’s right.
“You either are a councillor representing residents or you’re not. I think the time has come where she has to go.”
Coun Barnett likened the situation to her former Conservative councillor colleague Paul Lainchbury, who was forced to step down from representing Goldsmid ward in 2009.
Opposition councillors then accused him of “absenteeism” adding he only attended full council meetings to avoid the then ruling Tory administration from losing its casting vote.
Coun Barnett said: “It’s double standards. Paul was ill and the Greens absolutely hounded him.
“The reason she does not stand down is because they know they will lose the seat.”
Preston Park is represented by three Green councillors after the party took two seats from Labour in the May 2011 local elections.
Fellow ward councillor Leo Littman said: “Amy has shown enormous dedication to her work as a councillor and her ward residents.
"Everywhere we go residents ask us to pass on their get-well wishes and even cards and presents. Several Conservative councillors have also sent cards.”
He added: “This is nothing more than a politically-motivated attack on a woman who is working hard to overcome a serious medical condition.”
Comments(34)
skippy981
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9:14pm Thu 21 Jun 12
longman
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9:21pm Thu 21 Jun 12
OhComeOnPlease
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10:19pm Thu 21 Jun 12
Lady Smith
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10:42pm Thu 21 Jun 12
Vigilia
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10:50pm Thu 21 Jun 12
I wish Councillor Kennedy God's speed in her recovery from this pernicious disease. Of course she can't attend Council meetings but in this age of absolute electronic communication she can still serve her electorate in the commendable manner she has shown to date.
Is it little wonder that the public looks upon local government politics with such contempt?
Tel Scoomer
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10:52pm Thu 21 Jun 12
If we had single-member wards, it might be more understandable to want her to stand down, but with 3 councillors to a ward, the other 2 should be able to take up the slack when needs must.
Amy Kennedy is a good councillor and most reasonable people will hope she returns as soon as she's fully fit again. I reckon even quite a few of her political opponents would agree with that sentiment.
Tel Scoomer
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11:00pm Thu 21 Jun 12
Vigilia wrote:The opposition councillor is Dawn Barnett, according to Brighton and Hove News. She was the councillor who was harassed by the Greens for doing her job last year when she spoke up about travellers. They tried to paint her as a racist, which she's patently not, and they used the discredited 'standards' regime in a petty attempt to silence her. Given the fuss they made when Jason Kitcat was put through the same McCarthy-style witch-hunt, it was a bit rich. You're right. It's not hard to see why the public has contempt for politicians when, regardless of party, they behave in this way.
Who are the opposition Councillors making these demands? Please name them and shame them.
I wish Councillor Kennedy God's speed in her recovery from this pernicious disease. Of course she can't attend Council meetings but in this age of absolute electronic communication she can still serve her electorate in the commendable manner she has shown to date.
Is it little wonder that the public looks upon local government politics with such contempt?
pperrin
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11:37pm Thu 21 Jun 12
Old Ale Man
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6:41am Fri 22 Jun 12
And you people in your "green" glass houses need to remember this before you start throwing stones.
mimseycal
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6:46am Fri 22 Jun 12
No wonder no one has any time to really listen to the electorate. They are too busy sharpening their talons
george smith
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7:03am Fri 22 Jun 12
Old Ale Man wrote:I am very sorry to hear she has such a dreadful illness, I know it unfashionable for parents to have their kids vaccinated, but the only way to stop the spread is if everyone participates.
Let me remind you that some years back the greens did more than this to a councillor in Hove who was suffering deppression brought on by continuing harasment by the greens to resign and he only missed 1 or 2 council meetings. What goes round comes round. And you people in your "green" glass houses need to remember this before you start throwing stones.
However as a councillor, she doesn't live in the ward and her claim to fame was handling in the petition that the the guy who runs the cafe collected. Parking along Preston park ave is a joke
fredflintstone1
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9:37am Fri 22 Jun 12
Crystal Ball
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9:42am Fri 22 Jun 12
Old Ale Man
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9:46am Fri 22 Jun 12
Crystal Ball wrote:I wouldn't go so far as to refer to them as thieves Crystal!!!!
Would the phrase "there is no honour among theives" be applicable in some way?
Retired Loon in Brighton
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10:00am Fri 22 Jun 12
longman wrote:The BCG vaccine in 10 to 14 year olds was deemed not to be worthwhile.
Wish her better. As stated, TB is a life threatening illness, am still waiting to hear why my child and thousands of others have been denied the jab. My two older children have had it, so why cant the youngest. Am not impressed!
I understand that the vaccine will be offered to young babies in high risk areas (with large immigrant populations) such as London. Those whose parents or grandparents have lived in parts of the world where TB is epidemic, including Africa and the Indian subcontinent, will be offered it. I think many will not receive it and TB will continue to spread throughout the UK.
The decision was to reflect the changing patterns of TB infection in the UK, hoping to protect children and others who are at higher risk.
I disagree, and the £10million it saves annually won't cover 15 minutes of fireworks at the Olympics by the sound of it.
Tel Scoomer
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10:41am Fri 22 Jun 12
fredflintstone1 wrote:Councillors receive allowances, rather than pay, having traditionally been unpaid and able to claim expenses only.
I would hope everyone wishes her well in her battle against TB, but I'm afraid the question needs to be answered - has she still been claiming her allowance as a councillor during this period? People have a right to know. If she is not able to carry out council business, she should either (i) resign or (ii) not claim money for work that she has not been doing. I can vouch first-hand that she is not answering emails. I tried to contact her and simply got a response back suggesting I contacted one of her colleagues while she was ill.
In reality, the allowances are effectively pay. While some of us work for ourselves or as casual workers and don't get paid if we don't work, those of us who are employees receive sick pay when we're ill.
I don't know whether Amy Kennedy has received any allowances while she has been off, but she was in the council's cabinet until it was scrapped in May. That was quite a demanding job and attracted extra money, although relatively little for the level of responsibility that she had. And she will presumably still have all the same bills to pay.
I know politicians bring much of their misfortune on themselves, but there is a great deal to be said for treating each other fairly and humanely.
Even if Paul Lainchbury was poorly treated by the Greens, two wrongs don't make a right.
Old Ale Man
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10:56am Fri 22 Jun 12
SMc
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11:11am Fri 22 Jun 12
george smith wrote:It is not that it is 'unfashionable' to have our children have the BCG vaccination. Parents of Year 7 children in Brighton and Hove receive a letter explaining that the BCG is no longer offered in this area. There is a long list of countries with a high incidence of TB, and parents are encouraged to have children who might visit these countries immunised at their GP surgery. Most Brighton & Hove children are unlikely to visit most of the countries; many of the countries listed are places like Azerbaijan, Burundi or Bosnia. I felt that the letter was very clear and that the advice was appropriate. I feel for Amy Kennedy - TB is a terrible disease with a punishing treatment schedule. Best of luck with her recovery.
Old Ale Man wrote:I am very sorry to hear she has such a dreadful illness, I know it unfashionable for parents to have their kids vaccinated, but the only way to stop the spread is if everyone participates.
Let me remind you that some years back the greens did more than this to a councillor in Hove who was suffering deppression brought on by continuing harasment by the greens to resign and he only missed 1 or 2 council meetings. What goes round comes round. And you people in your "green" glass houses need to remember this before you start throwing stones.
However as a councillor, she doesn't live in the ward and her claim to fame was handling in the petition that the the guy who runs the cafe collected. Parking along Preston park ave is a joke
Retired Loon in Brighton
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1:07pm Fri 22 Jun 12
SMc wrote:I thought my post was more explanatory.
george smith wrote:It is not that it is 'unfashionable' to have our children have the BCG vaccination. Parents of Year 7 children in Brighton and Hove receive a letter explaining that the BCG is no longer offered in this area. There is a long list of countries with a high incidence of TB, and parents are encouraged to have children who might visit these countries immunised at their GP surgery. Most Brighton & Hove children are unlikely to visit most of the countries; many of the countries listed are places like Azerbaijan, Burundi or Bosnia. I felt that the letter was very clear and that the advice was appropriate. I feel for Amy Kennedy - TB is a terrible disease with a punishing treatment schedule. Best of luck with her recovery.Old Ale Man wrote: Let me remind you that some years back the greens did more than this to a councillor in Hove who was suffering deppression brought on by continuing harasment by the greens to resign and he only missed 1 or 2 council meetings. What goes round comes round. And you people in your "green" glass houses need to remember this before you start throwing stones.I am very sorry to hear she has such a dreadful illness, I know it unfashionable for parents to have their kids vaccinated, but the only way to stop the spread is if everyone participates. However as a councillor, she doesn't live in the ward and her claim to fame was handling in the petition that the the guy who runs the cafe collected. Parking along Preston park ave is a joke
The policy appears informed by those who believe that people who come from countries where TB is endemic will behave rationally and obtain the vaccine or engage with health services (that should be assisting to deport some of them from the UK rather than helping to spead TB here).
On top of that I think that Brighton has a reputation for the crass stupidity and pigheaded ignorance of many parents with regards to vaccine uptake. Add such new-age crystal healing suspicion about the government, alternative shaman healers trying make money from the gullible etc, and there are bound to be those (at high risk)bthat choose not to vaccinate their child or themselves. It only takes a few of such cases before TB infections can more rapidly spread through the general population. It is a disease of poverty, after all.
I couldn't believe your ridiculous notion of school children being "unlikely to visit Bosnia or Azerbaijan" which seems rather odd (FFS!)...I understand it is instead the small number of infected people from such countries that seem to be managing to increase the number of carriers and sufferers of TB in the UK.
Does that sound more plausible than Brighton kids catching TB on a school trip to Burundi?
Health protection experts may claim to have a grip on it but, like the government, don't appear to even accurately know the population of London, let alone the number of undiagnosed cases in populations that choose to segregate and avoid detection/treatment.
So, the UK policy seems flawed to me because it wrongly assumes that parents of at risk children will act responsibly and that government efforts to tackle TB in segregated or illegally resident people will have any chance of working well enough.
Even on detection, I understand some of those diagnosed with TB don't bother to take the whole treatment, choosing instead to do their utmost to infect family members and close associates.
The horror of drug-resistant TB is likely to wipe out an awful lot of people in the not too distant future.
I do hope this lady recovers well and that more information is made avaiable about TB.
SMc
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1:48pm Fri 22 Jun 12
Why is it ridiculous that I say that children in Brighton are unlikely to visit the countries listed on the HPA letter? How many Brighton children do you know who have visited these countries? Are you trying to say that children should receive the vaccination based on who comes to this country? If so, it is the HPA advice you think is ridiculous, not my description of it.
SMc
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1:57pm Fri 22 Jun 12
mimseycal
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2:20pm Fri 22 Jun 12
The increase in the past few years have been as a result of a combination of factors, immigration being but one of many. There has for instance been a marked increase amongst the homeless in London and not all of them are immigrants or overstayers.
Many people carry the bacterium responsible for TB havnig become infected either during travel abroad or when TB was more prevalent in this country. They will appear healthy and are non-infectious. However if their immune system were to break down – due to stress, old age or other diseases, the TB could become active – making them ill and they could then pass it on others.
haveagoodday
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3:49pm Fri 22 Jun 12
fredflintstone1
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5:01pm Fri 22 Jun 12
haveagoodday wrote:Perhaps she would like to comment about this then, or the Argus could ask her?
As Deputy Leader of the Green Administration Councillor Amy Kennedy would have been in receipt of a basic allowance of £11,463 and a special responsibility allowance of £17,254 making a total of £28,717 (latest figures I have). I understand she also has a very good job.
Leo Littman
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5:03pm Fri 22 Jun 12
According to the Argus (4th June 2009): Mr Lainchbury was criticised after he missed every committee meeting for a year.
He said the impact of the recession on his business meant he had been unable to dedicate enough time to council work. In his letter of resignation he wrote: "I must focus on my own business in order to protect my livelihood”
Is Cllr. Barnett suggesting that missing meetings to focus on your business is the same as missing meetings because you are suffering from a debilitating, contagious, life-threatening disease?
Cllr. Leo Littman: Green Party, Preston Park ward
haveagoodday
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5:12pm Fri 22 Jun 12
fredflintstone1
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6:05pm Fri 22 Jun 12
Leo Littman wrote:Cllr Littman - please can you inform us if the figures quoted by haveagoodday are accurate, and if so, whether your colleague is or has been claiming these while she has been off sick? People have a right to know.
Cllr. Dawn Barnett compares Amy’s situation to that of ex-Councillor, Paul Lainchbury.
According to the Argus (4th June 2009): Mr Lainchbury was criticised after he missed every committee meeting for a year.
He said the impact of the recession on his business meant he had been unable to dedicate enough time to council work. In his letter of resignation he wrote: "I must focus on my own business in order to protect my livelihood”
Is Cllr. Barnett suggesting that missing meetings to focus on your business is the same as missing meetings because you are suffering from a debilitating, contagious, life-threatening disease?
Cllr. Leo Littman: Green Party, Preston Park ward
There are many other people sadly suffering from this illness (and other chronic, life-threatening conditions) that are not in a situation to have access to £27-28,000 out of the public funds, quite apart from possible private earnings too.
Nigel Furness
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8:59pm Fri 22 Jun 12
In the meantime why no word from Council Leader Jason Kitcat? Presumably he's 'having a break'?!
Warren Morgan
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9:31pm Fri 22 Jun 12
Clearly the Tory view is, if you are sick then you are sacked.
george smith
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10:30pm Fri 22 Jun 12
ourcoalition
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12:27pm Sat 23 Jun 12
george smith wrote:The Councils Policy doesn't apply to elected members, just staff. However, all good employers in the private or public sector would treat an illness such as TB as reasonably as possible. I deal with 80 local employers, and most would fall into this category - none would be suggesting, as Cllr Barnett does, that Amy should be "sacked"/resign.
What is the councils absence management policy?
As for Mr Lainchbury- I can recall no suggestion at the time that he was depressed - as noted above, his own statement referred to "business" reasons for his non-attendance at Council meetings for over a year, whilst still receiving his "allowance". If he was ill, I would have defended him, as I now do Amy.
Just for the record, I vote neither Blue or Green, but I do believe in fairness. Cllr Barnetts statement is an utter disgrace.
Andy R
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12:53pm Sat 23 Jun 12
Tring
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8:08am Mon 25 Jun 12
It's the first time I have heard that Paul Lainchbury was ill in any way. If it is true I am sorry to hear it, and I wonder how he feels about being dragged into this, now that he's well out of it? This is quite apart from the extreme poor taste of hounding Amy Kennedy, who has a serious illness without any doubt - but, crucially, an illness that people do make full recoveries.
brightonyorkie says...
8:28pm Thu 21 Jun 12