Post by Bartonite on May 13, 2015 11:54:59 GMT
Couldn't call this unexpected, either. The 'broken window' policy has become an alien concept, it seems, and anything goes. Or are regulations only for the 'little people', and then these spaces actually mean something?
Gloucester MP Richard Graham caught parking in disabled bay hours after General Election win
Richard Graham has apologised after leaving his campaign van in a disabled parking bay.
The re-elected Gloucester MP was attending a VE Day memorial at Shire Hall just hours after reclaiming his parliamentary seat on Friday.
His van - emblazoned with his name and picture - was spotted at the back of the county council's headquarters, in the private car park there, by a passerby on Friday afternoon.
Mr Graham said: "I plead guilty, it was me. It had been an incredibly long day, about 37 hours with no sleep, and I was there for about two minutes. I'm really really sorry."
13 comments
sego001 | Tuesday, May 12 2015, 3:47PM
To those who seem to want to defend Mr Graham's action , this is Typical of unprincipled Tory thinking , that principles only applies to 'PLEBS'.
FungasUK | Tuesday, May 12 2015, 12:43PM
This is entirely the behaviour I'd expect from Tories. Good on you Richard, for showing those disableds a thing or two about where true power really lies.
dickiesview | Tuesday, May 12 2015, 8:48AM
Stuart, you ran a good campaign, but do you really think people would vote for you on the strength of the probability that you wouldn't park in a disabled space? Maybe attach yourself to a less abhorrent party, and you might have a chance. It's also rather silly to suggest that anyone that voted for Richard Graham - and I wasn't one of them I might add - has given him a mandate to act inappropriately.
stuartadairuk | Monday, May 11 2015, 4:26PM
This election has taught me one thing, and that's it doesn't matter one little bit how politicians behave, you all carry on voting the same way. Richard Graham has parked in a disabled bay, Laurence Robertson was the only MP in the country to employ two family members but none of that mattered when you had the chance to elect someone different. You give them a mandate to behave this way because you keep voting them in.
Gloster-born | Monday, May 11 2015, 2:06PM
Spindles12, those are all questions worth asking. As one might also as, if the car park was empty on a Friday afternoon, would there have been any need to park in a disabled space? In fact, presumably the car park was being made available to at least some of the people attending the VE Day memorial event, to the extent that Graham (probably arriving late as usual) 'had' to park where he did.
So that really begs the question, if so, of who Richard Graham is to decide that he, an able-bodied individual (not, apparently, rocking up on his cherry and red bicycle on this occasion) can occupy a disabled space, regardless of how many of these spaces are available at that moment in time? Well, he is of course Richard Graham, and darned grateful we should be for that fact, evidently.
thomas1996 | Monday, May 11 2015, 9:49AM
This unsightly van should be crushed! What an eyesore
scruff_top | Monday, May 11 2015, 7:37AM
Don't let them get to you little Richie
Tuffley_Echo | Sunday, May 10 2015, 9:29PM
Mr Clumsy at it again. He's always late so doubt it was only 2 mins. We must remember this is who Gloucester chose again
EmperorNerva | Sunday, May 10 2015, 9:14PM
Yawn. It was on private land so is a matter for the landlord - who I don't doubt he's on good terms with.
If this is what cunning the opposition is capable of it's small wonder they lost.
spindles12 | Sunday, May 10 2015, 7:16PM
Were there queues of disabled vehicles waiting to park or, as is more likely, the car park was empty because all the Shire Hall staff had gone home early as it was Friday afternoon? Did any disabled people complain or is it just people who don't support the Conservatives? Does it REALLY matter that he parked in disabled space in a quiet car park and did it stop a disabled person parking there? More of a problem is disabled people being allowed to park on double yellow lines or in dangerous or awkward places just because they have a blue badge. If it's illegal and/or dangerous to park on double yellow lines then it should apply to EVERYONE.
Alphonso3 | Sunday, May 10 2015, 6:25PM
What a rubbish example to set. We know that the Tories have little time for the sick and disabled. This reinforces their casual contempt.
Gloster-born | Sunday, May 10 2015, 6:05PM
I doubt that his claim to have been parked there fore 'about two minutes' is credible, either. But he won't be challenged on it.
john_Hooper | Sunday, May 10 2015, 5:34PM
The windows in that picture look like its been parked there a lot longer than '2 minutes' .Also... Why is he driving if he has not slept in 37 hours? He was a danger to himself and other road users. He tweeted numerous pictures of the Dick Van parked directly opposite road junctions and on corners whilst out campaigning which are against the Highway code.
Floodmeadow | Sunday, May 10 2015, 5:25PM
Graham should be pay over £5,000 and reduce driving licence 6 points
Klipspringer6 | Sunday, May 10 2015, 5:00PM
this just shows his contempt for the disabled
Gloucester MP Richard Graham caught parking in disabled bay hours after General Election win
Richard Graham has apologised after leaving his campaign van in a disabled parking bay.
The re-elected Gloucester MP was attending a VE Day memorial at Shire Hall just hours after reclaiming his parliamentary seat on Friday.
His van - emblazoned with his name and picture - was spotted at the back of the county council's headquarters, in the private car park there, by a passerby on Friday afternoon.
Mr Graham said: "I plead guilty, it was me. It had been an incredibly long day, about 37 hours with no sleep, and I was there for about two minutes. I'm really really sorry."
13 comments
sego001 | Tuesday, May 12 2015, 3:47PM
To those who seem to want to defend Mr Graham's action , this is Typical of unprincipled Tory thinking , that principles only applies to 'PLEBS'.
FungasUK | Tuesday, May 12 2015, 12:43PM
This is entirely the behaviour I'd expect from Tories. Good on you Richard, for showing those disableds a thing or two about where true power really lies.
dickiesview | Tuesday, May 12 2015, 8:48AM
Stuart, you ran a good campaign, but do you really think people would vote for you on the strength of the probability that you wouldn't park in a disabled space? Maybe attach yourself to a less abhorrent party, and you might have a chance. It's also rather silly to suggest that anyone that voted for Richard Graham - and I wasn't one of them I might add - has given him a mandate to act inappropriately.
stuartadairuk | Monday, May 11 2015, 4:26PM
This election has taught me one thing, and that's it doesn't matter one little bit how politicians behave, you all carry on voting the same way. Richard Graham has parked in a disabled bay, Laurence Robertson was the only MP in the country to employ two family members but none of that mattered when you had the chance to elect someone different. You give them a mandate to behave this way because you keep voting them in.
Gloster-born | Monday, May 11 2015, 2:06PM
Spindles12, those are all questions worth asking. As one might also as, if the car park was empty on a Friday afternoon, would there have been any need to park in a disabled space? In fact, presumably the car park was being made available to at least some of the people attending the VE Day memorial event, to the extent that Graham (probably arriving late as usual) 'had' to park where he did.
So that really begs the question, if so, of who Richard Graham is to decide that he, an able-bodied individual (not, apparently, rocking up on his cherry and red bicycle on this occasion) can occupy a disabled space, regardless of how many of these spaces are available at that moment in time? Well, he is of course Richard Graham, and darned grateful we should be for that fact, evidently.
thomas1996 | Monday, May 11 2015, 9:49AM
This unsightly van should be crushed! What an eyesore
scruff_top | Monday, May 11 2015, 7:37AM
Don't let them get to you little Richie
Tuffley_Echo | Sunday, May 10 2015, 9:29PM
Mr Clumsy at it again. He's always late so doubt it was only 2 mins. We must remember this is who Gloucester chose again
EmperorNerva | Sunday, May 10 2015, 9:14PM
Yawn. It was on private land so is a matter for the landlord - who I don't doubt he's on good terms with.
If this is what cunning the opposition is capable of it's small wonder they lost.
spindles12 | Sunday, May 10 2015, 7:16PM
Were there queues of disabled vehicles waiting to park or, as is more likely, the car park was empty because all the Shire Hall staff had gone home early as it was Friday afternoon? Did any disabled people complain or is it just people who don't support the Conservatives? Does it REALLY matter that he parked in disabled space in a quiet car park and did it stop a disabled person parking there? More of a problem is disabled people being allowed to park on double yellow lines or in dangerous or awkward places just because they have a blue badge. If it's illegal and/or dangerous to park on double yellow lines then it should apply to EVERYONE.
Alphonso3 | Sunday, May 10 2015, 6:25PM
What a rubbish example to set. We know that the Tories have little time for the sick and disabled. This reinforces their casual contempt.
Gloster-born | Sunday, May 10 2015, 6:05PM
I doubt that his claim to have been parked there fore 'about two minutes' is credible, either. But he won't be challenged on it.
john_Hooper | Sunday, May 10 2015, 5:34PM
The windows in that picture look like its been parked there a lot longer than '2 minutes' .Also... Why is he driving if he has not slept in 37 hours? He was a danger to himself and other road users. He tweeted numerous pictures of the Dick Van parked directly opposite road junctions and on corners whilst out campaigning which are against the Highway code.
Floodmeadow | Sunday, May 10 2015, 5:25PM
Graham should be pay over £5,000 and reduce driving licence 6 points
Klipspringer6 | Sunday, May 10 2015, 5:00PM
this just shows his contempt for the disabled
