Sincere apologies from Coun Steward

9:24am Wednesday 9th January 2013 in Letters By Reader's letter

MANY have read my comments on poverty with anger and I am one of them. The comments were a rushed extract from an email but I realise how clumsy, stupid and largely wrong they were.

A vital part of my comments was not published when I said we don’t have absolute poverty but we definitely do have relative poverty. However, that is not to take away from how the comments read and how sorry I am for any offence caused. I also said, inappropriately, that without food banks people were not starving, but think it unfair to call this ‘an attack’.

Straight away when people suggested it, I said I would happily visit a food bank, not in the words of The Press to “see how they work” as I understand this, but to build on my knowledge and speak to those who kindly give up their time and those who receive their help. It is my role as a councillor to engage with people wherever and whenever they want me to.

With the state of the economy, high fuel and food prices and other factors, times are very tough for many people and I understand this. I was trying to say there are many in the world worse off. However, that does not mean we should not help those most in need here and it is policies to further that which I support. I again offer my sincere apologies for any offence caused.

Chris Steward, Conservative councillor, Rural West York.

• Editor’s note: The original story did mention Coun Steward’s comments on absolute poverty (The Press, page 6, January 3).

Comments(21)

The Great Buda says...
9:38am Wed 9 Jan 13

Good to see him coming out and apologising for his comments.

The true mark of a man is one who can admit they are wrong.

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ColdAsChristmas says...
10:14am Wed 9 Jan 13

Quite right Buda, and I look forward to your apologies in due course for your comments with regard to alleged man made global warming.
Well done Councillor Steward, I hope this draws a line under the issue.

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Scarlet Pimpernel says...
10:25am Wed 9 Jan 13

Well done indeed, Coun Steward. The admission of making a mistake with an apology will be rightly acknowledged and accepted by all fair-minded people.

I hope that Labour's attack dogs will now back off, and cease their attempts to have you censured.

James Alexander's damning article in Labour list was completelt OTT, and he should apologise for his immature and petulant over-reaction.

http://labourlist.or
g/2013/01/the-nasty-
party-never-went-awa
y/

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Mr Happy says...
11:17am Wed 9 Jan 13

Let's think about it.... Lose his seat at the next election or make a public apology (which was probably insisted on by his party) and give himself half a chance? No brainer really, especially when you see how gullible those commenting above are!

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Micklegate says...
11:38am Wed 9 Jan 13

Mr Happy wrote:
Let's think about it.... Lose his seat at the next election or make a public apology (which was probably insisted on by his party) and give himself half a chance? No brainer really, especially when you see how gullible those commenting above are!
People said he should apologise and he did and you criticise it. I assume you are from the army of people who said he should visit a foodbank and then when he said several times he happily would then criticised him saying he was doing it for the publicity. Some people can't win. I assume it goes without saying you've never made a mistake. On Radio York this morning he categorically said no-one from the Conservative Party has insisted/pressure/to
ld him anything about making an apology.

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inthesticks says...
11:40am Wed 9 Jan 13

Mr Happy wrote:
Let's think about it.... Lose his seat at the next election or make a public apology (which was probably insisted on by his party) and give himself half a chance? No brainer really, especially when you see how gullible those commenting above are!
Naa, he would have still been OK, considering his patch is Poppleton, Copmanthorpe, Knapton etc.

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inthesticks says...
11:43am Wed 9 Jan 13

Just for the record, I accept his apology. I hope is that posters don`t get personal with comments or they will no doubt all be removed.

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inthesticks says...
11:44am Wed 9 Jan 13

I belatedly remove `is` from that sentence.

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Mr Happy says...
11:46am Wed 9 Jan 13

inthesticks wrote:
Mr Happy wrote:
Let's think about it.... Lose his seat at the next election or make a public apology (which was probably insisted on by his party) and give himself half a chance? No brainer really, especially when you see how gullible those commenting above are!
Naa, he would have still been OK, considering his patch is Poppleton, Copmanthorpe, Knapton etc.
Sadly, too true.

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Peterwalker says...
11:51am Wed 9 Jan 13

I was one of those who was critical of this man' s comments. I am pleased that he has taken this opportunity to apologise for his crass comments. A period of silence accompanied by a prolonged absence from public office would also be very much appreciated.

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YSTClinguist says...
12:56pm Wed 9 Jan 13

A fair apology for a difficult quote taken somewhat out of full context for political purposes on an emotive subject.

Party politics aside, I hope that Mr Steward is allowed to do some unfettered groundwork here, without being overtly harassed by people wanting him to fail. The most important part of which will be to make his own mind up based on personal investigation into issues which relate to certain demographics of our city.

He was voted into place based upon who his is and how he represents his community. To understand and work for the people who you represent transcends party politics and ultimately serves your community better. Let's look inwards for the time being, at out people, our homes, not to what Westminster is doing.

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Zetkin says...
12:56pm Wed 9 Jan 13

Weasel words.

How about an apology for your party's role in causing the poverty whose existence you have belatedly accepted?

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Buzz Light-year says...
1:02pm Wed 9 Jan 13

Well done Coun Steward.

A fair, balanced and appropriate apology.

A rare thing.

I hope all the people who were originally outraged see it and understand it.

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perplexed says...
1:44pm Wed 9 Jan 13

Thank you Coun Steward. If only all politicians would acknowledge their mistakes so readily.

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Scarlet Pimpernel says...
3:40pm Wed 9 Jan 13

Peterwalker wrote:
I was one of those who was critical of this man' s comments. I am pleased that he has taken this opportunity to apologise for his crass comments. A period of silence accompanied by a prolonged absence from public office would also be very much appreciated.
On that basis, how long would James Alexander need to take a leave of absence for, to atone for failures under his catastrophic leadership ?

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Scarlet Pimpernel says...
3:42pm Wed 9 Jan 13

Zetkin wrote:
Weasel words. How about an apology for your party's role in causing the poverty whose existence you have belatedly accepted?
I think you mean an apology from Labour, for the mess they left after 13-years of wasteful overspending !

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Peterwalker says...
3:44pm Wed 9 Jan 13

perplexed wrote:
Thank you Coun Steward. If only all politicians would acknowledge their mistakes so readily.
Sine Die

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Peterwalker says...
3:50pm Wed 9 Jan 13

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:
Peterwalker wrote:
I was one of those who was critical of this man' s comments. I am pleased that he has taken this opportunity to apologise for his crass comments. A period of silence accompanied by a prolonged absence from public office would also be very much appreciated.
On that basis, how long would James Alexander need to take a leave of absence for, to atone for failures under his catastrophic leadership ?
Sine Die !

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jorvik says...
5:41pm Wed 9 Jan 13

Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:
Zetkin wrote:
Weasel words. How about an apology for your party's role in causing the poverty whose existence you have belatedly accepted?
I think you mean an apology from Labour, for the mess they left after 13-years of wasteful overspending !
The traitors will never apologise

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Dawnshine says...
10:10pm Wed 9 Jan 13

I'm pleased there has been a proper appology for this terrible mistake in judgement, whatever the motivation, I just hope it's actually due to him expanding his mind and looking into things for himself, as we do need less ignorant people out there.

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desmond tiblets says...
9:50am Thu 10 Jan 13

The Great Buda wrote:
Good to see him coming out and apologising for his comments. The true mark of a man is one who can admit they are wrong.
First comment again james.now it's your turn to say sorry and reverse the closure of beckfield lane skip!!!

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