Paradoxes of Debate

My post yesterday referred to a comment on a libraries post.  I have now deleted the comment because (presumably because the author was so enraged) it did not make sense.

However, it did refer to a belief that is widespread among Library campaigners in Brent, but which does not, in my view, accord with the facts.  They repeatedly state that no one agrees with the policy.

The commentator in question stated that no one in the Labour Group agreed with the policy.  The sheer implausibility of this always strikes me.  The libraries policy voted through in April 2011 remains in place, and no paper has ever been presented to change it.  If most people disagree with the policy why would that be?

Taking it another way, it is alleged that I alone forced through a policy against the wishes of the other 40 members of the Labour Group.  How did I manage to outvote the other forty?  It would be a useful trick if one knew how to do it.  In fact, I have never once been challenged by any member of the Executive on the Libraries policy.  The Labour Group has discussed it more often than any other policy, and it is fair to say that individuals have from time to time expressed disquiet on particular aspects, but no one ever seriously challenged.  In terms of votes at Full Council or various Executive meetings, the matter has been put to the vote time and time again.  No member of the Labour Group has ever voted against it.

Why therefore, do some people seem to think there is widespread opposition to the Libraries policy in the Labour Group?

I think the answer is twofold.  Firstly, as I explained yesterday, some campaigners are so passionately attached to their view that they simply cannot acknowledge contrary facts.  Hence the continuing conviction that Brent libraries have somehow failed when in fact Brent bucks the national trend.  Secondly, I am sorry to say that some people in the Labour Party agree to things in party meetings, but then go out and say something quite different elsewhere.  What continues to surprise me is that some of the people they speak to  continue to accept such people's statements at face value when they are obviously false.