Reader views (21)

 Add your view

This is another example of no one listening to the facts of the case and jumping to stupid and immature assumptions, this Councillor has made a really open declaration late, and late is all it was.
The recent appeal, showed that she was not guilty of any dishonesty.

- Rodney Brown, Brent,, 20/02/2010 15:05
Report abuse

Councillor Joseph has helped so many people in this road
She is mighty force and stands up fo her residents
and is available 24/7 to help people with all sorts of problems from housing to noisy neighbours. She always keeps her word.
When someone is so valued in their community people cannot afford to be without her help for this amount of time. The suspension is excessive and mis-placed.
Ian. Kensal Green NW10

- Ian Britton, london uk, 17/11/2009 20:13
Report abuse

Presumably (as with our prison system) there will be an opportunity for Bertha's six month suspension sentance to be cut short for good behaviour, or even suspended? It doesn't sound like what Bertha did was right, but irrespective of oversight (and we can all be forgiven one) or political vacillation (shouldn't it be the people not the party that matter at a local level), she is a Councillor that makes things happen - and fast. I'd suggest that the sooner she is back in post the better it will be for Brent's residents.

- Carys, Kensal Green, 20/10/2009 10:39
Report abuse

How ridiculously harsh for such a minor mistake. I can't see what benefit this is to the community.
In the 10 years I've lived here, she's always been the only councillor who has really made herself known to the locals and the only one they go with their problems as far as I can see.
My street has never had an issue which she hasn't dealt with promptly, she's always been totally dependable.
I'm appalled by this treatment. Is their some kind witch hunt going on? Is this because of her move to another party? It's deeply sad that such a great councillor is being vilified in this way.

- Ben Young, Kensal Green, 20/10/2009 10:36
Report abuse

Cllr Bertha Joseph is one of the hardest women I have had the pleasure of meeting. In the political environment it is so easy to say that you will help and never do. Bertha does not do this, be it helping fight local crime, transport or planning issues, she commits herself 100% to the cause. Bertha is being unfairly targeted and if they are using this failure to declare donations to suspend her, then lets us do the same to all Counsellors and MP's in the borough. Reinstate her.

- Liz Were, London, Brent, 20/10/2009 09:45
Report abuse

If you think of the level of councillors in Brent we are lucky to have old Bertha, if the worst thing they can find on her after this exhaustive enquiry is she declared stuff late, she must be the most honest one of all.

I dread to think how much council tax money has been wasted by Brent on pursuing these enquiries on individuals and te cost of these investigations must reach into the many millions. I for one as a tax payer am opposed to them wasting any more of our money hounding individuals for purely personal vendettas, which you can see the majority of them are.

- Angie, Kensal Green, 20/10/2009 00:30
Report abuse

I echo the sentiments of the lady who lost her Grandchild, in saying Councillor Joseph is a sincere, honest and decent person.
Some years ago she helped me with my housing problems and did not leave my side till it was sorted, I have witnessed her going beyond what I expected to get a result for me and my family.

She is the model of kindness, always a wonderful sense of humour and a smile for everyone.

She does things with such style and grace that she reminds me of a beautiful swan, calm and serene on the outside and working like hell below.

I have prayed with her and now I pray for her.

God Bless Councillor Joseph and may she soon be free of this persecution and I remind her of Psalms 31 v 18 to give her strength to pass through this difficult time.

- Angela, Kensal Green, 19/10/2009 20:13
Report abuse

I was deeply appalled to hear that Cllr Bertha Joseph has been suspended for six months. This matter is rather trivial and a terrible vendetta. I am more astonish of the length, and cost of this persecution. This matter could have been resolve and a closure brought sooner. This was obviously an oversight.

Cllr Joseph has been our salvation, since the tragic death of my 2yr old grandson, who fell from the 16th floor balcony, council owned. No safety mechanism was in place to prevent him from falling to his death.
The persecuting cost is mounting and could have be put towards implementing security in high rise blocks of flats amongst other safety issues. Cllr Joseph has supported us unconditionally.

Cllr Bertha Joseph has been portrayed as a dishonest person. Obviously you have not met the real Cllr Joseph, who is warm, sincere and care about people in great needs.

Six months could not breeze by quick enough. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."
Hide the cobwebs in your cupboards well. You will be in the spotlight very soon!!

Cllr Joseph has dignity and integrity, she will hold her head up high. Thank you Cllr Joseph for all your support given to my family and I. You are a wonderful person. Fight this ridiculous suspension, we are all behind you 150% God bless.

- Yvonne Mitchell, Neasden, London, 19/10/2009 17:02
Report abuse

I see this asa clear attack not only on the person of Ms Joseph, but on the Black Community who Ms Joseph represents, it is to my mind yet another vicious racially motivated attack on a prominent Black figure.

May I remind everyone of some facts, Ms Joseph declared the items late, not failed to declare nor did she abscond with money, surely everyone in life has made a mistake of memory, are we to judge everyone so negatively.

How is the Black Community in Britain to proser and establish a strong leadership, when our Black figure are always dispatched in this manner.

Our Youth is in crisis and we are now more than ever in need of strong leadership, yet they always pull us down.
Thank God there is a Black President. What is The UK going to do to show integration and development, it took decades of positive action in the US, when are we going to start positive action over here?

- Deji Badejo, Harlesden London, 19/10/2009 11:32
Report abuse

I think that the suspension for 6 months is an outrage. Councillor Joseph declared the sponsorship LATE so therefore was not trying to conceal it as has been reported.

Over the 9 years that I have lived in the borough, Councillor Joseph is the only councilor who has consistently fought for local issues and supported residents.

She is always available for her residents either via email, on the phone and at her regular surgeries.

Bertha we all know the truth, keep fighting this ridiculous suspension, we are all behind you 100%

- P Stone, Kensal Green, London, 15/10/2009 17:24
Report abuse

I agree with most things said above here , except the comments of Frank from the home counties, who for some strange reason has an opinion on Brent politics from out in the sticks.

It has been widely speculated, on this site about the nastiness of Brent politics, yet the full extent of their corruption, is still to be uncovered, after all we have run 50 million pounds in depth , whilst services are provided at an all time low.
We are losing our services our community centres and the funding of our season treats. I wonder whether there will be the risk of high winds again this year, which will prevent the anual. Fireworks display in Roundwood park after all there where none last year and no high winds either. Talking of Roundwood park, the ongoing drama for the cafe there goes on and the owner there is yet another victim of Brent council's ambitions to take everything that is good in Brent, and the hatred of the cafe owner by Ann john in her singular aim to ruin the reputation of this individual.

- John Mcgee, Brent, 15/10/2009 13:26
Report abuse

For years the dirty tricks department has been up and running in Brent and even when Labour are out of power the campaigns still go on and they are unstoppable by those who are in power now.

The Labour party is famous for it's nasty and vicious behaviour.

You only have to see the amount of Labour Councillors who have defected to other parties, lead by the esteemed Ms Joseph.

Since she has left several more have followed suit.

Labour politics in Brent has always been a dark secret.

The cost of running the litigation department in Brent should be investigated as it must run into millions, that we in Brent need for the education and other services so badly underfunded.
I would like to know exactly how much the persecution of Ms Joseph has cost the tax payers of Brent and how far and how much they are willing to spend to disgrace her.

- M Robinson, Stonebridge Brent, 15/10/2009 12:26
Report abuse

Bertha Joseph, has been the one Councillor you can depend upon in Brent, she is uber efficient and fights hard for those of us who are in her ward. I am ashamed of Brent Council and Terry Osborn, for allowing Ann John to lead them by the nose to this action.

We in Harlesden know how that land lies with Stonebridge, the ghetto of Brent, where Black people are herded together to be forgotten and neglected, the education of our children undermined and the rate of investment in our schools half that of the other side of the borough.

Does anyone else remember the Commission for Racial Equality writing to Brent highlighting the disparity after receiving complaints from Teaching Unions.

Well there is another one for the deep dark hole of things to be hidden in Brent.

I am not shocked at them landing good old Bertha with this rubbish after all she has been under constant scrutiny and attack since she left labour.

- Dave Green, Harlesden London, 15/10/2009 11:55
Report abuse

This is not just an attack on Bertha Joseph, it is an attack on the Black Community.
Anyone who walks around with their eyes open can see that this is a political frame up by the Labour party.
If you have been following this drama, as I have you will see the systematic attack on Councillor Joseph since she left the Labour party.

May I remind, the person behind this campaign, that if you are saying all these things took place, then they did so on your watch and while you were leader of the council.

I need not refer to the lady directly by name but everyone in Brent is aware of the nature of this person and she is wicked beyond our imagination.

For the Black community Bertha Josephs has stood up and stood out for us, the first Black female Mayor of Brent.

Anyone who has met her will know that this woman means business, she always goes the extra mile to help us here in Harlesden, she has shown great restraint and great dignity throughout this ordeal. We are proud of Bertha and shocked by the vicious attacks on her, which have always had a racial undertone.


Stay strong Sister

- Anton Pike, brent UK, 15/10/2009 11:04
Report abuse

I am sad to see the way in which Councillor Joseph has been portrayed here, and the silly responses of people on here from the home counties, who obviously have been eating too much Labour white bread to know what is really happening here in Brent.

Behind all this rubbish is one person, and her vendetta against Councillor Joseph has been the reason why this has been brought up.

Councillor Joseph has an outstanding public service record and is the sole of politeness and positive influence.

She serves us in Kensal Green with such verve and joy that she will always be here and we will always vote for her please God another 24 years for Betha.

- Emelda Vasous, Kensal Green, 15/10/2009 10:37
Report abuse

Of all the Councillors that this should happen to, Bertha Joseph is the least guilty of all of them.
For years Brent has been run like a private thiefdom and it has been the ruling Labour party who have presided over a period so dark that Brent will take generations to recover. Even in opposition, Ann John has more power than the hapless Leader Paul Lorber, who in leadership has shown the Liberals incapable of leading anything especially an investigation to uncover the sins of Ann John.

My commiserations are with Ms Joseph, who has undergone such vicious attacks on her person and the her dignity since she left the Labour party.

I hope she will continue to stay strong and keep knocking them out the park for Kensal Green.

- R Cotton, Brent London, 15/10/2009 10:29
Report abuse

I congratulate Councillor Ann John and her partner in this investigation Richard Cotton.
This has shown the lengths in which Ms John will go to take out anyone who opposes her and indeed anyone who has more class and style than she does, which is everyone.

Councillor Joseph has served her ward since the 80's and all who come into contact with her know her to be a great Councillor, with a sense of style and flair for office that Ms John can only dream of.

It is a shame that the investigations into Ms John keep evaporating and that Ms John continues with her reign of terror over the people of Brent. She is truly the Pol Pot of Brent, and her killing fields are Stonebrige, St Raphael's, Church End and Chalkhill.

I hope the voters of stonebridge will see this for what it is and get rid of her at the next elections.

- V.Cox, London England, 15/10/2009 10:20
Report abuse

I think Ms Joseph has been a victim of hatred by the labour party since joining Conservative. She is a wonderful Councellor and has done so much good for the people of Brent. When this matter is rectified the only thing left being red with labour will be their faces!!

Councellor Joseph you have my support!!

- Lorraine Brennan, Harlesden, 15/10/2009 09:55
Report abuse

".. I have been a councillor for nearly 24 years .."

So you have been getting away with it for 24 years then?

- Frank, Home Counties, England., 15/10/2009 09:44
Report abuse

Why hasn't she been sacked or is that a silly question?

- P Staker, Londonistan., 14/10/2009 15:41
Report abuse

You see - It's not just our esteemed MPs that are on the band wagon. I think more local councils and councillors should be looked into. I think people will be shocked.

- Mark H, London England, 14/10/2009 14:48
Report abuse

Add your comment