Councillor apologises after local activist calls out his lies on social media.

A Mawneys ward community activist has told the Havering Daily how tired she is of local Conservative councillors lying to residents on social media.

Carol Baker told the Havering Daily: “A recent post on social media from Conservative councillor Jason Frost stated that the new administration had made the decision to cancel an order for new parking machines in the area. This is a complete lie, as it was the last Conservative council that decided to cancel the order.

Carol went on to say: “I question what is there to gain from the attempt to damage the reputation of the new HRA and Labour Administration? I have seen this type of behaviour from other Conservative councillors as well, nationally and locally. It’s just not right.”

“Providing entirely untrue and misleading statements on social media in order for residents to draw negative opinions of HRA is underhanded and not the type of behaviour residents expect from councillors.

“After residents in Collier Row commented on the unusable parking meters in Rex Close car park on social media, councillor Frost stated “The new administration cancelled an order for new parking updated parking meter machines.”

“Knowing the truth, I responded to the post with a copy of the decision which includes the names of the previous administration cabinet members and the date this took place. It clearly stated the decision was made before the current HRA Administration took control of the council.

“The result of me responding was my comment being deleted, then followed by me being blocked from the group.

“It worries me that they will use deception to influence residents. 

“Which draws me to the words of Sir Walter Scott 1808 “Oh what a tangled web we weave, when we practice to deceive.”

In response councillor Jason Frost has told the Havering Daily:

“I must apologise for my oversight regarding the decision taken on the cancellation of the tender process for new P&D machines in Rex Close Car Park.
The publication of the decision did not take place until after the local elections in May, I therefore had wrongly assumed this to have been a decision of the new Adminstration.
In our use of social media, we endeavour to avoid pointless blaming exercises as much as possible. This is neither professional, nor helpful for residents.
On the matter of the provision of updates P&D machines in Rex Close Car Park, I look forward to the HRA/Labour Administration initiating a new tender process as soon as possible.”