Press Release

31 March 2010

Embargoed until 12.01am 1 April 2010

Nottingham Blogger Announces Plan to Run for Election to City Council as 'Anti-Sleaze' Candidate

The next Nottingham City Council elections may be more than a year away but Nottingham Blogger Andy Platt, author of the 'Nottingham City Council LOLs' blog, has already announced plans to run for election to Nottingham City Council in 2011 on an 'anti-sleaze' ticket.

“Having experienced the way the council operates at first hand, I feel I can make a difference by challenging the cosy status quo and make real changes' said Andy. “I will do my utmost to prevent such scandals as community groups being thrown onto the street and council workers unjustly being forced out of their jobs.”

Andy also plans to campaign for greater recognition of Nottingham's past history of radical politics.

“Nottingham elected the only Chartist MP in 1847. In 1831 there were serious riots triggered by the Duke of Newcastle's decision to vote against parliamentary reform and the castle was burnt down in the protests. We celebrate Robin Hood so why can't we celebrate that? I would want the Council to sponsor a commemorative day on the 9 October, the day the riots took place. We could have fireworks from the Castle and the Galleries of Justice could perhaps stage mock executions to recognise the three rioters who were put to death.”

Andy will be looking for volunteers to help with his campaign. Further plans will be published to the blog in the next few days.

Ends.

Notes for Editors

1)The 'Nottingham City Council LOLs' blog can be found at  http://ncclols.blogspot.com/

2)In November 2009 Andy successfully took Nottingham City Council to an employment tribunal for constructive unfair dismissal, after resigning his job as Team leader in August 2008.