Darren Jones, Labour's parliamentary candidate for Bristol North West, who takes on Charlotte Leslie for the seat next year, has issued a scathing response to the Conservative MP's statement today on the Metrobus consultation.
Darren Jones said:
"Only two weeks ago Charlotte Leslie wrote to the Prime Minister asking for a "financial suitability" test for judicial review – effectively asking for the lever that ordinary working people can pull to challenge public decisions to be taken away. Yet today, she backs a community campaign in Lockleaze and attacks Bristol City Council for making the consultation 'far too removed from local people.'
"This is an issue that could ultimately end up requiring judicial review. Does Charlotte Leslie support local people's right to challenge decisions or does she not?
"Charlotte Leslie continues to try and use community campaigns as smoke and mirrors to hide what she gets up to in Parliament. It's quite clear that this is another case of her being a hypocritical opportunist and not being a considered politician who takes the time to understand how the law works in the first place."
Darren's comments come on the same day as criticism from leading figures in Bristol's legal community. Peter Wadsley, a senior Barrister in Bristol, commented in the Bristol Post today:
"It seems that she [Charlotte Leslie] does not understand how the judicial review process actually works….genuine neighbourhood interest groups……will not thank her or the Government if their legal rights are diminished."
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