Community help – or blatant political engineering?

In good faith, OTS News recently ran a story in which Southport’s Tory MP, Damien Moore, was seen promoting Ainsdale businesses.

However, it was later suspected that Mr Moore was in reality indulging in political engineering via  promoting himself and his Tory group leader on the back of the Covid pandemic. Of course this is nothing new, as all shrewd politicians promote their party political interests from time to time.

The Damien Moore article stated:

‘Southport’s MP Damien Moore has been visiting a number of local businesses in Southport today to celebrate Small Business Saturday. Mr Moore, who enjoyed a background in retail management before becoming the Conservative MP for Southport in 2017, is now encouraging local people to shop local and eat local in the run-up to Christmas. He visited Ainsdale Village and called into Brough’s Butchers, one of the most established businesses in Southport. The Ainsdale Shop has traded since 1974, set up by owner Tony Brough and his father Peter. ‘

The Brough Butchering shop was clearly given pride of place in the article.

MP hails Southport small businesses bouncing back from pandemic

However, nowhere in the Conservative report was it properly explained that Tony Brough was a political colleague of Damien Moore, via being an Ainsdale Conservative councillor and Leader of the local Conservative Group.

Small businesses need all the help they can get and this is commendable. However, using a deadly pandemic to push forward party political aims is highly questionable to say the least!

Mr Moore has also recently received criticism for voting against supporting 80% furlough pay for town employees

Damien Moore votes against supporting 80% furlough pay for town employees

Some members of the public are understandably calling the MP’s latest actions as being little more than  blatant political engineering and favouritism.