Exec Member for Environment Nigel Murphy interviewed*

Posted on July 6, 2012 by manchesterclimatemonthly
* Actual facts may vary. Always read the label.

MCFly staff reporter Scott Templeton has finally nailed an interview with the elusive Executive Member for the Environment, Nigel Murphy. Councillor Murphy has been declining interview requests from Manchester Climate Monthly for almost six months (by contrast, his boss Richard Leese consented to a half hour interview after merely one ambush at the council’s Friday night watering-hole). Scott tells us that he lost the shorthand notes of his interview, and the office cat deleted the voice-recording. So he’s wracked his brain and come up with the various possible answers Cllr Murphy might have given. If Councillor Murphy wants to fill in the survey, Scott will buy him a(nother) pint.

Unknown's avatar

About manchesterclimatemonthly

Was print format from 2012 to 13. Now web only. All things climate and resilience in (Greater) Manchester.
This entry was posted in Climate Change Action Plan, Democratic deficit, humour, Manchester City Council and tagged , . Bookmark the permalink.

3 Responses to Exec Member for Environment Nigel Murphy interviewed*

  1. Dave Bishop's avatar Dave Bishop says:
    July 6, 2012 at 9:56 am

    I like it! But apart from that you’ve rendered me as speechless as Ciir Murphy!

    Reply
  2. Smyth Harper's avatar Smyth Harper says:
    July 6, 2012 at 6:02 pm

    Manchester Climate Monthly has never – yes, never – requested an interview with Cllr Murphy through the regular channels. The normal route is to ask us here in the press office. We’re quite friendly and reasonably accommodating. To reasonable people.

    This kind of snide article, while I’m sure terribly witty to you and your buddies, Marc, actually achieves very little.

    Next time, why not be straight with your readers?

    Smyth Harper
    Head of News
    Manchester City Council

    Reply
    • manchesterclimatemonthly's avatar manchesterclimatemonthly says:
      July 6, 2012 at 10:26 pm

      Smyth,
      thank you for the prompt reply. It would be lovely if the press office were as prompt in creating press releases as per the request of the Economy Scrutiny Committee, which met on Weds 20th of June. When we went to press at the end of last week, the request of the members – and indeed the chair – had not been complied with.

      And Smyth, maybe you should check your facts. Because I assume that you agree that Nigel’s PA is one of the ‘regular channels’? Yes?

      I wrote an email to Nigel on May 31st 2012. The title was ‘interview’

      Hi Nigel,

      perhaps this would work best if you propose some dates and times.

      Marc Hudson

      The reply I got was this

      Dear Marc

      Cllr Murphy is currently out of the office. I will bring your email to his attention when he returns on 11 June.

      Kind regards

      Anna
      PA to Cllr Murphy

      Cllr Nigel Murphy
      Labour Member for Hulme Ward
      and Executive Member for the Environment
      Manchester City Council

      Executive Members’ Office, Manchester City Council, Town Hall, Manchester, M60 2LA
      Tel: 0161 234 3350 (Internal only 800 3350) Fax: 0161 274 7001
      Email: cllr.n.murphy@manchester.gov.uk
      Website: http://www.manchester.gov.uk

      I had also emailed him on May 7th. No reply

      . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
      Are you going to apologise for your false claim, Smyth? Are you? I very much doubt it.

      And Smyth, are you claiming that I have not asked Nigel Murphy – face-to-face on many occasions over the last five months – for an interview? Because. I. Have; For. Months. And. Months.

      And I even resorted to twitter (June 21st)

      He replied to that tweet
      @mcr_climate unfortunately I am out looking at bins in West Didsbury, so won't make it! It sounded good though. #cllrlife

      Reply

Leave a comment