I make no secret of my opinions, but don’t expect you to agree. Image from the Standard.

This is just a brief note – yesterday I recieved an interesting email from a Conservative propaganda unit looking to plant pro-Tory articles on the Brownhills Blog – an astounding proposition considering the originator – one Patrick Forbes – claims to be a regular reader.

I’d like to point out to Patrick that I’d sooner boil my own tackle in old engine oil than compromise my integrity like that… And the same goes for any other party that would try to gain coverage in this way.

So in a nutshell Patrick, sod off and don’t let the door hit your backside on the way out – and take your oleaginous, patronising form-generated email with you.

I may be a dyed in the wool lefty, but the stuff I run here is because I think it’s interesting or important – rest assured that I’d never run articles for money or any other dubious reason. I have my opinions which are fairly well known and I’m rarely slow to express them, but I would never be bought.

However, I suspect that we’re heading in to one of the dirtiest election campaigns this country has ever seen, and this underhand place!ent of political propaganda serves as a sign to be sceptical about what you read – not all local sites are what one would imagine, and not all are run for the community values they claim to espouse.

I’ll always have a point of view, but it will always be mine and mine alone.

On 13 November 2014 10:50:05 “Forbes, Patrick” <Patrick.Forbes@conservatives.com> wrote:

I’m the blogging coordinator for the Conservative Party election campaign, and have been a reader of your site for a while. There are loads of things we’ll be doing during the campaign that are relevant to Brownhills Bob and I wanted to let you know about them.

As you no doubt know the blogosphere is becoming increasingly influential in shaping the public debate and many other aspects of daily live in Britain. Blogs and local forums allow people who might not otherwise meet to take part in an ongoing conversation and play a vital role in shaping our neighbourhoods and town centres, making them better places to live.

As each blog and blogger is unique, with specific interests and audiences, we don’t want to flood you with irrelevant information. I hoped you’d be able to tell us what topics or types of information would be of most interest to you, so we can engage with you constructively.

I look forward to hearing from you and discussing the details

Best,

Patrick