Democracy is such a wonderful thing.

[catgate]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml...nschools401.xml

Councillor Pat Hawkes, the chairman of the Brighton and Hove Council's children, families and schools committee, said: "No school admissions system can make 100 per cent of parents happy, but I believe strongly that this new system will be fairer to more people than the current one."

However, it has proved unpopular with parents. Hundreds have attended public meetings, a petition has been signed by nearly 4,000 people and tens of thousands of leaflets have been distributed by campaigners.

Last night it emerged that the authority's Labour group, the biggest party on the hung council, forced one of its own councillors off the education committee because she refused to back the plan.

Juliet McCaffrey was vice-chair of the committee but was asked to stand down just an hour-and-a-half before a vital vote was taken over the lottery plans. It was passed by one vote. She said: "I was called to see the leader and asked 'are you going to support it?' When I said 'no' I was told I would not be allowed to continue on the committee."

[andsome]

Are you surprised? Surely we all know that this is the way B'liar and his cronies like to run things. Do as we say or else.