Open Letter to Chris Nicholson, Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesperson for Streatham
Dear Chris
I have read the profile of me in the latest edition of your “Streatham Brixton & Clapham News” leaflet, which has been distributed to over 40,000 homes in this area.
Aside from the usual jibes against opponents people have come to expect from politicians, I was alarmed to see references to two of my deceased relatives in the leaflet.
My father, whom I lost at the age of 13, is described as a “rich business man and politician” – the anniversary of his death falls next week. He ran a sole trader business and, in the couple of years leading to his death, stood for the governorship of his state in his native Nigeria on an anti-corruption, reformist ticket. I am still immensely proud of what he achieved.
My late grandfather, as you say, “was knighted for his work as a British High Court Judge”. Indeed, he earned a reputation for handing down particularly tough sentences to convicted rapists and also served this country as an intelligence officer during and after the Second World War. I am incredibly proud of him too.
Your references to my late father and grandfather are made in the context of seeking to demonstrate that I come from a “wealthy, privileged family background”. Whatever you seek to achieve by this, I do not think that seeking to involve an opponent’s family in this way is an appropriate campaigning tool.
I have not made reference to any member of your family in any of my material nor would I want to – it is not why I entered politics nor will it help improve the material circumstances of those we wish to serve in this community.
You have been in active politics for at least 20 more years than me but I have been around long enough to know that this kind of thing switches people off from the political process altogether, which is in no one’s interests – surely, whatever one’s political persuasion, we want as many people to engage as possible? People are tired of this politics of the past, which is why I am hoping to do things differently.
In the lead up to the forthcoming general election I would ask you to focus your energies on me, if you must, and not my family.
Yours sincerely,
Chuka
