KHOODEELAAR! had told Christine Gilbert so in October 2005! That she was making up, being untruthful in backing the corrupt clique on Crossrail hole scam-attack-inviter Tower Hamlets Council. Now, almost five years later, it appears very clear, that even the Rupert Murdoch-ed Times has been able to say that Christine Gilbert was found out! Found out doing what Christine Gilbert had been doing most often! Assuring Ed Balls that she would deliver as Balls wished! Hold off that crucial report being seen by Haringey Council until Balls had the chance to see it ! [To be continued]

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From The Times

October 9, 2009

Sharon Shoesmith’s text message comes back to haunt her in court

Rosemary Bennett

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RECOMMEND? (1)

When Sharon Shoesmith pressed the button on her text message to the Ofsted inspector Heather Brown, little did she think that it would be read out in court a year later.

Would she have written a letter pleading for positive findings to be included in the report? It is unlikely. But a text? Where’s the harm in pinging a lighthearted plea to the personal mobile of someone who had been in and out of the department for the last three weeks? Yet texts and e-mails have become a goldmine for lawyers, who can seize on any joke or throwaway remark to back up their case.In many ways they are even better than old-fashioned letters. They are invariably totally spontaneous, a more accurate reflection of what is really going on at the time than a memo written after some consideration.

But Ms Shoesmith has not just been the victim of technology. She has made use of dashed-off e-mails herself this week. One to the former director of children’s services from Councillor Claire Kober days after Ms Shoesmith’s fateful press conference praised her fulsomely: “I have the utmost respect for you as a public servant”. Less than a month later, Ms Shoesmith was sacked by the council.

Government departments too have failed to learn the painful lessons of Lord Hutton’s inquiry into the death of weapons inspector David Kelly, when the publication of hundreds of sensitive emails left few reputations intact.

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An internal e-mail from the Department for Children, Schools and Families stated what was “paramount was for the (local authority) not to see it (the Ofsted report) before (Ed) Balls does”. In November, when Ofsted had barely begun its review, an email revealed officials were already “working on the choreography of what happens after December 1” — the day the report was published and Ms Shoesmith was sacked.

That appears rather premature.

Christine Gilbert, the chief inspector, has been found out overruling her own officials and promising the Education Secretary he would get the crucial Ofsted report a full day before Haringey council.

This court case has been another painful reminder to public servants in a tight spot. E-mails and texts are electronic postcards, so think before you press the button.