By Montgomery Burrows,
Senior Associate Deputy Investigative Correspondent for Underground and Small Mammal Affairs.
Serious questions are being asked after remarks from Avian Affairs appeared to call for a delay to further voting reforms at Chester Station.
The comments come less than two weeks after Emmeline, now Interim Assistant Deputy Acting Head of Avian Affairs (Platform 5 Division), herself emerged as one of the leading voices behind the successful campaign to repeal the Avian Representation Act 1996 and secure voting rights for birds across the station.
At the time, Emmeline argued passionately that representation should not be restricted to a privileged few with the battle cry:
“Two wings, two feet, fly or float, one vote, one vote, one vote!”
However, yesterday’s statement from Avian Affairs struck a notably more cautious tone.
Whilst recognising the concerns of non-avian stakeholders currently demonstrating on Platform 6 and expressing support for wider representation in principle, the Department argued that any expansion of voting rights should be delayed until additional administrative structures, staffing and support arrangements can be put in place.
Critics have questioned whether the Department’s position represents a departure from the principles championed by Emmeline during her own campaign for reform.
One protester on Platform 6, who asked not to be identified, said:
“Less than two weeks ago she was a leading light for all the disenfranchised, but now she has secured rights for her own species and a fancy title, it seems she’s willing to leave us behind.”
Supporters of Emmeline reject suggestions of hypocrisy and point out that the Department is currently administering an active ballot whilst simultaneously responding to increasing volumes of correspondence and voter enquiries, and grappling with communication difficulties due to the large numbers of foreign voters flying in.
Whether this is a legitimate administrative concern or merely an attempt to slow the pace of reform remains a matter of debate.
For now, Avian voting for Employee of the Week continues on Platform 5, while demonstrations to extend the vote to small mammals, arachnids and insects continue on Platform 6. The public are reminded to avoid the area where possible and that platform alterations may be in place.