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Council leader blows own trumpet as anonymous web tub thumper

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By John Glenday, Reporter

September 11, 2012 | 1 min read

The leader of Christchurch Council in Dorset has been identified as the author of a series of anonymous internet posts praising the work of his council and attacking critics of the administration.

Upset by the volume of criticism evident on the web Ray Nottage sought to single-handedly redress the imbalance by posing as an ordinary member of the public with an extraordinary degree of admiration for his council’s work.

The Conservative councillor adopted the pseudonym ‘doomdodger’ and subsequently took to the message boards of the local newspaper to explain to critics the error of their ways, pointing out that his council was doing ‘a great and excellent job’.

When challenged over his actions Nuttal insisted that he had done nothing wrong, saying: “I was using the system, the same way as everyone else has. I was responding to an extraordinarily cynical view online about the working of the council.

“It is supposed to be anonymous and if someone is allowed to say the chief executive [of the council] doesn’t care for Christchurch under anonymity, I should be allowed the same rights."

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