Staffordians' reaction to Julie Bailey's CBE

Staffordians' reaction to Julie Bailey's CBE 

The reaction to the inclusion of Julie Bailey on the New Year's Honours List has provoked a largely negative reaction in Stafford, as shown by the Stafford Newsletter:  http://www.staffordshirenewsletter.co.uk/STORIFY-Julie-Bailey-s-New-Year-Honour-sparks/story-20383350-detail/story.html

This reaction has prompted comments to the effect that Stafford people are parochial and that this reaction justifies the award of the CBE. If these commentators looked at the content of many of these comments, they'd learn that the reality is rather different. Also it is worth noting the entirely different reaction to the honour for the nurse Helene Donnelly. Many people were grateful for the way that JB raised the issues with the hospital:

"At the beginning it needed saying & she spoke out & the people of Stafford stood with her"

"her initial motives were good"

"I agree we owe a debt of gratitude to those who spoke out honestly to make things better"
"In the crisis years, Julie Bailey highlighted problems got people to look at it, money was invested and the whole hospital was turned around in two years" Cheryl Porter of SSH as reported here:
http://www.staffordshirenewsletter.co.uk/People-aiming-frustrations-Julie-Bailey-says/story-20396595-detail/story.html

The problem Stafford people have is with the direction the campaign took, particularly after the formation of the Save Stafford Hospital campaign (who tried desperately to get Cure involved):

"I'm not in denial!  I know the hospital was bad but it improved and she continued to kick it!"

"there were some particularly brave people who had suffered, but knew we need the hospital...think many knew that media coverage not in line with their own experience"

"but eventually the "celebrity" of it took over, and even when the problems were addressed & the hospital started to improve she refused to see ANY other option other than closure"

Another comment was about the change in direction after the SSH march, which Cure felt was a rejection of their campaign (it wasn't, but that was how they have taken it - including the organization of a counterdemo/photo-opportunity which didn't work). 

There are also comments about JB's tactics:

"dignity and respect she said according to Sky news app. Not if you're on Twitter IMO"

"so well done love, well done on destroying a hospital & a towns reputation"

"Not convinced by her I'm afraid. IMO accounts seem inconsistent, vague & at times implausible. Not denying mid-staffs probs"

"the woman who single handedly screwed Stafford Hospital has received a CBE despite all her claims being lies!"
The most consistent comments seemed to be about the allegations of a hate campaign, which the Stafford Police investigated and found insufficient evidence to proceed further.

The award of New Years Honours often simply reflect political patronage, and the comments reflect this feeling:

"Everyone of the group SSH should have an award for their outstanding efforts & self sacrifice - contrast that to another group now being thanked ....for their tireless efforts on behalf of Hunt & Co ."

"How is it that someone not in our area can campaign against our services and get a CBE? Sure, things needed changing but not like this. What we have isn't helping anyone and it's isolating us from the rest of the country and wrecking a community."

"you may well end up with some high powered "advisor" job with Camerons bunch, but the people of Stafford will NEVER forgive you"

"Julie Bailey gets a CBE in the new years honours. Perhaps we could give Paul Flowers a knighthood for services to banking"

Comments from Staffs Newsletter Storify and Twitter.