Friday, September 09, 2011

Labour driven to distraction

Having a quick catch up  back from hols (see last post) , on what's what and whats not, something you cannot access from abroad are the letter pages of the local papers, reading through last weeks Gazette, I see the highly popular Labour bod Cllr  Ian Driver was at it again, sending a letter that is, last week, he seemed quite vexed about what TDC was doing for the homeless.

Cllr Driver's plee was for more social housing whilst apparently criticising TDC, it seems he is unaware of how recently Cllr Clive Hart's Labour Party fought against social housing.  No surprise that it appears tensions are rising with the new boy.

Strangely news of Ian Driver's popularity within the Labour Party filtered as far away, as my holiday retreat, with news that at least one comrade having made, what I'm sure would have been a flattering comment about Ian Driver, was asked if he'd like repeat it, outside a recent Labour get together . I understand that the meeting Chairman Peter Campbell rather spoiled the moment highlighting the correct etiquette for such gatherings.

Unfortunately news of a kerfuffle reached me as I and Mrs Me were about to finish off a bottle of gin and dress for our last dinner before returning to Blighty, so I didn't blog it at the time. The grim details are available here from the Gazette. (ThisisKent)

Anyhoo Clive Hart is oblivious to any discord judging by his twitter stream, I reckon he could pep things up a bit, perhaps by reporting such things as "dust-up averted by Peter Campbell at tonights Labour Party meeting"
Still if, Ian Driver leaves the Labour Group he could join up with the Tories since both have shown an interest in social housing unlike Clive Hart's group.

Finally I have to say that I'm a bit miffed that Cllr Driver couldn't be bothered to reply to my invitation to contribute to Bignews Margate, I though he would given his high standards and demands for everyone else to jump through hoops.

18 comments:

  1. He didn't mentioned being a councillor in that letter, perhaps he is tired of Thanet Labour Group already.

    Labour "old boys" just want to quietly gather up their pension top up with as little fuss as is possible

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  2. More likely he was presenting himself in his day job guise to lend support to the policies (or should that be bandwagons) he follows as a councillor. He has previous for this once having described himself as 'governor' to lend weight to his cause whilst serving on a school governing body.

    This guy is a loose cannon Thanet Labour will come to regret.

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  3. Bet Clive wishes he had kept Mark Nottingham now instead of this firebrand replacement. Wish Cllr Driver had asked me 'outside' but then I am not likely to be at a Thanet Labour meeting.

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  4. How long now before Hart is replaced, the labour group under his "leadership" is a joke he keeps backing the wrong horse, social housing, Manston airport to name but two. The Gazette report makes interesting reading clearly showing the only person of any calibre is Peter Cambell. It is no coincidence that Nicholson left the Cabinet of his own free will as he could not work with Hart.
    Time to go Clive and take your photo off your office door and hang it in your bedroom at home and dream of what could have been

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  5. Nicholson? Isn't that the guy who described the anti-Manston lobby as "night flight hysteria" on his own blog and then later had to toe the party line of oppossing all things Manston. Where are the principles, let alone believed in policies, of these people.

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  6. Cllr Hart should have nipped this in the bud early on. Something like this doesnt happen without prior incidents. Either he wasn't being told about this or he chose not to take action - either way its a failure of leadership. Im suprised because he could be a great leader for Labour, and I say that as a Tory.

    These tensions undermine everything they do. Add to that the general negativity of Labour policy locally and that's a recipe sure to put the public off. All rather sad really...

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  7. James where have you been, Hart as a leader is a total failure all the current issues are a direct responsibility of an out of touch could not care less leader only interested in his self. Leader!! he will have to stand in front of his office door and admire his photo over the top osf a sign telling him he is the leader,James you are having a "larf!!"

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  8. James, I think the trouble is that Ian Driver, a former candidate of Scargill's Real Labour party, has his own agenda which will place him at variance with many within the local Labour group and lead to such differences. He is not the type to accept any kind of party discipline, hence his overtures to the independents at the first scuffle, so there is not much Clive can do.

    Ultimately the guy will either leave or be kicked out of local Labour which, following on from the Nottingham saga, does not auger well for electoral prospects. Clive Hart really needs to get a grip swiftly or stand aside in favour of someone who will.

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  9. Tom has hit the nail on the head Hart is not a strong leader in fact he seems bereft of any leadership skills, the current situation is of his makingNicholson the former leader could not work in Harts cabinet and left the spat between Driver and Nicholson was in the news, peter Cambell seemed to take effective action where was Hart. I am sorry but as long as Hart is Leader labour is going nowhere and fast loosing the respect of all our supporters

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  10. Perhaps, Anon, the truth is that local Labour, irrespective of Clive Hart's leadership or lack of, are simply not fit for the purpose.

    In Mark Nottingham they had a couth, intelligent and dedicated councillor but he was shafted for not fitting the Thanet Labour mould. Seems locally the party would rather have loud mouths, members calling others 'tossers', those that want to settle their differences 'outside' and others, particularly amongst the senior members, who are prepared to sit back and let the mayhem continue.

    Whilst I agree there is no leader, the rest are not much good either. Perhaps Iris should take over?

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  11. Reading Hart's Twitter does the bloke not have a job or is he one of the "Socialists dependent on welfare", if he can swim every day is he not fit to work, seeing his daily time table, "visiting Mum, going for a swim and the Gym, attended a meeting", poor chap what a hard life. think there are some questions that need to be asked here

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  12. 11:45 you are right with Iris what you see is what you get she should be an excellent leader, she is making an very good job as Mayor well done Iris, how much longer can you allow Hart to be your leader?

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  13. Ive come to learn that underestimating the opposition is a bad idea. Labour are definitely harming their own prospects in what they say and do, but it wouldn't take much to turn it round. They have a strong frontbench who, properly focused, are very dangerous and young talent is coming through.

    You write Clive and Labour off at your peril.

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  14. James are you really a Tory or a Labour plant masquerading as a Tory?

    "Labour have a strong front bench" - you cannot be serious, man! Young blood coming though presumably refers to the opposition shafting Will Scobie.

    It would take a major clear out to turn round Thanet Labour but I agree with you that they cannot be written off. The bigotted diehard followers of all parties would vote for a sack of potatoes as long as it had the correct label.

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  15. A Labour plant acting like a Tory...I wish I was that smart! Im tired of the 'Us Vs Them' negative politics, something Ive commented on in the past few months. It requires all political groups to change Thanet for the better.

    Will Scobie did what he felt he had to do. How would a clear out in Labour look like for you? You never know, Clive might be taking notes!

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  16. Perhaps clear out is going too far, James, but some of the local Labour grandees have been around too long and seem to be more in it for the buffets than serving their communities. Where were all the senior figures when the nonsense was afoot prior to the last local elections over the de-selection of Mark Nottingham?

    As for Scobie doing what he had to do I simply ask why? Is that what you mean by 'them and us' politics where you seek to dig the dirt on your opponent irrespective of how capable he or she may have been in office.

    I too deplore the perpetual dog fight, particularly in local governance where it seems the public's best interests are sacrificed frequently, as say with Manston, in the cause of taking opposite stances. I do, however, support healthy diversity of opinion but that does not mean ridiculour party dogma which is all too frequently what gets served up in Thanet.

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  17. 5:49 Hart's Ward highest unemployment area Welfare benefits dependent is Hart also really on benefits as well?

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  18. Well is Hart on benefits time to tell

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