I can only imagine the latest posting on the Thanet Lab blog has been written by Clive Hart, over the top with the cliché in the first paragraph "Thanet Labour have won an historic victory in Westgate-On-Sea" isn't everything historic, even these words, as they change the pixels on my screen from white to black.
The second para opens well enough "We are now delighted to welcome Councillor Jodie Hibbert as the newest member" I'm sure the newest Thanet councillor has the best wishes of us all, (God knows enough dinosaurs, roam Thanet council chamber, but the things rapidly decline, with this pompous statement "This result sends a message to David Cameron and his Government that they are taking the country in the wrong direction. err no it doesn't, assuming anyone would trouble David Cameron with the results of a by election in some tin pot seaside town, they'd most likely point out just under 70% of the electorate rejected Labour, rather reassuring I'd say with the votes split in the main by various rightwing parties.
I find this comment to be rather cheeky "Thanet Labour will continue to fight on behalf of the residents of Thanet and do everything we can to soften the blow of the Coalition's ill prepared plans." it prompts question what have Labour done for the people of Thanet, apart from attacking social housing and fighting jobs, oh and looking after Thanet Independent Group.
I'd like to say Cllr Clive Hart "you couldn't make up" referring to this blog post but I'm afraid he probably has! Anyway, dear reader, go have a look at Thanet Lab blog and then feel free to make your comments back here, as it seems that Thanet Labour don't allow free comment, has anyone noticed how few Labour party members, take place in local debate, has the likes of Cllr David Green Mayor of Ramsgate been gagged?
Finally I don't doubt that Cllr Jodie Hibbert, will be in for a bit of a disappointment come the next council elections, still maybe she and Will Scobie could breath some life, in to a party that appears to have become a throwback to the looney labour party, of the nineteen seventies, during recent times we've seen one hardworking councillor, de-selected and replaced by a candidate having flirted with several leftwing parties, we've seen jobs given and created for supporters outside the labour party costing thousands of pounds which have been diverted from community services.
Whether you like it or not, at the moment Labour has the upper hand both in Thanet and in the national polls. It means that the majority disagree with your view. Your Libdems fail to make any impact in Thanet regardless of the quality of local candidates and most Libdem MP's are heading to the dole queue. Unless of course old Nick can wangle for them to get elected to the Lords. But lets see what happens in next years KCC election after the Labour pasting in 2009.
ReplyDeleteNo party can claim majority support, 3:58, and all the opinion polls indicate is which party is in the lead at any given time. Tony is right in saying a majority in Westgate voted against Labour, but their candidate got the most votes.
DeleteOn the bright side for Labour, you do look set fair to win the next general election, but it could be your last if the Scots choose independence and all those seats north of the border disappear. Enjoy the moment.
I honestly believe we needed some new young blood, whether it be Tory, Labour or other. The old dinsaurs that have made Thanet into a wasted space, needs to be illimiated.
ReplyDeleteWill and Jodie I'm sure will bring, some new ideas into cabinet and perhaps help to get rid of the ones who have disgraced themselves and their constituents over the past few years. The worst thing is, they have all gone unpunished for their failings, this must not happen in the future and if it takes a Labour council to sort them out, then let that be so.
Do you mean illiminated? Wish they all were, so then we could start a fresh.
Deleteor even eliminated?
DeleteTo be fair, Labour have not had much to cheer about since 2009, so some hyperbole is to be expected at this point. The comments re softening the blow from the coalition policies was crucial on the doorstep I believe, on more than one occasion whilst canvassing I met voters who were under the impression that local Labour would be able to maintain and/or reverse national benefit cuts. I hope the voters misunderstood the message..the rest of the messages were all related to national or county issues as well. Interesting, but typically of the moment when a government is low in popularity. Well done to Jodie Hibbert, and all who canvassed hard across the seat. One would expect this to change in three years time, but we will see.
ReplyDeleteWell said Tony. Unpopular councillors with minority votes and no policies and we wonder why TDC is such an awful council.
ReplyDeleteThe councillors are not gagged they've just got nothing useful to say.
Or at worst, as here, wee stuffed shirts pretending that their views on national policies count for anything.
Tony is just jealous because he keeps loosing
ReplyDeleteNo I'm rather sick of Thanet Labours conduct, which seems all about taking taxpayers money.
DeleteSame old red, blue, yellow gang colours it really doesnt matter who gets in they are all the same and she wont have any real say in anything. Stop voting it only encourages corruption it is the officers who run the council not councillors.
ReplyDeleteThis was written over 100 years ago by US President
DeleteTheodore Roosevelt:
“Political parties exist to secure
responsible government and to execute the will of
the people. From these great tasks both of the old
parties have turned aside. Instead of instruments
to promote the general welfare, they have become
the tools of corrupt interest, which use them impar-
tially to serve their selfish purposes. Behind the
ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible
government owing no allegiance and acknowledging
no responsibility to the people.”
There's nothing to be jealous of, its the officers who run the councils not the councillors, they dont have any real say in anything.Stop voting it only encourages corruption.
ReplyDeleteNot gagged Tony, just dont think it appropriate to comment politically too much whilst Mayor of Ramsgate.
ReplyDeleteWhat we are doing in Ramsgate will speak for its self, though these things take time!
sounds like no policies
DeleteWell Tony, you keep knocking labour and still they won in Westgate. There is a lesson here for all local knockers. Tony tell us what you would do to improve Thanet bearing in mind that Local council grants cuts from central government have been greater than most other councils in the country. The transitional top up is also comming to an end. On top of that many other cetral government grants have also been stopped and with the benefit and welfare cuts, the local popuation will have a lot less cash in their pockets. Thanet is getting poorer.
ReplyDeleteFirst thing you might do is stop wasting money creating jobs that are not need for any purpose that holding on to the reigns of power.
DeleteThen not create artificial barriers to employment such as all that Manston nonsense
So tell us what you would to at Manston and who pays. And how it would impact the many hundreds employed in tourism in Ramsgate.
DeleteThe taxpayer will pay for the cleanup of the aquifer - if there is any.
DeleteInfratil will drift away and blame the failure to regulate cleanup on the Environment Agency and TDC.
Then cue bickering among KCC, TDC etc etc over responsibility.
Maybe some volunteers could clean it while the councillors have a debate for a year or two.
I must say well done to Jodie. As for the rest of the Labour councillors I doubt her appointment will change their ways, so nowt will change. I will say that Clive can bask in his moment of glory because the rest of his task must be a nightmare. I have seen better looking train crashes than the current bunch of miss matches. I love Thanet but I am not sure the local Labour party do as they are not doing anything to show they do.
ReplyDeleteGood to know David that you are free to comment somewhat surprised you think it would be in appropriate to comment as Mayor of Ransgate, as far as I know the mayoralty is not the same as flipping royalty.
ReplyDeletePleased to know that Labour is not quiet as repressive as I imagine.
I hate all the corruption, bad manners and disrespect shown by most of the councillors, they never seem to be reprimanded for their total lack of respect for the public.
ReplyDeleteIt really is a disgrace and to think we are actually paying them.