Shock horror this morning, Cllr Clive Hart, Leader of the controversial coalition of Thanet councillors whose main policy seems to be keeping Labour in power, declined an invitation to speak on BBC radio Kent, about the new twice daily KLM service from Manston Airport to Schiphol which starts today.
Thank god, I say, who wants to hear the tortuous cynical explanation of Labour once again, as they try and justify the slippery policy change, prior to the last local elections, when they went big on nimby's and enviro nuts, forgetting some of us would like jobs and a future.
While the dead beat policy of kicking Manston, is in line with Labours consistent national policy of encouraging poverty, so that they will always have a constituency, it never ceases to annoy me, just how Labour promote a dependency culture.
UPDATE Clive Twits
Not sure, that election law prevents commenting, surely we live in a democracy don't we? As I recall John Warnet (BBC Radio Kent), said that Clive declined unfortunately he did not mention Purdah.
He could have said this -
ReplyDeleteWhy will the KLM service be any different from this recent history? Efforts by EUjet to offer budget flights in 2005 were short lived. Then a much trumpeted service, heavily backed financially by Kent County Council, to fly to Virginia in the US via tour operator Cosmos and its Monarch sister airline failed to take off in 2007.
A year later, in 2008, a Spanish charter carrier trading as Kent Escapes also ground to a halt.
More recently, Flybe ceased operating daily services from Manston to Edinburgh, Belfast and Manchester.
In the meanwhile the owners of Manston are still trying to sell the airport having paid £22 millions in 2005 and now losing £2 millions a year. Latesr reports suggested that they are will to acept a bargain basement £6 millions.
Manston is also now the main cargo movements airport in the country and has just been selected as one of the Search & Rescue helicopter bases. It is regularly used by the military as a base for displays and exercises in south east England and KLM are a bit bigger than either EUjet and Flybe. That apart I am sure you are right, Anon, the place is doomed.
DeleteThe Virgina service was much criticised on these pages by myself for the good reason that it was waste resulting in my view from rather odd obsession of both the Kent county Conservative leadership and senior officers of KCC.
DeleteThe difference this time is that KLM a major airline is investing, unlike our UK industry and scooping up trade that is not served by British Airports.
I understand they have a strategy, to scoop up business from the regions of the UK to feed into spare capacity at Schiphol.
A significant investment, clearly not understood by dim witted East Kent yokels and Labour.
KLM are not quite the white knight you may imagine, Tony.
DeleteKLM ignored warnings on flying Nazis to Argentina
By Paul Scheltus for the Buenos Aires Herald
KLM airline knowingly airlifted fugitive Nazis to Argentina in the years following WWII, a Dutch television programme has revealed, prompting Dutch Parliament members to call for an investigation.
Hans van Baalen, legislator for the VVD-party has told Elsevier-website he was "shocked to learn that the national airline co-operated with the escape of war criminals." He says his party is calling for an investigation into the airline’s past to be carried out by the National Institute for War Documentation.
Although KLM’s alleged role in the transport of Nazis had already been documented by former Buenos Aires Herald journalist Uki Goñi in his book The Real Odessa (2003), the probe by television show Netwerk has gone even further in making the case against the Royal Dutch Airline.
In a phone interview Marc Dierikx, a Dutch historian specializing in the airline industry, commented to the Herald from the Netherlands on Netwerk’s findings: "If you look at the evidence you have to conclude KLM knew who it was they were flying to Argentina," he said.
That evidence includes documents which, according to Dierikx, demonstrate that KLM tried to persuade the Swiss authorities to turn a blind eye at border checks to Germans prohibited from travelling. Other findings, he said, point to numerous warnings by US authorities to the airline that it was transporting suspected war criminals. Those warnings were ignored.
source:http://tzvee.blogspot.co.uk/2007_05_01_archive.html
Dutch national television broadcast 'Netwerk' 1 & 3 May 2007:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WcV9SL2UwE
AS a GFC, what for God's sake has all this to do with a new service from Manston, Rick, or are you just showing off your knowledge of outlandish detail once again. Please give it a rest, mate, or at least try to stick to the subject in issue which was, primarily, the failure of the leader of our local council to use an opportunity to promote our airport in the same way that last week he ignored the announcement about the S & R Helicopters.
DeleteWell Tommo, you may be a friend of corporate fascism, but I most certainly am not, but at least you'll have a lift out of here when this thing goes pear-shaped...
Delete... and the KLM are still up to their tricks, believe me, take it from someone who knows...
... and while I have the utmost respect for Rick, I am not he.
Pull the other one, Rick, we all know you regardless of your various disguises. Having respect for him is a dead giveaway as nobody else does.
DeleteGod fearing christian exactly how long ago did this occur assuming it's true which I doubt, 5 minutes ago 5 months, 5 years, 50 years? What a sad little man/women you are.
DeleteI would have deleted this comment but since Tom replied to it, it may as well stand although clearly the allegations made unlikely to be prove conclusively.
Maybe you could give us ancient history on the companies that used slave Labour, or banks that stashed stolen money.
I can't blame you for hovering over the delete button, Tony, but I'll be happy to stand in front of a jury and testify to what I know, there is also ample documentation on the web pertaining to the, shall we say, darker activities of the major shareholding family who gave the orders for the airlift.
DeleteLet the KLM by all means fly in and out of Manston, as airlines go they are among the best, but I would suggest to anyone working in and around these flights to keep a vigilant eye out for any activities deemed against the best interests of the people of this country.
None of this is ancient history, considering the insanity that is now taking place in the world, Tony, it is all linked!
Probaly afraid of the awkward questions he might be asked about his about face and he is not exactly in the same educational or intellectual league as the interviewer.
ReplyDeleteQuestions about his face? Or do you mean his hair?
DeleteIs it really his hair?
DeleteMaybe Manston would be seen more attractively if those who promote it didn't continually use such offensive language about and towards anyone who raises doubts about the place. "Dim witted", "yokels", "DFLs" and countless other insults don't encourage anyone to join a serious debate.
ReplyDeleteMany want the airport to thrive, but are not sold on the idea that a) this should be at any environmental price, b) it will magically provide the solution to all the area's social and economic problems, and c) the Labour Party is the only thing standing in the way of its success. Those promoting it are at risk of over-selling the product.
Airlines around the world are struggling and restructuring. In East Kent, we are "conveniently" close to several large multi-destination airports. We do not have a huge local population with large business centres. That must limit just how much trade Manston can attract, and I would guess there is a critical mass that even a small regional airport would need to survive. As someone else has said, others have tried and failed - when diffierent political groupings were "in charge".
Lydd is doing OK and that has an even smaller catchment area than Manston. Also, in my earlier comment relating to the trade Manston has, I insulted no one. Not all of us, who would like to see Manston succeeed, think that opponents are necessarily selfish NIMBYs
DeleteIn fairness to you 10 06, you're almost certainly a Labour sympathiser, and clearly a cynic so.
DeleteJust out of curiosity how do you struggle through life with such a pessimistic view, I'd suggest that your glass is not only half empty but has a crack in it aswell.
Is Lydd doing commercial passenger flights now? To where? Good news for them then. My criticism was directed at the blogowner and others who have contributed to the debate before.
ReplyDeleteBREAKING NEWS - EZEKIEL'S RIGHT HAND MAN JUMPS SHIP
ReplyDeleteShamed Tory Ex-Council Leader Sandy Ezekiel's former deputy and right hand man Ex-Councillor Roger has DESERTED Thanet Conservatives to be a UKIP candidate for the KCC elections in may. ROGER LATCHFORD, who recently supported his ex-Boss Sandy Ezekiel in court denies being an opportunist and said that he jumped ship because he puts others before himself.
Tony, you seem to be obsessed with labelling anyone who doesn't join your constant attack on the Labour Party as a Labour sympathiser. That's a very silly premise. And even if I am a Labour sympathiser, does that make any opinion I might hold invalid?
ReplyDeleteMany people now hate the Liberal Democrats just as you hate Labour, but that doesn't mean that your personal opinions and views should be consigned to the dustbin.
There is nothing cynical or pessimistic in my comments here. I would like to see Manston succeed as an airport, but it needs to do so in balance with legitimate local environmental needs - not in defiance of them. My concern is its viability, driven not by "pessimism", but by realism. Private sector operators have tried to make a go of it - with both Tory and Labour political backdrops - and have failed, and I have simply questioned whether that puts the writing on the wall for the future. I also wonder whether a local airport so close to major multi-dstination hubs can ever work. If, as A N Other says, Lydd is propsering, then maybe it can. Watch this space perhaps?
God save us from reasonable enviro-crazies
DeleteAnd whinging dim-witted manual workers!
DeleteThis blog site is toilet as are your comments flaig,
ReplyDeleteAre you missing the last bent tory leader already?
A unisex toilet!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteHello Sailor.
DeleteSo it turns out that you were wrong Tony, and that he couldn't have do the interview. Now, how about having the decency to publicly apologise, not that it's the usual Tory / Lib Dem policy to do so.
ReplyDeleteYou probably don't read Simon Moores but this seems relevant
Delete"I chatted with BBC Radio Kent earlier and heard that Council Leader, Clive Hart, had declined to be interviewed, citing the County Council election 'Purdah' period of political blackout as a reason for such uncharacteristic reticence.
But hold on a moment. I also had a chat with Sir Roger Gale and then, KCC's leader Paul Carter, who 'had' been interviewed and as Clive isn't a candidate, quite why he had ducked-out of an interview opportunity to lend his public support to Manston, remains a little unclear.
Seems like pork pies all round!
You've been more than fair!
09:05 seems a right old plonker and not helping Calamity Clive
Flaig apologise? You'll have a very long wait. He uses this blog simply as a soap-box for his own illiberal views, and his hatred of the Labour Party. He purports to be a Liberal Democrat but little of what he says connects even remotely with their policies. And he doesn't want to engage in reasoned debate - partly because he rarely understand it - with anyone who doesn't support his uninformed opinions. He prefers insults and oafish put-downs.
ReplyDeleteMake no mistake this blog is a personal take on life, not an authorised policy document for the Liberal Democrats, as for soap boxes, can any honest person Labour or not, fail to be shocked at the stalinist propaganda particularly from the aptly named Ed Balls running, down the working classes and biging up shirking classes.
DeleteWelfares one thing and god knows nobody wants see those in need of help suffering but failure to acknowledge the need for reform is disgraceful, those who work, are sick of hearing sofa huggers bleat that it isn't worth working, well hopefully it is now, Welcome to the real world.
Still thanks for the motivation encouraging me continue that I get from cowardly and I guess embarrassed contributors such as 9 56, who are so convinced of their righteousness but some how cannot man up or indeed women up to associate themselves with their own opinions, how strange!
You always resort to the "anonymous" argument when you're on the run, don't you? Well the answer is simple. Block anonymous contributions, then your increasingly immoderate and anti-Liberal Democrat sentiments can be expounded without attack from alleged "cowards", can't they? As you don't like reasoned debate - or rather can't hack it - you'll be in complete control then, won't you?
ReplyDeleteSorry have I blocked anyone, yes I removed a personally offensive comment, any reason I shouldn't and is their any reason, you cannot hack using your name, other than being too embarrassed by you're frankly weird views, and please let me know which anti-liberal sentiments I suspect you'll struggle big time as you do in using your own name. 11 01 what a muppet!
ReplyDeleteI didn't suggest you had blocked anyone. I said you COULD simply block all anonymous contributors, if you don't like challenging comments from anyone who chooses not to use their real name.
ReplyDeleteMy views are weird to you only because you have very set, right of centre views on a range of issues - particularly welfare recipients, immigrants, and anything to do with the Labour Party - which I don't. In some cases your views are far right of centre, and are certainly way out of line with pronounced Liberal Democrat thinking or policies. You may argue that your blog is not an official Liberal Democrat mouthpiece. Fine, but frankly, it scares the ***t out of me to think that you stood as a Liberal Democrat election candidate and may do so again. People would have voted for you on the basis of Liberal Democrat principles, ideas and policies. And they would have got you, if you had won. Scary stuff.
So are Liberal Democrats supposed to be clones of Labour, is it too awful to think that anyone other than Conservatives oppose Labour's welfare state or is it just wishful thinking that every one other than those nasty Tories is in some great left wing alliance.
DeleteYou know, anon, it is possible to see flaws in policies without necessarily being diametrically opposed all, the time. I abhor what Labour has done to this country, but have no time for Cameron either. I think the current Coalition is trying, though weak on leadership, and has got several things wrong. I know Labour would be worse.
Elsewhere, the Greens have replaced the Trots, New Labour have gone with David Milliband and Ed does not know quite where he is. Balls is another Brown, only worse, and waiting to stick the knife in his leader. Boris is a clown and who ultimately replaces cuddly Dave is conspicuous by their invisibility.
In essence, why would anyone line their views up with those of any of our political parties. The odd bit of sense appears occassionally, but, in the main, it is down to choosing the lesser of evils.
12 27 scary stuff indeed, local commentator picks up on Clive Hart not speaking up for Thanet, citing purdah, Labour boss actually believe or rather back leader, and commentator accused of being a Nazi ?????
DeleteYou're of course entitled to your analysis of the current state of politics in Britain, Tom Clarke, but my point was a much simpler one. There are few Liberal Democrat principles or policies evident in much of what Tony Flaig promotes on this blog. His views on many issues are alien to those of the Party for which he stood as a candidate in the last DC elections. Nothing to do with Labour or the Tories, just a matter between what Tony says and his Party believes. People would have voted for Tony based on his Party's platform, not his own. What they would have got is not a Liberal Democrat.
ReplyDelete