Labour and Stephen Ladyman’s great acheivements

If you’ve not had chance yet, those of you in Thanet South, which is in my case north of where I live, will no doubt be much interested to know what Stephen Ladyman has been doing for you in recent years, well the answer is plenty, to find the detail click below and you will be able to see, the not very pretty sight of a Labour candidate, clutching at straws.

Much is made of the spending on schools and medical services new and improved, but no mention of the much increased population it has to serve.

Transport is another one of those items claimed achievements, the loopy bus, roads pfizer traffic improved and one day a dual carriage way all the way into the planet Thanet assuming the money doesn’t go to pay huge government debt after Labour lose the election.

One item mentioned by the great man was the highspeed rail link, which has improved journey times a tad, although much of the infrastructure relies on the channel tunnel rail link, and it occurs to me that currently those who help build the railway are under threat.

A press release from the RMT union from last month shows, one example that workers face an uncertain future this from March 4th talking about Balfour Beatty’s plans to slash jobs

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said:

“The plan to slash 160 track team leaders and track workers at Balfour Beatty Rail is a massive kick in the teeth for staff who accepted a job security package from the company as part of a new national agreement on terms and conditions just three months ago.

“This attack on track workers is the latest in an on-going assault on rail jobs that make a nonsense of the government’s stated commitments to expand and upgrade the rail network and to maintain safety standards.

Its seems that one of Labours achievements, as far as I’m concerned, is how rail workers are treated as commodities, rather than the dedicated hardworking people which they are. The rail network is effectively a nationalised industry since Network Rail is state owned and initiates contract and investment so why allow contractors to treat staff like er

Anyway this will no doubt, seem like a remote issue to Ladyman and his cohorts in local Labour, however as I understand many of those effected live in Thanet and East Kent are waiting the outcome.

Just a quick thought on expenses

Roger Gale MP has, as mentioned in the press, been successful in sorting out, a misunderstanding over parliamentary expenses claims for telephone calls and I can say that I’m genuine pleased, since I doubt Roger Gale is going to risk his reputation for a few quid.

I’m also sure that Thanet’s other MP Ladyman, is similarly honest, but one thing that still bugs me, is that I believe both have claimed for food expenses, which I feel is wrong.

Why is it wrong, simply because both earn considerably more money than most of their constituents, and are able to dine at Westminster at a heavily subsidised cost and ought like the rest of pay our way from wages or salary.

Maybe MPs’ salaries ought to be paid on the basis of average earnings of constituents plus maybe 50% so that they had an incentive to create prosperity for the electorate.

Resolutions and political dreams

At the start of the Christmas break I had the idea that I would post some well argued and thoughtful pieces, since I’ve not achieved this previously, its no surprise that I have succumbed to a soft sofa and responsive remote.

I could have made a new years resolution, but view these things with cynicism still its my intention to be short and too the point more than previously.

I noted that Stephen Ladyman MP was apparently “Dreaming” in his regular column(more a box) in the Gazette last week, I couldn’t bare to read it, elsewhere his colleague Gordon Brown (according to the media) is dreaming up a nightmare Class War.

And I’m thinking just who do Labour represent they’ve seem happy to look after bankers, industry bosses, public sector and of course welfare bludgers, bent MP’s Ministers and of course Lords and my conclusion, is its me and working people that Brown’s at war with.

Just look at Local Labour I can recall we’ve seen Clive Hart fearlessly taking photo opportunities in defence of flower beds, buildings or coastal views but never outside a Jobcentre or maybe a post office supporting working peoples.

Anyway happy new year one and all.

Thought for the day – MP Cleared of wrong doing

I caught this wonderful news, in this weeks Thanet Times “Ladyman is in the clear” apparently Sir Thomas Legg has concluded that there were “no issues” with Ladyman’s expenses including his mortgage etc.

Stephen Ladyman is quoted in the Thanet Times “It has been a worrying time because even when you are confident you did nothing wrong there is always the worry some unintentional fault could be found. Now I can breathe a sigh of relief”

Phew! isn’t that a relief, who ever thought anything different? lets not forget how tough life can be for MP’s struggling to get by, thankfully the taxpayer is only too willing to help these, low income professionals, with subsidised canteens and monthly food expenses etc.

I’m thankful that we still live in time when a Labour parliament is able to look after the vulnerable in society even MPs, trousering nearly 65 grand a year…. pity they can’t also look out for working people whose incomes and prospects are bleaker than they’ve been for many a year.

Thought for the day – MP’s on Family values and loyalty, when it counts

I’ll keep this brief, as I can (some chance), a lot of comment has flowed over the last two weeks particularly in the papers, concerning whether or not MP’s spouses should or shouldn’t be allowed to involve themselves with their partners work, and of course we all know that MP Roger Gale has taken a principled stand on the issue, being as you’d expect supportive and outspoken in defence of his wife and spouses of other MP’s who help manage their offices.

Now this is obviously a tricky subject but for a bit of balance MP Stephen Ladyman, employs his wife Janet as constituency Office Manager, so here’s the line I’m taking, which our new improved “Gazette” failed to pursue, just where does the esteemed member for Thanet South stand, one presumes that the great man had no qualms about employing his wife prior to the recent proposals so apart from some kerfuffle caused bent bent and crooked colleagues where does he stand, for instance has Mrs Ladyman received notice that her job may be in jeopardy, has he issued noticed or even “the P45”.

I think we should be told, has Ladyman decided to meekly to go with the flow in the rather optimistic hope he might just get re-elected next summer?

It seems extraordinary that any democrat would sit by and see a class of employee have their employment rights trampled on as somehow righting the wrongs of MP’s who’ve in several cases been involve in blatant fraud.

The crazy aspect of this no spouses rule ignores the reality that many couples don’t bother getting married so how would parliament deal with that.

Just out of curiosity it would be interesting to know whether Ladyman and other MP’s in this situation have discussed the matter, I mean how would you broach it, I suppose being politicians it wouldn’t quite be as blunt as “I’m going to have to let you go” or would it?

Gale whips up storm of populist criticism

Labour have as the government handled the MP’s expenses row with great incompetence, aided by greedy and crooked members and ministers, trying to justify scandalous claims which includes food bills despite 60K plus wages.

The new look Isle Of Thanet Gazette, has the topic as its first editorial and lays in to Roger Gale, for daring to go against the general flow of opinion and championing the cause of spouses of parliamentarians who for many years, have run offices for their partners. 

It's my opinion, the particular editorial is rather shallow, it's argument flawed and biased toward, Stephen Ladyman whom it claims has held his hands up and says now he feels the systems wrong, presumably that would explain his pitiful attempts to excuse and justifying claiming food allowance, as per his contribution to this blog back in May (click here for details), clearly Rebecca Smith, doesn't get round to reading the pages of Bignews Margate.

It might also be worth mentioning, that perhaps the Gazette has old scores to settle, since as a result of poorly judged and misleading article back in April 2006, Roger Gale took the principled stand not to contribute any further editorial to the paper.

Rather pompously, the author of the editorial, whom I would assume would be Rebecca Smith, whinges on about Gale's accusations of the media whipping up a storm, when the editorial is based on, the usual media cliché's.

Its true that Roger Gale rarely pipes up and his was pretty much a lone voice against the hysterical remedy to MP’s excesses, still he has a point, why shouldn’t MP’s have either their husband or wife run the office, since MP’s work more hours than most what’s the problem, as I understand Stephen Ladyman also employs his wife, its odd that he doesn’t make the same stand. Still I recall that these two differ on other matters like taking donations from local developers for their constituencies.

On the whole I think Roger Gale is a man of principle who sticks to his guns, he may not be the most charismatic and its a pity he represents the Tories but at least he is honest and straight forward.  

Education, Education for Stephen Ladyman

This weeks “In my view” from Steve Ladyman in the Thanet Extra, contains the usual Labour tosh, Ladyman is wittering on about the “tough decisions” concentrating on university education.

I reckon Ladyman could do with a bit of education himself, reading this latest propaganda it’s clear that the member for Thanet South seems to be under the impression that a Labour government wrestled for some long time before introducing tuition fees, “in the end” the government grasped the nettle.

For your education Ladyman as early as the 15th of May 1997 it was clear that your colleague Blunkett* was on his way to ending free education some few short days of Labour taking office, done and dusted about a year later.

Apart from candyfloss spending on rebuilding of schools in Kent, our secondary education still actively discriminate against poorer children, the system of grammar education is corrupted by the fact some parents can afford to coach their children to pass the the Kent Test a scandal that Labour has done nothing it rectify.

Perhaps Labour MP’s like Ladyman, could forego their “free dinners” (taxpayer funded MP food allowance for those struggling on 60 grand plus) and help the poorest kids.

*See Independent from 15th May 1997

IN MY VIEW – MP’S still don’t get it do they?

Just why do our MP’s and I think this covers both Thanet North and South MP’s carry on with the justification of expenses, I believe both Gale and Ladyman have in the past claimed food as an expense, Steve Ladyman who can’t seem to walk away from the subject, this week tells us about his 60-70 hour weeks, as some sort of mitigation in his Thanet Extra column and Roger Gale is quoted by www.thisiskent.co.uk as saying this. "If my constituents believe that I have been either excessive or improper in my use of what we consistently recognise is their money then they will no doubt tell me so in the usual manner."

Both these gents get a salary in excess of £60,000 admittedly its considerably less than many less talented Muppets, who litter the public sector, but even so why should we pay their flippin food bills, what do they think, a salary is for.

Most MP's must see the public as mean spirited B*******s however sometimes working similar long hours to Ladyman, except with tools like hammers, shovels, Kangos and out in the wind, rain, cold, heat and no second home etc., I can empathise since employers I've worked for don't feel the should feed, me since they pay a wage to which we've agreed. Tough concept for an MP, but here's my advice if you can't live on 60 grand get another job.

Thought for the week - anything else to declare?

Amongst all the upset over MP’s expenses one area which is still worth a bit of consideration, is the area of outside interests. Should MP’s have second jobs.

My own MP Roger Gale seems upfront with this from his website “He holds office with a number of local and national charities and served for three years as a warrant-holding Special Constable with British Transport Police.”

Stephen Ladyman as far as I can see makes similar reference to outside commitments, which of course naturally include charitable work and some considerable work in the field of autism.

Such outside experiences, represent a sort of “added value” to local MPs and an acceptable if not almost obligatory part of an MPs life, however I’m not too keen on the thought of MPs working in the commercial world.

Anyhow having asked the question before, I thought I’d check out Stephen Ladyman’s website since publically he’s been so upfront about expenses, but surprisingly I can find no reference to his work for ITIS holdings mentioned previously on these pages.

Reassuringly its not just me who feels a little concerned with outside jobs, listening to Harriet Harmon this morning she mentioned she “would want to know” about second jobs of MPs and that from the 1st of July, MPs will have to register time spent and money earned from outside jobs.

So no doubt in a flourish of openness, Stephen Ladyman will publish details on his website but I cannot understand why he doesn’t already appear to do so, particularly given earlier publicity in the press.

Ladyman out of touch ?

Writing in this weeks Isle of Thanet Gazette Stephen Ladyman MP, has this great insight referring, I guess to fellow MPs “Too many of my colleagues have failed to understand how angry people are …”

Well I just wonder if Stephen Ladyman has ever considered the impact of him, as I understand accepting a donation of £25,000 for his local constituency party from a local developer, who wishes to concrete many acres of Thanet.

Stephen Ladyman has been kind enough to allow us taxpayers an insight into his expenses even at one point to “slum it” by sending a contribution to Bignews Margate, after I questioned why we have been paying out £340 a month on food.

Incidentally he did not address the issue of the second job, which was highlighted some time ago in the Sunday Times when not too long, after leaving his job as minister for state for transport, (about a year later) he was spending some time writing letters on behalf of ITIS Holdings, for whom he was employed as an “adviser”, citing that the recipient might recall he had once been “minster of state …….”

It would be interesting to know whether Stephen Ladyman is currently gaining vital experience as a salesman for ITIS Holdings, it’s often the excuse of MP’s that holding directorships and jobs outside of parliament somehow enhances their abilities to do the job of MP. Yeah right, and I’m sure that most MP’s then give money earned from outside directly to charity.

Stephen Ladyman when he replied to Bignews Margate suggested the cost of food was necessary due to the long hours of the parliamentary day, well not having worked in parliament what would I know, the closest I’ve ever been to Ladyman’s hectic schedule was few months last year leaving home @ 5am, back home around 8pm after building railways in London, and despite getting paid less than half an MP’s salary, I never expected my employers to pay for my breakfast sarnie, lunch time cafe visit or even the takeaway when I got home.

In fairness to politicians I’ve never had to sit on my backside all day and talk bollix or listen to it.

Ladyman finishes this weeks Gazette column “By all means voters should punish MP’s who have broken the rules. But in the end, MP’s should be elected because of their values, their record, their beliefs and their policies, not because they have deep pockets.”

Quite right, so if I were one of Labours hardworking honest activists who’d had a kicking in the polls I’d take a long hard look at this comment and maybe ask Ladyman whether he might think about his values and see if they stand up to scrutiny on the level of not just whether rules are broken but also if the spirit of the rules have been ignored.

Stephen Ladyman is not alone in his attitude, the “in good faith” position is sadly shared by most MP’s, who seem to think, if, they’ve been open enough to admit, there’s a vile smell coming from the Kitchen, that exonerates them from the fact they created the stink in the first place.

To sum up, I’m sure that Stephen Ladyman is well meaning and honest in his dealings, and I hope that he at least has the chance to see the bigger picture this weekend and does something for the country like help get rid of Gordon Brown who if left in office will guarantee a long time in the wilderness for Labour.

Subject best avoided

This last week or two we’ve pretty much heard it all, on the expenses issue, and for me I would think the best policy for any MP, is to condemn the excesses and just keep a low profile on the subject.

Still Thanet South’s MP has taken the position of publishing, his expenses warts and all, at the earliest opportunity. Now clearly Stephen Ladyman has nothing to hide, so just out of curiosity I thought I ‘d take a quick glance.

Now I accept that MP’s do need additional accommodation just like say a sales rep or engineer working on the road, so claiming for additional expenses is right and proper, that said though, on inspection, its interesting that the claim form ACA2 has various little headings maintenance, council tax, cleaning (fair enough who wants their MP in a pinny dusting and hovering 2 hours a week when theirs governing to be done) but hang on, how about this item for “Food”, for which Stephen Ladyman claims a monthly £340-00, now I’m willing to accept that figure is inline with the appetites of other MP’s. But can someone tell me why MP’s should be eating at my expense, excluding meals etc. taken in restaurants on business.

Before anyone’s tempted, to give some indignant response I’d like to just point this out, since even professional local Labour politician Cllr Mark Nottingham seemed a bit cloudy on the issue, the minimum wage is currently £5.73 so for a million or so they’d need to work a few minutes short of 60 hours to pay for that lot, accept of course they’d be paying tax.

Thankfully Labour has made sure that British workers can afford food, albeit by working, dangerously long hours, allowing opt outs from the European working time directive, sorry for the diversion but I doubt your average, Labour party dib dob has worked on sites where safety is eroded by the long hours culture.

Still if you look on the local blog sites of David Green and Mark Nottingham you’ll be able to read Stephen Ladyman’s statement amongst which you’ll see that it noted that 440 MPs’ claimed more than he, which presumably means 219 claimed less.

Fortunately the Sunday Times didn’t include Stephen Ladyman in its front page story concerning the 150 MPs’ who despite their busy Westminster lives manage to moonlight with second jobs, one Tory Tony Baldry having 10 jobs, still maybe Ladyman has given up his job as “adviser” to ITIS Holdings featured in an earlier Times story ”Labour MP Stephen Ladyman uses inside track to strike deals” click here for details.

You’ll find it difficult, I’m sure, not to believe I’m on some sort of witch hunt, but there is no point in pussy footing around the issues, its clear to me that politicians have strayed from what most perceive as acceptable conduct.

My solution is this, that we accept MPs are only human, ask them all to make clear, as Stephen Ladyman has done, and from now on, claim out of pocket expenses (the sort acceptable in business) which doesn’t include hundreds on food you’d buy anyway  or kit-kats or even eight grand televisions.

It’ll be interesting to see how Roger Gale compares when we get to see details of his expenses, still hopefully some day soon MPs will get back to the honourable business of governing us citizens.

Finally should we be too harsh, lets be honest if I was given the opportunity of helping myself to the odd DVD Television or gadget on the taxpayer would I say no, yes …. NO COMMENT !

Ladyman untroubled by China Gateway?

BBC tonight carried a somewhat small report, on China Gateway, for the people of Thanet we had Norman Thomas the main speaker from last nights meeting in Broadstairs, to discuss the issue and opposing Stephen Ladyman, who seemed blissfully unaware of the environmental impact on Thanet, the thousands of additional road traffic movements, the contaminated water supply and the fact that since we understand, these Chinese businesses will mainly be distributions centres with few jobs.

Still what would Ladyman know, presumably Thanet South Labour party have many reasons to back the scheme, no prises for guessing the correct number, it almost looked as if Ladyman was er .......... reluctant for some reason even to consider that local residents might have valid fears.

My personal reasons for objecting to this China Gateway are despite the generousity & hospitality being splashed around toward politicians Labour and Tory, none of them seem to have learnt enought to give us any facts, fortunately there are those who will fill the gap, local bloggers, newspapers and last nights group are the ones that will keep you informed.

I think if BBC South East, had given this item, maybe another couple of more minutes the public would have known more and it would have exposed Ladymans lose grip on his knowledge of this major issue and also his interest in his own constituency.

Still in fairness where the hell's Roger Gale, in all this?

MP's revelation reminds me of my own trauma

Last week's Isle Of Thanet Extra, carried a story concerning South Thanet MP Stephen Ladyman, who revealed his experience as a teenager of being stabbed, made even more poignant by the fact the perpetrator was someone he thought of as a friend.

I too recall a similar memory, in my case, there was no actual stabbing with a pointed object, but the sense of betrayal has yet to leave me. Sometime in the nineteen nineties, I was befriended by a group of people who appeared to share similar values and aspirations, I spent many hours listening to their advice their plans and hopes.

All they ever asked in return, was that I would, at some point, fill out some paperwork for them, eventually I had the opportunity to assist.

Well that was 11 years ago, since then, I've been sucked into financial commitments I have difficulty in maintaining and in addition have less freedom to say and do what I want than I once did, having become a second class citizen in my own country.

That's right I put my mark on the ballot paper and since then I've been a victim of labour spin crime, stabbed in the back when they took away free higher education, again when Scotland was given greater democracy and more of my money, repeatedly mugged ever since by the same gang.

We the voters have to make it clear that bollix policy promises are not acceptable, Harriet Harman yesterday made some sort of nonsense comment about continuing to protecting those working very hard who are finding it a struggle to make ends meet, etc. Which is news to me since labour have done everything possible to attack British workers during their time in office, particularly in encouraging " essential workers" from Eastern Europe and at the same time continuing to pamper career welfare scroungers of whom there are many.

Last week Gordon Brown, received a warning from Scotland, which in some ways is rather ironic, since labour have been very generous north of the border.

For me and many others, it is astonishing given, the goodwill and support that labour had in 1997, how little they have done for ordinary working men and women of this country, when I mentioned this recently, one of our local councilors actually blamed Margaret Thatcher, apparently oblivious that his crowd had been power the last 11 years.

STEPHEN LADYMAN ATTACKS LABOUR MOVEMENT

As the Labour party have moved further from their grassroots than ever, news that the GMB union is no longer to support Stephen Ladyman MP, should come as little surprise, to anyone who has observed Labours gentle metamorphosis from the Labour party recently new Labour and presumably now soft Tories.

No doubt Stephen Ladyman must be under pressure as a vice chairman of the Labour party, whose support is in freefall, as well as being exceedingly unlikely to be reelected for Labour in Thanet South. Stephen ladyman suggests that the GMB union is trying to buy MP's and drag it the Labour party to the left.



Now just for Stephen Ladyman, as someone whose mildly interested in politics, I suggest that it's not only traditional Labour grassroots supporters, who feel betrayed by Labour but those of us with a social conscience or who happen to be British or English have similar feelings. This might be of interest to local Labour councilors, such as David Green who accuses David Davies of political stunts and Clive Hart whom I bumped into at the big event in Margate, who strangely thinks he'll be able to buck the trend, and get himself reelected to Kent Council next year.


Anyway since a clear vision of political realities seems to elude both Stephen Ladyman and others in the Labour party, here are a few things that I and others are no longer comfortable with.


• arrest without trial
• university tuition fees (except in Scotland)
• prescription charges (except in Scotland)
• surrendering constitutional powers to Europe
• subjugation of the English by Scottish Labour MP's
• Scottish people given greater democratic power
• British workers taking pay cuts due to Labour exploiting foreign workforce
• uncontrolled migration resulting in poorer education and health facilities
• free speech curbed in the local government due to standards board of England
• Unrestricted gambling despite social cost
• green taxes curbing travel for working people whilst MP's can just charge expenses
• giving away billions to Europe when Blair handed back our rebate
• going to war based on bogus information


I could go on, but is just so depressing, even on something as simple as the working time directive, Labour have backtracked and stabbed their traditional supporters in the back. I'll be surprised, if any of our local, Labour politicians have the front, to comment, to me Labour party are every bit as sleazy as the Tories were at the end of their last reign, and one just wonders what deal Tony Blair did with the Murdoch Press, just prior to his election as surprisingly these papers are still supporting Labour.


It's easy for Labour just dismiss David Davies principled stand for democracy and freedom as a stunt, but since labour have thrown away principles and decency who gives a toss what they may have to say.

100 Reasons for Stephen Ladyman to lose the next Election

The odds of Thanet South, MP Stephen Ladyman returning to Parliament after the next election are getting slimmer, by the day, its not just the economy going down the toilet, or the corrosive effect, of Britain Governed by Scots, the lost of national identity but the very real displacement of local people by migrants.A while back I had a conversation with a couple of co-workers, who couldn't understand how Britain, had allowed a flood of migration, such as we've had in the last two or three years, which given the fact they were both Albanians (resident here for ten years), seemed a tad ironic. Still migration's not the issue here, and Britain is built on absorption of foreigners, the point these blokes made, was that wages were going south, since later migrants, because of their shear numbers were easy meat for exploitation.

So whats this got to do with Stephen Ladyman well, this is the point, the party of which he represents, Labour has done nothing at all to protect, the existing population. Many will feel, whats this got to do with me, well probably nothing, if you work in a profession such as law, accountancy, media, education etc., but for the masses it means that although you think you have a stake in this country, worked all your life, to bring up family and contribute to this countries wealth, it doesn't matter a damn, because labour have engineered a situation where wages are being driven down, schools are under strain, health services under pressure, through stupidity malice or indolence.

Migration has and will always be part of a free and civilised society, but what we've seen in the last few years is utter madness, the government has used the defence for its immigration free for all, of how its boosted the economy, which according to a new report amounts to about 50p a week for the average family, however low income families are actually worse off not surprisingly.

Last weeks Thanet Gazette has an article (page 21) suggesting that Farmers prefer foreign labour, the word flexible is often used when referring to foreign labour, I always wonder if they actually mean exploitable or vulnerable. A local recruitment firm is quoted as saying they have 100 people eager to work on farms, it is not stated but I assume they have difficulty placing people, one presumes that new form of discrimination is taking place Brits against Brits but its not that simple more like the rich discriminating against the working classes.

Labour have become remote take Tony Blair, it looked to me as if he couldn't get out of the country quick enough to cash in after leaving office, I just wonder whether anyone from labour would care to comment, probably not. The thought of all those Labour MPs on the scrap heap at the next election might offer some comfort but it will never compensate those who have witnessed a real fall their standard of living or having a Tory government.

PS Stephen Ladyman on his website has a list of 50 Top achievements you would think increasing the population by 1..2..3... million (nobody actually knows for sure) would show up somewhere in the list.

Stephen Ladyman prepares for next election by getting new job

Stephen Ladyman once again gets himself in the newspapers for all the wrong reasons, and reading between the lines it looks like he is preparing for a bit of a disappointment, come the next general election.

First off this weekend he crops up in the Kent on Sunday Newspaper (rather unfairly) in connection with local business man Ken Wills who has funded the labour party to the tune of £25,000, nothing wrong with that. Mr Wills has apparently a memorandum of understanding with Chinese businesses to lease a large parcel of land and hopes this will attract a 1000 jobs. What might be interesting is whether this business development will require any input from our local authorities in the form infrastructure provision. Remember Broadstairs property company Commercial Group Properties Plc arranged for Sandy Ezekiel and others to go on a junket paid for by the Chinese government, late last year. The only thing that bothers me is that old saying "there is no such thing as a free lunch" or junket?

Second in todays Sunday Times (click here) you can just imagine the ethical dilemma, faced by Stephen Ladyman as he takes on a job with Ltis Holdings as an adviser, not surprisingly in this country's weak regulation and lose ethical environment the advisory committee that vets jobs taken by former ministers has given the thumbs up. Of course Ladyman is not alone in moonlighting whilst representing his constituents, many MP's positively boast about their sidelines, since it gives them experience outside of Westminster, funny how they never take jobs as shelf fillers, warehouse workers or labourers.

Good luck to Mr Ladyman I think he will need it, since as a former transport minister he certainly has the experience for Ltis Holdings as their firm is producing road pricing technology. If you don't know what road pricing is, in simple terms its a way of charging a motorist when their driving, particularly handy for local authority leaches, since obviously you cannot clamp or fine a moving vehicle, very successful in London where most of the revenue goes providing bureaucrats with a job, since they would otherwise be unemployable.

I cannot help thinking that those in Thanet South, will not necessarily warm to Mr Ladymans new sideline, helping advise a company whose business is to make your freedom to travel less er free. I cannot help thinking that Laura Sandys the Tory candidate for Thanet South will be checking her calender just to make sure Christmas hasn't arrive early, already.

With so much social upheaval since labour took office it would be nice if he or one of his Labour colleagues could look at the social and economic damage done by Britain's open or no boarders policy.It seems that Labour have reached the same point as did the Conservatives regarding public standards, still look at the last Labour leader who's trousering millions on after dinner speeches.

Still just to come back to the Kent on Sunday, Headline "No conflict of interests" er yes ex-minister.

Kent TV " propaganda on the rates"*

Leader of the house of commons Harriet Harman*, thanked local Kent MP Stephen Ladyman, for raising the subject of the apparent abuse of taxpayers' money, by spend thrift councils like KCC, who recently decided to spend 1.4 million pounds of your money and mine on what most see as a vanity publishing exercise in self promotion.

Now this project Kent TV, bares all the hallmarks of a hastily ill judged project, perhaps the most, outrageous lapse, has been the lack of any properly thought out independent regulation of this enterprise.

Last month I spoke with someone at Kent Council, who informed me that a governing Board would be formed (cobbled together?) sometime this next month (November). The makeup of which will, not surprisingly I understand contain Peter Gilroy, various council employees including police and fire services, but no members of the public as yet.

I understand that they will be meeting shortly, so maybe they'll to consider this, much of the content so far seems to be local council propaganda, anyway to redress this balance, I have bodged together a quick video commentary, mainly as an experiment just to see how democratic this TV station is.

I will of course update you, if it passes the Kent censor, whilst we're waiting you can form your own opinion and by clicking the link let the world know what you think.

Please remember Tony flaig TV costs you nothing, as does this blog Kent TV however is coming out of your wallet.

Link to Kentnews story

Link to Kent TV

Post office closure

This week has seen, the announcement of post office closures in Thanet, which has given Laura Sandys much to get her teeth into.

It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good, and this week has seen, the Tories make plenty of capital out of the post office's announcement of local closures. It appears to me that Laura Sandys has almost been omnipresent in our local newspapers.

I am frequently mean to her opponent, Stephen Ladyman so for balance, I examine this week's PR performance. It certainly looks like local Tory functionaries, have got their act together as far as making good use of the local press (if only David Cameron were as competent in the coming up with some solid policies, it would be game over for Labour).

Now if you care to visit, Laura Sandys website, you get the impression that the main motivation for her condemnation of the post office proposals is a good sense of community and public service, which as far as I suspect may well be a genuinely held sentiment although the cynic in me, believes this to be purely a politically motivated stunt.

Still if this is part of a new softer caring, Tory party, I just wonder what or how the old guard of Mrs. T's generation feel, I imagine they're spinning in their retirement homes, let's just consider why these post offices, are being closed, unless the Tories know different, we're told that it's to do with making the post office more competitive (something which conservatives when in government have never had a problem with).

Like it or not, Tory or Labour, in the real world, tough decisions are made by people & businesses every day, and since the conservatives have always claimed to represent the interests of a free market, then regrettable as these changes are, wholesale condemnation seems out of place coming from a Tory candidate.

I doubt when push comes to shove, that David Cameron will have the stature or substance to produce a convincing win for the conservative party in the next general election, but on current form labour candidates in marginal constituencies, ought to be updating their C V's.

PS Local Labour party activists ought to take, a close look post-haste, at how the conservatives are running their campaign in Thanet South and contrast that with their apparently non existent efforts to unsettle Rodger Gale let alone unseat him at the next election.

Thanet Times and local MP discover traffic chaos

Looking at yesterday's Thanet Times, I'm reminded why occasionally I feel it necessary, to express my opinions and or blog. First off, it seems rather remarkable that one of your local newspaper takes six months, before they report on the possible traffic mayhem, which will be more than likely once the Thanet college plonks itself, into Thanet's new soulless centre at Westwood.

Now far be it for me to make insinuations, but back in April I suggested (at the time Of Thanet Council's approval of the Westwood Housing scheme), that nobody had mentioned the impact on traffic, that the colleges move would have, and as far as I can recollect, not one of our esteemed local journalists thought it significant until yesterday's front page story from Thom Morris (well done), it's just the timing of that bothers me. I just wonder, why our local media held off on this particular development, for so long, is it that they don't wish to upset the local government establishment, who also happened to be advertisers.

Anyway plans have now been sent to the Government Of The Southeast (Unelected overpaid civil servants) since a new college at Westwood, is not part of the local plan, which as we know thanet council adhere to rigorously except when it suits them.

Just for local journalists Thanet Council's latest, grand scheme for Margate, the new master plan which involves diverting traffic around the back of Dreamland site, will if it goes ahead create hideous traffic jams around Eaton Road Margate and the clock tower, presumably our local hacks will not report on this untill it's a done a deal and their stuck in traffic.

Finally as the possibility of an election starts to loom, also mentioned in Thom's report is the fact that Stephen Ladyman is raising concerns about traffic conjestion around Thanet, it's a pity he didn't show more interest, in Thanet's creaking road infrastructure when he was at the Ministry Of Transport. Well one things for sure when the brilliant minds that control local planning have created total gridlock throughout the area in five years time hopefully you will still be able to read it first here.

London to Paris 2 hours 39

Wow what a fantastic acheivement you can travel, by train, from Paris to London in just an hour longer than it takes passengers from Margate to creak into London-Victoria.

I wonder in what year it will be possible for residents of Margate to travel at even half the speed of the Eurostar trains, it will probably never happen.

It says something for this country, that it is incapable of building a high speed railway without French and Japanese technology.

Even from Ramsgate we are informed that despite the fact that many of the highspeed trains will be maintained in the town, journey times will not significantly be improved, what a pity that Thanet South MP, Steve Ladyman could not have used his influence to have the track upgraded to allow for a proper highspeed service from the coast, when he was Transport supremo.

Anyway I´m pleased for the people of Paris who will now, be just 3 hours from civilisation.





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