Conservative Chairman Russell Tillson has posted a lengthy missive calling for one ‘final push’ for victory.
Although taking nothing for granted, Cllr Tillson predicts Conservative Candidate Damian Collins ‘will be a first class Member of Parliament’.
Attacking Labour and Liberal Democrats in equal measure, Cllr Tillson accuses ‘both Labour and the Liberal Democrats [of resorting] to advising voters to vote tactically to prevent a majority Conservative government from being elected’ and warns that ‘ a vote for the Liberal Democrats, or any other party could leave Gordon Brown in Downing Street for another five years, with all the damage that would do to our economy and our society.’
Meanwhile the Lib Dems seem a little subdued on their site, carrying a release from Nick Clegg but little in the way of local activism. Flyers looking like a handwritten note from Joanna Lumley endorsing candidate Lynne Beaumont have been dropping through Cheriton letterboxes, and probably in a few other areas too.
The text of the letter has appeared in Lib Dem promotional material 'Kent View' number two.
Whether this will counteract God’s endorsement of David Cameron as splashed across the front page of The Sun remains to be seen.
Showing posts with label Shepway Conservatives. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shepway Conservatives. Show all posts
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
Thursday, 29 April 2010
Differing Views on Debates in Folkestone and Hythe
Conservative and Labour parliamentary candidates have said the leadership debates have had a minimal effect on Shepway voters, while Lib Dems are unsurprisingly buoyed by Leader Nick Clegg’s good showing.
The staging of leadership debates has produced vast amounts of comment and speculation. Mr Clegg appears to have gained the most, although the he had the least to loose from the debates.
Riding high in opinion polls, with some showing the Liberal Democrats more popular than Labour, Mr Clegg regularly appears on the front pages of newspapers, has hit the number one spot in ‘trending’ on Yahoo and is getting exposure that previous Lib Dem leaders could only dream of.
An excellent report in today’s Herald, which carried out a poll of Shepway voters, appears to show a ‘Clegg effect’, although it is not thought to be decisive.
Shepway Lib Dems have remarked on Mr Clegg’s strong performances on their website and are the only local party to publicise the debates on their website, perhaps an indicator of how wary other parties are of Mr Clegg's performances.
Senior Lib Dem Tim Prater stated to FUTS that ‘the Lib Dems are already about 10% up in the polls from the start of the campaign and averaging around 30%. If we got to 38-39% on polling day (which is less of a rise than we've already seen) then we'd be looking not just at a big gain in seats, but Lib Dems as the largest party.
‘And that would include Lynne Beaumont as the next MP for Folkestone and Hythe.
‘Is it going to happen? Don't know. But I do know I've been a Lib Dem Party member and activist for 19 years. Until a fortnight ago, there had been literally 3 or 4 national polls in total in that time that had the Lib Dems as anything but third, and never ONE during a General Election campaign.
‘In the last fortnight, we've been fairly consistently 2nd and within 3-4% of the Tories, and occasionally even ahead of them. I've never seen that before. Something has changed.’
In response to questions from FUTS, Conservative Damian Collins stated; ‘To be honest, we've not seem any real impact from the debates one way or the other.
‘Our campaigning data shows that our support remains at the levels we would hope for it to be, so there doesn't appear to be any evidence that people are switching. We also get a positive response out on the streets.
‘Conservative supporters will often tell us that they think David Cameron did very well and that this wasn't reported strongly enough in the media.
‘There is more scrutiny of Lib Dem 'policy' now as well. I have had people bringing up the issue of keeping trident, and saying they don't agree with the Lib Dem position of getting rid of it.’
The Herald report also has the Conservatives predicting a reduced majority of 9,000 votes, down from almost 12,000. This is put down to Michael Howard’s standing down and the effect of this on voters in the constituency.
Labour Leader Gordon Brown is arguably the least media savvy of the three main leaders, and is the only of the three not to have worked in Public Relations.
Labour Candidate Donald Worsley decried the debates as reducing politics to a ‘Beauty Contest’ but feels the impact will be minimal.
‘Talent shows thankfully do not hold the final sway on the Election outcome. Policies do and now the initial novelty is starting to wear off people on the doorstep and at the Hustings are beginning to ask about policies and seeing through the veneer of presentation.
‘Yes people mention the debates but then when they ask about the Labour Party's policies the debates are very quickly forgotten.’
Labour Leader Gordon Brown is arguably the least media savvy of the three main leaders, is the only of the three not to have worked in public relations and yesterday suffered arguably the worst gaffe of the campaign when he called an elderly voter ‘bigoted.’
Recent polls show the Liberal Democrats moving into second place behind the Conservative party, although the Liberal Democrats forming the next opposition party seems unlikely without reform of the ‘first past the post’ voting system.
The staging of leadership debates has produced vast amounts of comment and speculation. Mr Clegg appears to have gained the most, although the he had the least to loose from the debates.
Riding high in opinion polls, with some showing the Liberal Democrats more popular than Labour, Mr Clegg regularly appears on the front pages of newspapers, has hit the number one spot in ‘trending’ on Yahoo and is getting exposure that previous Lib Dem leaders could only dream of.
An excellent report in today’s Herald, which carried out a poll of Shepway voters, appears to show a ‘Clegg effect’, although it is not thought to be decisive.
Shepway Lib Dems have remarked on Mr Clegg’s strong performances on their website and are the only local party to publicise the debates on their website, perhaps an indicator of how wary other parties are of Mr Clegg's performances.
Senior Lib Dem Tim Prater stated to FUTS that ‘the Lib Dems are already about 10% up in the polls from the start of the campaign and averaging around 30%. If we got to 38-39% on polling day (which is less of a rise than we've already seen) then we'd be looking not just at a big gain in seats, but Lib Dems as the largest party.
‘And that would include Lynne Beaumont as the next MP for Folkestone and Hythe.
‘Is it going to happen? Don't know. But I do know I've been a Lib Dem Party member and activist for 19 years. Until a fortnight ago, there had been literally 3 or 4 national polls in total in that time that had the Lib Dems as anything but third, and never ONE during a General Election campaign.
‘In the last fortnight, we've been fairly consistently 2nd and within 3-4% of the Tories, and occasionally even ahead of them. I've never seen that before. Something has changed.’
In response to questions from FUTS, Conservative Damian Collins stated; ‘To be honest, we've not seem any real impact from the debates one way or the other.
‘Our campaigning data shows that our support remains at the levels we would hope for it to be, so there doesn't appear to be any evidence that people are switching. We also get a positive response out on the streets.
‘Conservative supporters will often tell us that they think David Cameron did very well and that this wasn't reported strongly enough in the media.
‘There is more scrutiny of Lib Dem 'policy' now as well. I have had people bringing up the issue of keeping trident, and saying they don't agree with the Lib Dem position of getting rid of it.’
The Herald report also has the Conservatives predicting a reduced majority of 9,000 votes, down from almost 12,000. This is put down to Michael Howard’s standing down and the effect of this on voters in the constituency.
Labour Leader Gordon Brown is arguably the least media savvy of the three main leaders, and is the only of the three not to have worked in Public Relations.
Labour Candidate Donald Worsley decried the debates as reducing politics to a ‘Beauty Contest’ but feels the impact will be minimal.
‘Talent shows thankfully do not hold the final sway on the Election outcome. Policies do and now the initial novelty is starting to wear off people on the doorstep and at the Hustings are beginning to ask about policies and seeing through the veneer of presentation.
‘Yes people mention the debates but then when they ask about the Labour Party's policies the debates are very quickly forgotten.’
Labour Leader Gordon Brown is arguably the least media savvy of the three main leaders, is the only of the three not to have worked in public relations and yesterday suffered arguably the worst gaffe of the campaign when he called an elderly voter ‘bigoted.’
Recent polls show the Liberal Democrats moving into second place behind the Conservative party, although the Liberal Democrats forming the next opposition party seems unlikely without reform of the ‘first past the post’ voting system.
Thursday, 15 April 2010
More on 'Monk'eying Around In Conservative Cabinet
Coming back from holiday, FUTS was delighted to see that the Herald had added info on Cllr Monk’s ‘ousting’ as deputy leader of the council - juicy stuff!
According to the Herald article, Cllr Phillip Martin - with Cllr Monk’s full knowledge - contacted ‘around half’ the Conservative councillors to sound out support for a possible takeover bid by Cllr Monk against council leader Robert Bliss, but found none.
Council Leader Robert Bliss was told of the attempt, and surprised everyone by coolly replacing deputy leader Cllr Monk with Cllr Rory Love at the Council AGM.
Cllr Monk retains his finance portfolio as Cllr Bliss ‘likes to keep his enemies close.’
In response to questions over the unity of the group, Chairman Russell Tillson denied any problems; ‘As Cllr. Bliss's political adviser, I know of no political enemies in our ranks. I would speak frankly and sharply to any I came across! Indeed, Robert is revered throughout the Group for the masterly way in which he has led it over several years.
‘Certainly Cllr. Monk was not involved in organising any coup.
‘Indeed, he is currently campaigning on almost a daily basis with David Monk to secure the election of Damian Collins.’
Cllr Monk was not present at the official launch of Conservative Candidate Damian Collins’ campaign, although Cllr Tillson explained that Cllr Monk had longstanding commitments and was away in London.
A well placed Conservative source confirmed to FUTS there was an attempt to garner support for a leadership bid as per the Herald account, and even inferred this had happened before.
‘Cllr Martin phoned around, suggesting we need someone more forceful leading the group. I like David [Monk], but I’m not sure he has the skills to unite the group. Robert Bliss has a much softer style that unites, though he can be tough when he wants to be,’ the source said.
‘It was a shame as they are good friends. I’m not sure how Robert will take it, though they were together on the Saturday after the AGM and the story, and getting along fine. David’s replacing came as a total shock to everyone, but he took it well and congratulated Rory afterwards.’
All will have breathed a sigh of relief as the Herald described the attempt as a ‘bloodless coup’, as opposed to Cllr Monk storming the council chamber, machine gunning half the cabinet and imposing martial law across the district.
According to the Herald article, Cllr Phillip Martin - with Cllr Monk’s full knowledge - contacted ‘around half’ the Conservative councillors to sound out support for a possible takeover bid by Cllr Monk against council leader Robert Bliss, but found none.
Council Leader Robert Bliss was told of the attempt, and surprised everyone by coolly replacing deputy leader Cllr Monk with Cllr Rory Love at the Council AGM.
Cllr Monk retains his finance portfolio as Cllr Bliss ‘likes to keep his enemies close.’
In response to questions over the unity of the group, Chairman Russell Tillson denied any problems; ‘As Cllr. Bliss's political adviser, I know of no political enemies in our ranks. I would speak frankly and sharply to any I came across! Indeed, Robert is revered throughout the Group for the masterly way in which he has led it over several years.
‘Certainly Cllr. Monk was not involved in organising any coup.
‘Indeed, he is currently campaigning on almost a daily basis with David Monk to secure the election of Damian Collins.’
Cllr Monk was not present at the official launch of Conservative Candidate Damian Collins’ campaign, although Cllr Tillson explained that Cllr Monk had longstanding commitments and was away in London.
A well placed Conservative source confirmed to FUTS there was an attempt to garner support for a leadership bid as per the Herald account, and even inferred this had happened before.
‘Cllr Martin phoned around, suggesting we need someone more forceful leading the group. I like David [Monk], but I’m not sure he has the skills to unite the group. Robert Bliss has a much softer style that unites, though he can be tough when he wants to be,’ the source said.
‘It was a shame as they are good friends. I’m not sure how Robert will take it, though they were together on the Saturday after the AGM and the story, and getting along fine. David’s replacing came as a total shock to everyone, but he took it well and congratulated Rory afterwards.’
All will have breathed a sigh of relief as the Herald described the attempt as a ‘bloodless coup’, as opposed to Cllr Monk storming the council chamber, machine gunning half the cabinet and imposing martial law across the district.
Wednesday, 14 April 2010
Conservative Campaign Kicks Off in ‘Grand’ Style
Shepway Conservatives officially kicked off their election campaign on Wednesday night at the Grand Hotel.
Attended by local party members, long-serving MP Michael Howard gave a speech thanking the local party for their support and friendship during his 27 years as MP for Folkestone and Hythe. Giving a glowing introduction to Damian Collins, Mr Howard said; ‘In Damian we have an absolutely first rate candidate who is going to be an absolutely first rate Member of Parliament.
‘I announced my decision to stand down 4 years ago to give Damian time to dig in and get to know the constituency. The way [Damian] has got to know the people and the area has been absolutely outstanding.’
‘There has probably never been a more serious time for the election of a Conservative government.’
Vowing to fight for the ‘law abiding, tax-paying, hard working people of our country...[who] feel the government cares least about them and looks to them to pick up the tab for government failures,’ Mr Collins repeatedly attacked Labour failures and outlined key Conservative pledges.
Thanking local activists for their hard work, Mr Collins vowed to immediately start working should he be elected, promising to continue Mr Howard’s scheduled surgeries without break.
To murmurs of ‘hear hear’ from the audience, Mr Collins said ‘Everything I do as a MP will be grounded in this constituency and the interests of the people here, which is why I will be lobbying the government for a new power station.’
Mr Collins vowed to support the council over their decision to grant permission for Lydd Airport expansion, saying ‘we must send a message that this council and constituency are open for business.’
Mr Howard and Mr Collins also highlighted the ‘absolutely key’ seat of Dover. Although Mr Collins is viewed as a near certainty for the Folkestone and Hythe seat, current Labour MP for Dover Gwynn Prosser is defending a slim majority of around 5,000.
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
General Election Opening Announcements
Conservative and Lib Dem parties have been quick to react to Gordon Brown’s announcement that the general election will be on May 7.
Conservative Association Chairman Russell Tillson has posted a lengthy article on the Shepway Conservative's website, running to over 1,100 words.
Cllr Tillson urges members to ‘do everything in our power to evict this decomposing muck heap of a government and its failed prime minister’ and asks members to 'dig deep' to ensure Conservative Candidate Damain Collins wins the seat.
Towards the end of the article the Lib Dems are described as ‘the bindweed of politics – once they are allowed to invade territory, they are very hard to displace until people finally realise that empty cans make the most noise.’
The article also shows the Conservatives’ greatest worry - the danger of UKIP splitting the Conservative vote, as happened when Shepway District Leader Conservative Robert Bliss lost his Kent County Council seat to Lib Dem Tim Prater.
Shepway Liberal Democrats have posted a smaller press release, stating ‘Lib Dem Lynne Beaumont is predicted to be the only serious challenger to the Conservatives ... with bookmakers Ladbrokes rating both UKIP and Labour as 100-1 rank outsiders.’
As of April 6, Ladbrokes rate Ms Beaumont as 14/1 with Mr Collins the clear favourite at 1/100.
Ms Beaumont says ‘I've already pledged to be a full time MP for our area with no other paid job, and to accept no second homes expenses if elected: an MP can and should commute from here to Westminster.’
The Liberal Democrats are making the most of Ms Beaumont’s ‘local’ credentials over rival Mr Collins, who previously stood in Northampton North. Ms Beaumont has attacked Mr Collins for being a ‘wannabe MP’. Mr Collins has become involved in local issues and has told FUTS he believes an increase in the Conservative share of the vote is possible.
Funding appears to be a concern for both parties, with appeals made in Cllr Tillson’s article and by several prominent Lib Dems on Twitter. Labour, a distant third, appear to be in turmoil with not enough local members supporting candidate Donald Worsley's attempts to canvass and campaign.
It is unlikely the Conservative majority of over 11,000 votes will be overturned, but with the scandals of recent times reverberating around Westminster neither candidate is taking anything for granted.
Conservative Association Chairman Russell Tillson has posted a lengthy article on the Shepway Conservative's website, running to over 1,100 words.
Cllr Tillson urges members to ‘do everything in our power to evict this decomposing muck heap of a government and its failed prime minister’ and asks members to 'dig deep' to ensure Conservative Candidate Damain Collins wins the seat.
Towards the end of the article the Lib Dems are described as ‘the bindweed of politics – once they are allowed to invade territory, they are very hard to displace until people finally realise that empty cans make the most noise.’
The article also shows the Conservatives’ greatest worry - the danger of UKIP splitting the Conservative vote, as happened when Shepway District Leader Conservative Robert Bliss lost his Kent County Council seat to Lib Dem Tim Prater.
Shepway Liberal Democrats have posted a smaller press release, stating ‘Lib Dem Lynne Beaumont is predicted to be the only serious challenger to the Conservatives ... with bookmakers Ladbrokes rating both UKIP and Labour as 100-1 rank outsiders.’
As of April 6, Ladbrokes rate Ms Beaumont as 14/1 with Mr Collins the clear favourite at 1/100.
Ms Beaumont says ‘I've already pledged to be a full time MP for our area with no other paid job, and to accept no second homes expenses if elected: an MP can and should commute from here to Westminster.’
The Liberal Democrats are making the most of Ms Beaumont’s ‘local’ credentials over rival Mr Collins, who previously stood in Northampton North. Ms Beaumont has attacked Mr Collins for being a ‘wannabe MP’. Mr Collins has become involved in local issues and has told FUTS he believes an increase in the Conservative share of the vote is possible.
Funding appears to be a concern for both parties, with appeals made in Cllr Tillson’s article and by several prominent Lib Dems on Twitter. Labour, a distant third, appear to be in turmoil with not enough local members supporting candidate Donald Worsley's attempts to canvass and campaign.
It is unlikely the Conservative majority of over 11,000 votes will be overturned, but with the scandals of recent times reverberating around Westminster neither candidate is taking anything for granted.
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
Web Wars Heating up in Folkestone and Hythe Campaign
A 12 second video of Lib Dem candidate Lynne Beaumont's pledges has been posted on the Lib Dem Website.
In the video, Ms Beamont lists her three pledges as – “no other second homes allowance, I will commute to London like everybody else and no other paid employment.”
The use of ‘new media’, meaning freely accessible sites such as Facebook Twitter and blogs, is a relatively new development in English politics and is leading to some interesting interaction between politicians and voters.
Ms Beaumont’s Conservative rival Damian Collins appears to have the sharpest web presence, with regularly updated pages on Twitter, Facebook and Youtube. His Facebook avatar is a nod to an iconic image of Barak Obama, who used new media to great effect in his campaign for the American presidency.
While these sites help raise candidates’ profiles, they can also allow very public comment and criticism, which becomes more likely as the site or page becomes more popular. Mr Collins appears to be dogged by one persistent commenter, although occasionally others step into defend him.
Ms Beaumont is beginning to post but has yet to achieve Mr Collins’ success - Mr Collins boasts 866 Facebook friends, while Ms Beaumont has 149.
In the video, Ms Beamont lists her three pledges as – “no other second homes allowance, I will commute to London like everybody else and no other paid employment.”
The use of ‘new media’, meaning freely accessible sites such as Facebook Twitter and blogs, is a relatively new development in English politics and is leading to some interesting interaction between politicians and voters.
Ms Beaumont’s Conservative rival Damian Collins appears to have the sharpest web presence, with regularly updated pages on Twitter, Facebook and Youtube. His Facebook avatar is a nod to an iconic image of Barak Obama, who used new media to great effect in his campaign for the American presidency. 
While these sites help raise candidates’ profiles, they can also allow very public comment and criticism, which becomes more likely as the site or page becomes more popular. Mr Collins appears to be dogged by one persistent commenter, although occasionally others step into defend him. Mr Collins background in PR and advertising leads many to tip him to win the new media race although given Shepway’s elderly demographic and the history of the seat it is not clear what effect this will have on the result.
Ms Beaumont is beginning to post but has yet to achieve Mr Collins’ success - Mr Collins boasts 866 Facebook friends, while Ms Beaumont has 149.
Sunday, 28 March 2010
Mixed Response to Budget
Conservative, Lib Dem and Labour politicians in Shepway have criticised the Government’s budget, announced March 24.
Shepway Liberal Democrats posted an article ‘Stealth Income Tax Increase will hit Folkestone and Hythe hard’ which opens with; ‘The 2010 Labour budget has frozen income tax threshold limits, meaning a real terms rise in income taxes on tax payers across Folkestone and Hythe. The Lib Dems had announced plans to take all those earning under £10,000 out of income tax entirely by raising the lower tax threshold.’
The article has a quote from leader Nick Clegg but little about the specific impact on Shepway’s economy and voters.
In a statement on the Shepway Conservatives website parliamentary candidate Damian Collins criticises the budget as offering ‘more of the same debt, taxes, and waste that have got the economy into the terrible mess it’s in.’
Mr Collins then offers opinions specific to Shepway around the changes to taxes on holiday lets, stating; ‘local businesses who offer self catering holiday accommodation could be particularly badly hit, and will lead to higher prices, putting off visitors.’
Shepway Liberal Democrats posted an article ‘Stealth Income Tax Increase will hit Folkestone and Hythe hard’ which opens with; ‘The 2010 Labour budget has frozen income tax threshold limits, meaning a real terms rise in income taxes on tax payers across Folkestone and Hythe. The Lib Dems had announced plans to take all those earning under £10,000 out of income tax entirely by raising the lower tax threshold.’
The article has a quote from leader Nick Clegg but little about the specific impact on Shepway’s economy and voters.
In a statement on the Shepway Conservatives website parliamentary candidate Damian Collins criticises the budget as offering ‘more of the same debt, taxes, and waste that have got the economy into the terrible mess it’s in.’
Mr Collins then offers opinions specific to Shepway around the changes to taxes on holiday lets, stating; ‘local businesses who offer self catering holiday accommodation could be particularly badly hit, and will lead to higher prices, putting off visitors.’
Mr Collins also criticises the 10% tax increase on cider, although his joining of the Kent Cider Company on Facebook was criticised as ‘shameless electioneering.’
Labour Candidate Donald Worsley has also criticised the budget, though he does not think it will lose the election for Labour. Talking to FUTS, Mr Worsley described the budget as ‘Too little, too late – this should have been done a year ago. It will not win the election – neither will it lose it.’
Mr Worsley has past form of disagreeing with Labour Government decisions such as Dungeness C and the failure to hold a referendum on ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, although he has maintained any disagreements with the national party are for the benefit of Shepway.
Wednesday, 24 March 2010
You Gotta Love 'im - Love Promoted to Deputy Leader
Conservative Cllr for Harvey West Ward Rory Love is deputy leader of Shepway District Council, replacing Cllr David Monk.
Shepway Liberal Democrats are claiming that Cllr Love has ‘ousted’ Cllr Monk. The Conservative website as yet has no comment on this issue. Cllr Love’s title on the Shepway District website is now ‘Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Services’.
This adds to the ‘Revenues and Benefits’ and ‘Environmental Services’ portfolios which were already under Cllr Love’s control. He also sits on six panels, committees and boards and represents the council on various issues including Rail for Folkestone.
Cllr Love has overseen an improvement in benefit payment, for which his team narrowly missed out on an award . He is an eloquent speaker in meetings, has a reasonably active webpage, stood for the Lewes constituency seat in 2005 and was previously council leader in 1999.
He has not escaped criticism. Cllr Love was singled out by Cllr Paul Marsh of the People First group as having awarded himself a 600% pay rise, and his expanding power base in the council led to an unfavourable comparison with Peter Mandelson.
*Cllr Love is surely waiting in the wings to take over as Leader of the Council. With the imminent election of young Conservative Candidate Damian Collins as MP, perhaps the Tories are seeking to have a younger, more dynamic and modern leader for the District Council to represent a break from the past.
Shepway Liberal Democrats are claiming that Cllr Love has ‘ousted’ Cllr Monk. The Conservative website as yet has no comment on this issue. Cllr Love’s title on the Shepway District website is now ‘Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Services’.
This adds to the ‘Revenues and Benefits’ and ‘Environmental Services’ portfolios which were already under Cllr Love’s control. He also sits on six panels, committees and boards and represents the council on various issues including Rail for Folkestone.
Cllr Love has overseen an improvement in benefit payment, for which his team narrowly missed out on an award . He is an eloquent speaker in meetings, has a reasonably active webpage, stood for the Lewes constituency seat in 2005 and was previously council leader in 1999.
He has not escaped criticism. Cllr Love was singled out by Cllr Paul Marsh of the People First group as having awarded himself a 600% pay rise, and his expanding power base in the council led to an unfavourable comparison with Peter Mandelson.
*Cllr Love is surely waiting in the wings to take over as Leader of the Council. With the imminent election of young Conservative Candidate Damian Collins as MP, perhaps the Tories are seeking to have a younger, more dynamic and modern leader for the District Council to represent a break from the past.
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Conservative Campaign Continuing Smoothly
Conservative Candidate Damian Collins is unconcerned at aggressive Lib Dem leafleting and campaigning in Shepway.
Large numbers of Lib Dem campaign flyers, in which Lib Dem candidate Lynne Beaumont attacks Mr Collins for saying MPs having extra work is ‘fine’ have been delivered across Shepway.
The leaflets repeatedly stress Ms Beaumont’s long ties to the local area, a widely anticipated tactic against Mr Collins, who previously contested the Northampton North seat.
Speaking to FUTS after a meeting addressing Braebourne Lees and Smeeth residents at a public meeting, Mr Collins said;
“I wasn’t surprised by the Lib Dem leaflets.
“We have been out canvassing and are getting a good response. We are hopeful we can build on our share of the vote in this area, but I take nothing for granted and will be working hard in the campaign.”
Mr Collins also said that his recent video had proved to be extremely popular.
“There was a real spike in traffic when the video was posted. We will have more videos, and as the campaign progresses we hope to have one video per day posted online.”
The latest video to be posted by Mr Collins can be seen here. Mr Collins discusses how to support small businesses, touching on local initiatives and Conservative policies.
Large numbers of Lib Dem campaign flyers, in which Lib Dem candidate Lynne Beaumont attacks Mr Collins for saying MPs having extra work is ‘fine’ have been delivered across Shepway.
The leaflets repeatedly stress Ms Beaumont’s long ties to the local area, a widely anticipated tactic against Mr Collins, who previously contested the Northampton North seat.
Speaking to FUTS after a meeting addressing Braebourne Lees and Smeeth residents at a public meeting, Mr Collins said;
“I wasn’t surprised by the Lib Dem leaflets.
“We have been out canvassing and are getting a good response. We are hopeful we can build on our share of the vote in this area, but I take nothing for granted and will be working hard in the campaign.”
Mr Collins also said that his recent video had proved to be extremely popular.
“There was a real spike in traffic when the video was posted. We will have more videos, and as the campaign progresses we hope to have one video per day posted online.”
The latest video to be posted by Mr Collins can be seen here. Mr Collins discusses how to support small businesses, touching on local initiatives and Conservative policies.
Sunday, 28 February 2010
Candidates Clash In Student Fees Debate - What Really Happened?
The two main contenders for the Folkestone and Hythe seat are giving mixed messages about a debate they took part in on the issue of student fees.
The ‘Future of Fees’ debate, organized by student group Canterbury United and held on Feb 23 at Canterbury Christchurch University, featured Liberal Democrat Candidate Lynne Beaumont and Conservative Candidate Damian Collins.
Speaking to FUTS, Ms Beaumont said “Damian had a tough time of it during the debate. He advocated higher fees for better universities, sentiments which did not go down well with the students in the room.”
The Shepway Lib Dem site carries a video of Ms Beaumont addressing the meeting, posted by fellow Shepway Lib Dem Gary Fuller. In the clip Ms Beaumont says she “will do everything I can possibly do to make sure [students don’t leave university in debt]”.
Ms Beaumont references Mr Collins’ address, saying; “Damian talked about paying more for universities that get better results. I think that’s abhorrent. That means the people that can afford to go to places with better results are the only ones who can go there. That is wrong.”
The clip ends with applause for Ms Beaumont. There is no equivalent video of Mr Collins addressing the meeting.
When asked for his comments, Mr Collins stated that Ms Beaumont was ‘misrepresenting’ what he said, but admitted that some issues were ‘contentious’.
In a written response, Mr Collins states; ‘I said students should have more information on fees … and if we had a situation where colleges were charging different amounts they should have to back up why they were charging more, and why they thought it was worth paying.
‘When I said this there wasn't a reaction. Later in the debate Lynne accused me of advocating top universities charging more, which I hadn't.
‘Of course some students want tuition fees scrapped altogether, and that was the most contentious issue in the debate but not even the National Union of Students is advocating this. Their President said at the debate that he didn't think it fair for tuition fees to be paid from general taxation, and students who benefit from higher education should make a contribution towards it.’
Also taking part was Jean Samuel, Labour Candidate for the Canterbury and Whitstable seat. Mr Collins took the place of sitting Conservative MP Julian Brazier and Ms Beaumont took the place of Lib Dem candidate Guy Voizey.
The 2001 census lists 13.2% of the Canterbury population as full-time students, compared with Folkestone and Hythe at 2.2%. The number of full-time students in the Folkestone and Hythe population will have risen with the creation of University Centre Folkestone, but coupled with many graduates leaving the area the student vote is certainly not as strong as in Canterbury.
The ‘Future of Fees’ debate, organized by student group Canterbury United and held on Feb 23 at Canterbury Christchurch University, featured Liberal Democrat Candidate Lynne Beaumont and Conservative Candidate Damian Collins.
Speaking to FUTS, Ms Beaumont said “Damian had a tough time of it during the debate. He advocated higher fees for better universities, sentiments which did not go down well with the students in the room.”
The Shepway Lib Dem site carries a video of Ms Beaumont addressing the meeting, posted by fellow Shepway Lib Dem Gary Fuller. In the clip Ms Beaumont says she “will do everything I can possibly do to make sure [students don’t leave university in debt]”.
Ms Beaumont references Mr Collins’ address, saying; “Damian talked about paying more for universities that get better results. I think that’s abhorrent. That means the people that can afford to go to places with better results are the only ones who can go there. That is wrong.”
The clip ends with applause for Ms Beaumont. There is no equivalent video of Mr Collins addressing the meeting.
When asked for his comments, Mr Collins stated that Ms Beaumont was ‘misrepresenting’ what he said, but admitted that some issues were ‘contentious’.
In a written response, Mr Collins states; ‘I said students should have more information on fees … and if we had a situation where colleges were charging different amounts they should have to back up why they were charging more, and why they thought it was worth paying.
‘When I said this there wasn't a reaction. Later in the debate Lynne accused me of advocating top universities charging more, which I hadn't.
‘Of course some students want tuition fees scrapped altogether, and that was the most contentious issue in the debate but not even the National Union of Students is advocating this. Their President said at the debate that he didn't think it fair for tuition fees to be paid from general taxation, and students who benefit from higher education should make a contribution towards it.’
Also taking part was Jean Samuel, Labour Candidate for the Canterbury and Whitstable seat. Mr Collins took the place of sitting Conservative MP Julian Brazier and Ms Beaumont took the place of Lib Dem candidate Guy Voizey.
The 2001 census lists 13.2% of the Canterbury population as full-time students, compared with Folkestone and Hythe at 2.2%. The number of full-time students in the Folkestone and Hythe population will have risen with the creation of University Centre Folkestone, but coupled with many graduates leaving the area the student vote is certainly not as strong as in Canterbury.
Friday, 26 February 2010
Conservative Chairman Cautions Party
Conservative Association Chairman Russell Tillson has predicted victory for ‘mega-excellent’ candidate Damian Collins.
However, in his Chairman’s Address to the Executive posted on the Shepway Conservative website, Cllr Tillson also appears to hint at branches not pulling their weight and internal differences.
Cllr Tillson praises the ‘splendid’ efforts of some branches, but hinted at possible pitfalls with other branches whose ‘best days lie ahead.’
The address also hints at internal differences which may spill out to the press or ‘mischief makers’ cautioning: ‘Please, no casual remarks or critical comments at an unguarded moment. Or any hint of differences of opinion in public.’
The address ends with a rallying cry of ‘Tally-ho! Number ten hastens!’ which also happens to be an anagram of ‘Let’s thrash Lynne Beaumont’ (ed’s note – I have not deciphered this myself!).
Shepway Conservatives are rightly bullish about their chances in the upcoming national election. Incumbent Michael Howard has held the seat for over 26 years, and the Conservatives dominate the District Council. All indications are that Mr Collins will win the seat.
Quick Quiz - There is some sort of pun in the headline - think controlling yet paranoid regimes.
However, in his Chairman’s Address to the Executive posted on the Shepway Conservative website, Cllr Tillson also appears to hint at branches not pulling their weight and internal differences.
Cllr Tillson praises the ‘splendid’ efforts of some branches, but hinted at possible pitfalls with other branches whose ‘best days lie ahead.’
The address also hints at internal differences which may spill out to the press or ‘mischief makers’ cautioning: ‘Please, no casual remarks or critical comments at an unguarded moment. Or any hint of differences of opinion in public.’
The address ends with a rallying cry of ‘Tally-ho! Number ten hastens!’ which also happens to be an anagram of ‘Let’s thrash Lynne Beaumont’ (ed’s note – I have not deciphered this myself!).
Shepway Conservatives are rightly bullish about their chances in the upcoming national election. Incumbent Michael Howard has held the seat for over 26 years, and the Conservatives dominate the District Council. All indications are that Mr Collins will win the seat.
Quick Quiz - There is some sort of pun in the headline - think controlling yet paranoid regimes.
Monday, 1 February 2010
'It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow' - Conservative Chairman Tillson
FUTS was delighted to receive a lengthy and unprompted missive from Conservative Association Chairman Russell Tillson, taking issue with a comment piece put up several days ago.
Full of vim and vigour from the opening lines (which appear to call into doubt my sanity - fair enough), a peerless piece of political writing centered on the local scene unfolds. Please feel free to pore over, draw conclusions, comment, agree, disagree, call me a total twonk, etc.
In fact I'm so taken with it (not only because it shows at least one person reads the blog) here it is in all its unedited glory:
IT'S A LOVELY DAY TOMORROW
The ‘Dark Clouds Gathering’ piece is, as its author concedes, ‘pure speculation’. Indeed, some of it borders upon fantasy. Rest assured the ‘Conservative Blue Sky’ remains blue, very blue, and we intend to keep it that way.
The salient facts are as follows:
1. Damian Collins was not ‘moved to a safe Shepway seat to get to Westminster’. He was chosen by hundreds of members of the local Conservative Association from an enormous field of candidates to succeed Michael Howard nearly four years ago. Since his selection, he has worked tirelessly in Folkestone and Hythe to make himself known to residents and local businesses. He has been involved in innumerable local campaigns (most recently, setting up the public meeting in Lydd on 13th February to debate the future of Dungeness C) and regularly attends and speaks at Conservative branch functions, where he is greatly admired by our many hundreds of members. The contrast with the Liberal Democrats could not be starker – Lynne Beaumont is their third parliamentary candidate in a matter of months.
2. Damian and his wife Sarah are permanently resident in Elham; prior to that, they rented a house in East Brabourne. Damian will be leaving his present post in London once Brown finally calls the General Election. Assuming that the Conservative hegemony in Folkestone and Hythe is maintained, shortly afterwards he will become our full-time MP. It is difficult to imagine that any parliamentary candidate could have worked quite so assiduously in a constituency as has Damian since he was selected. Everyone knows he will be a first class and dedicated MP, who will serve local residents with great distinction. Only in fantasy land could anyone seriously contemplate defeat for Damian in 2010. Indeed, members of the local Association are also actively helping Charlie Elphicke to overturn a Labour majority of 4000 plus in the neighbouring constituency, Dover and Deal, a seat the party must also win if we are to form a majority government after the General Election.
3. Defections and splits are entirely alien to the local Conservatives; rather they are the preserve of the local Liberal Democrats. No fewer than five councillors, elected as Liberal Democrats in 2007, have since crossed the floor to join the Conservative Group, to take our total of SDC councillors to 38 (not 37) [Editor note - damn Wikipedia! And...Shepway Council Website as at 02.02.10]. None have moved in the other direction, and none are likely to. The Conservatives also had handsome victories over the Liberal Democrats in the Romney Marsh and New Romney Coast by-elections last year. I doubt whether there are many, if any stereotypical, ‘dyed-in-the-wool true blues’ in the Conservative Group. We are a broad church, with a huge age range, and from a diversity of occupations and backgrounds. Ultimately, we are practical, level-headed local politicians, intent upon serving our community. Indeed, this is in large part the reason for our continuing success.
4. The other reason for success is that we are a democratic body. As Group Secretary, I arrange Group Meetings twice a month, and attendance figures are invariably high. These meetings provide an opportunity for all group members to engage in full and frank discussion. No issues or policies are off limits; all members can and do submit agenda items; the Leader and Cabinet portfolio holders report to members, and take on board what they have to say; the process is transparent and informal, while detailed minutes are taken and circulated. We seldom have recourse to a whip (I can recall but one in the whole of 2009) but, under the Group’s rules which are accepted by all councillors as a condition of membership, members are required to discuss with the Leader any reservations they might have about agreed Group policy. Councillors do not ‘look uneasy’ during votes at full council meetings; they vote for policies on the basis already previously agreed. And we even as a Group support Liberal Democrat council motions wherever we judge them to be sensible and in the best interests of Shepway residents. Our unity is the product of collective commitment, not coercion.
5. I’m afraid that Toby Philpott is a red (or perhaps previously orange) herring. He is a problem for the Liberal Democrats, not us; as people say, why intrude upon private grief? No Conservative councillor has the slightest interest in joining any new group that he might choose to form; instead, we are not a bunch of eccentrics and we are all too busy campaigning for Damian Collins and Charlie Elphicke.
6. It is the historical role of Conservatives at all levels in office to make ‘hard decisions’. We do not, like some parties, specialise in empty promises, slogans and mischief-making, but rather in getting things done. Sometimes these decisions might be unpopular, but it is not the responsibility of government to court popularity. Furthermore, it needs to be stressed that planning decisions made by the council’s Development Control committee are made in the context of planning law and officers’ recommendations. Party political affiliations are wholly irrelevant to the decision-making process, and it is right that this is the case. The Hythe Sainsbury’s application is a case in point. I am on the committee; I am the Chairman of the local Conservative Association; I voted against the application. On the same basis, Richard Carroll’s resignation last year from Hythe Town council following the DC’s decision to approve the Hythe Imperial application was based on a misunderstanding of the DC’s rules. Hythe members on the committee are legally required to act in the best interests of the District and to judge the application on its planning merits. Hence they do not and cannot slavishly follow the earlier decision of a town council, whose role in law is purely consultative.
7. As I stated in my Chairman’s opening address to the local party’s Executive Council last November, we are a united, disciplined and therefore highly successful party. ‘Our first responsibility as Associations is unity, loyalty to the party, and support for one another; we must focus relentlessly upon the future. There is no scope whatever for complacency, cynicism, internal conflict or individual ego-massaging. There must be no personal feuds, personal rivalries or personal agendas – we leave all that to the Liberals. No toys thrown out of prams, and no rushing off to the local press when there is some policy initiative, national or local, that you don’t much like. We must all work for the greater good – together.’
We shall continue to do just that.
Cllr. Russell Tillson
Chairman, Folkestone and Hythe Conservatives
Full of vim and vigour from the opening lines (which appear to call into doubt my sanity - fair enough), a peerless piece of political writing centered on the local scene unfolds. Please feel free to pore over, draw conclusions, comment, agree, disagree, call me a total twonk, etc.
In fact I'm so taken with it (not only because it shows at least one person reads the blog) here it is in all its unedited glory:
IT'S A LOVELY DAY TOMORROW
The ‘Dark Clouds Gathering’ piece is, as its author concedes, ‘pure speculation’. Indeed, some of it borders upon fantasy. Rest assured the ‘Conservative Blue Sky’ remains blue, very blue, and we intend to keep it that way.
The salient facts are as follows:
1. Damian Collins was not ‘moved to a safe Shepway seat to get to Westminster’. He was chosen by hundreds of members of the local Conservative Association from an enormous field of candidates to succeed Michael Howard nearly four years ago. Since his selection, he has worked tirelessly in Folkestone and Hythe to make himself known to residents and local businesses. He has been involved in innumerable local campaigns (most recently, setting up the public meeting in Lydd on 13th February to debate the future of Dungeness C) and regularly attends and speaks at Conservative branch functions, where he is greatly admired by our many hundreds of members. The contrast with the Liberal Democrats could not be starker – Lynne Beaumont is their third parliamentary candidate in a matter of months.
2. Damian and his wife Sarah are permanently resident in Elham; prior to that, they rented a house in East Brabourne. Damian will be leaving his present post in London once Brown finally calls the General Election. Assuming that the Conservative hegemony in Folkestone and Hythe is maintained, shortly afterwards he will become our full-time MP. It is difficult to imagine that any parliamentary candidate could have worked quite so assiduously in a constituency as has Damian since he was selected. Everyone knows he will be a first class and dedicated MP, who will serve local residents with great distinction. Only in fantasy land could anyone seriously contemplate defeat for Damian in 2010. Indeed, members of the local Association are also actively helping Charlie Elphicke to overturn a Labour majority of 4000 plus in the neighbouring constituency, Dover and Deal, a seat the party must also win if we are to form a majority government after the General Election.
3. Defections and splits are entirely alien to the local Conservatives; rather they are the preserve of the local Liberal Democrats. No fewer than five councillors, elected as Liberal Democrats in 2007, have since crossed the floor to join the Conservative Group, to take our total of SDC councillors to 38 (not 37) [Editor note - damn Wikipedia! And...Shepway Council Website as at 02.02.10]. None have moved in the other direction, and none are likely to. The Conservatives also had handsome victories over the Liberal Democrats in the Romney Marsh and New Romney Coast by-elections last year. I doubt whether there are many, if any stereotypical, ‘dyed-in-the-wool true blues’ in the Conservative Group. We are a broad church, with a huge age range, and from a diversity of occupations and backgrounds. Ultimately, we are practical, level-headed local politicians, intent upon serving our community. Indeed, this is in large part the reason for our continuing success.
4. The other reason for success is that we are a democratic body. As Group Secretary, I arrange Group Meetings twice a month, and attendance figures are invariably high. These meetings provide an opportunity for all group members to engage in full and frank discussion. No issues or policies are off limits; all members can and do submit agenda items; the Leader and Cabinet portfolio holders report to members, and take on board what they have to say; the process is transparent and informal, while detailed minutes are taken and circulated. We seldom have recourse to a whip (I can recall but one in the whole of 2009) but, under the Group’s rules which are accepted by all councillors as a condition of membership, members are required to discuss with the Leader any reservations they might have about agreed Group policy. Councillors do not ‘look uneasy’ during votes at full council meetings; they vote for policies on the basis already previously agreed. And we even as a Group support Liberal Democrat council motions wherever we judge them to be sensible and in the best interests of Shepway residents. Our unity is the product of collective commitment, not coercion.
5. I’m afraid that Toby Philpott is a red (or perhaps previously orange) herring. He is a problem for the Liberal Democrats, not us; as people say, why intrude upon private grief? No Conservative councillor has the slightest interest in joining any new group that he might choose to form; instead, we are not a bunch of eccentrics and we are all too busy campaigning for Damian Collins and Charlie Elphicke.
6. It is the historical role of Conservatives at all levels in office to make ‘hard decisions’. We do not, like some parties, specialise in empty promises, slogans and mischief-making, but rather in getting things done. Sometimes these decisions might be unpopular, but it is not the responsibility of government to court popularity. Furthermore, it needs to be stressed that planning decisions made by the council’s Development Control committee are made in the context of planning law and officers’ recommendations. Party political affiliations are wholly irrelevant to the decision-making process, and it is right that this is the case. The Hythe Sainsbury’s application is a case in point. I am on the committee; I am the Chairman of the local Conservative Association; I voted against the application. On the same basis, Richard Carroll’s resignation last year from Hythe Town council following the DC’s decision to approve the Hythe Imperial application was based on a misunderstanding of the DC’s rules. Hythe members on the committee are legally required to act in the best interests of the District and to judge the application on its planning merits. Hence they do not and cannot slavishly follow the earlier decision of a town council, whose role in law is purely consultative.
7. As I stated in my Chairman’s opening address to the local party’s Executive Council last November, we are a united, disciplined and therefore highly successful party. ‘Our first responsibility as Associations is unity, loyalty to the party, and support for one another; we must focus relentlessly upon the future. There is no scope whatever for complacency, cynicism, internal conflict or individual ego-massaging. There must be no personal feuds, personal rivalries or personal agendas – we leave all that to the Liberals. No toys thrown out of prams, and no rushing off to the local press when there is some policy initiative, national or local, that you don’t much like. We must all work for the greater good – together.’
We shall continue to do just that.
Cllr. Russell Tillson
Chairman, Folkestone and Hythe Conservatives
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Dark Clouds Gathering in Shepway’s Conservative Blue Sky?
Note - This is pure speculation for my own entertainment. Please feel free to comment, discuss, agree, disagree. (Please see riposte from Conservative Association Chairman Russel Tillson)
One might infer from the opening lines of Local Conservative Association Chairman Russell Tillson’s New Year statement that Conservatives had celebrated hard welcoming in 2010, and who could blame them? 2010 looks to be a bumper year for the Tories with a probable parliamentary seat and continued dominance of the local council.
One might infer from the opening lines of Local Conservative Association Chairman Russell Tillson’s New Year statement that Conservatives had celebrated hard welcoming in 2010, and who could blame them? 2010 looks to be a bumper year for the Tories with a probable parliamentary seat and continued dominance of the local council.
Nationally, their candidate for the Folkestone and Hythe parliament seat (which has always been blue) is Damain Collins, a man of considerable pedigree, Oxford educated and listed as ‘one to watch’ in major publications. Coming from a background in PR and having previously contested Northampton North in a national election, Mr Collins has made quick work of blogging, tweeting, campaigning and meeting his way onto the local political scene.
His sitting-in on Michael Howard’s column and impressive runs of appearing in local rags has raised a few eyebrows from Lib Dems and others on the issue of fairness, but who will remember once the votes are cast and Mr Collins is off to Westminster?
To his credit, he is carving out a niche as an individual rather than merely a replacement for the incumbent Mr Howard, no mean feat given Mr Howard’s 27 years as MP. Carving out a niche might be imperative after the expenses scandals of last year, which saw Michael Howard justifying claims for gardening and housework. Sadly, we will not get to see the true effect that has had on Mr Howard’s support, as he won’t be standing. Mr Collins and all at Tory HQ must be hoping any effect is minimal.
The feeling among observers is that a prime Conservative asset has been moved to a safe Shepway seat to get to Westminster. However, Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate Cllr Beaumont’s opening statement makes the most of her 25 years in the local area, perhaps a flavour of things to come. With a directorship in London and his wife a councillor in Westminster city council, questions over Mr Collins’ commitment to Shepway are likely to dog his campaign and this could be Mr Collins’ ‘Achilles Heel.’. How he handles these stories, should they generate a negative reaction among the voters, may be cruicial and at times the local Conservative Association’s none too delicate announcements may fan the flames. It is difficult to see him losing but the last year in politics could lead to more surprises than normal on results night (or day).
Looking ahead to the 2011 local elections, Cllr Tillson is bullish about maintaining control of the district council. Ending the year with 37 out of 46 councillors the Conservatives must be in a rock solid position. Right?
Locally, as 2009 drew to a close Shepway Conservatives were gifted the decision of the government not to site a new power station at Dungeness. Basking in the (nuclear) glow of righteous indignation, they were quick to protest an unpopular decision. Even the Labour Candidate joined in. The opening of the High Speed rail link allowed Conservatives further positive press coverage, ending the year on a high.
Locally, as 2009 drew to a close Shepway Conservatives were gifted the decision of the government not to site a new power station at Dungeness. Basking in the (nuclear) glow of righteous indignation, they were quick to protest an unpopular decision. Even the Labour Candidate joined in. The opening of the High Speed rail link allowed Conservatives further positive press coverage, ending the year on a high.
The good end to the year glossed over the Leas Lifts stories and allegations of non-transparency which sent plenty of negative press to the Conservatives.
While so many councillors ensures control, splits could open. A few years ago a controlling group of 29 Lib Dems went into meltdown. Several Lib Dems crossed the floor to Conservatives or formed their own groups. Reasons are different depending on who you talk to, but it is hard to believe that all of the Conservative group are dyed-in-the-wool true blues.
While Conservatives vote together in Council meetings, sources say that discussions within the group over the voting can be long and hard. Sometimes councillors look uneasy as they are called to vote on contentious issues or struggle to respond to accusations of being ‘non-transparent’ such as last year’s changes to the constitution.
It is not difficult to imagine a series of difficult decisions in the next two years resulting in councillors leaving the Conservative group. Conservative Hythe Town Councillor Richard Carroll resigned in October 2009 after the District Council planning Committee voted through the Hythe Imperial plans. More councillors may follow Mr Carroll’s lead. With local elections scheduled for 2011, there’s plenty of time for hard decisions to come up – by then even the Lydd Airport applications may have been decided!
Lib Dem and other interested people claim to know several Conservative councillors who want to leave the group, but can’t for fear of destroying their own vote through criss-crossing the floor. Some commentators repeatedly assert that a return of former Shepway Lib Dem Toby Philpott, who left in fractious circumstances, as an independent PPC would be worse for the Conservatives than the Shepway Lib Dem group.
If Mr Philpott were to return to local politics, councillors who crossed the floor as a result of the fallout when he left the group could then split from the Conservatives to form a new body. For now that is pure speculation.
If Mr Philpott were to return to local politics, councillors who crossed the floor as a result of the fallout when he left the group could then split from the Conservatives to form a new body. For now that is pure speculation.
Other factors may play a part. Council Leader Robert Bliss lost his seat on the County Council due to UKIP taking a large section of the Conservative vote. While UKIP look unlikely to win seats nationally or locally their effect as a vote splitter could have an effect in Shepway. Of course, UKIP are not the only potential vote splitters, with the BNP having a presence in the area.
Finally, such a dominant group will naturally take most of the blame when things go wrong, in some cases unfairly. If the Hythe Sainsbury’s is a disaster, will voters realise that it was Lib Dem votes ‘wot won it’?
Shepway Conservatives are in a strong position, but as the Lib Dems found, the bigger they are the harder they fall.
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
Conservative Chairman Reiterates Support for Dungeness C
Conservative Chariman and Shepway District Councillor Russell Tillson has reiterated Shepway Conservatives’ commitment to a new Dungeness C power station following a recent announcement by Shepway Liberal Democrat Leader Lynne Beaumont to hold an ‘Eco-Tourism summit’ to discuss alternative plans for Romney Marsh.
In an email to FUTS, Cllr Tillson says ‘There is little that Cllr Mrs Beaumont has said with which I disagree – except, of course, for her attempt to write Dungeness C out of the script. The importance of Dungeness cannot be understated.’
Revealing the council has commissioned a specialist report into the matter and is ‘putting enormous pressure on the government to alter its decision’, Cllr Tillson describes the power station as ‘vital’ to the local economy, stating the existing A and B stations employ over 1000 people, inject ‘over £30 million’ into the local economy, and that '9.6% of men on the Marsh work in electricity, gas and water supply, the overwhelming majority of whom work in electricity generation'.
‘This is employment we cannot do without, and Dungeness C must go ahead, since it will create employment for at least 400 people directly and probably another 100 jobs indirectly in shops, hotels and suppliers of other goods and services.
‘I don’t see tourism as an alternative to the power station, but rather as a complement. Nobody who lives on the Marsh is keener than I am to support the development of tourism. Indeed I look forward to the day when our Marsh coastline is full of hotels, B&Bs, restaurants, pubs and shops.
‘The Environment Agency, however, might have other ideas about tourist development since much of the Marsh area lies in a high risk Category 3A flood risk area.’
Noting that tourist season lasts for ‘six months at best’ and would only provide ‘low-paid’ employment, Cllr Tillson has offers to meet Cllr Beaumont to discuss the issue further.
‘Cllr Mrs Beaumont wants me to attend a meeting to debate all this. And she likes cycling. So I’ll do better than that. I invite Cllr Mrs Beaumont to join me on a day’s bike ride which will enable us to discuss her Business Plan at length, and will have the added benefit of introducing a lady from Folkestone to the various attractions across the Marsh, many of which might very well be quite new to her.’
The government’s decision to not consider Dungeness as a site for a new-build power station has provoked much comment and debate. The Liberal Democrats have been pushing for an alternative vision for the Marsh and have recently raised concerns over the future of waste storage at the site. The Conservative group is strongly in favour of a new nuclear power station.
Recently there appears to have been some softening of positions on both sides. In a similar fashion to Cllr Tillson’s comments, Cllr Beaumont recently said to Romney Marsh Times that tourism plans would ‘complement' a power station and that it is not an 'either/or decision.'
Whether Cllr Tillson and Beaumont will enjoy a bike ride together remains to be seen.
In an email to FUTS, Cllr Tillson says ‘There is little that Cllr Mrs Beaumont has said with which I disagree – except, of course, for her attempt to write Dungeness C out of the script. The importance of Dungeness cannot be understated.’
Revealing the council has commissioned a specialist report into the matter and is ‘putting enormous pressure on the government to alter its decision’, Cllr Tillson describes the power station as ‘vital’ to the local economy, stating the existing A and B stations employ over 1000 people, inject ‘over £30 million’ into the local economy, and that '9.6% of men on the Marsh work in electricity, gas and water supply, the overwhelming majority of whom work in electricity generation'.
‘This is employment we cannot do without, and Dungeness C must go ahead, since it will create employment for at least 400 people directly and probably another 100 jobs indirectly in shops, hotels and suppliers of other goods and services.
‘I don’t see tourism as an alternative to the power station, but rather as a complement. Nobody who lives on the Marsh is keener than I am to support the development of tourism. Indeed I look forward to the day when our Marsh coastline is full of hotels, B&Bs, restaurants, pubs and shops.
‘The Environment Agency, however, might have other ideas about tourist development since much of the Marsh area lies in a high risk Category 3A flood risk area.’
Noting that tourist season lasts for ‘six months at best’ and would only provide ‘low-paid’ employment, Cllr Tillson has offers to meet Cllr Beaumont to discuss the issue further.
‘Cllr Mrs Beaumont wants me to attend a meeting to debate all this. And she likes cycling. So I’ll do better than that. I invite Cllr Mrs Beaumont to join me on a day’s bike ride which will enable us to discuss her Business Plan at length, and will have the added benefit of introducing a lady from Folkestone to the various attractions across the Marsh, many of which might very well be quite new to her.’
The government’s decision to not consider Dungeness as a site for a new-build power station has provoked much comment and debate. The Liberal Democrats have been pushing for an alternative vision for the Marsh and have recently raised concerns over the future of waste storage at the site. The Conservative group is strongly in favour of a new nuclear power station.
Recently there appears to have been some softening of positions on both sides. In a similar fashion to Cllr Tillson’s comments, Cllr Beaumont recently said to Romney Marsh Times that tourism plans would ‘complement' a power station and that it is not an 'either/or decision.'
Whether Cllr Tillson and Beaumont will enjoy a bike ride together remains to be seen.
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Recriminations Fly Over Hythe By-election Campaigns
Liberal Democrats and Conservatives are each accusing the other of unfair campaigning during the run up to the recent by-election in Hythe held on December 10. Conservative Rosemary Griffiths won the seat with 556 votes, Liberal Democrat Neil Matthews being the only other candidate polling 466 votes.
A statement on the Conservative website described Cllr Matthews as ‘some former Parliamentary Candidate who already had a track record of costing Hythe West residents plenty of money when last he was a town councillor,’ and called the Lib Dem campaign ‘malicious and outrageous.’ (http://www.shepwayconservatives.org.uk/index.php?sectionid=3&pagenumber=452) while the Liberal Democrat announcement was more genial in tone (http://www.shepwaylibdems.org.uk/news/001700/big_swing_to_lib_dems_in_hythe_west_but_conservatives_retain_seat.html).
Asked for comment, Cllr Matthews attacked Conservative campaign literature as distasteful and inaccurate.
When asked if these statements were fair and reasonable Chairman of Folkestone and Hythe Conservatives and Shepway District Councillor Russell Tillson hit back, describing the Lib Dem campaign as ‘a mix of irrelevance, unsubstantiated claims, scaremongering and empty promises,’ and stated the party was looking into the legality of Liberal Democrat methods.
‘Two LibDem propaganda exercises circulated on polling day itself these were deeply irresponsible and of questionable legality - we are currently reviewing the latter.’
‘The first was an A4 flyer, printed entirely in blue, delivered early in the morning, and purporting to come from the Conservatives, offering an 'apology' for statements made in a Conservative leaflet about the Olivers and the claiming of allowances, statements which were in fact entirely accurate.
‘The second was an official-looking envelope, ostensibly a council tax demand from the Hythe Town Council, which when opened contained further LibDem propaganda.
‘Both exercises in negative campaigning naturally backfired, as the significant Conservative margin of victory appears to testify.’
Cllr Tillson also defended remarks comparing Liberals to cancer as ‘innovative and witty,’ adding that ‘the properties attributed to the herb [Rosemary] can be sourced in any encyclopaedia, and are wholly authentic.’
‘Given the LibDems' appalling past record of wasting taxpayers' money in Hythe, I have no difficulty in making the public comparison, and believe it requires no defence.’
The by-election was triggered when the Conservative incumbent Richard Carroll stepped down in October in protest at the granting of permission by Shepway Development Control Committee for a large development on the grounds of the Hotel Imperial.
A statement on the Conservative website described Cllr Matthews as ‘some former Parliamentary Candidate who already had a track record of costing Hythe West residents plenty of money when last he was a town councillor,’ and called the Lib Dem campaign ‘malicious and outrageous.’ (http://www.shepwayconservatives.org.uk/index.php?sectionid=3&pagenumber=452) while the Liberal Democrat announcement was more genial in tone (http://www.shepwaylibdems.org.uk/news/001700/big_swing_to_lib_dems_in_hythe_west_but_conservatives_retain_seat.html).
Asked for comment, Cllr Matthews attacked Conservative campaign literature as distasteful and inaccurate.
Referring to a box titled ‘Rosemary Is Good For Your Health’ in one Conservative leaflet, which included the phrase ‘Your DNA is particularly prone to injury from liberals. Left unchecked, this damage can eventually lead to cells proliferating out of control, which greatly increases the risk of local cancers,’ Cllr Matthews stated
‘Many people have spoken to me about her opinion. Those people, particularly those who have lost close relatives to cancer have difficulty understanding how she sees the world…to dislike a political party because of her belief people's DNA are at risk, frankly I find truly uncomfortable and alarming.’
Cllr Matthews also noted the case of Linda and John Oliver. Both were Hythe town councillors and Mrs Oliver was a district councillor. They remained in position drawing expenses even after they had moved to Bath, becoming the focus of much comment (http://www.yourshepway.co.uk/kent-news/Tory-Oliver-defends-council-role-in-Somerset-newsinkent24541.aspx?news=local and http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7256243.stm), and were repeatedly mentioned by Liberal Democrats during the campaign.
When asked if these statements were fair and reasonable Chairman of Folkestone and Hythe Conservatives and Shepway District Councillor Russell Tillson hit back, describing the Lib Dem campaign as ‘a mix of irrelevance, unsubstantiated claims, scaremongering and empty promises,’ and stated the party was looking into the legality of Liberal Democrat methods.
‘Two LibDem propaganda exercises circulated on polling day itself these were deeply irresponsible and of questionable legality - we are currently reviewing the latter.’
‘The first was an A4 flyer, printed entirely in blue, delivered early in the morning, and purporting to come from the Conservatives, offering an 'apology' for statements made in a Conservative leaflet about the Olivers and the claiming of allowances, statements which were in fact entirely accurate.
‘The second was an official-looking envelope, ostensibly a council tax demand from the Hythe Town Council, which when opened contained further LibDem propaganda.
‘Both exercises in negative campaigning naturally backfired, as the significant Conservative margin of victory appears to testify.’
Cllr Tillson also defended remarks comparing Liberals to cancer as ‘innovative and witty,’ adding that ‘the properties attributed to the herb [Rosemary] can be sourced in any encyclopaedia, and are wholly authentic.’
‘Given the LibDems' appalling past record of wasting taxpayers' money in Hythe, I have no difficulty in making the public comparison, and believe it requires no defence.’
The by-election was triggered when the Conservative incumbent Richard Carroll stepped down in October in protest at the granting of permission by Shepway Development Control Committee for a large development on the grounds of the Hotel Imperial.
Friday, 11 December 2009
Conservatives Win Hythe West and Slam Lib Dems
Conservative Rosemary Griffiths has won the Hythe West Town Council seat with 53.5% of the total votes cast. Neil Matthews of the Liberal Democrats polled 44.5%.
A statement on the Folkestone and Hythe Conservatives website (http://www.shepwayconservatives.org.uk/index.php?sectionid=3&pagenumber=452) carries the result and launches an astonishing attack on the Liberal Democrats for having a 'dinosaur approach to campaigning.'
The statement, intitially unauthored but updated to include the name Gordon Williams Conservative Party agent, continues; 'They [voters] wanted a representative who cared about the community, not some former Parliamentary Candidate who already had a track record of costing Hythe West residents plenty of money when last he was a town councillor.
'For my own part, I hope the LibDems continue with their pathetic style of campaigning - it garners additonal votes we wouldn't normally get from people who know exactly where the dividing line exists between decency on the one hand and the LibDems on the other!!'
The Liberal Democrats are drawing some comfort from the result. In a statement on the Lib Dem website (http://www.shepwaylibdems.org.uk/news/001700/big_swing_to_lib_dems_in_hythe_west_but_conservatives_retain_seat.html) Campaign manager and councillor Tim Prater congratulates Rosemary Griffiths and commends Neil Matthews for a 'sterling' campaign.
"It's never good to lose, but the result shows how competitive Hythe West has become - we've seen a big swing from the Conservatives to the Liberal Democrats since 2007.
'Going into the New Year, we're confident and upbeat about our prospects across the area.'
The by election was triggered when Conservative Councillor Richard Carroll resigned in protest over the granting of planning permission for a major development on the Hotel Imperial grounds by Shepway's planning committee.
A statement on the Folkestone and Hythe Conservatives website (http://www.shepwayconservatives.org.uk/index.php?sectionid=3&pagenumber=452) carries the result and launches an astonishing attack on the Liberal Democrats for having a 'dinosaur approach to campaigning.'
The statement, intitially unauthored but updated to include the name Gordon Williams Conservative Party agent, continues; 'They [voters] wanted a representative who cared about the community, not some former Parliamentary Candidate who already had a track record of costing Hythe West residents plenty of money when last he was a town councillor.
'For my own part, I hope the LibDems continue with their pathetic style of campaigning - it garners additonal votes we wouldn't normally get from people who know exactly where the dividing line exists between decency on the one hand and the LibDems on the other!!'
The Liberal Democrats are drawing some comfort from the result. In a statement on the Lib Dem website (http://www.shepwaylibdems.org.uk/news/001700/big_swing_to_lib_dems_in_hythe_west_but_conservatives_retain_seat.html) Campaign manager and councillor Tim Prater congratulates Rosemary Griffiths and commends Neil Matthews for a 'sterling' campaign.
"It's never good to lose, but the result shows how competitive Hythe West has become - we've seen a big swing from the Conservatives to the Liberal Democrats since 2007.
'Going into the New Year, we're confident and upbeat about our prospects across the area.'
The by election was triggered when Conservative Councillor Richard Carroll resigned in protest over the granting of planning permission for a major development on the Hotel Imperial grounds by Shepway's planning committee.
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
Prater defends Liberal Democrat Dungeness Vision
Conservative councillors and other observers have attacked Cllr Prater’s vision of the future of Romney Marsh without the power station
In response to questions from FromUnderTheStone Conservative Councillor (and Kent County Councillor for Romney Marsh) William Richardson wrote ‘The community at Dungeness does not accept the government’s decision as quickly as Cllr Prater has done,
‘We are always looking at measures to regenerate the Romney Marsh even after the final decision on Dungeness has been made, any alternative will be second best to employing 600 people, 200 contractors and twenty apprentices.’
In a letter on the Conservative website Cllr Russell Tillson, echoing his comments during a debate in the Council meeting of November 25, (http://www.shepwayconservatives.org.uk/index.php?sectionid=3&pagenumber=448) terms the vision ‘cloud cuckoo land.’
‘It is clear that the Liberal Democrats are living in a fantasy world of windmills, cycle paths, B and Bs on stilts and loss-making water lifts. And a low paid fantasy world at that.’
Malcolm Dyer of the former Romney Marsh Regeneration Partnership, in comments made to FromUnderTheStone, said the Liberal Democrat’s position is ‘as shiftable as the pebbles on Greatstone Beach.
‘I will be surprised if they do not completely revise their national position and Mr. Prater will instantly gain a nuclear glow to his cheeks!’
In response to questions from FromUnderTheStone, Cllr Prater hit back at these accusations, saying the comments did not fully understand the Liberal Democrat suggestions for the Marsh.
Repeating his vision of tourism playing a major role in the future Marsh economy, Cllr Prater stated ‘I'm afraid neither Cllr Richardson or Malcolm Dyer seem yet to understand what we're suggesting for the Marsh economy.
‘It’s not a question of tourism or nuclear power station. If we can have both - fine: I'm not personally fundamentally anti-new Nuclear build. But it seems less and less likely that we'll get new Nuclear build. We're looking at other options. What else would a rational person do?
‘"Cloud-cuckoo land" is waiting for a one-off solution that may or (increasingly likely) may not happen.’
The decision by the government to not consider Dungeness as possible site for a new nuclear power station has been a hot topic for debate. Polls conducted by other websites and Romney Marsh FM appear to show that public opinion strongly favours a new nuclear power station on the site, although many of the links are through Conservative web pages. Commentators have termed the decision a ‘hammer blow’ to the Marsh economy.
Liberal Democrat policy of ‘no to nuclear’ appears to fly in the face of popular local opinion and as a result appears to be placing the Shepway Liberal Democrats in a difficult position.
Cllr Prater's full vision for the Marsh: http://www.shepwaylibdems.org.uk/articles/000124/dungeness_the_real_nuclear_option.html.
Thursday, 26 November 2009
Conservatives Criticised Over Council Pay Freeze
The Conservative group came under fire over their proposal to freeze councillors’ expenses and allowances in a Council meeting held on November 24, at the Civic Centre.
The motion was passed unanimously, but not before Liberal Democrat councillors questioned why the Conservative group had not agreed to this earlier in the year when suggested as an amendment by Liberal Democrats (see minutes page 29 http://www.shepway.gov.uk/webapp/service/cads/doc/council/Minutes%20%20Public/mcoun20090219.doc?download=download)
Cllr Carroll said "In February I moved to that we should freeze allowances. The Conservatives belly-laughed and guffawed.
Leading the first of several allegations that party whipping was the reason for the Conservative's change of heart, cllr Carroll claimed "something else is at work.”
People First cllr Paul Marsh also attacked the Conservative group, saying he could "never remember the Conservative group recommending a pay freeze." Cllr Marsh also said the Conservatives usually vote for increases, and Conservative cllr Rory Love had increased his own remuneration by 600% .
Conservative councillor David Monk denied that any whipping had taken place. Cllr Tilson (Cons) thanked the chamber for so many congratulations, though the Conservative group did not deny or seek to defend their earlier record.
The motion passed.
The motion was passed unanimously, but not before Liberal Democrat councillors questioned why the Conservative group had not agreed to this earlier in the year when suggested as an amendment by Liberal Democrats (see minutes page 29 http://www.shepway.gov.uk/webapp/service/cads/doc/council/Minutes%20%20Public/mcoun20090219.doc?download=download)
Cllr Carroll said "In February I moved to that we should freeze allowances. The Conservatives belly-laughed and guffawed.
Leading the first of several allegations that party whipping was the reason for the Conservative's change of heart, cllr Carroll claimed "something else is at work.”
People First cllr Paul Marsh also attacked the Conservative group, saying he could "never remember the Conservative group recommending a pay freeze." Cllr Marsh also said the Conservatives usually vote for increases, and Conservative cllr Rory Love had increased his own remuneration by 600% .
Conservative councillor David Monk denied that any whipping had taken place. Cllr Tilson (Cons) thanked the chamber for so many congratulations, though the Conservative group did not deny or seek to defend their earlier record.
The motion passed.
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Council Debate Goes Nuclear About ‘Back of a Fag Packet’ Dungeness Motion
At one point Chairperson Councillor Susan Carey had to stand to force Councillor Lynne Beaumont (Lib Dem) to sit down after she had suggested Cllr Alan Clifton-Holt (Cons) ‘get his ears checked’ following a misunderstanding.
The motion, raised by the Conservative group, proposed that the council ‘greets with incredulity the decision by the Labour Government to exclude Dungeness from the short list of ten sites considered suitable for the construction of new nuclear power stations.’
Branding the Government ‘negligent,’ the motion highlighted the possible effect of job losses and the impact on Kent’s ability to fulfil demand for electricity and called for lobbying and publicity of the Council’s objection to the decision.
Split into 5 parts, the motion called for
- A letter from the Chief Executive to the Secretary of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change to express in the strongest possible terms the Council’s objection.
- The Chief Executive to demand a rationale for the decision in any reply to the letter, with a ‘detailed summary of the strategies and plans that the Government has in place to provide alternative employment.’
- To publicise the Council’s objections.
- All PPCs to ‘lobby the Government relentlessly.’
- Refer the issue to the Community Overview Committee ‘with a view to the committee being placed in a position to reinforce the power station’s arguments for the retention and expansion of Dungeness.
Cllr Valerie Loseby (Lib Dem) criticised the Conservative dominated council, saying ‘you shouldn’t rely on the Government to provide alternatives. That is the responsibility of the Council.’
Cllr Lynne Beamont (Lib Dem) was the most forthright in her criticism. Commenting that the motion was ‘badly worded’ and ‘crassly stupid,’ she attacked the Conservative administration for voting in the special reserve areas now hampering the application.
Speaking longer than her allotted 5 minutes, with some barracking in the chamber, Cllr Beaumont was asked at one point to address the council through the chair as her style and ‘jabbing fingers’ were contributing to a breakdown of order in the debate.
Cllr Neil Matthews (Lib Dem) also criticised the ‘flippant’ nature of the motion, saying it was strewn with inaccuracies. The proposed letter from the Chief Executive should go to two Secretaries of State, the council was already publicising its displeasure, that the motion was cheap political point scoring and that the motion was pre-empting the decision of the Community Overview Committee.
All Liberal Democrat speakers were concerned about waste disposal and health risks. Cllr Lynne Beaumont claimed that ‘high-level waste’ was held on the site, a view challenged by almost all other councillors.
In heated exchanges, Conservative councillors hit back at these claims.
Cllr Richard Pascoe (Cons), recalling his time as a fire fighter, rubbished security concerns saying ‘Transport [of waste] is one of the safest methods ever designed.’ Cllrs Malcom Dearden and David Monk (Cons) highlighted the need for employment on the Marsh, which has some of the worst school exam results in the county.
Disagreeing with Cllr Beaumont over the position of the site, Cllr William Richardson (Cons) claimed the site would be within the existing nuclear power station fence and that the ‘whole area is concrete anyway.’
Taking issue with Liberal Democrat Tim Prater’s vision for the Marsh, Cllr Russel Tilson (Cons) accused Cllr Prater of living in ‘cloud cuckoo land,’ and ‘a fantasy world of cyclepaths, B&Bs on stilts and water lifts.’ Cllr Tilson also noted Cllr Prater had written that ‘Dungeness has a long and proud association with the safe generation of nuclear power,’ which roused laughter around the chamber.
Cllr Paul Marsh (People First) suggested splitting the motion into its constituent parts for voting, which did not pass.
The motion passed with Conservatives voting in favour, with Cllr Brian Copping (People First). The majority of Liberal Democrats voted against, with Cllr Matthews and Cllr Marsh abstaining.
Monday, 16 November 2009
Folkestone and Hythe - Tory Safe Seat?
Elizabeth Truss, Conservative candidate for the safe seat of South West Norfolk, has survived possible deselection (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/conservative/6584831/Tory-candidate-Elizabeth-Truss-avoids-deselection.html).
Miss Truss' position had been called into question ostensibly due to an affair, which took place several years earlier. However, some observers noted that a vote to deselect Miss Truss, a candidate close to leader David Cameron who appears to have been parachuted into the seat, could have sent ripples of dissent out to other local branches keen to oust their own candidates. Channel 4 News reported that the South West Norfolk Conservative Party had recieved calls from other party branches on this issue.
Of course nothing similar could be on the cards for sleepy Shepway and the political certainty that is Damian Collins. Could it? One gossip is reporting rumours of disquiet in the Tory ranks and more alarmingly that 'there have also been suggestions that Collins has assassins on the prowl removing the old Praetorian Guard' (http://www.my-kent.com/index.php/Politics/folkestone-liberal-democrat-stands-down-as-ppc.html).
Hopefully not literally.
Miss Truss' position had been called into question ostensibly due to an affair, which took place several years earlier. However, some observers noted that a vote to deselect Miss Truss, a candidate close to leader David Cameron who appears to have been parachuted into the seat, could have sent ripples of dissent out to other local branches keen to oust their own candidates. Channel 4 News reported that the South West Norfolk Conservative Party had recieved calls from other party branches on this issue.
Of course nothing similar could be on the cards for sleepy Shepway and the political certainty that is Damian Collins. Could it? One gossip is reporting rumours of disquiet in the Tory ranks and more alarmingly that 'there have also been suggestions that Collins has assassins on the prowl removing the old Praetorian Guard' (http://www.my-kent.com/index.php/Politics/folkestone-liberal-democrat-stands-down-as-ppc.html).
Hopefully not literally.
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