Sunday, April 22, 2007
Can we rise to the challenge?
Whatever happened to Maidstone Labour?
All those bright years ago, was it the Likely Lads who used to keep us informed of the latest twist in TV social gossip and haven't we got used to being fed information by those whose comings and goings are of interest to us - serve us right therefore to find that for once there is a gap which many of us could have filled but we haven't got our ears close enough to the channel to know what is or is not going on and whether someone is ready and willing to do the work for us. So this week's KM Newspaper appeared without a contribution from Labour about the coming Local Elections.........and worse, two contributions and a letter alleged that Labour had effectively last year put the Conservatives in power in the Boro by allowing them to use their preponderant numbers as a Majority fraction and to take the leading role - it was further alleged that this was done in order to permit Labour to Chair two Committees. It is true that, so far as I can recall, we have not received any explanation from the players of the events so described, nor can I recall any public or private questioning by party members of those players, and so what information we may have gathered has not, so far as I am aware, been sufficiently tested within the Party. So our candidates for this year's election go into the fray with that history overhanging them.
It is of interest that the Conservative Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Cllr Chris Garland, when he took office, set out his Vision for Maidstone last year, and that he is concerned with matters about which Labour might well have been equally promoting - they were :
1) "To raise the average wage in the Borough" (Labour has since 1997 consistently raised the minimum wage but wages in Maidstone remain lower than the SE average so this could equally have been a Labour slogan).
2) "To reduce deprivation" (There are surprisingly pockets of deprivation within the Borough boundaries which require special consideration in the allocation of resources which Labour national policy has only begun to ameliorate).
3) "To Secure high quality jobs/housing in a sustainable fashion." (These are also in Labour's vision for the Country as well as for the Town, and whereas the unemployment rate approximates to the average, though it is increasing, many of the jobs are lowly paid; on the question of housing the Council under its previous administration has not succeeded in housing all those who are in need and the latest figures show that the numbers on the Housing Lists in April has increased considerably to 2,232 from 1,764 and we are nowhere near to achieving the identified the 2005 reported annual shortfall of 961 affordable homes p.a.)
There are two other parts to Cllr Garlands Vision which indicate too that within the Town there is a general realisation of what are the main problems facing those who undertake to carry on the work of "driving Maidstone forward" (Garland's phrase) and perhaps it is that general realisation that has caused the slackening of our efforts to undertake those tasks with the knowledge that it is in seeing them actually performed, as well as in a Vision, that Labour, with the Labour Government behind them, should have been better able to do.
It is not too late for the Labour Group, supported by both Constituencies and the Local Government Committee to issue to the Press a Statement as to Labour's intentions
locally and I hope it can be done to counter the impression which has been made by the KM's Election Special Report. I attach a Draft of a Statement which if agreed immediately could be urgently sent to all local newspapers.
From Leslie Turner
A POSSIBLE DRAFT - STATEMENT
WHAT IS LABOUR STRIVING TO DO IN MAIDSTONE?
Labour recognises that Political divisions in our District are almost balanced between the main protagonists of Conservative, Liberal and Labour persuasion and that a programme to "drive Maidstone forward" and secure social justice needs the goodwill of all who have the Town at heart.
Labour while putting forward its own local vision of higher wages, elimination of deprivation, maximum employment opportunities, and decent housing, recognises that it is with the backing of legislation by and support from a Labour Government that these are best taken forward.
Labour therefore appeals to voters in the Borough local elections to seriously consider Labour's unparalleled record on those particular matters of the last ten years and to vote Labour in order to ensure that there are sufficient Labour Councillors to ensure that the local vision, with the goodwill of all citizens, is made reality.
All those bright years ago, was it the Likely Lads who used to keep us informed of the latest twist in TV social gossip and haven't we got used to being fed information by those whose comings and goings are of interest to us - serve us right therefore to find that for once there is a gap which many of us could have filled but we haven't got our ears close enough to the channel to know what is or is not going on and whether someone is ready and willing to do the work for us. So this week's KM Newspaper appeared without a contribution from Labour about the coming Local Elections.........and worse, two contributions and a letter alleged that Labour had effectively last year put the Conservatives in power in the Boro by allowing them to use their preponderant numbers as a Majority fraction and to take the leading role - it was further alleged that this was done in order to permit Labour to Chair two Committees. It is true that, so far as I can recall, we have not received any explanation from the players of the events so described, nor can I recall any public or private questioning by party members of those players, and so what information we may have gathered has not, so far as I am aware, been sufficiently tested within the Party. So our candidates for this year's election go into the fray with that history overhanging them.
It is of interest that the Conservative Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Cllr Chris Garland, when he took office, set out his Vision for Maidstone last year, and that he is concerned with matters about which Labour might well have been equally promoting - they were :
1) "To raise the average wage in the Borough" (Labour has since 1997 consistently raised the minimum wage but wages in Maidstone remain lower than the SE average so this could equally have been a Labour slogan).
2) "To reduce deprivation" (There are surprisingly pockets of deprivation within the Borough boundaries which require special consideration in the allocation of resources which Labour national policy has only begun to ameliorate).
3) "To Secure high quality jobs/housing in a sustainable fashion." (These are also in Labour's vision for the Country as well as for the Town, and whereas the unemployment rate approximates to the average, though it is increasing, many of the jobs are lowly paid; on the question of housing the Council under its previous administration has not succeeded in housing all those who are in need and the latest figures show that the numbers on the Housing Lists in April has increased considerably to 2,232 from 1,764 and we are nowhere near to achieving the identified the 2005 reported annual shortfall of 961 affordable homes p.a.)
There are two other parts to Cllr Garlands Vision which indicate too that within the Town there is a general realisation of what are the main problems facing those who undertake to carry on the work of "driving Maidstone forward" (Garland's phrase) and perhaps it is that general realisation that has caused the slackening of our efforts to undertake those tasks with the knowledge that it is in seeing them actually performed, as well as in a Vision, that Labour, with the Labour Government behind them, should have been better able to do.
It is not too late for the Labour Group, supported by both Constituencies and the Local Government Committee to issue to the Press a Statement as to Labour's intentions
locally and I hope it can be done to counter the impression which has been made by the KM's Election Special Report. I attach a Draft of a Statement which if agreed immediately could be urgently sent to all local newspapers.
From Leslie Turner
A POSSIBLE DRAFT - STATEMENT
WHAT IS LABOUR STRIVING TO DO IN MAIDSTONE?
Labour recognises that Political divisions in our District are almost balanced between the main protagonists of Conservative, Liberal and Labour persuasion and that a programme to "drive Maidstone forward" and secure social justice needs the goodwill of all who have the Town at heart.
Labour while putting forward its own local vision of higher wages, elimination of deprivation, maximum employment opportunities, and decent housing, recognises that it is with the backing of legislation by and support from a Labour Government that these are best taken forward.
Labour therefore appeals to voters in the Borough local elections to seriously consider Labour's unparalleled record on those particular matters of the last ten years and to vote Labour in order to ensure that there are sufficient Labour Councillors to ensure that the local vision, with the goodwill of all citizens, is made reality.
# posted by Labour : Sunday, April 22, 2007
Comments:
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Sad that the Liberals have resorted to the " Labour cannot win here " campaign, but we cannot expect any better of these two faced liar's. The sooner they lose seats this time the better. it is possible they will lose up to four seats.
# posted by 
: 10:06 PM
: 10:06 PM
The Liberal lies were explained in Park Woods By _election leaflts
from Wesley Mason and Danny Moriarty. They won the Seat but made Two enemies , us and the Tories. This means they are fighting on two fronts and will split their forces. It is posslble that Bridge, Coxheath, East and North will be lost by them.
from Wesley Mason and Danny Moriarty. They won the Seat but made Two enemies , us and the Tories. This means they are fighting on two fronts and will split their forces. It is posslble that Bridge, Coxheath, East and North will be lost by them.
# posted by : 10:14 PM
: 10:14 PM<< Home
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