Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Sir John Stanley retiring?...
What's all this about a Tonbridge by election I'm hearing? Here's me getting all excited about the prospect of the smooth and debonair Sir John (Stanley) stepping down and making way for new blood in the same mould as Tunbridge Wells MP (Not Sir) Gregg Clarke and wondering why this is the first I'd heard of it. Maybe I'd missed some important news or announcement over the Christmas period. Maybe Sir John was finally swaping his sharp politician's suit for a tweed number and some wellies for the garden! But no, my hopes were dashed when I discovered that it was just a County Council by election and some young college grad is causing a stink by saying that Tonbridge is Dulls Ville. I think the average turnout for this type of polling day is around 21% and I'm sure this one won't be much different. That means that nearly four fifths of the elctorate cannot be arsed to go out and vote. I don't know about you but I can't seem to muster any kind of enthusiam for county elections....
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
9 comments:
If you want those high street lights fixed, you want your pot holes filled, you want your roads gritted, you want Tonrbidge schools for Tonbridge kids, you want the Tonbridge Gateway offices to remain open, you want the pavements repaired, you want KCC to pay its top staff top dollar, you want KCC to continue blowing its own expensive trumpet etc then find out which candidate in the KCC election is for you.
Just remember that most of the 84 KCC councillors are male and over retirement age and being a KCC councillor attracts a minimum of £13,000 p.a.
Not bad for a few hours per week and many councillors double up with (not laughter) but with being a local councillor as well.
By the way the local rag misquoted the young Labour candidate but then thats just what TB would expect.
Godfrey Horne died recently - maybe the election is to replace him?????????????
Blimey I think I'll stand!
Yes TB, stand by all means but choose your platform wisely. Todays Independent's poll of 5 leading polls shows lab on 40%, con on 38% and libdem on their lowest level since 1979 - 11%Libdems would almost be wiped out in the commons, down to 15 seats.
But if you did win you would be obliged to travel to Maidstone for the council meeeting 10 times a year, all expenses paid in addition.
p.s the late Godfrey Horne was one of the few KCC councillors that did not claim the additional expenses.
Oh I think I'd claim for the lot. Helicopter to Maidstone, lunch at some swanky restaurant (are there any?!) latte's for me and my friends every half an hour and I'd probably need a modest second home there also. I'd make do with a nice riverside four floored Georgian town mansion. You know that sort of thing! Oh and some new Hugo Boss suits. I'd have to look the part!...
TB that is very open of you. Most politians tell the public that they are standing to serve the public and make the world a better place. Unlike you who would take on the job for the perks and connections that will let you climb the greasy pole and ensure that your friends have the same advantages.
Just to keep you up to speed with this election TB, the tory candidate is from a village the other side of Wrotham so I hope she has a good map of Tonbridge, the UKIP one is from West Malling but the Libdem, Labour and Greens are all Tonbridge folk and must know a thing or two about life in Tonbridge. So much for tory localism.
And as an extra for you KCC announced their budget today including the Childrens Freedom passes will go up from £50 to £100. Now that beats the rise in train fares and I am sure will hit the less well off most.
Let's hope that whoever wins the seat is prepared to put in the hours and give the dedicated service we had from Godfrey Horne.
Some valuable documents were deposited in the Kent Archives which have now been destroyed without reference to the original owners. Godfrey Horne cared deeply about our heritage and for that reason I am sad that he has left us. I can only hope that his replacement is also active in this regard.
Post a Comment