Can you wonder why I have doubts about my Hip Op

“I am sorry to say that I would have to be very, very ill and in incredible pain, before anyone could persuade me to go back to Medway Hospital for more treatment.”

What follows is a true story and is an indictment of the way in which parts of the National Health Service are managed. The story raises a number of important questions, including: What is the point of pumping ever more money into the NHS if poor management allows some of the practices mentioned in the story to persist?

The story came to me in the form of a letter, which I reprint almost verbatim because it shows that the complaint was made more in sorrow than anger. It is worth pointing out that I hear many similar stories about poor treatment at Medway Hospital, but this particular complaint epitomises the bulk of those stories.

The letter is headed: Six Days At Medway Hospital and has been changed slightly to protect the identity of the complainant, who wishes to remain anonymous.

*************

‘I presented myself promptly at 7 am on Tuesday morning at P.O.C.U. (Pre Op. Care Unit). Had I thought to pronounce P.O.C.U. as an acronym perhaps a due sense of foreboding would have hit me!

‘However, having been informed I was “first on the list”, I answered questions, had my temperature and blood pressure taken, changed into a gown and packed my clothes for transfer.

‘AT about 8.30 am I was wheeled to the operating theatre only to be told that someone had forgotten to turn on the heating. So, I waited while various other patients arrived and then departed to their assigned theatres.

‘Eventually we were off to the theatre! Full speed ahead and don’t spare the horses!

‘In the anaesthetics room, I offered the back of my right hand, as usual, only to have my left hand taken. A needle was pushed in bursting the vein, at which time my right hand was accepted after all.

‘My next memory was of the recovery ward, of drifting in and out of consciousness, being asked how I was and then transferred to my designated ward.

‘On the ward I remember various faces appearing over my bed and asking me to quantify my pain on a scale of one to ten. Not knowing what was good or bad I guessed my answers while trying to make clear that any pain in my back was quite liveable, but I did have a raging pain in my right should that totally occupied my mind. Nobody appeared to listen; they seemed concerned with my back and nothing else.

‘I was given a button and told that if my pain was bad I should press it and this would give me pain relief. So I pressed the button, but, apparently I did this too often and after a while I started to hallucinate.

‘Eventually, I found another button that I couldn’t remember being mentioned to me. When I pressed it this brought a nurse who explained that there is a limit to how much pain relief I could seek!

‘However, I still seemed to be struggling to get across where my pain was seated. Whether on a score of one to ten, or ten to a thousand, it was my shoulder that hurt. Excuse me! Nobody had operated on my shoulder and would somebody please listen!

‘Even now, I am not sure if anyone took any notice at all of what I was saying. Certainly nobody seemed to take any action on the subject.

‘The following day the physiotherapist explained some simply exercises and promised that tomorrow I would be helped out of bed. As it happens I had worked out that some form of exercise was a good idea and had been practicing wriggling my toes and moving my legs and arms.

‘Tomorrow came and went without my being helped out of bed, so the morning after I resolved to help myself. In a nick of time along came the physiotherapists who parked me in an armchair and said: “Tomorrow we’ll help you walk”.

‘I quickly became bored with sitting like a lemon in my chair. One of my fellow patients, who was more mobile than me, found a walking frame onto which I could hook my catheter bag and I started shuffling round the ward. It wasn’t long before my mobility was noticed, the catheter was removed and I was “fitted” with crutches.

‘These days, if you wish to watch television, or make or receive a telephone call, you are expected to subscribe to an expensive private service. Since I rather object to the idea of private business making a profit at the expense of hospital patients, I kept my mobile phone with me (well hidden!) and did not watch television during my stay.

‘It strikes me as odd that the hospital has a restaurant that serves excellent value-for-money meals to staff and visitors, and yet food for the patients is transported half way across the country. No doubt leaving a monster carbon footprint in its wake!

‘So, we had sandwiches with the bread so dry in crunched; mashed potato that spread itself across the plate in a grey, tasteless, soggy mess; peas that the Royal Navy of yore could have used to supplement grape shot and a lasagne that looked and felt more like peanut brittle!

‘We were lucky if we were offered three hot drinks in a day, although we were reminded to drink lots of water!

‘Needless to say I lost weight in hospital!

‘As my time in hospital progressed, it quickly became obvious that there were members of the staff who had a sense of vocation and worked their socks off, while some of their colleagues were happy to drift along doing as little as possible.

‘One young male staff nurse had time for everybody, tending to our needs, answering our questions and happily “walking the extra mile” for us.

‘Another, equally dedicated female staff nurse, to whom we complained about the terrible state of the toilet, cleaned it herself when she found that nothing had been done to improve its condition 24 hours later.

‘Realising that lavatory cleaning did not appear to be a major priority at the hospital, as soon as I was physically able I got into the habit of cleaning the more obvious stains in this particular facility before I felt I could use it.

‘Never the deepest of sleepers, I frequently awoke shivering because the hopelessly inadequate double glazing allowed as much draught into the ward as if the windows were open. One night I took my crutches for a walk in an effort to warm myself up, only to find that all the night staff were wearing outdoor coats because of the cold!

‘One day a staff nurse came to everyone with injections to the stomach. He said we would have to d thus ourselves for a number of weeks after our release from hospital and that the injected drug was to thin our blood. When I was eventually released nothing was said about these injections and no drug or equipment was provided. From my subsequent research I believe the drug to be heparin and its purpose is to avoid thrombosis!

‘One of my fellow patients, known to be somewhat volatile, exploded one day because he asked the same question several time and was given an equal number of different, evasive answers! There was an awful fuss and he was labelled “difficult”.

‘On Thursday I was told to be ready because I was about to be taken for an X-ray. That eventually happened on Saturday. I was then told that the only reason I couldn’t go home was because I had to be fitted with a special corset and the relevant department that handled such equipment didn’t work at weekends.

‘So, on Monday one of the nursing staff put a tape measure round my middle at which time I found out that these specially fitted corsets actually only came in standard small, medium, large or extra large sizes. Wow!

‘Anyway, once I was wearing the extremely uncomfortable undergarment I was told I could telephone my wife to come and collect me. The first person to actually explain to me why I had to wear the corset was the physiotherapist who I saw some two weeks after being released from Medway Hospital.

‘Having phoned home I was told my bed was needed and I was immediately moved to a room which I think was called the “discharge suite”. There I sat in an extremely uncomfortable chair whilst my wife drove to Gillingham and queued for one of the extremely limited parking spaces.

‘I freely admit that I wept with relied most of the way home. Once there I removed my “fitted” corset because it was so uncomfortable and found a series of bruises where it had chafed and squeezed my flesh.

‘I am sorry to say that I would have to be very, very ill and in incredible pain, before anyone could persuade me to go back to Medway Hospital for more treatment.

‘By the way, my shoulder still hurts and is the major source of pain!’

*************

I don’t know about you, but some parts of the letter reminded me of scenes from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Of course that film was set in an American lunatic asylum, whereas what happened to my correspondent took place in a British NHS hospital here in the 21^st Century. It is both depressing and worrying that this is not a rare complaint, but is one that can be replicated in many hospitals up and down the country.

But the most shocking thing about this story is that I am not shocked. Such tales of indifferent treatment, poor food, dirty toilets, off-hand staff, inadequate information and a “conveyor belt” mentality towards patients are legion.

I am a supporter of the NHS. I was born in 1948, the same year the NHS was founded, and I have used it ever since. My two sisters and brother-in-law work in the NHS. I know that most of the staff working in the NHS are dedicated, caring people, however, I am sure that they would agree there is something dreadfully wrong with a system that lets a patient leave its care with such a negative perception.

Read his words again: “I am sorry to say that I would have to be very, very ill and in incredible pain, before anyone could persuade me to go back to Medway Hospital for more treatment.”

For a patient to be left feeling that way is scandalous, but what is worse is that this particular complainant has asked to remain anonymous because he is frightened that because of his condition he will be obliged to use Medway Hospital again and is fearful that he will be discriminated against because if his complaint.

However, he does want his case highlighted because, as he says: “I would at least have the comfort of knowing that maybe something could be done to make other peoples’ hospital experience more tolerable”.

Gordon Henderson

May 4^th 2008

Gordon Henderson is the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Sittingbourne & Sheppey.

The Wooden Bowl

A Friend of mine who re discovered the Christian Faith sent the following:

The Wooden BowlI guarantee you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowltomorrow, a week from now, a month from now, a year from now.A frail old man went to live with his son,daughter-in-law, and four-year - old grandson.
The oldman's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and hisstep faltered.The family ate together at the table. But the elderlygrandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eatingdifficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. Whenhe grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.
The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with themess. 'We must do something about father,' said the son. 'I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, andfood on the floor.'So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the familyenjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish ortwo, his food was served in a wooden bowl.When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction,sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharpadmonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.
The four-year-old watched it all in silence.One evening before supper, the father noticed his sonplaying with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the childsweetly, 'What are you making?' Just as sweetly, the boyresponded, 'Oh, I am making a little bowl for you andMama to eat your food in when I grow up. ' Thefour-year-old smiled and went back to work.The words so struck the parents so that they werespeechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks.Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family.And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed tocare any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, orthe tablecloth soiled.On a positive note,
I've learned that, no matter whathappens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and itwill be better tomorrow.
I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by theway he/she handles four things: a rainy day, the elderly,lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that, regardless of your relationship withyour parents, you'll miss them when they're gone fromyour life.I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thingas making a 'life..'I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able tothrow something backI've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will eludeyou But, if you focus on your family, your friends, theneeds of others, your work and doing the very best youcan, happiness will find youI've learned that whenever I decide something with anopen heart, I usually make the right decision
.I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have tobe one.
I've learned that every day, you should reach out andtouch someone.People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug,or just a friendly pat on the back.
I've learned that
I still have a lot to learn.I've learned that you should pass this on to everyone youcare about
.I just did.

Firemen sacked for 'making new recruit ballet dance' in spoof initiation interview

Firemen sacked for 'making new recruit ballet dance' in spoof initiation interview

This article appeared in the Daily Mail you can see it on line. These type of initiation test have been common for years especially in Male Dominated work places, it is normally well humoured and helps bonding with fellow work mates and leads to life long friends and in the case the Fire Service, Armed Services etc makes the recepient part of a team that he will need in times of great danger. So what have our Fire Chiefs now decided it is a form of bullying and have sacked two long serving Fireman. More and more like the Police Force these Top Officers, who are paid incredible money, seem to invent things to justify their existance and their pay scale, they need to get back to where they started and start understanding their workforce instead of impeding them. The PC world is the ultimate form of bullying

Diane Howard says Derek Wyatt MP is great

Editor EKG
Thursday, 24 April 2008
Dear Editor
I read with interest the letter from Diane Howard in last weeks EKG, the problem I have with Diane is it is difficult to know what she believes in one moment she is a member of the Old Labour Party, then it’s the SDP, then LibDems and now Nu Labour. Yet credit where it due she at least got a letter printed mentioning the dreaded word Europe something I have tried to do for years with no success with any regional paper, She berated Gordon Henderson I presume for being a Euro Sceptic, Dianne should realise that the majority of people in this country think the same as Gordon, it was interesting to note the letter was printed on the same day that the EU want to divide England into 3 financial regions with the name England abolished. The EU has become a dictatorship and does not represent the views of the electorate and with Gordon Brown and his Government (including Derek Wyatt MP) refusing to let the people of GB have a referendum on the EU Constitution, something promised by Mr Brown, it can only be a matter of time before the people of GB rebel hopefully with Civil Disobedience not violence.
She moved on to say what a Marvellous MP Derek Wyatt was and presumably his government. Is this the same Derek Wyatt who’s party has seen Local Post Offices close, over seen the collapse of Pension Schemes, Allowed prisoners out early to commit more crime, Allowed violent crime to slide out of control, Allowed uncontrolled immigration sacrificing British jobs to immigrants, Would not supply our troops with proper equipment and refuse to give the wounded proper compensation, Restricted the use of vital drugs to patience because of lack of funds, while allowing MP’s of all parties to wallow in the mire of uncontrolled expenses. Is that the same Derek Wyatt MP?


Yours Faithfully



Martin Clarke

Are Southern Water Cheats

Dear Editor

In my House I have 4 bedsits have done for some years these are registered with the Council as a Home in Multiple Occupancy, the other day we had some letters delivered by Southern Water demanding money from each of the bedsits which they referred to as Flats. Obviously as an HMO I am responsible for the water supply and bedsits are included as we have a water meter.
The reason I am writing to make people aware of how Southern Water are trying to cheat customers:
1) These so called flats are all in one house, so if they were not individually metered the estimated usage one would have thought should be the same OH NO two were estimated at £525.37p and the others at £437.06p this was for a two year period SO how do southern Water calculate non metered water supply?
2) As the house is metered I know exactly how much was used and it was approx £600 per annum for my private part and the four bedsits. According to Southern Water calculated the four bedsits used £962 approx.
3) £362 more then actually was used, now if these were flats and liable for water rates I would have still to pay £600 and the rest £962.
4) Now in my mind that is a swindle taking £962 from people and supplying no goods
5) The thing that should worry everyone else unless you have a water meter how much are Southern Water cheating you buy

So everyone should get a water meter fitted well I have built some flats and the cost to supply two flats was £2034.58p that was to bring a water pipe approx 10 feet from the main supply in the road to the edge of the property and supply a double meter approx ½ days work for two men. I had to organise the supply from the meter to the flats. I bet you want a water meter now and why does Southern Water want you to have a water meter when they can rip you off with estimates.

Then they have the cheek to tell you not run water when cleaning your teeth. If the government were interested in Green issue they should make it compulsory for Southern Water to supply meters free of charge but then the greedy share holder will not get such a big dividend

Martin Clarke Sittingbourne

WYATT MP HOLD YOUR HEAD IN SHAME

WYATT MP HOLD YOUR HEAD IN SHAME
Read the letter below from Derek Wyatt MP and then read my reply plus Gordon Henderson's


I have to respect Captains captain’s decision

IN HIS letter to you (Times Guardian, March 27).Gordon Henderson attacked me for not voting against the Government’s plans for the PostOffice. Since June, 20071 have been the Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Department ofCulture, Media and Sport for the Rt Hon Margaret Hodge, Minister for the Arts I have alsoacted unofficially for Gerry Sutcliffe, Minister for Sport.Mr. Henderson should know by now, as he has already been a failed Parliamentary candidatethat a PPS is a member of the Government.As a PPS I am a team player. Just as in my rugby days! am free to speak my mind about teampolicies and express my own ideas but when the team captain and management makea decision, I have to respect it. However. I am not surprised Mr Henderson does not understandthis principle. I have never once heard him express or support his parties policy on anynationa1 issue. especially since David Cameron became leader So just for the record, theTories, before the last election. wanted to privatized the Post Office which would have led towholesale closures including most of our post offices on the Isle of Sheppey. I lobbied last yearand helped keep all our Island post offices open. I was the first MP to suggest we should beable to bid for rural and semi-rural post offices as Tory controlled Essex CC is doing (but notTory controlled KCC). Likewise, I was the flrst to suggest combining the rural library servicewith a rural post office service, a simple solution that would help those that are elderly livingin our smaller village&Derek Wyatt, MP,Sittingbourne and Sheppey


This letter signifies everything that is wrong with the Political Elite in this country and Mr Wyatt should be ashamed of himself. He has put party interest before the people he complains to represent, to make the excuse that he is a team player and he uses a Rugby analogy to legitimise himself, well Mr Wyatt politics is not a sport it about people lives. Lose a game of rugby the world will not change make a mistake in Government and it can. To follow the party line when you know it is wrong is immoral especially when it life changing, to campaign to save Post Offices then vote to have them closed is dishonest and deceitful. Henchman of the Nazis, Communists excuse when brought to justice was I was only obeying orders. I am no fan of Nu Labour politician come to that my faith in all politicians is somewhat stretched but you Mr Wyatt take the biscuit.


Dear SirOur MP accuses me of not supporting any national Conservative Party policy. That is not true; I support most of David Cameron’s policies. For instance: I support David’s opposition to the scandalous abolition of the 10P tax band that will see so many hard pressed Islanders worse off.I support his call for a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty (EU Constitution) and I support his opposition to the Government’s decision to build more coal fire power stations (such as at Kingsnorth).I support David’s pledge that the Family will be at the heart of every policy introduced by a future Conservative Government. I support his view that there should be a cap on immigration and I support his plans to let only English MPs vote on issues solely relating to England.I support David’s call for more openness in the funding of political parties. I support his call for MPs expenses to be published and I support his pledge to abolish the unelected regional assemblies. I could go on, but I won’t because I think I have made my point!However, it is true that I do not agree with all David Cameron’s policies and where I do not agree I am happy to let my opposition be known. I am not ashamed of being able to think for myself without the help of those who lead my Party.In fact, for that very reason I would like to thank our MP for making clear that at the next General Election Islanders will have a clear choice. They will be able to vote either for somebody who puts his political party, and his desire to climb up the greasy political pole, before those who elected him, or, they can vote for somebody who will always put the interests of his constituents first, even if that brings me into conflict with my “team captain”!Yours sincerelyGordon Henderson
# posted by Martin Clarke @ 1:27 AM 0 comments
Monday, September 18, 2006
Poles & Tesco Sheerness
Is there any truth in the rumor that Tesco Sheerness will only employ Poles for night time shelf stacking? have they (Tesco) come to arrangement with an outside contractor to supply them with Labour? Which will be cheap Labour putting more Englishman out ot of work!

Over Regulated???

In the year 2007 the Lord came unto Noah, who was now living in England, and said:
"Once again, the earth has become wicked and over-populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me. Build another Ark and save two of every living thing along with a few good humans."

He gave Noah the CAD drawings, saying: "You have 6 months to build the Ark before I will start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights."

Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his yard, but no Ark.

"Noah!" He roared, "I'm about to start the rain! Where is the Ark?"

"Forgive me, Lord," begged Noah, "but things have changed. I needed Building Regulations Approval and I've been arguing with the Fire Brigade about the need for a sprinkler system.
My neighbours claim that I should have obtained planning permission for building the Ark in my garden because it is development of the site, even though in my view it is a temporary structure.

We had to then go to appeal to the Secretary of State for a decision. Then the Department of Transport demanded a bond be posted for the future costs of moving power lines and other overhead obstructions to clear the passage for the Ark's move to the sea. I told them that the sea would be coming to us, but they would hear nothing of it.

Getting the wood was another problem. All the decent trees have Tree Preservation Orders on them and we live in a Site of Special Scientific Interest set up in order to protect the spotted owl. I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the owls - but no go!

When I started gathering the animals, the RSPCA sued me. They insisted that I was confining wild animals against their will. They argued the accommodation was too restrictive, and it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in a confined space.

Then the County Council, the Environment Agency and the Rivers Authority ruled that I couldn't build the Ark until they'd conducted an environmental impact study on your proposed flood.

I'm still trying to resolve a complaint with the Equal Opportunities Commission on how many disabled carpenters I'm supposed to hire for my building team. The trades unions say I can't use my sons. They insist I have to hire only accredited workers with Ark-building experience.

To make matters worse, Customs and Excise seized all my assets, claiming I'm trying to leave the country illegally with endangered species.

So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least 10 years for me to finish this Ark."

Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow stretched across the sky.

Noah looked up in wonder and asked, "You mean you're not going to destroy the world?"

"No," said the Lord. "The British government beat me to it."

Here are two articles sent to me which I felt strongly about:


Is How Canada salutes its fallen hero's (Sorry there was a slide show but can not upload email me and I will send attachment)

And in our Country we ask our soldiers to remove their uniforms at Birmingham hospitalbecause it might offend Muslim

IMMIGRANTS

New Zealand - The right to leave Our country - YOU have the right -the right to LEAVE !


After Wellington not wanting to offend other cultures by putting up Xmas lights. After hearing that we are going to let a Muslim woman have her picture on her drivers license with her face covered. This prompted this editorial written by a New Zealand Citizen. Published in a newspaper.


Quote:

IMMIGRANTS , NOT NEW ZEALANDERS, MUST ADAPT. TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT!

I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individuals or their culture. I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to New Zealand.

However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country and apparently some born here, need to understand.

This idea of New Zealand being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity.

As New Zealanders, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle. Our culture has been developed over two centuries of Struggles, Trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom, even died for it.

We Speak ENGLISH or MAORI , not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian or any other language. Therefore if you wish to become part of New Zealand society, -- Learn the language! "In God we trust " is our national Motto.

This is not some Christian, right wing, political slogan. We adopted this motto because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented.

It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then it is recommended that you consider another part of the world as your new home. Because God is part of our culture.

If the Southern Cross offends you, or you don't like "A FAIR GO", then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet.

We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from. This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, AND OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and or griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our National Motto, or Our Way Of Life, then you are highly encouraged to take advantage of one Other great New Zealand freedom..

"THE RIGHT TO LEAVE"

An Attack on Labour and the EU

The Editor
Sheppey Gazette
Sittingbourne 16th March 2008


Dear Madam

Recently our MP voted against having a referendum on the new EU Treaty (Constitution) despite Labour having promised at the last General Election to allow us to vote on whether the EU Constitution should be ratified.

His excuse for his decision to renege on his promise is breathtaking; firstly he tells us that the Lisbon Treaty is not a constitution, even though every rational person accepts that both documents provide for the same fundamental changes to our relationship with the EU; a similarity that has been camouflaged by the use of a new name.

Then our MP tries to further justify his actions by equating the Lisbon Treaty with the Single European Act signed by Margaret Thatcher and the Maastricht Treaty signed by John Major, pointing out that neither of those treaties led to a referendum.

Setting aside the obvious observation that perhaps those very important treaties should have been put to a referendum, the major difference is that neither Margaret Thatcher, nor John Major went into a General Election promising to have a referendum on those treaties.

Labour is now saying that to have a referendum on the EU Treaty (Constitution) “would be near to impossible”, on the spurious grounds that it is a complex document most of the contents of which are “not known in detail by most citizens”.

That situation is no different after the General Election that before it, so why did Labour promise to hold a referendum? Answer; they wanted to win the election, after which they hoped we would all forget their promise. Do they think we are fools?

Yours sincerely

Gordon Henderson

PRESS RELEASE

Date: 15th March 2008
Release date: Immediate
Subject: Gordon promises to reveal all his expenses if he is elected.

Gordon Henderson has promised to reveal full details of any expenses that he claims if he is elected as a member of parliament after the next General Election.

Mr Henderson made the pledge when he addressed the Annual General Meeting of Sittingbourne and Sheppey Conservatives, which met in the Sheerness Conservative Club on Friday 14th March.

Mr Henderson told members:
‘Ladies and gentlemen, I want to make a difference. People are increasingly fed up with politicians who say one thing and do another. They are fed up with politicians who have their snouts in the trough of public money. They are fed up with politicians who simply do not understand how real people, in the real world actually live.

‘Recently I was talking to an MP who was astonished when I told him that if I am elected I will commute to Westminster every day. “You can’t do that,” he told me, “it is hard work commuting. You really must get a flat in town. There is an allowance for a second home so you might as well use it.”’

‘My response was simply this; getting a flat in town might well be a sensible thing for those MPs who live some distance from London, but I am only an hour’s train journey away. A large number of my future constituents, including my own daughter, commute to London every day; they cannot afford to own two houses and if the hard work of commuting is good enough for them, then it is good enough for me.’

‘Of course, we have seen a lot in the news recently about MPs expenses. Many MPs seem loathe publishing details of their expenses, or, providing receipts for all their expenses. Quite frankly I find that attitude quite scandalous. Having been in business most of my life I have absolutely no problem providing receipts for expenditure. In business if you don’t provide a receipt, you don’t get your money reimbursed. It’s as simple as that and so it should be.

‘Now there is talk of MPs being forced to reveal their expenses. Don’t hold your breath! MPs have a record of kicking such requests into the long grass! Which is why I make this promise to you; if I am elected at the next General Election, whatever the other MPs do, I will publish regularly all the expenses that I have claimed and will provide receipts for all the expenditure.

‘I will also make you another pledge; last year Labour MPs voted themselves an annual £10,000 “communication allowance”, which they use for glossy leaflets promoting themselves. This means that we tax payers are funding promotional literature that should properly be paid for by the MPs themselves. So, once again, if I am elected I promise you here and now that I will refuse to take that £10,000 communication allowance.

‘I know it is only a miniscule part of Government expenditure, but I hope my refusal will be a symbolic gesture. I hope it will demonstrate that my first priority will always be to the taxpayers of Sittingbourne & Sheppey, and not to my own bank balance.’
…ends…

I Dare any Newspaper to print the following

I DON'T CARE

Here is a woman who should run for Prime Minister!Written by a housewife in New Brunswick, Canada to her local newspaper. This is one ticked off lady.'

Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we?

Was it or was it not startedby Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001 andhave continually threatened to do so since?

Were people from all over the world, not brutally murdered that day, indowntown Manhattan, across the Potomac from the nation's capitol and in afield in Pennsylvania?

Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning orcrushing death that day, or didn't they?

And I'm supposed to care that a a few Taliban were claiming to be torturedby a justice system of the nation they come from and are fighting against ina brutal insurgency.I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents forincinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.

I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caringabout the Holy Bible, the mere belief of which is a crime punishable bybeheading in Afghanistan.

I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking offNick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.

I'll care when the cowardly so-called 'insurgents' in Afghanistan come outand fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding inmosques.

I'll care when the mindless zealots who blows themselves up in search ofnirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicidebombs.

I'll care when the Canadian media stops pretending that their freedom ofspeech on stories is more important than the lives of the soldiers on theground or their families waiting a home to hear about them when somethinghappens.In the meantime, when I hear a story about a CANADIAN soldier roughing up anInsurgent terrorist to obtain information,

know this:

I don't care.When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not tomove because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank:

I don't care.When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, andfed 'special' food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining thathis holy book is being 'mishandled,' you can absolutely believe in yourheart of hearts:

I don't care.And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled 'Koran' andother times 'Quran.' Well, Jimmy Crack Corn and, you guessed it,I don't care!!

If you agree with this viewpoint, pass this on to all your E-mail friendsSooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behaviour!If you don't agree, then by all means hit the delete button. Should youchoose the latter, then please don't complain when more atrocities committedby radical Muslims happen here in our great Country! And may I add:'Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference inthe world. But, the Soldiers don't have that problem.'I have another quote that I would like to add AND.......I hope you forwardall this.

One last thought for the day:

Only five defining forces have ever offered to die for you:

1. Jesus Christ

2. The Canadian Soldier.

3. The British Soldier.

4. The US Soldier.

5. The Anzacs,

andOne died for your soul, the other 4 for your freedom.

Ollie Batts questions unemployed

A few years ago I worked part time in a Job Club, supposedly helping theunemployed get back into work.We helped them with their CV's, and with letter writing, in the hope of themsecuring interviews.It's amazing how many of them would talk freely about their 'entitlements'.When I asked them why they thought they were entitled to receive a wage fordoing nothing, and contributing nothing to society, some would say, "Well,my Grandfather worked all his life!"When I would sometimes point out a job and say, 'You could do that!', they'dlook at the wage and say, "Yes, but they are only paying £220 a week, and Ieffectively already 'earn' £180 a week anyway, when I take everything intoconsideration. So I'd only be working for £1 an hour. And then I'd be taxedon that as well, so it would not be worth getting out of bed for."So I'm afraid that's the mentality we've allowed 'these people' to grow upwith. "My Dad never had to work, so why should I?"I'd impose a law that says, 'You don't get anything, for doing nothing'. By which I mean, sweep the roadsides and pick up rubbish in the streets. Or do any kind of work that you are able to do in order to receive money from thestate. And that would apply to everyone, unless they were in a vegetative condition, or similar. If that work was felt to be too demeaning, then workhard and get a better job. There should be no such thing as a free lunch.Feel free to put that on your blog.Ollie

Booze Britain

You will find below an article by Parliamentary candidate Gordon Henderson about his concern with regard to Alcohol Abuse, I would like to make a few points
When the supermarkets first started selling alcohol, I was concerned that this would snowball to a point where every possible outlet would be selling the product. A friend of mine who was an MP at the time said the reason for the Supermarkets were selling alcohol was because of public demand, I fervently disagreed. My argument was the Supermarkets artificially create the demand by clever marketing on both points I have been proved right. The start of the alcohol fuelled loutish and criminal behaviour was initially the easily availability of alcohol and the lack of supervision of outlets by both Police and Council. Maybe we should take a step backwards and revisit the 1950’s/60’s where alcohol was supervised more strictly i.e. only Pubs, Clubs, restaurants and Off-licences were allowed sell alcohol. So instead of Supermarkets being allowed to sell alcohol of the shelf giving young people the idea that buying Whiskey, Wine etc is no different then buying bread or milk, why not insist that any outlet selling alcohol have a separate shop, with separate staff, till etc i.e. a proper Off license with anyone under the age of 18 not allowed in. This way the premises can monitored any infringement this would be soon be noticed by the Police and relative authority, those premises that cannot house a separate Off License facility would have their license withdrawn. Make it a criminal Offence to drink alcohol in a Public Place i.e. walking along the pavement drinking cans of beer, give stiffer penalties to those licensees who sell to the under age and punish under age drinkers by imposing a curfew for certain period.
Pubs and Clubs come under a lot of stick for the problem of our drink culture but the vast majority of young drinkers can not afford Pub and Club prices so they get tanked up on cheap booze from the supermarkets before they go out but it is not the supermarkets who get the blame or have to deal with these drunken louts


Martin Clarke East Street Sittingbourne

Date: 18th February 2008
Release date: Immediate
Subject: Time to make licensing laws work.

LOCAL Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, Gordon Henderson, expressed his concern about official figures which have revealed not only a growing number of under-age drinkers are being admitted to hospital, but also that the laws against under-age drinking are not being properly enforced.

This disturbing news coincides with the report from Crime Concern which has found that “drinking to get drunk is starting younger with serious consequences to health and crime”. Almost four in ten young people now start drinking at the age of 13, and half of their parents turning a blind eye.

· Figures – unearthed by the Conservatives in Parliament – reveal that under-age children who break the law by buying alcohol illegally are not being held to account. Fewer than a hundred individuals a year are punished for trying to buy alcohol illegally.

· What is more, a growing number of children are now being hospitalised after being admitted to A&E due to alcohol misuse, with 596 incidents across the South East Coast Strategic Health Authority last year. Across the country as a whole, there has been an increase of 40 per cent since 2000.

Mr Henderson said:
‘Under-age drinking harms young people and fuels youth crime and anti-social behaviour. Labour Ministers talk endlessly about cracking down on alcohol-related violence, but these new figures show just how difficult the task is.

‘The biggest problem is that because of changes in the licensing laws, introduced by the current Government, there is no one agency with a clear responsibility for tackling under aged drinking.

‘Swale Borough Council is responsible for issuing licences to sell alcohol, which they can refuse to renew if a licence is abused, however, the borough council is not responsible for monitoring the sale of alcohol to under aged drinkers. It is Kent County Council’s Trading Standards Department that undertakes spot checks to see if off licences are selling to anyone under 18.

‘Add to this mix the police, who are the only body with the power to arrest people breaking the law, but who are not responsible for issuing or monitoring licences, and you have a recipe for confusion. It is hardly surprising that in Kent between 2004 and 2006 only one youngster was prosecuted for purchasing alcohol illegally and not one single caution was issued!

‘It’s time to make licensing laws work properly. I think the Government should change the law to make a single body responsible for issuing licences, monitoring licences and liaising with the police to prosecute those who abuse licences.

‘We also need greater social responsibility, and an end to some parents turning a blind eye to their children’s drinking and I am pleased that increasing social responsibility is at the heart of David Cameron’s plans to make Britain safer and stronger.’
…ends…

The British Solution to Save Petrol

Another little Ditti sent to me. Do Iagree with the sentiment what do you think?

The British Solution to Save Petrol


Gordon Brown wants us to cut the amount of petrol we use...

The best way to stop using so much petrol is to deport 3 million illegal immigrants!

That would be 3 million less people using our petrol. The price of petrol would come down...

Bring our troops home from Iraq to guard the Channel...

When they catch an illegal immigrant crossing the Channel, hand him a canteen, rifle and some ammo and ship him to Iraq ...

Tell him if he wants to come to Britain then he must serve a tour in the military...

Give him a soldier's pay while he's there and tax him on it...

After his tour, he will be allowed to become a citizen since he defended this country...

He will also be registered to be taxed and be a legal resident...

This option will probably deter illegal immigration and provide a solution for the troops in Iraq and the aliens trying to make a better life for themselves…

If they refuse to serve, ship them to Iraq anyway, without the canteen, rifle or ammo...

Problem solved...

If you think this is a good solution to both the problems, forward it to your friends.

I just did...





Sent from Yahoo! - a smarter

JOHN HOWARD FOR UK PRIME MINISTER

England Needs A Leader Like This!

Prime Minister John Howard of AUSTRALIA

- Australia Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks. Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote: ' IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians.' ' This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom' ' We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society . Learn the language!' ' Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.' ' We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us' ' This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, ' THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.' ' If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.' Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves, Brits will find the backbone to start speaking and voicing the same truths. If you agree please SEND THIS ON

WHy Why Why

Why, Why, Why
Do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are going dead?
Why do banks charge a fee on 'insufficient funds' when they know there is not enough money?Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?
Why doesn't glue stick to the bottle?
How does penetrating oil stay in the can?
Why do they use sterilised needles for death by lethal injection?Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?
Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?
Whose idea was it to put an 'S' in the word 'lisp'?If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?
Why is it that no matter what colour bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?
Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialised?
Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?
Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?
How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?When we are in the supermarket and someone rams our ankle with a shopping cart then apologises for doing so, why do we say, 'It's all right?' Well, it isn't all right, so why don't we say, 'That hurt, you stupid idiot?'
Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?
In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?
How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?And my FAVORITE......The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends -- if they're okay, then it's you!! I've done my job and sent this email to you, now it's up to you to send it on!!!

Australian Birds

This email which came from Australia was sent to me by a friend. How True it is


Haven't heard it put this way before, but it's a great analogy.
I bought a bird feeder.
I hung it on my back patio and filled it with seed.
What a beauty of a bird feeder it is as I filled it lovingly with seed.
Within a week we had hundreds of birds taking advantage of the continuous flow of free and easily accessible food.
But then the birds started building nests in the boards of the patio, above the table, and next to the barbecue.
Then came the poop. It was everywhere: on the patio tile, the chairs, the table...everywhere! Then some of the birds turned mean.
They would dive bomb me and try to peck me even though I had fed them out of my own pocket.
And other birds were boisterous and loud. They sat on the feeder and squawked and screamed at all hours of the day and night and demanded that I fill it when it got low on food.
After a while, I couldn't even sit in my own back garden anymore.
So I took down the bird feeder and in three days the birds were gone.
I cleaned up their mess and took down the many nests they had built all over the patio. Soon, the back yard was like it used to be ..... quiet, serene and no one demanding their rights to a free meal.
Now let's see..... our government gives out free food, subsidized housing, free medical care, and free education and allows anyone born here to be an automatic citizen.
Then the illegals came by the tens of thousands.
Suddenly our taxes went up to pay for free services; small apartments are housing 5 families; you have to wait 6 hours to be seen by an emergency room doctor; your child's 2nd grade class is behind other schools because over half the class doesn't speak English. Corn Flakes now come in a bilingual box; I have to 'press one' to hear my bank talk to me in English, and people waving flags other than the Southern Cross are squawking and screaming in the streets, demanding more rights and free liberties.
Just my opinion, but maybe it's time for the government to take down the bird feeder.
If you agree, pass it on; if not, continue cleaning up the poop!

6 Million on state handouts

It was reported that 6 million people in GB rely on “State Handouts” a lot of these are lazy and refuse to work but I would suggest that there are many who do it purely for financial reasons i.e. An unskilled man with children receives more money on the dole then he does working, he may want work but can not afford to. Off course I do not agree with this situation and we need to have a radical change but how we can when we still import cheap labour, how long will it be that all unskilled and semi skilled British Workers are no longer needed in GB, these jobs will be taken by CHEAP foreign Labour. So with in 10 years 50% of the indigenous British population will never work and will be supported by the state from cradle to grave. Who pays for this? the immigrant labour may pay tax but because they on a low wage that will be very little and what they do pay will spent on the burden they put on the state by using things as the National Health and claiming benefits like child benefit, so it will be the those British Subjects who are working or have businesses who will have pay through massive Tax increases. The blame for this lies in the hands of the Labour government so hopefully when Conservative Government is elected things will change BUT will it? The main reason we have so many Immigrants in GB is because this Labour Government collapsed to an edict from the European Union can a Conservative Government change this EU this rule and others and if they can’t will they leave the EU to save the Indigenous British Population from a foreign dictatorship? Can Mr Cammeron answer this question?

One cannot blame just government for our problems businesses and employers must shoulder some of the blame, talking to some friends of mine who are in business, they maintain that businesses and shareholders are only interested in Profit, making money nothing else matters, if that means sacking every British worker and employing Immigrant workers so be it. Where is the ethics and morality in that? Surely one of the reasons anyone goes into business is to help others and not profit from the misery of others may be an old fashioned Christian virtue but one I feel we need to return to.

Martin Clarke East Street Sittingbourne

The Flag an E Book from Local man

GORDON HENDERSON
6 The Crescent
Halfway
Minster
Sheppey
Kent
ME12 3BQ

PRESS RELEASE
Date: 6th February 2008
Release date: Immediate
Subject: Local man publishes E-book

LOCAL man, Gordon Henderson, has published a book with a difference; not for him the traditional printed paper with a hard back cover, instead Gordon has released his latest novel, The Flag, as an electronic book, which can be played on the CD-Rom of any home computer, or, laptop.

The Flag is a raunchy, political thriller set on Sheppey in the year 2020. England is no more; it has been subsumed into a United States of Europe and is now known as Mercia, a region governed by the extreme left-wing European Republican Party.

As the screw turns, the ERP set about systematically dismantling a thousand years of English heritage and tradition. Led by the sadistic Inquisitor General, James Sterling, the Department of Directive Enforcement wages a war of terror that has wiped out all opposition, except the English Liberation Army.

But Gordon warns that people who buy the book, thinking that it is a dry political read, might be shocked to find that some of the passages are pretty steamy!

Gordon said:
‘I have put a warning on the inside cover of the CD because I wanted readers to know in advance that it contains some strong language and material of a sexually explicit nature. Some of the extracts would certainly not be suitable for publishing in our local family newspaper!

‘But I decided to retain those sections because they are highly relevant in the context of the story, which is partly about morality and corruption in its various forms,

Gordon went on to explain that he decided to publish the E-book as an experiment, but that he still wants to publish the novel in traditional form for those people who do not have access to a computer.

‘More and more people are reading national newspapers on-line; rather than buy the old newsprint versions. If that is happening with newspapers then I suspect that fewer and fewer people are picking up a book to read, because they are too pre-occupied with their computers.

‘This is an experiment to see if I am right. I hope that by publishing The Flag as an E-book it might encourage those people to buy the CD, stick it into their laptops and read it that way.

‘Of course, not everybody has access to a computer and many people, including me, simply love the feel of a real book in their hands, so I am busy looking for a publisher to print the novel in the traditional form.’

The Flag, which is currently published only in Microsoft Word format, can be ordered by sending an email to the.flag@tesco.net. Price £10 (including UK postage and packaging).
…ends…..

Tax Collectors to snoop on homes

Tax collectors to snoop on Swale homes?

LOCAL Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, Gordon Henderson, has said that he is “outraged” at news of a secret deal between the taxman and estate agents. It has been revealed that detailed information on 9 out of 10 house sales and rentals in Swale is being collected and logged in a ‘Big Brother’ database to prepare for council revaluation tax hikes.

· Estate agents and tax men plunder your data: Unsuspecting homeowners across Swale are putting their property on the market for sale or rental, without realising that the tax collectors will use it to plan for new council tax hikes. HM Revenue & Customs, which recently lost millions of personal tax and benefit records, is systematically raiding estate agency records to build up a property database for its council tax inspectors. Internet property company Rightmove Plc holds 16 million property records, with millions of individual entries being updated every month.

· Big Brother database invades privacy: People selling their home are not informed that property details given to their local estate agent, which are then passed to Rightmove Plc, are in turn passed on to the Government’s tax inspectors. Local estate agents in Swale have been kept in the dark about Rightmove’s actions.

· Details on people’s homes: The personal property data being passed to the taxmen include internal and external photographs of the home, the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, conservatories, parking spaces homes have and particulars such as area, layout, style, features and other ‘value significant’ features. The Government claims that the Data Protection Act does not apply to information about people’s houses. HMRC’s council tax inspectors will instruct local councils to increase the council tax on these homes.

Mr Henderson said:
‘I am outraged at this abuse of official powers. We know that tax officers have recklessly lost the tax records of millions of law-abiding citizens, now the very same people are disregarding data protection rules to build up a chilling database of every home in the country.

‘Residents across Swale will be alarmed that the Government has entered a secret deal with Rightmove Plc to use information about house sales and rentals passed to it in good faith by local estate agents, without public consent and without the knowledge of those agents.

‘Gordon Brown must cancel this deal immediately, but, if he doesn’t, then a future Conservative Government will stop this data plundering of people’s private homes, end Brown’s stealth tax revaluation and abolish state inspectors’ rights of entry into our homes.’

A Somali arrives in London

This was sent to me by email Do you think it is racist or even true?

A Somali arrives in London as a new immigrant to England . He stops the first person he sees walking down the street and says, 'Thank you Mr.English man for letting me in this country, giving me free housing, free food stamps, free medical care, free education and all wonderful social monetary benefits!'The passer by says, 'You are mistaken, I am Polish.' The man goes on and encounters another passer by. 'Thank you for having such a beautiful country here in England !' The person says, 'I not English, I am from Croatia ' The new arrival walks further, and the next person he sees he stops, shakes his hand and says, 'Thank you for the wonderful England!'That person puts up his hand and says, 'I am from Iran , I am not English!' He finally sees a nice lady and asks, 'Are you an English?' She says, 'No, I am from Iraq !' Puzzled, he asks her, 'Where are all the English people?' The Iraq lady checks her watch and says...'Probably at work.'

Do we care for the elderly

Do we care for our elderly?

Last week I watched a programme on TV where two elderly couples were interviewed both received no help from the state helping care for their infirmed Husband and wife. One man had to pay for someone to come and help wash his wife, who has Alzheimer’s twice a day, then I spoke to some one in the street who said they knew of an old lady who had to go into home and the authorities made her sell her house to pay for this. All of this is because they were not poverty stricken, yes that terrible MEANS TEST, some politicians, notably Labour say that it is only fair, why should the state pay for care for those who have savings and assets! Good point if it were coming from taxes BUT NO these people had paid National Insurance contributions, a government Insurance Scheme which was meant to protect them. If they had paid into a private health scheme that renegaded on the benefits, the company would be sued or even arrested, yet this Government refuses to pay SHAME ON THEM. On National TV it was reported that ¾ million elderly are in need of help and care because the Local Councils can no longer afford the costs theyb will get nothing but why should Councils and Council Tax Payers foot the bill? We all contribute to a National Insurance Scheme which is run by the National Government it is their responsibility.
Of Course the Prime Minister and his cronies say the country cannot afford it, the same people who’s expensive travelling jaunts are infamous but lets forget about that, the day that we found out about these ¾ Million elderly British subjects another announcement was made that Polish migrants are claiming £21 million on child benefit for their children who live in Poland, these people have contributed nothing yet get everything, last week it was announced that the BLOODY SUNDAY ENQUIRE has cost £15 million and the beneficiary of that are the fat cat lawyers.
Great Britain should be a wealthy country so why do we not look after the elderly after all they are the ones who helped finance GB.


Martin Clarke Sittingbourne

Cameron right on jobless

“Cameron: Jobless must do community work or lose benefits”
Basically if you do not get a job within 2 years you do community work or lose your benefit, I personally would have said 6 months. Yet until we get rid of immigrant Labour who have driven down wages so much that Building Labourers were earning more 20 years ago under Maggie, with employers paying the low paid £5.50p to £6 an hour on average how will these low paid workers survive unless there is some top up scheme. It has been reported that over the last few years 80% of all new jobs created went to immigrant Labour.

Let me give you an example of a friend of mine he is 55 years of age worked on a building site most of his life, his job came to an end and been on the dole ever since. So what does he live on and what are his expenses:

Rent for his 1 bedroom flat £450 per month £400 is paid by the local council in housing benefit.
Council Tax £60 per month paid for by the local council
Electric Water £60 per month
Unemployment benefit £256.31p

Outgoings £570 per month, Income £716.31p leaving him £146.31 per month or £33.76 to feed, cloth himself plus in his type of work he will need a car which to tax and insure is approx £8 per week.
If he worked for £5.50p per hour doing an average 40 hour week his earning would be £953.33 per month minus Income tax and NI approx £890 per month. His outgoings would be Flat £450, Council Tax £60, Services £60 Petrol/Road Tax Insurance etc £50 be £620 per month leaving him with £333.33, £76.92p per week to feed himself, buy clothes and pay for those incidental things that may occur.

He would be still better of working but would a married man with a couple of kids be better of NO it seems to me that this group of people have access to bottomless pit of welfare benefits. This group has been institutionalised to be lazy and dependant on the state to live, they have been moulded by the state to be feckless, ill disciplined and irresponsible and it is the Welfare state that has made them like it.

So what to do:
1) In a country where there is till a couple of million unemployed why are we importing immigrant labour?
2) Wages need to go up if that means we pay more for food, electrical products so be it. Wealth is not always financial it is pride in one self something some of these people have lost
3) After a period of time stop paying out benefit in money give them vouchers, once they can not buy their fags and booze they will soon chase after a job
4) Top up this is where those who take a low paid job can get help by applying for extra money to meet their basic needs.
I have never been a great fan of the Unions but in the past hundred years or so they have been responsible for improving the work and condition of the working man something they seem to be ignoring today. Although I am against immigrant labour I do not see why they should be abused, this group of people are expected to work extremely long hours sometimes 7 days a week for a pittance, some have to live in accommodation supplied by their employer, it because of these things that English people can not and do not want to do the work. The year is 2008 nobody should need to work more the 40 hours a week to earn a living wage.

What of my friend sadly all he can get is Agency work and they will not guarantee him a weeks works. It has always surprised me that a Labour Government who is supposed to be for the working man even allows these agencies to exist and they only exist so Employers can get round some of the ridiculous employment laws.

This country needs a good shake up and there is only one group who can do that and that is the Conservative Party.

Martin Clarke

letter from Migration Watch

Derek Wyatt accused of betraying adult learners

Derek Wyatt MP, has been accused of betraying adult learners in Sittingbourne & Sheppey by supporting cuts to university funding.

The accusation was made by his local Tory rival, Gordon Henderson, following a debate last week in the House of Commons.

Mr Wyatt voted against a Conservative motion on second chance education, which criticised the Government’s policy on the issue.

211 MPs, including 86 Labour MPs, had previously signed a cross party early day motion (EDM) expressing concern about the Government’s £100m cuts to second chance education.

These cuts will particularly affect part-time students and mothers returning to work. Despite this, Mr Wyatt joined other Labour MPs (including 63 who had signed the original EDM) in voting against it when it was put to the vote on Tuesday night.

Mr Henderson said:

‘Mr Wyatt has now failed twice to register concern at the £100m cuts in second chance education, which particularly affect part-time students and mothers returning to work.

‘In order to save the Government embarrassment he chose to vote against the interests of people in Sittingbourne & Sheppey who may now find their chance of taking a second university course to improve their prospects has been taken away.’
….ends….

Notes to Editors

John Denham announced in September 2007 that he was ‘asking the Funding Council to phase out the support it gives to institutions for equivalent or lower qualification (ELQ) students, starting from academic year 2008/09. I would like to see the support reduced by around £100 million a year by 2010/11.’ This came out of the blue – there was no prior consultation with the higher education sector.

During a consultation by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce), it became clear that the higher education sector as a whole was strongly opposed to the change. In particular, it was feared that part-time students, lifelong learners and women returning to the labour market would suffer. There is also likely to be a knock-on effect for full-time students, as some courses will cease to be viable. Some key criticisms from the sector are:

Universities UK: ‘we are concerned by the unintended consequences for institutions, for individual students and for certain economically strategic areas. It may damage the Government’s efforts to promote lifelong learning.’ (Parliamentary Brief, 11 December 2007)

University and College Union: ‘The government alleges that these cuts are being made in the cause of ‘fairness’. In reality, they are extremely unfair, not just to students with existing qualifications, but to those first time learners the government claims to be helping.’ (Brief 2, November 2007)

‘Million +’: ‘The decision appears to run counter to the lifelong learning and skills agenda which the Government is seeking to promote, deregulates tuition fees for some higher education students without any advance scrutiny of its likely consequences and has not been the subject of public consultation.’ (Briefing Paper)
Key facts
In 2005/06, 8 per cent of Hefce-funded full-time equivalent student numbers were aiming for an ELQ (Hefce)

20 per cent of part-time students in England will become unfunded from 2008/09 (and 2% of full-time) (Hefce)

25 per cent of the Open University’s students in England and NI will become unfunded and £31.6m or 19 per cent of OU teaching funding will be phased out

One-third of Birkbeck students are ELQ students and the college stands to lose £7.9m

The School of Pharmacy, University of London, could lose 15 per cent of its teaching income (Council of University Heads of Pharmacy)

Ranked by size of the financial loss, 8 of the top 10 institutions are in London (London Higher).

We need Welfare reform

PRESS RELEASE

Date: 13th January 2007
Release date: Immediate
Subject: Gordon Henderson: “Welfare reform must be handled in a way that does not demonise those who are genuinely incapacitated.”

Local Tory Parliamentary Candidate, Gordon Henderson, says that he supports policies that are designed to reduce long-term welfare dependency, tackle long-term poverty and re-create stable families, but is urging that any reform is handled in a way that does not demonise those people who are genuinely incapacitated.

The policy ideas entitled “Work for Welfare” were launched recently by Conservative leader, David Cameron. They aim to help people find fulfilling jobs, while continuing to support those who genuinely cannot work. Currently across Sittingbourne & Sheppey, there are 4170 people on Incapacity Benefit and 1480 on Jobseeker’s Allowance. Under the new Conservative proposals:

· Respect for those who cannot work: Recipients of Incapacity Benefit who really cannot work will receive continued support and will remain outside the return-to-work process.

· Employment for those who can: Every out-of-work benefit claimant will be expected to work or prepare for work. There will be a comprehensive programme of support for job seekers including training, development and work experience. Welfare-to-work services will be provided by the private and voluntary sectors on a payment by results basis.

· Assessments for those claiming benefits: There will be rapid assessments of all new and existing claimants for out-of-work benefits.

· Limits to claiming out of work benefits: People who refuse to join a return-to-work programme will lose the right to claim out-of-work benefits until they do. People who refuse to accept reasonable job offers could lose the right to claim out-of-work benefits.

· Community work: Those who claim for more than two years out of three will be required to help out on community work programmes.

· End Tax Credit discrimination. The savings from these reforms will be used to end the discrimination against couples in the Tax Credits system.

Mr Henderson said:
‘We need real welfare reform that will help reverse the disastrous rise in family breakdown and tackle the persistent and often hidden poverty that shames our nation.

‘The current welfare system is simply not working. Higher numbers of Incapacity Benefit claimants and youth unemployment that is far too high, shows that the policies of the last ten years have failed. It’s time for change.

‘Rather than Whitehall taking responsibility away from people and making them dependent, we need to help people across Sittingbourne & Sheppey take responsibility for themselves and achieve success and independence.

‘However, any welfare reform must be handled in a way that does not demonise those who are genuinely incapacitated and those who find themselves unemployed through no fault of their own.’

Notes to Editors

The full ‘Green Paper’ entitled ‘Work for Welfare’was launched on 8 January and can be found at: http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=news.story.page&obj_id=141498
BRITAIN’S FAILING WELFARE SYSTEM

· Failing New Deal: This Government treats people like statistics rather than human beings. Its ‘New Deal’ takes a prescriptive, central government approach, and has cost the taxpayer more than £3 billion. Yet is has become a revolving door back on to benefits: nearly 50 per cent of young job seekers who have left the New Deal for Young People end up back on benefits within a year (Hansard, 10 July 2006, col. 1599W).

· Millions left behind: Whitehall Ministers have no plans to help over 2 million people already claiming Incapacity Benefit. Under Labour, someone on Incapacity Benefit for more than 2 years is more likely to die or retire than get a job (Department of Work and Pensions Press Release, 15 March 2007).

· 4 out of 5 new jobs go to migrant workers: The Government boasts about the millions of new jobs it has ‘created’. But a simple, devastating fact is now clear from all the official statistics: as many as 80 per cent of new jobs created in the past ten years have gone to migrant workers despite having 4.8 million people on out of work benefits (Statistics Commission, Briefing Note – Foreign Workers, December 2007; DWP, Quarterly Statistical Summary, November2007).

· More broken homes than almost anywhere in Europe: The UK has by far the highest proportion of lone parents in Europe, and one of the highest rates of family breakdown in Europe (Social Justice Policy Group, Breakdown Britain, 26 March 2007). Yet we have a couple penalty in the benefits system making families better off if they split up.

LOCAL FIGURES

The table below shows the number of Incapacity Benefit and Job Seekers Allowance claimants in each Parliamentary constituency in Kent, as of May 2007.

Sources: Deparment for Work & Pensions datasets
http://83.244.183.180/100pc/ibsda/ccparlc/ccgor/ccclient/a_carate_r_ccparlc_c_ccgor_p_ccclient_working_age_may07.html
http://83.244.183.180/100pc/jsa/ccparlc/ccgor/a_carate_r_ccparlc_c_ccgor_may07.html

Parliamentary Constituency
Government Region
IB Claimants
JSA Claimants
Great Britain
-
2,643,290
837,460




Ashford
South East
3,350
980
Canterbury
South East
3,500
920
Chatham and Aylesford
South East
3,160
1,330
Dartford
South East
2,890
950
Dover
South East
4,150
1,300
Faversham and Mid Kent
South East
2,790
760
Folkestone and Hythe
South East
4,420
1,670
Gillingham
South East
3,190
1,290
Gravesham
South East
3,460
1,490
Maidstone and The Weald
South East
2,770
790
Medway
South East
3,410
1,480
North Thanet
South East
4,980
1,680
Sevenoaks
South East
1,990
460
Sittingbourne and Sheppey
South East
4,170
1,480
South Thanet
South East
3,780
1,160
Tonbridge and Malling
South East
2,090
540
Tunbridge Wells
South East
2,350
570

ENDS

"I WON'T" to gay weddings

Registrar says 'I won't' to gay weddings and sues council over ceremonies which offend her religious beliefs" article in Mail on Sunday



When this law came out the Government said it was NOT a marriage ceremony it was a CIVIL partnership to help to protect those who wish to live together legal rights. Yet two sisters or two brothers or come to that two Hetro Sexual Friends can not have a CIVIL Partnership to protect them only Homosexuals and Lesbians are allowed a CIVIL partnership that seems some what discriminating!

Surely being a Christian is to help your fellow human being but it is also about condemning and avoiding sin, so logically this Christian Registrar can not condone or promote a sinful act. Whether you like it or not most People believe the Homosexual act is sinful. Should a Council or Government promote Sinful activities?

MEANS TESTING FOR MS IS A DISGRACE

A friend of mines wife has very bad MS so much so she can not walk, he will most probably have to finish work to become her carer. So as some one who has worked since he left school 35 years ago he has paid his National Insurance and taxes with out fail with little or no complaint. His wife needs a lift for the bedroom, invalid toilet and shower facilities, now as someone who paid into an insurance scheme all his life you would think he and his wife would be entitled to this free of charge? OH NO he is means tested this is where they have a look how much money he has in the bank, what property he earns and then they decide how much help he will get. In his case very little he has estimated he will have to get an extra mortgage £300 per month on what he is now paying to cover the extra facilities couple this with the fact that when he has to quit his job his income will fall by 50% his future is not very rosy. Now compare his plight with someone who may live a few streets away in a similar position, this family only worked intermittently over the last 40 years, when then they did have money they spent it on fags, booze, drugs and expensive holidays, they always rented. Now thy have nothing and everything is given to them free, even their rent and council tax is paid for. So my friend has been frugal with his money and saved for a rainy day and this how our government reward him, if he was paying into a Private Insurance scheme would they be allowed to pick and choose who it had to pay out on. Imagine the following “Sorry Mr Smith you have paid tens of thousands of pounds into our insurance but because you earn to much money we will not pay out, instead your money will go to the share holders” If that happened there would be a national outcry yet every day this government Insurance scheme uses MEANS TESTING.

On top of all this it takes months and months for anything to be done, like hospitals if you keep the ill and the elderly waiting long enough they will die and not cost the government a penny. WHAT A COUNTRY


Martin Clarke Sittingbourne

Female Bouncer sues Gay Night Club

This is aprt of an article that appeared in the Daily Mail find below the comment I added on line.

A female bouncer at a gay nightclub was yesterday awarded £6,000 damages in a landmark case after claiming she was bullied by her boss for being heterosexual.
Sharon Legg, a married motherof-four, fought her case under legislation brought in to protect gay, lesbian and bisexual workers from discrimination.
The 33-year-old is believed to be the first heterosexual to sue for harassment under the 2003 law.

At long last the Worm has turned. For to long Homosexuals and lesbians have been given favourable rights above normal people. It is a strange world where a human being who wishes to perform its natural rights i.e. reproduce is ridiculed and insulted. I refer to the term Breeder which is used by the Homosexual community to insult Normal Sexed people. Without us BREEDERS Homosexual would not exist

£290 Million on Consultants

Everything in this country is falling apart at the sleeves because of lack of money, yet a government department can spend £290 million on Consultants? Read On


PRESS RELEASE

Date: 2nd January 2008
Release date: Immediate
Subject: DEFRA consultants flourish while flood defences are neglected.

SCAP Director, Gordon Henderson, has revealed figures showing that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) spent a massive £290 million on consultants last year, but are planning to slash £270 million from programmes dealing with climate change and the natural environment.

A total of £1.1 billion of DEFRA money has been handed out to advisors since 2002, which is three times the amount the Environment Agency spent on building flood defences last year.

Mr Henderson said:

‘This news comes at a time when the Environment Agency is proposing that over the next century large swathes of our local environment will be allowed to become submerged by water, losing hundreds of acres of arable land.

‘The Medway Estuary and Swale Shoreline Management Plan recommended that almost the whole length of Sheppey’s southern shoreline and much of Sittingbourne’s northern coastline be categorised, in the long term, as “Managed realignment” areas, which in simple terms means that existing flood defences would be allowed to collapse and new ones built further inland.

‘I said at the time of the Plan’s review that the sensible thing to do would be to improve the existing sea defences, however, I was told that this would not be economically viable.

‘Which is why news that DEFRA has wasted so much money on consultants, rather than providing the Environment Agency with funds to better protect our shoreline; is simply adding insult to injury.’
….ends….

Note to Editors:
There are four categories of shoreline protection:-

1) Hold the line, which maintains the existing defence line.
2) Advance the line, which builds new defences seaward of the existing defence line.
3) Managed realignment, which allows the shoreline to change with management to control or limit movement.
4) No active intervention, which means that nothing is done to stop land erosion.

I have been Conned by BH Systems

Yes I am sorry to say I have been conned by BH Systems Ltd / Inest.co.uk. I went on to the internet to purchase a Digital Tv Recorder with Twin Freeveiw Tuners at £66.98 I thought I had a bargain. What arrived was Grundig Twin Anoloque Tuner, in a dirty beaten up box with no instructions. This company do not answer there telephone, email or fax so it seems i am stuck with this applainces. It seems I am not the only one to be conned if you go to http://www.unbeatable.co.uk/retailerreviews.asp?id=314577&pid you will see how many others have suffered . So beware

Brilliant Poles Lazy English

Here we go again Employers telling us how lazy and incompetent we British are and how marvellous the Poles are, that to me translate to GOOD , ANOTHER SOURCE OF CHEAP LABOUR. These economic immigrants have taken ½ million jobs from British Workers (reported recently) and why because they under cut our work force and are prepared to work ridiculously long hours.
Yet in Poland reports are coming in that people queue at shops because there is no one to serve them, tradesman (if you can call them that) are an endangered species. Everyone realises that Poland has just come out of Communism but if the people of Britain had not worked after the last war to rebuild our nation where would be now. I suggest that all Poles return home and rebuild their beautiful neglected country and stop being used by that Greedy Nose in the Trough employers who are using you, the same employers who pushing low paid British Nationals into poverty.
I was recently told a Large Fruit Farmer inn my area was getting fed up with his Polish workers because they want the same money and conditions of work as British Subjects, plus they want managerial positions. So our Farmer is now looking for cheaper labour maybe the Albanians? After they want parity he can go on to local children I expect they would be even cheaper.

The latest from this farm was the polish fruit Picker who wanted job as a lorry driver, the Farmer said if he can get a license he would have a job obviously at a much lower wage. The Pole went home to Poland for a week he returned with a license to drive any lorry of any size and weight

Give Criminals A break

PRESS RELEASE
Gordon Henderson
Date: 16th December 2007
Release date: Immediate
Subject: Labour giving criminals a break – as they walk free from local prisons.

New analysis of Government statistics has revealed that 1233 criminals have been let out of prison before finishing their sentences across the South East of England since June, under Labour’s controversial new early release scheme. This figure includes 117 prisoners who have been let out early from Elmley and 190 from Stanford Hill.

Across the country, 11,000 criminals have already walked out of prison early under the ‘end of custody licence’ system, with an estimated 25,500 criminals to be let out over a full year. They include violent offenders and foreign nationals convicted of serious offences. The scheme was introduced because a shortage in prison places, thanks to a funding crisis caused by Gordon Brown.

Labour Ministers are now planning a new sentencing quango, which would, for the first time, link sentences to prison capacity, so that when jails are full, criminals could receive shorter sentences or not be sent to prison at all.

Gordon Henderson said:
‘By definition, being sent to prison means someone has committed a serious offence. Yet Labour is giving criminals a break, by setting them free early, some of whom will re-offend almost immediately.

‘Serious crimes should be punished by a prison sentence, not least to protect the public. It is no wonder that violent crime has doubled under this Government when Gordon Brown is giving the culprits a “get out of jail” card this Christmas. This is fundamentally wrong. Sentences should fit the crime, not this week’s prison capacity.’

Conservatives are calling for:
· An immediate halt to the early release scheme, and the introduction of an emergency prison places programme using the savings from scrapping the flawed Identity Card scheme.

· Doubling the sentencing powers of magistrates to 12 months and repealing any new restrictions on their ability to hand down suspended sentences.

· Honesty in sentencing so that convicted criminals serve the minimum sentence handed down to them by the courts.

· Sufficient prison capacity to hold all those sentenced by the courts – and reforming prison regimes to break the cycle of re-offending.

Notes to Editors

LABOUR Giving criminals a break

The Government is trying to deal with the continuing shortfall in prison places by watering down sentences and attempting to restrict the ability of courts to send offenders to prison.

· The Criminal Justice & Immigration Bill, currently before the House of Commons, ends magistrates’ powers to impose a suspended sentence, and limits the period served in custody by offenders who breach their licence conditions to just 28 days.

· The Government plans to restrict the use of its flagship Indeterminate Sentences for Public Protection Sentence for Public Protection (IPP). There will be a minimum tariff of two years below which Judges will no longer be able be impose an IPP. This would affect half the cases in which IPPs are currently imposed for threats to kill, arson, sexual assault, sexual activity with a child, and most cases of sexual assault on a child under 13. The whole point of these sentences was to protect the public, ensuring that offenders could not be released until they were judged no longer to be a threat. Now they will be released automatically.

· A new Sentencing Commission will, for the first time, link sentences to resources, so that when jails are full, criminals could receive shorter sentences or not be sent to prison at all.

· It appears that the End of Custody Licence scheme, under which 11,000 offenders have already been released from jail 18 days early, will now continue indefinitely – even though it was meant to be a temporary measure. The Government expects to release 25,500 offenders early in a single year.

LOCAL FIGURES

The Government has published figures showing the number of criminals that have been let out of prison early, under the Government’s early release scheme. The figures below show the number let out from June to October.

Source: Ministry of Justice, End of Custody Licence Statistics, December 2007.
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/endofcustodylicence.htm

Kent Police Spend money on Newsletter

I have just received very well produced and expensive booklet entitled “Policing Kent” which features smiling Police Officers, information on Police Station Opening Times (yes Police Station have shop opening hours, because most crimes happen in those hours?)how well the Police are doing their job and of course we all know that GB and Kent is a very safe place in the World to live!!!!. There is a special telephone line for Homophobic crime and one for racial crime, presumably if a crime is committed against these two groups of people it is more serious then if a crime is committed against the rest of us?
With regard to the new PCSO I was under the impression that this was Policing on the cheap but I am told this not the case, according to a PCSO web site in the West Midlands their wages are £19,000 per annum compared with a new PC at £21,000 so it just a saving of £2,000 so why not train these people up to be proper Police Officer? Once again I have got it wrong I am told that Kent have their quota of Police Officers as they have to keep within their budget OK but where does the money come for the PCSO’s.? Listening to PCSO’s on various chat shows most want to become Police Officers and find being a PCSO is a way in through the back door.
The public are continually being told that the Police do not have the resources yet they can spend tens of thousands of pounds on a glossy magazine, the British Public have lost all faith in the Police and the Judicial system in this country what we want is better policing, the capture of criminals who are put away for some considerable time. I recently had a motor cycle stolen I reported the crime and was given my crime number, I then had a follow up call giving me the number of victims support and then was asked if I would help with a survey. Yet what I wanted was a Police Officer to come and see me and make some effort to catch the little toe rags who nicked my bike, needless to say I never saw a Police Officer mind you I should have told them I was an ethnic homosexual I most probably I would have a dozen round.
To finalise I would like to ask the Chief Constable through your newspaper whether the following is true That before investigating any crime Police Officer have to make a RISK ASSESMENT before they respond to the crime and if the risk is to great they do not respond? Hopefully this is one of those silly rumours. Can you imagine the scenario if this is true> An emergency call comes in that a big fight has started in the Town Centre, the Police then quickly have a meeting to work out a Risk Assessment. For this they will need a detailed map of the area, looking out for obstacles which could cause them injuries i.e. steps, wet pavements, lampposts, cars, etc they then have to evaluate how many personnel are needed for the incident, for this they must consultant the various guideline which are laid down by Senior Officers finally they then must write out a report which each officers must sign ¾ hour later they have left for the incident which has now finished but they make themselves available to the ambulance personnel who picking up the injured. Alternatively they say NO to the call as they do not have enough Officers to meet the Risk Assessment Guidelines.

Martin Clarke Sittingbourne Kent

RAIL FARES GO THROUGH THE ROOF

2008 PRICE HIKES FROM 7.75% to 11.75%

GRAVESEND TO ST PANCRAS FARE ADDITIONAL CHARGE OF 30%

70-90 PASSENGERS PER CARRIAGE FROM 2009

INCREASED JOURNEY TIMES FOR CANNON ST / VICTORIA
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SIGNED BOTH PETITIONS:

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/northkenttrains/
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/KeepCannonSt/

29 November 2007

Thanks to all you commuters who have given your overwhelming support to our campaign. We have had a great response from our fellow passengers, and interest from local press and councillors. We have contacted Southeastern in search of accurate information for you, and will be contacting the unions as well.

As mentioned in our last newsletter (App. 1: Mike Gibson's letter), the specifications on which the franchise was put out to tender are being reviewed. Sadly this doesn't mean we will be renationalised, but it does mean a review of the 2009 timetable - so now is the time to make your voice heard. Get everyone you can to support our petitions (please sign both!). Also write to Southeastern (mike.gibson@southeasternrailway.co.uk), your local MP (addresses below, as before), councillors and the local press.

Ask the following questions which we all, as fare paying passengers and tax paying citizens, want answered:
What is the frequency of commuter trains to Cannon Street and Victoria FROM 2009 (number and exact times)?
Southeastern declared for December 2009 (no mention of what happens going forward) 4 per peak period to Cannon St (2 from Faversham and 2 from Broadstairs) and 6 per peak period to Victoria.

What is the number of first and second class passengers per service compared to number of first and second class seats that will be provided?
Southeastern are proposing to have at least 90 passengers per carriage per train on the Cannon Street service and 70 on Victoria trains - and this is if each train has 12 carriages.

How many additional stops will each train make?
Southeastern admit to at least two, but we have been told it will be Longfield, Meopham and Swanley.

What is the proposed increase to current journey times for Victoria and Cannon St? Southeastern admit journey times "do take a bit longer" - probably long enough to force us all onto the St Pancras service.

Exactly what are the proposed fare increases for 2008 - 2011 per year, not the average, but the exact figure?
See table below for 2008 proposals - 7.81-11.75%!!. Southeastern call it fare increases, but in our view these are tantamount to theft. Our mate Purple Mike at Southeastern completely ignored my question on fares. We know it will be "an average of inflation plus 3%", however 11.75% for some stations is currently under that neat little umbrella! We believe Southeastern to be 'abusing its position of dominance', which is strictly prohibited under the Competition Act 1988 (the Chapter II, Prohibition).

Kent is desperately trying to attract more London workers - how will it do this with overcrowded trains, year on year double figure price rises and an ever slower commute?
Mike Gibson, (aka Purple Mike) Southeastern's Public Affairs Manager, emailed me on 9 November and said Southeastern do not want "misleading information being circulated amongst out passengers" (sic), but then proceeded to provide me with information which I very much believe to be misleading, and refused to answer some questions. See italicised information above for the main points in his e-mail. Also I am quite concerned that the information was "for 2009" - which does seem something of a play on words, is it only for December 09, will even this paltry service be phased out beyond that date?

Purple Mike finished his letter with the statement "I quite understand your wish for improved rail services and this is a goal we both share, however, I am sure you would want rail users to have the facts." I most certainly do want passengers to have the facts, and when he provides the answers to the questions I asked, rather than the answers he deigns to give, I will circulate them instantly. Our team will keep on asking until we get the answers.

We need your help - sign the petition, write to Southeastern and to your MP.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT, FUNDED BY PUBLIC SUBSIDIES.
THE INFORMATION SHOULD BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN

Just in case you are dithering over whether it is worth making the effort, you should be aware that from December 2009 you will very likely need a travelcard to get from Stratford / St Pancras to your destination. If price hikes are similar to 2008's increase (and prior years' hikes do suggest a pattern of ever increasing rises) the true rise from a "London Terminals season ticket" to a Travelcard will be 26%. The proposed addition, we understand, for the Gravesend to St Pancras leg of the journey is 30%.

Bank refuses to honour Cheque Card

PRESS RELEASE

Date: 22nd November 2007
Release date: Immediate
Subject: Gordon Henderson calls for truth over data disc scandal

LOCAL Tory Parliamentary Candidate, Gordon Henderson, has called on the Government to tell the truth about the loss of two computer discs containing the private and personal details, including bank account details, of thousands of local people who claim benefits.

The discs were sent by unrecorded post from the Tyneside office of HM Revenue and Customs to the National Audit Office in London.

Gordon said:

‘This scandalous and incompetent act will have left many local people concerned about having their identities stolen and their bank accounts accessed.

‘It’s all very well the Government saying that people have nothing to fear, because bank accounts are covered by the Banking Code, but sometimes that code is worthless. For instance I know of shops that have had cheques bounce despite being supported by a bank guarantee card.

‘The banks refused to honour the cheques using the argument that although the signature on the cheque was identical to that on the bank card, both signatures were different to the signature held by the bank. When it was pointed out that the shops didn’t have access to the correct signature, so wouldn’t know that both were forgeries, the banks brushed this logic aside and still refused to pay up! How do we know some banks won’t use a similar get out clause on this occasion? How easy will it be for people to prove that they have been caught up in this scandal?

‘More to the point, how on earth can we trust the reassurances of a Government that refuses to tell the truth about this fiasco? On Tuesday the Chancellor told the House of Commons that the delay in announcing the lost discs was so that banks could put in place security procedures. Now the banks are saying that they did not ask for a delay, indeed, it now transpires that the banks only found out about the loss last Friday and were given until Monday to sort it out. That doesn’t fill me with confidence that the accounts of local people will be properly protected if those discs fall into the wrong hands.

‘We now know that two more discs were lost in the post a few weeks ago. Those discs contained National Insurance numbers. The Government needs to tell the truth about exactly how many people are affected by the loss of those discs.’
….ends….

PC Update

Dear Supporter

A few things PC...and details of Lord Tebbit's important speech on Political Correctness...

PC...

1. A mother in Derbyshire received a letter from her daughter's school telling her to retract her "racist" comments for telling a little girl not to chew on a dark-skinned doll as it was dirty - it had been dropped on the floor and was covered in mud!

2. Veterans were banned from selling poppies in a WH Smith in Bristol by the manager - thankfully this decision was later overturned by senior managers.

3. The Mayor in Chepstow asked soldiers of the Rifles regiment to lay down their guns before marching in the Remembrance Day Parade. Angry veterans said this was ridiculous and the President of the local British Legion said, "The regiment is called the Rifles and rifles are an important part of their uniform....it's like asking the tank regiment to march past on parade without their tanks."

4. Bluewater Shopping Centre has apparently ordered their santas to slim down because they say "Santa Claus is a role model to thousands of children" and that he should be a "responsible icon".

A bit better...

1. The Chief Executive of the Royal Society of the Prevention of Accidents said "small-minded bureaucrats" were undermining genuine advances in health and safety in their attempts to wrap children up in cotton wool. He went on to say, "We need to prepare our children for a complex, dangerous world in which healthy robust activity is more a national need than ever before".

2. Sir Norman Bettison, the head of West Yorkshire Police, said the "elevated and authoritative status" of health and safety often resulted in it being easier for the police to do nothing in a crisis. He also said, "The armchair perfection of the health and safety Taliban is intent on creating doubt where there was once certainty."

And finally...

Norman Tebbit has kindly agreed to speak to our meeting next Tuesday (20th November 2007) at The Strand Palace Hotel on The Strand (surprise surprise!). This should be a great meeting as many politicians shy away from taking on the subject of Political Correctness - which makes it all the more refreshing when they do. This will be a very important occasion in the battle against PC! A flyer with further details should be attached or you can find out more on the following link:

http://www.capc.co.uk/lord_tebbit_event.htm

The price of £45 includes your free copy of the Second PC Scrapbook worth £8.99 (as soon as it is published) and unlimited wine! If you have a group who want to go please get in touch with us and we will see if we can give you a group discount.

Please keep sending us your examples of Political Correctness at any time - the more information we have the better!

Cheers.

Yours sincerely


Laura Midgley
Co-Founder of the Campaign Against Political Correctness
www.capc.co.uk
"The Second Politically Correct Scrapbook" out soon - pre-order your copy now!!Please click this link for further details - http://www.capc.co.uk/PC%20_Scrapbook_Main.htm