WE NEED GORDON HENDERSON

Last weeks political attacks on the good nature of our next MP Gordon Henderson was quite despicable, it was obvious that the letter attack was orchestrated by his political opponents to confuse people. So let’s correct some of the inaccurate information:

Liberal Democrat Peter Morgan insinuated that the clean up campaign was just a publicity stunt by Gordon, well as an ex politician Morgan should have checked his facts, because Gordon has been involved in this campaign for some years, for those on his mailing list will know as we have had to put up with his endless photographs depicting clean up events. So a cheap shot Mr Morgan I expect to see your apology next week or will there be another letter twisting the truth.

As for the row about pensioners working after retirement, where did Gordian state that it would be compulsory for pensioners to clean up streets? NO WHERE once again the twisting of the truth by his opponents mind you after 10 years Derek Wyatt’s labour Government we should be used to Labour people being economical with the truth.
Gordon suggested that pensioners should be encouraged to help with voluntary work and get paid if necessary is there anything wrong with that? The problem is that this government sends out different messages one they say we need young blood and dead wood has to make way for young shoots etc. then they tell us we should all work till we are 70. The complaints about pensions should be linked to this as it is under a Labour Government that pensions have disintegrated I have colleagues of mine who wanted to retire at 60 but have to carry on way past 65 because their pensions on which they spent thousands of pounds on have become worthless, several have said they would welcome the chance to earn a little extra money in their retirement plus help the community.

As for Derek Wyatt I did send in letter last week which I noticed was not printed (but can be seen at martinclarke.blogspot.com) I have taken out a paragraph which I reproduce here:

Mr. Wyatt spends most of his time trying to ridicule the Conservative and LibDems, while he should be trying to deal with issues like the Pension Crisis, Housing Crisis, Unemployment Crisis, Violent Crime Crisis, Price of Fuel Crisis, and Cost of food Crisis I could go on. Trying to score cheap political points is not worthy of any MP from any party. Mr. Wyatt and the Labour Government remind me of Nero watching the flames as Rome burnt, let hope the election comes soon before the UK becomes a third world country.

My advice to Gordon keep fighting for the people of Sittingbourne & Sheppey they desperately need a voice in Parliament not just a puppet


Martin Clarke Sittingbourme

Read this and tell me there is Justice

PLEASE SUPPORT ROBERT HUGHES CAMPAIGN
(PLEASE ENJOY DON'T DESTROY)
MALIA 2008


This is an email that i have sent to MP Hazel Blear and thought i would send to you all for your kind support. Thanks.

Dear Hazel.

I am Maggie Hughes the mother of Robert Hughes who was attacked in Malia on June 17Th 2008 while on holiday by 5 British thugs who smashed him repeatedly around the head with bottles and kicked him repeatedly in the head until he lay there bleeding from his ears and was left lifeless in the busy streets of Malia outside a nightclub to die.


He has had to undergo so far 3 life saving brain operations to help ease the pressure from squashing his stem in the brain and to save his life. Robert had to have half of his skull removed and was in a coma for nearly 4 weeks. We are now waiting for Robert to have his 4Th operation to place the left side of his skull put back into place to support his brain and we have been told that approximately 3 weeks later we maybe able to arrange for Robert to be airlifted back to a hospital in England to undergo further hospital treatment and care.


As a family we feel very lost and alone as we are still here in Greece nearly 10 weeks later and Robert still has a very long way to go and he has lost a lot of his memory and is very child like which is destroying us as a family to see the damage that has been done by these 5 cowardly British thugs who attacked my son in an unprovoked attack..

I nearly lost my son twice as we were told on 2 occasions that there was no hope for Robert and it was up to him to pull through. After the second operation Robert woke up in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) paralysed down the left side of his body and also was blind in one eye due to them fracturing my sons eye socket by breaking the eye bone and affecting the nerve near his eye.

As a mother and a family we have been through hell and back being in a foreign country not knowing the language and having to take in that my son that is a footballer, a football coach for children and a fitness instructor may never be able to do this ever again. All because 5 thugs wanted to play a game of football with my sons head and destroy him until he had nothing left.to live for.

Recently Hazel it has been brought to our family's attention that these thugs are on face book and there is evidence that we are being told that they have placed pictures of themselves taking the mickey out of my son and bragging about what damage that they have caused to my son and left a caption to say in code Is he not dead yet?.

I have not seen this yet myself but i am awaiting a copy to be sent to me via fax today which makes me feel disgusted that these people are actually human and have no remorse for what they have done.

The reason why i am writing to you as i have met you on many occasions through Usdaw my union and have listened to you on many occasions about the fear of violence and now as a mother and a family i am reaching out to you to help me promote my sons campaign and for you as a great MP to highlight our situation in the struggle that we are having to get through all the red tape that is making a barrier for not only my family but my son Robert.

We tried for weeks to get the British police involved it was due to perseverance and determination and the help of Interpol to make them sit up and notice that we badly need their help. Also Hazel i have contacted my local MP who is Tom Brake and i have spoken to a member of staff in his office who returned my friends call as i did not have any response after my attempt to contact failed due to them not phoning me back.

I am disgusted not only because of this but when i did speak to a colleague from Tom's office all he said to me was in a very firm voice "What is it that you think that Tom could do for you Mrs Hughes?.. I would of thought Hazel that he would of said 'This is what we could do for you Mrs Hughes as your local MP to support you and your family to help you with this terrible situation regarding your son Robert Hughes and this vicious attack on him?.

Hazel, I really need your help and advice on how to move my sons case forward in Greece and to bring these 5 English thugs to Justice over here to face punishment on where they committed the crime.

Hazel i have two very important things on my mind one is to bring my son Robert home with me and the second one is to sit on the other side of a court room opposite these cowards that have destroyed my sons life in Greece awaiting their sentence's.

Thank you for reading my email and i really look forward to receiving your support and other MP support very soon.

Yours Sincerely


Maggie Hughes

(Mobile No: 07961 700 815)

P.S. To read more on the story and to see some pictures of Robert please visit GOOGLE and type in Rob Hughes in Crete in search icon. Also look on London tonight on the 7th August 2008 it will show a video footage of Robert and also on GMTV. Thanks



PLEASE SUPPORT ROBERT HUGHES CAMPAIGN
(PLEASE ENJOY DON'T DESTROY)
MALIA 2008


Since sending this letter i have been told yet again by the British police that they cannot help my son nor my family in this matter i now believe that its because the senior officers in the mps department cant be bothered due to financial reasons

What happened to my sons human rights and a duty of care to us as British subjects and the fact the the Greek police would look at my son case in a different way if the saw our English police getting involved.

I now have lost all faith in British justice and believe its about a budget not human rights that counts now days.
Please could you also support us to get the British police to look in to this and to do the job and investigate this crime

Thanks.
.
Mrs Maggie Hughes .The Mother of Robert Hughes.

Please pass this email on thank you.

Club Not Gang

JOIN A CLUB NOT A GANG

I, like many people, enjoyed the Olympic Games it was interesting to watch many different Sports. Although some were not as interesting as others and I am sad to say my own Sport of Judo was one of them, as someone who has been involved in Judo for 53 years and as an Olympic Reserve for the 1980 Olympics, I had a job understanding what was happening so I dread to think what the public thought of it? As for Tae Kwon Do a Martial Art which involved all aspects of striking reduced to just Kicking very disappointing. It was also disappointing that the BBC did not give some coverage to other sports which are not so popular in the UK such as Free Style Wrestling and Greco Roman Wrestling the latter being in the ancient Olympics’.

The great thing was seeing so many Olympic medals for Great Britain this was due to millions of pounds being injected into Elite Sports people most which came from the Lottery. John Major the last Conservative Prime Minister has been congratulated by everyone for starting up the Lottery and listening to him on radio he said that Sport has a harmonising effect on the Country, he also said that Lottery money was as important to Grass roots Sports as well as Elite Sport but the most poignant quote was when he said “Sport encourages youngsters to join a Club not a Gang” I hope that will become a slogan for years to come. The Olympics has been a massive success for Team GB but the real success will be when we increase the number of people who participate in Sport for according to the British Olympic Association sports participation in GB has decreased by 20%. Remember Sport is not just for the young and elite but for everyone.

With the Olympics now open to professionals it does have a different dimension in success with medals up to 10 years or so ago to compete in the Olympics you had to be a total amateur, as reserve for Judo in the 1980 Moscow Olympics I can remember receiving money from a small group of club members who had organised a sponsored walk on behalf, I was told by governing body if I accepted the money I would jeopardise my amateur status and would not be considered for Olympic selection. My club held the money and would buy me equipment when needed. Most Olympic hopefuls would have to work, support a family and train about 5 hours a day, so for British Sportsman winning an Olympic medal was a win against all the odds and adversities.
Yet it the USA and Soviet Union would be professional in all but name the USA would have their athletes at College and the USSR athletes would be in the Military so the times had to change if we were to have an equal playing field but I wish it had come earlier as if I could have stopped on for another 4 years I may have come back an Olympic medallist. While on the subject of a fair playing field an article appeared in one of the National newspapers stating that when the Olympics were amateur it was fairer now with £Billions being poured into sport athletes from poor countries will be left out in the cold.

Martin Clarke Sittingbourne

STIFF UPPER LIP

ENGLISH RESERVE

Can some one tell where that English Reserve has disappeared to? Programmes like X Factor and Has Britain Got Talent has encouraged demonstratively over the top theatrerical behaviour, with contestants coming out screaming, crying, jumping up and down after just being selected to go to round 2. Then we have the interview where they try and convince the audience that they only entered because their Dad died or Mum has cancer or they were bullied at school or they sexually abused or they are homosexual or they so on and so on, their stories may be true, the English way used to be keep your composure but the true reason they are doing it is for themselves.
After watching the Olympics I notice this is creeping into Sport, have you noticed the histrionics after they win a match, race etc maybe a punch in the air that can be relief the game is over as well as a victory signal but that should be it. The most ridiculous was the our silver medallist High Jumper who every time he jumped cupped his hand behind his ear and rotated his arm so he could get the audience baying something akin to Hulk Hogan in Pro Wrestling, why? Or the Judo Player who done a backward somersault after winning Gold why? Their performance proved they were top class athletes.
I was always told to be Magnanimous and courteous in Victory, realising the disappointment of those defeated.
My opinion is a lot of this OTT behaviour is to attract the attention of the media so they stand out, the more publicity the better. How else could you explain the entry of Paula Radcliffe in the Olympics? Before the race she told the World she was not up to it and remember her entry stopped another British Girl competing “Shame on her” and who paid for her travel, accommodation etc Yes the British Tax Payer for some one who the press claim is a millionaire from her sport (something that take some believing) After all I have said the Olympians have achieved something and maybe they deserve media attention rather then the tacky celebrities which are featured. Those who really behave with dignity, Honour and stiff upper lip were the Rowers, Canoeist and cycling team, let hope our younger generation try to emulate these hero’s rather then the Druggy, alcoholic, self obsessed celebrities from the entertainment world

Martin Clarke Sittingbourne

WYATT & RACISM

I was recently reading Derek Wyatt’s MP web site in particular an article which accuses Gordon Henderson the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate of being racist, as some one who knows Gordon I checked out what he said. It seems Gordon wants to buy a house in Goa India but laws there restrict him from doing so it seems that Indian law denies foreigners the right to buy property unless they are Indian or of Indian extraction, he went on to comment if this happened in this country there would be uproar. Now according to Mr. Wyatt this is Racism RUBBISH, what is racism is when the under Mr. Wyatt term in office the interest of legal and illegal immigrants have been put before the welfare of the indigenous population i.e. the British people and I include our friends from the commonwealth.

Mr. Wyatt spends most of his time trying to ridicule the Conservative and LibDems, while he should be trying to deal with issues like the Pension Crisis, Housing Crisis, Unemployment Crisis, Violent Crime Crisis, Price of Fuel Crisis, and Cost of food Crisis I could go on. Trying to score cheap political points is not worthy of any MP from any party. Mr. Wyatt and the Labour Government remind me of Nero watching the flames as Rome burnt, let hope the election comes soon before the UK becomes a third world country.

Immigrants, Not Brits, Must adapt

Story in a National Newspaper
Will we still be the Country of choice and still be Gt Britain if we continue to make the changes forced on us by the people from other countries that came to live in Britain because it is the Country of Choice?????? Think about it . . All I have to say is, when will they do something about MY RIGHTS? I celebrate Christmas, but because it isn't celebrated by everyone, we can no longer say Merry Christmas. Now it has to be Season's Greetings. It's not Christmas holiday, it's Winter Break. Isn't it amazing how this winter break ALWAYS occurs over the Christmas holiday? We've gone so far the other way, bent over backwards to not offend anyone, that I am now being offended. But it seems that no one has a problem with that. This says it all!

This is an editorial written by a British citizen, published in a National newspaper He did quite a job, didn't he? Read on, please!IMMIGRANTS, NOT BRITS, MUST ADAPT.I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on the 07/07 we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Brits. However, the disgust about the attacks had barely settled when the 'politically correct! ' crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others. I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to Britain, Our population is almost entirely made up of descendants of immigrants. (The Danes, Romans etc.) 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 the Brits being a multicultural communityhas served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Britain's we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle. This culture has been developed over centuries of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom. We speak ENGLISH, not Indian, Urdu, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, learn the language!'Land of Hope & Glory' is our 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 I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.If the 'Union Jack' flag offends you, or you don't like our QUEEN, 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 isOUR COUNTRY, our land, and our lifestyle. Our Laws give every citizen the right to express his opinion and we will allow you every opportunity to do so!But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about our flag, our lifestyle our government, or our way of life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great BRITISH freedom, THE RIGHT TO LEAVE.It is Time for Gt. Britain to Speak up If you agree -- pass this along;if you don't agree -- delete it! anon..AMENI think if we all keep passing this to our friends (and enemies) it will also, sooner or laterget back to the complainers, lets all try,please

IRISH MUST VOTE AGAIN

Open Europe

Europe

Jean Quatremer: Open Europe poll won't change minds of EU governments - they want the Irish to vote again
Under the headline "24 to 1" Liberation Brussels correspondent Jean Quatremer argues on his blog that "the recent poll showing that 71% of Irish people are opposed to a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty has not had much impact in European capitals, since the wording of the question indicated that the vote would be on the same text. There is no question of that: either the Irish will be asked to adopt the Lisbon Treaty with ad hoc declarations responding to their concerns (like in 2002 for Nice), or they will be asked if they want to continue to be part of a Union that is governed by the Lisbon Treaty... This second possibility would clarify things: either you stay or you go, but you do not block Europe as a whole."

Italy has now ratified the Treaty, welcomed with a standing ovation in the Chamber of Deputies in Rome. Meanwhile, three countries have yet to decide on the treaty: the Czech Republic, which is waiting on a judgement by its constitutional court; Sweden, whose parliament will vote in November; and Poland, whose president has said he intends to wait until the Treaty's fate is certain before giving his assent.

David Quinn argues in the Irish Independent: "Here is why the Lisbon Treaty referendum was lost -- and if the Government does not address this, the next one will likely be lost as well: people are worried about the loss of sovereignty and national identity... the European Court of Justice, an institution of the EU, will gain immeasurably more power over Irish law if the Lisbon treaty and the accompanying Charter of Fundamental Rights is ever passed... We have to wake up to the fact that the more power we cede to judges, lawyers and other experts, whether they are based in Ireland or overseas, the less democratic we become. The heart of democracy in any country has to be the national legislature with its elected representatives, not the courts and the law library."
Coulisses de Bruxelles AFP European Voice BBC NZZ Irish Independent Quinn Irish Times Open Europe blog

UK faces looming electricity supply gap - families face £4,000 bill for renewables
A new report commissioned by the WWF and Greenpeace attacks plans to build new coal plants in response to Britain's looming electricity supply gap, predicted to reach 20GW by 2020. The report argues that if the UK meets its EU targets of sourcing 15% of energy from renewables (translating to 35-40% of electricity), together with a 20% improvement in energy efficiency, new coal plants will not be needed.

However, the FT notes that keeping the lights on without increased use of fossil fuels may not be possible if the UK fails to meet the EU targets - which all sides agree will be a struggle. Paul Golby noted in the Guardian yesterday that the necessary investment in renewables would cost the equivalent of £4,000 for every household in the country.

In the Guardian Simon Lewis, a Royal Society research fellow at the Earth & Biosphere Institute, University of Leeds, argues that E.on's use of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme "won't deliver real cuts, as its own business case shows".
FT BBC Guardian Golby Guardian Lewis

Commentators analyze the failure of the Doha round
Following the failure of the Doha round of world trade talks, fingers have been pointed as to who is to blame for the breakdown. Open Europe's Mats Persson had an op-ed in Swedish daily Sydsvenska Dagbladet, arguing that the global food crisis illustrates the need for freeing up trade in agricultural products and that the EU must bear part of the blame for the break down of the Doha talks.

Philip Stephens argues in the FT that "the French president's language betrays temerity. In spite of all its manifest strengths - economic, technological, cultural, political - France, it seems, cannot stand on its own feet. Europe's leaders must protect the continent from the ravages of globalisation...The collapse of Doha, however, speaks to the failure of both sides to own up to the world as it is. On the side of the rich countries, particularly the US but no less many European nations, there is a refusal to acknowledge that globalisation no longer belongs to the west."
Economist FT Stephens Independent Hari Sydsvenskan

City fears "reactionary legislation" from the EU will exacerbate the downturn
The FT reports on the hostile reaction from the City of London, and the banking sector in general, to the European Commission's proposed increase in regulation. "Proposed changes could greatly increase the cost of capital across Europe with detrimental effects far beyond the financial services industry", said Stuart Fraser, chairman of policy and resources at the City of London, which will today publish its forecasts. These forecasts are expected to predict the sector's contribution to the EU economy by 2009 will have fallen by 8.3 per cent from the 225bn euros ($350bn, £177bn) of last year. Fraser goes on to say: "The message we're trying to get across is that it's a very difficult environment for financial services. What we don't need is regulation that will exacerbate the downturn".

Fraser also has a comment piece in the FT where he compares Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy's approach to the current problems in financial markets as using the "proverbial sledgehammer to crack a walnut".
FT FT Fraser

Russia plans to form a Gazprom-style state trading company for grain exports, raising fears that Moscow will use food as a diplomatic weapon, according to the front page of the FT.
FT

Scottish sheep farmers fear that Commission plans to review existing transport legislation could pose a threat to their livelihood. The changes would cut driving times, restricting access to the Isle of Skye and adversely affect their sheep trade.
The Scotsman

Independent assesses the Conservatives in Europe
As part of the Independent's series, 'Preparing for Power', the paper has assesses the role Europe will play in a future Conservative government. The article notes that Europe is no longer the divisive issue it once was for the party. However, it argues that in opposition the party has not had to make the tough policy choices over Europe that it will have to face in government and implies that it will be difficult to live up to the expectations of the party's eurosceptics while in power.

The article argues that major problems for David Cameron over Europe include the opposition he will face from other EU member states in attempting to renegotiate the Lisbon Treaty and the UK's membership of the EU's Social Chapter.
Independent

EUobserver reports that almost 900 immigrants have arrived in Italy just days after the government declared a state of emergency over what it called an "exceptional and persistent influx" of clandestine immigrants.
EUobserver

John Torode: Turkey plans to annex North Cyprus
John Torode writes in The Spectator that new Greco-Turkish tensions in Cyprus are a real possibility. In light of the upcoming peace talks between the Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders, many now believe that Turkey has lost interest in a bi-zonal settlement, and is "bent on annexing the North". Former President Papadopoulos is said to have added fuel to the fire, by saying that the Turkish Cypriot leader Talet, is "Ankara's man." Furthermore, Torode argues that this outcome is likely to be accepted by the west, which wants to elevate Turkey as much as possible before its accession into the EU.
Spectator

The Irish Independent reports that the EU mission in Chad may be extended for up to three months.
No link

Ultra nationalist Bulgarian MEP Dimitar Stoyanov was one of the five Ataka sympathisers arrested on Wednesday. The arrests caused clashes between police and other Ataka supporters in Sofia.
Sofia Echo

Rosemary Righter has a comment piece in the Times where she suggests French President Nicolas Sarkozy's return to his reformist election promises is not only supported by the French public but may change the face of France forever.
Times Righter

Tisdall: EU needs common defence
In the Guardian, Simon Tisdall looks at the recent report on EU defence from the European Council on Foreign Relations. He argues, "with a less well-disposed Russia once again prowling around the neighbourhood, the need for a coherent, organised, collective European defence that is neither reliant on nor subordinate to Washington could become painfully obvious."
Guardian

UK

A new poll by YouGov in the Telegraph shows a 22-point lead for the Conservatives. The poll also shows that Labour would not perform much better under any other leader including potential leadership challenger David Miliband. A Labour Party led by Tony Blair however would only be 9 points behind.
Daily Telegraph

Global Warning an excuse to Tax

I recently read an article on Global Warning in a back issue of The European Journal and found it fascinating, like many other people I see Global Warming as a means of governments getting higher taxes out of us. What I find worse is the hypocracy where governments canjet around the world having ellaborate meetings, where the EU move the whole of their Parliament once a year from Brussell to Strasbourg and then tell us ordanary mortals we should watch our ECO footprint click the following for a read: http://www.ibfclubs.co.uk/home_page.htm

Swale Photo's

If you want see some excellent photo's of Swale go to Andy McGowans http://www.kentpictures.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index.html

WYATT MP HOLD YOUR HEAD IN SHAME

Rad Wyatts Letter and my reply


WYATT MP HOLD YOUR HEAD IN SHAME

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.

Martin Clarke

Dear Sir

Our 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

Political Correctness

'Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition...that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.'E.Mail Circular

EU DICTATORSHIP

You must read the following, I realise it is long piece but it is a shocking eye opener. Information comes from the Brugge Group

1,798 new EU Laws since May 2007

From 1st May 2008 to 15th July the EU has passed laws which will impact on the UK. That is TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY TWO!Since May 2007 the total is 1,798.

Nest feathering - better pay, pensions and expenses for Brussels bureaucrats

More funding for tobacco farmers

Over the marketing of apples laying down the marketing standard for apples

More control over CustomsRegulation

Control over telecommunications equipmentCommission

Control over the marketing of eggslaying down detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 as regards the marketing standards of eggs

Restrictions on the UK's fishing industry establishing a prohibition of fishing for tusk in Norwegian waters of IV by vessels flying the flag of the United Kingdom

Control over driving licences - relating to licences for driving clutch pedal vehicles

Movement of social security schemes on the application of social security schemes to employed persons, to self-employed persons and to members of their families moving within the Community

Price of eggs fixing representative prices in the poultrymeat and egg sectors and for egg albumin,

EU CREEP
You must read the following, I realise it is long piece but it is a shocking eye opener. Information comes from the Brugge GroupEU CONTROL OVER THE UK’S ASSETSThe European Union is proposing to take control over Britain’s sovereign wealth fund. A sovereign wealth fund (SWF) is a state-owned investment fund composed of financial assets. Sovereign wealth funds are held by central banks, who accumulate the funds in the course of their fiscal management of a nation's banking system; this fund is of major economic and fiscal importance.The assets contained in sovereign wealth funds across the EU are worth trillions of dollars. The European Union intends to use their control to enhance the international role of the Euro; increasing its strength in an attempt to make it a reserve currency.Commission Communication: A common European approach to Sovereign Wealth Funds COM(08) 115MORE EU CONTROL OVER THE MILITARYThe EU, driven by the French, wants to have its own military planning capability and autonomous action backed up by credible military forces. The European Union is proposing to increase its powers so that it can plan and execute military operations separate to the planning of the nation-states and of NATO. This proposal will enhance the role of; The Political and Security Committee, The European Union Military Committee and The European Union Military Staff. This is part of the developing Common Foreign and Security Policy. The European Union will further enhance its European Security and Defence Policy by training Britain’s military top-brass at its European Security and Defence College. The aim is to create a pro-EU policy network amongst the senior personnel of the armed forces.Council Decision amending Council Decision 2001/80/CFSP of 22 January 2001 on the establishment of the Military Staff of the European UnionJoint Action amending the Joint Action 2005/575/CFSP establishing a European Security and Defence CollegeMORE EU CONTROL OVER BRITAIN’S BORDERSThe European Union is proposing to develop a surveillance force to monitor borders. This will allow the European Union to take more power over Britain’s borders. It shall also enable the European Commission to take control over the UK’s existing national surveillance systems, including the coast guard.Commission Communication examining the creation of a European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR) COM(08) 68EU CONTROL OVER EMERGENCY LAW ENFORCEMENT UNITSThe European Union is proposing to take control over the use of cross-border special intervention units. Special intervention units are law enforcement divisions used to control criminal crisis situations. The proposals will allow a member-state to call in these ‘special intervention units’ to restore order.Draft Council Decision on the improvement of cooperation between the special intervention units of the Member States in crisis situationsEU CONTROL OVER CIVIL PROTECTION OPERATIONSThe European Union is proposing to take more power over emergency action in the event of a disaster. These plans will lead to the creation of a European civil protection force that can conduct civil protection operations.Commission Communication: Reinforcing the Union’s Disaster Response Capacity COM(08) 130EU FOREIGN CRIMINAL FRIENDLY POLICIESThe European Union is pushing for an increase in non-custodial supervision orders for suspected criminals. To avoid keeping suspected foreign criminals in detention pending their trial, the EU wants them to be able to move freely, whilst under supervision, between their country of origin and the state in which the offence was committed, rather than being held on remand. This proposed legislation comes on top of EU Directive 2004/38/EC which prevents the deportation of foreign EU criminals from British soil back to their country of origin; thus allowing the free movement of criminals within the European Union.Draft Council Framework Decision on the European supervision order in pre-trial procedures between the Member States of the European Union COM(06) 468Revised Draft Council Framework Decision on the European supervision order in pre-trial procedures between the Member States of the European UnionEU TO EXPAND ITS PROPAGANDA ACTIVITIESThe European Union is to expand its communication activities. This is a follow up to the previous propaganda initiative called Plan-D for democracy, dialogue and debate. It will involve trying to sell the idea of European integration by more effectively communicating the EU’s message via the mass media. Another arm of the strategy will be to bypass existing methods of gaining democratic legitimacy by engaging with select groups, known as Civil Society Organisations, and buying them off individually. They will also expand the number of Europe Direct Information Centres from 478 to 500 by 2013. The three themes of the EU’s latest propaganda initiative will revolve around;Institutional SettlementIntercultural dialogueandEnergy and Climate ChangeCommission Communication: Communication Europe in Partnership COM(07) 568Commission Working Document: Proposal for an Inter-Institutional Agreement on Communicating Europe in Partnership COM(07) 569EU USING CLIMATE CHANGE TO EXPAND ITS FOREIGN POLICY AND SECURITY POWERSUsing the perceived threat of global warming, the EU is proposing to take powers key to the sovereignty of the nation-state. This power grab argues for more EU control in the following areas:More EU control over foreign policy planning and over foreign policy itselfMore EU control over immigration This proposal to enlarge its powers in those areas is being advocated despite the fact that the Lisbon Treaty was rejected in the Irish referendum.Paper from the High Representative and the European Commission to the European Council: Climate Change and International Security S113/08MORE EU GREEN STEALTH TAXESThe EU wants to impose a stealth tax on the carbon dioxide emissions of cars and light commercial vehicles. The proposals from the European Commission will use financial penalties against those who produce vehicles that do not conform to the EU’s mandatory targets. The resulting financial penalties will then be channelled to the budget of the European Commission thus opening up a new source of revenue for the European Union. This will also add more costs onto the car and goods vehicle industries.Draft Regulation setting emissions performance standards for new passenger cars as part of the Community’s integrated approach to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from light-duty vehicles COM(07) 856MORE EU CONTROL OVER ENERGY POLICYThe EU is attempting to expand its power over Britain’s energy policy. The European Commission is the source of the apparent Government policy to increase the amount of renewables in the energy mix. The EU is ultimately responsible for the costly wind power policy; forcing the British Government to go ahead with this policy despite the fact that wind energy cannot reduce the UK’s reliance on conventional forms of power generation. The EU is trying to expand its mandatory targets for renewable energy and force the UK to increase its use of biofuels. This makes the debate in Britain irrelevant as decisions on these issues are decided elsewhere. Furthermore, the European Union is also seeking to control Britain’s policy relating to the capture and storage of Carbon Dioxide.Draft Directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources COM(08) 10Draft Decision on the effort of Member States to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to meet the Community’s greenhouse gas emission reduction commitments up to 2020 COM(08) 17Draft Directive on the geological storage of carbon dioxide COM(08) 18EU CONTROL OVER BEAUTY PRODUCTSThe European Union wants to control cosmetics. The EU’s interference in the daily lives of the people it governs knows no bounds. They are even trying to standardise cosmetics across the EU.Draft Regulation on cosmetic products (recast) COM(08) 49

Passport Application

Subject: Passport Application
Dear Minister,
I'm in the process of renewing my passport but I am a total loss to understand or believe the hoops I am being asked to jump through.How is it that Bert Smith of T.V. Rentals Basingstoke has my address and telephone number and knows that I bought a satellite dish from them back in 1994, and yet, the Government is still asking me where I was born and on what date?How come that nice West African immigrant chappy who comes round every Thursday night with his DVD rentals van can tell me every film or video I have had out since he started his business up eleven years ago, yet you still want me to remind you of my last three jobs, two of which were with contractors working for the government?How come the T.V. detector van can tell if my T.V. is on, what channel I am watching and whether I have paid my licence or not, and yet if I win the government run lottery they have no idea I have won or where I am and will keep the bloody money to themselves if I fail to claim in good time.
Do you people do this by hand?You have my birth date on numerous files you hold on me, including the one with all the income tax forms I've filed for the past 30-odd years. It's on my health insurance card, my driver's licence, on the last four passports I've had, on all those stupid customs declaration forms I've had to fill out before being allowed off the planes and boats over the last 30 years, and all those insufferable census forms that are done every ten years and the electoral registration forms I have to complete, by law, every time our lords and masters are up for re-election.Would somebody please take note, once and for all, I was born in Maidenhead on the 4th of March 1957, my mother's name is Mary, her maiden name was Reynolds, my father's name is Robert, and I'd be absolutely astounded if that ever changed between now and the day I die!
I apologise Minister. I'm obviously not myself this morning. But between you and me, I have simply had enough! You mail the application to my house, then you ask me for my address. What is going on? Do you have a gang of Neanderthals working there? Look at my damn picture.. Do I look like Bin Laden? I don't want to activate the Fifth Reich for God's sake! I just want to go and park my weary backside on a sunny, sandy beach for a couple of week's well-earned rest away from all this crap.Well, I have to go now, because I have to go to back to Salisbury and get another copy of my birth certificate because you lost the last one. AND to the tune of 60 quid! What a racket THAT is!! Would it be so complicated to have all the services in the same spot to assist in the issuance of a new passport the same day? But nooooo, that'd be too damn easy and maybe make sense. You'd rather have us running all over the place like chickens with our heads cut off, then find some tosser to confirm that it's really me on the goddamn picture - you know... the one where we're not allowed to smile in in case we look as if we are enjoying the process!Hey, you know why we can't smile? 'Cause we're totally jacked off!I served in the armed forces for more than 25 years including over ten years at the Ministry of Defence in London. I have had security clearances which allowed me to sit in the Cabinet Office, five seats away from the Prime Minister while he was being briefed on the first Gulf War and I have been doing volunteer work for the British Red Cross ever since I left the Services. However, I have to get someone "important" to verify who I am -- you know, someone like my doctor....who, before he got his medical degree 6 months ago WAS LIVING IN PAKISTAN...Yours sincerely,An Irate British Citizen.

TV before Tennis

Sunday night is the one night I spend in front of the Tele, the programme selection is quite good I normally watch ITV1 record BBC1 a good quality 4 hours entertainment. Well it was until last Sunday when the poor viewers of BBC1 had to endure about 5 hours of Tennis and what was the special occasion A BRIT making the final? No just the annual Wimbledon Finals. I personal am not a great lover of Tennis as a spectator but if people want to watch this rather elitist sport that’s OK with me but why put it on one of the main TV channels? BBC has 4 stations surely this event could have been put on one of the more obscure channels and let me watch my normal viewing maybe BBC4 could become a Sports Channel featuring all BBC sporting events. I wonder if the BBC was self financing like every other station would they have been allowed to spend 4 to 5 hours on two individuals who after all are not British

Martin Clarke Sittingbourne

No Support for Andy

Andy Murray said at the last World Cup he would support any team bar England, well I return the compliment and hope you get smashed, he is no Brit just an arrogant nutty Scottish Nationalist

SWEARING

I am not a great one to go out to Pubs, our Young Judo Club has its own Bar so never found the need but over the last few months I have occasionally gone to various pubs for a drink with the rubbish that’s on TV on Saturdays one can understand why. The High Street Pubs seem full of youngsters, TV’s, Fruit Machines, with the youngsters shouting, swearing and just get as drunk as possible so not for me. My main problem is swearing I was brought up in a generation that did not allow men to swear in front of women or children, if you were in the company of men only swearing was considered OK although my brother see no need for it at all. If a women walked into a Bar the landlord would say “Lady in Bar” and the language would be moderated. Now the youngsters tell me I am old fashioned it is OK to use the foulest of language in conversation no matter where you are and as loud as you like! Our English teacher Mr Jarrett used to say back in the sixties Swearing was for people with a very low vocabulary, I also used think if swearing is used very little it would have more of an impact when used.
So what brought me on to this subject well some time ago I had a guy come into my Bar at the Judo Club and all he kept doing was using the F Word I asked him to stop because my wife was in the Bar his retort was “Who she think she is the Queen” I replied she did not think nothing of the kind but in my eyes she was and I suggested he leave his drink on the Bar and leave very quickly which he did. On Saturday I was sitting with my Brother and my wife in a nice new Bar just outside Sittingbourne it had a little piped music no TV no slot machines and you could have an actual conversation without shouting. The ambience was ruined when 4 chaps in their mid to late twenties came in and started using every swear word in the dictionary after 10 minutes my brother asked them in a polite manner to moderate their language this they did then came the sarcastic remarks one really amused me “surely its my human right to say what I want “ after a few moment s I got up and walked over to them saying we had been polite to them and would hope that they would precipitate which they did I am sure my size had nothing to do with the fact they agreed.

So it now seems that I am in the wrong because I may infringe some ones Human Rights if I ask them to stop being rude, vulgar and course. What a Country GB has become

PAYPAL & DAVID DAVIES

Dear Editor
Below is an article on David Davies in which I say that the Government and EU have to much power as I wrote this I received an email from PAYPAL most people know that this is a system of safe payment over the internet

Dear Martin Clarke, This notice is a reminder. We are sending you this notice because you have received more than 650.00 GBP in total payments to your PayPal account. PayPal is required by law to comply with European Union Anti-Money Laundering regulations to collect information from customers when they receive more than the set limit in total payments

This account has been opened for two years how can spending £650 pounds over a two year period be even considered MONEY LAUNDERING? The EU have brought in laws where they can monitor what and where I spend my money and you wonder why people like me support David Davies stance

DAVID DAVIES

David Davies In my mind has made a bold decision to force an election on a matter of conscious; I refer to his stand about the state taking complete control of our lives. Although the 42 day detention was the straw that broke the camels back it is about much more, of the NU Labour use the excuse of Terrorism, but surely with all the high tech equipment and millions being spent on surveillance, the fact that a terrorist has been arrested and that by definition must means the Police have evidence, you do not 42 days? NO this 42 days is about you and me NOT terrorists it is about the Government National and Local keeping a check on us. Of course they will say it will only be terrorist who affected but what constitutes a Terrorist? At the moment it means militant Moslems but what of the future could it mean anyone who wants to see the collapse of the government or just general sedition? For example in European some members of the European Union are trying to make it an offence to campaign against the EU could I then be arrested and imprisoned for 42 days if I say we should withdraw fro the EU? Maybe not now with the EU dictatorship nothing is impossible you wait and see when they dismiss the Irish No Vote.
I like a lot people no longer believe anything this Government tells us they only time you know that there not lying is when they keep their mouths closed but in all honesty I have doubt about all politicians I feel David Davies has given me faith that at least one MP can keep to his ideals and I am pleased to say that our own candidate in Sittingbourne & Sheppey Gordon Henderson is a man of the same ilk. Surely the time has come for an MP to have a limited term of office say maximum 15 years this would prevent them making a career in politics where the main aim at present is to think of their pocket rather then the people they represent the same can be said of top civil servants whom seem to answerable to no one.

I have said it before we are in the process of having a Benevolent Dictatorship but a Dictatorship just the same


Martin Clarke Sittingbourne

TIME FOR TRUTH

Campaign for an Independent Britain have launched a new campaign 'Time for Truth' to reveal the truth behind the lies of our politicians.
We've produced the first four of a new series of leaflets. They are
* Support for Nurses - or billions for Brussels? - on the link between Brussels directives and NHS cuts.
* Starve the World! - How EU policies DELIBERATELY keep food prices high - and cripple Third World farmers.
* Wanted - for the biggest con in history - How so-called EU 'grants' are just bribery with our own money!
* CLOSED - by order of Brussels - the DIRECT link between Brussels directives and Post Office closures.
Please help us get these leaflets out. People need to know what's happening and what we can do to stop it.
The leaflets can be viewed and ordered from:
http://www.eurosceptic.org.uk/timefortruth

GAUNTY & ROONEY

I am a regular listener to the John Gaunt Show on Talk Sport Radio and most of what he says I agree with but over the last few months, as he has become more famous; his ego has gone out of control. He is a loud mouth and not frightened to say what he believes in something I admire in him but he will not give people who disagree with him any chance to put over their point of view before he starts shouting abuse at them and then cuts them off. This shouting has now extended to his staff who he continually insults. GB needs more John Gaunt’s who actually tell you what the British Public are saying rather then those Lefty Liberal elite who report what the British should be saying but Gaunty should stop the shouting and give those who have different views more of a say if he doesn’t his supporters will soon be giving him the heave ho.

Are you sick and tired of the Celebrity culture I know I am. The latest is Rooney’s Wedding, I am told he is a famous football player, which has been reported to cost £5 million. Rooney his Bride and all those attending this farce should hang their heads in shame, in world where people are starving, where tens of thousands have died because of natural disasters £5 million on wedding lasting three days? What he should have done was to have a lavish wedding in his home town costing say £100,000 (even that is a lot) the rest of the £5 million could then have been spent on some sort of charitable trust in his wife’s name, this would be a wedding present that would last for ever a continual reminder of their wedding day. If some silly celebrity magazine wants to spend millions on exclusive photo’s let them but then put the money into the trust. With some British workers barely taking home £200 a week Rooney’s wedding was OBSCENE

Is this women a coward

You and your readers know I am a regular contributor to your paper and my views are not always shared by other people, they in turn write in to oppose my views. This is good as it creates debate, which is how we make our democratic system work. What annoys me are those people who send anonymous letters, these cowards just want to let loose some vitriolic bile but do not have the Dear Editor
courage to put a name to their accusations which 99% cases are untrue.
Two cases recently come to mind I had one of these letters posted to me after you printed my letter on “Mary Whitehouse” I will quote the first two paragraphs “How dare you lecture people on obeying and respecting parents, drinking alcohol, punch ups and violence. You have no reason to feel smug at all and I am fed up with you preaching to everyone in your patronising letter to the EKG” I did not think I was lecturing, Smug according to the dictionary means complacent some thing I am not. The writer who is a woman then goes on to blame all her ills and misfortunes over an incident that happens years ago with one of my off spring the youngest would then have been 13 years old! Her letter would not have been printed because of it inaccurate and libellous content but instead being anonymous and vitriolic why not criticise the content of my letter putting her views forward.

The next letter concerned some sheds I built next to our Judo Club in East Street it seems someone did not like them so the Council made me pull them down, the same person then complained because the their was a mess, then the Council decided that two of the Flats that had been on the ground for many many years would need a Lawful Development certificate which in total came to over £1300 this took over a year to complete. Yet the only good thing to this saga was I asked for copies of the letters of complaint, these were given to me with the names and addresses of the complainants, who complaints were at best were total inaccuracies and at worst a deliberate pack of lies . Because of this I was allowed to correct all these inaccuracies to the council and my Certificate sailed through. This was a prime example of people trying to use anonymity to cause harm to some else pleasingly this backfired and their cowardly actions were found out.

To finalise being anonymous writer is an act of coward ness and they will eventually be unmasked


Martin Clarke Sittingbourne


For those who been follwoing the Shed/Flat saga

Sheriff of Sittingbourne

Update on Joe Arpaio TO THOSE OF YOU NOT FAMILIAR WITH JOE ARPAIOHE IS THE MARICOPA ARIZONA COUNTY SHERIFF

He is a very tough Law enforcement Officer the email went on to say a lot more about especially his tough approach to those who break the law. My question why can not we in England vote in our Town Sheriff? Because lets be honest the Police service and the Judicial system have let us down why?
1) The Judiciary i.e. Courts are far too lenient with law breakers admittedly that is not all there own fault, the Government has been telling them how to administer sentencing. This is based mainly on finances “It is cheaper to let a criminal go free rather then have the expense of putting them in prison.
2) Senior Police Officers are more interested in Political correctness, sucking up to their political masters, climbing the greasy pole of promotion then catching real villains. Interestingly the enough the confidence in the Police Force oops sorry Police Service has collapsed since they introduced PC into their selection procedure i.e. preference were given to individual ethnic origin, sex and sexual orientation rather then the best individual for the job.
If we had the chance to vote a Sheriff into power he or she would have to be elected every 4 years they would be voted in on their record or things they propose. Now would not that be something really unique an ELECTION OFFICIAL listening to the people and doing what the people want, the idea could catch on and we would have a completely new system in this country we could call it DEMOCRACY from the Greek PEOPLE RULE


Martin Clarke Sittingbourne



Update on Joe Arpaio > > TO THOSE OF YOU NOT FAMILIAR WITH JOE ARPAIO> > HE IS THE MARICOPA ARIZONA COUNTY SHERIFF
AND HE KEEPS GETTING ELECTED OVER AND OVER
> THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY:> Sheriff Joe Arpaio > (In Arizona) > Who created the > 'Tent City Jail': > > He has jail meals down to 40 cents a serving and charges the inmates for them. 'It costs more to feed our police dogs than our inmates. The dogs never committed a crime and they're working for a living.'> > He stopped smoking and porno magazines in the jails Took away their weights Cut off all but 'G' movies.> > He started chain gangs so the inmates could do free work on county and city projects.> > Then He Started > Chain Gangs For Women > 'I don't believe in discrimination in my jail system. Crime knows no gender and neither should punishment.'> > Reportedly, he took away cable TV Until > He found out there was > A> Federal Court Order> That> Required Cable TV For Jails.> So He Hooked Up The Cable TV Again > Only Let In The Disney Channel And The Weather Channel. > > When asked why the weather channel > He Replied, > 'I think my chain gang deserves to know how hot it is when they hit the streets.'> > He Cut Off Coffee > Saving the country approximately $94,158 a year!> > When the inmates complained, he told them, 'This Isn't > The Ritz/Carlton.> If You Don't Like It,> Don't Come Back.'> > He bought Newt Gingrich' lecture series on videotape that he pipes into the jails.
> More On The Arizona Sheriff:> > With Temperatures Being Even Hotter > Than Usual In Phoenix> (116 Degrees Just Set A New Record),> The Associated Press Reports: > About 2,000 Inmates Living In A Barbed-Wire-Surrounded Tent Encampment > At The> Maricopa County Jail Have Been Given Permission To Strip Down To Their Government-Issued > Pink Boxer Shorts. > > On Wednesday, hundreds of men wearing boxers were either curled up on their bunk beds or chatted in the tents, which reached > 138 Degrees> Inside The Week Before.> > Many Were Also Swathed In Wet, Pink Towels As Sweat Collected On Their Chests And Dripped Down To Their PINK SOCKS. > > 'It Feels Like We Are In A Furnace,' > Said James Zanzot,> An Inmate Who Has Lived In The TENTS for 1 year.> 'It's Inhumane.'> > Joe Arpaio, > The tough-guy sheriff > Who created the tent city and long ago started making his prisoners wear pink, and eat bologna sandwiches, is not one bit sympathetic > He said Wednesday that he told all of the inmates: 'It's 120 Degrees In Iraq And> Our Soldiers Are Living In Tents Too, > And They Have To > Wear Full Battle Gear,> But > They Didn't Commit Any Crimes, > So Shut Your Damned Mouths!' > > Way To Go, Sheriff!> Maybe if all prisons were like this one > There would be a lot less
crime and/or repeat offenders. > Criminals should be punished for their crimes -
not live in luxury until it's time for their parole,
only to go out and commit another crime so they can get back in to live on taxpayers money and enjoy
things taxpayers can't afford to have for themselves. > > If you agree, pass this on.
If not, just delete it. > > Sheriff Joe > Was just re-elected Sheriff in Maricopa County, Arizona.

Ultimate Force

Have you been watching the Programme on ITV featuring the SAS called Ultimate Force, which I enjoyed except for the ridiculous idea that a women would be in an active SAS unit. I have never heard of a women being an active member of real life active SAS service unit if I am wrong please correct me.

The problem I have with TV we very easily take what we see as factual yet most programmes rely on the imagination of the writer, who in a lot of cases have there own agenda. Sadly to say if a writer continually basis his or her stories on their own bias there ideas will be eventualy be accepted by the public especially if it is a very popular programme. You must remember TV and Film are very powerful political tool used by a lot of unscrupulous people. If I need a car I would buy one from a car dealer I may enjoy the car but that doesn’t mean I trust the salesman, the same can be said of TV enjoy it but do not trust the writer or producer.

swinging sixties

As someone who was a teenager during what is euphemistically called the Swinging Sixties, I was intrigued to watch the TV programme on Mary Whitehouse. For those readers who do not remember she was the lady who tried to clean up TV. As a teenager I laughed at her, at the time calling her fuddy duddy as not to, would not have been Hip or with it man. On hindsight the excess of the 60’s were restricted to London and other large cities rather then the provincial towns like Sittingbourne, where Sex outside of marriage was still frowned upon of course it happened but any girl admitting to it was called a slut, I personally never came across any drugs I was told that so and so was taking Purple hearts etc but never took any and was never offered it. Teenagers still went to church, as a Roman Catholic I had to go to Mass every Sunday, I did not want to but my mother insisted with “While your under my roof you do as I tell you”, yes in those days we still obeyed and respected our parents. As for Alcohol most dances in the town were alcohol free but more importantly we did not have the money to binge drink and if you did not look 18 you never got as far as the door in a pub, as for drinking out of a bottle unheard of. Yes there were punch ups, I have had a few in my youth, yet it was not the violence of knives or beating a man senseless it was not considered manly to gang up on an individual .
So why bring up all this nostalgia, well the Mary Whitehouse film allowed me to see my teenage years in a different light I always thought that the 1960’s was a teenage revolution but when you study it was teenagers being manipulated by a “Left wing middle aged academics” assisted by politicians like Roy Jenkins as an experiment. There experiment I feel failed and has led to the society of today, they may feel it has been a success for they wanted totally freedom of the individual, free to for them to express themselves in what ever way they wish no matter what the consequences. Freedom without Responsibilities to another Human Being or Society!
The Bishop of Rochester The Right reverend Michael Nazir-Ali said the collapse of Christianity has wrecked British society; It has destroyed family life and left the country defenceless against the rise of radical Islam in a moral and spiritual vacuum. His attack on liberal values, he maintains the country was mired in a doctrine of 'endless self-indulgence' that had brought an explosion in public violence and binge-drinking He went on to say that “the consequences were 'the destruction of the family because of the alleged parity of different forms of life together, the loss of a father figure, especially for boys, because the role of fathers is deemed otiose, the abuse of substances (including alcohol), the loss of respect for the person leading to horrendous and mindless attacks, the increasing communications gap between generations and social classes - the list is very long.'
One wonders if more of has listened to Mary Whitehouse would we being living in a more genteel society today? One will never know.

Modern Poems sent in by a reader

In today's modern age, the nursery rhymes of yesteryear seem outdated.These are the new, approved (adult) versions for modern times:

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall
The structure of the wall was incorrect
So he won 10 grand with Claims Direct.

It's Raining, It's Pouring.
Oh crikey, it's Global Warming.

Jack and Jill went into townTo fetch some chips and sweeties.
He can't keep his heart rate down And she's got diabetes.

Mary had a little lambit ran into a pylon.
10,000 volts went up its arseand turned its wool to nylon.

Jack and Jill Went up the hill And planned to do some kissing.
Jack made a pass and grabbed her ass
Now two of his teeth are missing.

Mary had alittle lambIts fleece was white and wispy.
Then it caught Foot and Mouth Disease
And now it's black and crispy.

Mary h ad a little skirtwith splits right up the sidesand
everywhere that Mary went the boys could see her thighs.
Mary had another skirt'twas split right up the front
But she didn't wear that one very often.

Aftermath

The aftermath of my caravan accident is a real eye opener first my Insurance company are trying their best not to pay out and it looks like a may have to go to an Ombusman to get what I paid in for more of this as it develops. What I did find amazing was the fee I had to pay to have my Caravan taken back back to Sittingbourne a distance of maybe 30 miles it was £350 and £105 of that was a Statutory Charge Levied on behalf of the Police Why? what do I pay road tax for ?

Near Death Experience

NEAR DEATH EXPEREINCE

I am a very keen Caravan User, I would rather go on a caravan holiday they go to some exotic country, many of you may consider me daft but there you go. My latest Caravan was a 2007 Compass Rally 650 you note the word was! Since I started with my caravan I had always pulled them with a Ford Twin Cab Ranger with out the slightest problem but the joke of being called a POSH PIKEY did begin to wear a bit thin so I decided to change to a Land Rover Discovery. My first shock was that my 2003 Ford Ranger which I purchased in 2004 for £12000 only fetched £4000 in December 2007, my first trip out with the Disco and the Caravan was in late April we travelled the short distance to Folkestone for a long weekend travelling down the M20. The Disco performed terrible it rolled all over the place allowed the caravan to rock; Lorries were sucking me in and then pushing me out you dare not travel over 50 mph for fear of your life, experiences I never had with my Ranger. So on my return home I decide this Disco must go I tried to trade it in for a Ranger only to be told that I would lose another £4000 on the deal so that was a non starter, so I stuck to the vehicle. Last weekend the second weekend in May we would try again I had picked out a lovely Caravan site near Guildford with a beautiful lake. This time I would double check everything I telephoned a Disco dealer and consulted the hand book for the correct Tyre pressures, load rating etc, the caravan club and the camping and caravanning club were contacted and their Technical Services gave the correct Tyre pressures all done and of we go. So off we go I still had serious doubts but maybe the M20 with all its Lorries made ruts in the road made the drive different. As we travelled I felt a little roll on the Disco but asked the wife what she thought, she said it felt better I agreed. On reaching the M26 the wife said it seems alright now and we began to enjoy the journey we were on an open no Lorries, no cars, on a flat road, the sun was out, no wind what could go wrong.
Well things did go wrong within a minute I felt the caravan beginning a slight snake within seconds the whole caravan snaking form side to side I could not control it, my wife Valerie shouted “what is happening” all I could say “I have no control” the caravan pulled me in a complete 360 degree circle, the Disco lurched up into the air as the Caravan turned over and then it stopped. We were on the hard shoulder facing on coming traffic miraculously the caravan had unhitched itself before rolling down the bank, my wife and myself were left seated in an upright Disco. Luckily my wife is not one of those who panics easily, she said to me “look at our beautiful caravan” I retorted “Sod the Caravan we are alive” with in seconds I was out of the Disco telephoning the Police while I was doing this a couple of cars stopped one had a couple of nurses who checked out my wife which we were grateful to.
Now we have to await the Insurance claim and all the rig moral that goes with that and see if they can tell me what happened although in all probability it was a tyre blow out. Interestingly enough while the accident was happening I or my wife had no sense of panic or fear yet we both thought we were about to die, as she said to my youngest daughter “God had decided it was not our turn to meet him yet”.
One thing is for sure I will rely on my instincts a lot more, I did not like the Disco and felt unsafe; some times we put more emphasis on finance then feelings a lesson well learnt now at least I will reach my 59th birthday.
What next well the Disco is certainly being sold, do we have another caravan who knows? I am in need of a new hip and knee my wife tells me maybe it to much me hooking up and putting awnings up etc I would like to say we will back on the road again but I will not look forward to the first trip.


Martin Clarke 118 east Street Sittingbourne Kent ME10 4RX

Two excellent articles by Goron Henderson Hospitals and Ports

As someone who is waiting for a Hip and knee operation this does not give me any confidence


“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 21st 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 4th 2008


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


PRESS RELEASE

Date: 5th May 2008
Release date: Immediate
Subject: Henderson: “Crazy for the Government to expand the Port of Dover”.

Local Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, Gordon Henderson, has hit out at plans to expand the Port of Dover and instead has called for the Government to assist the Port of Sheerness to expand.

Mr Henderson’s comments followed news that Bob Goldfield, the Port of Dover chief executive, is looking for a major investor to help fund a £420 million expansion that would see another four roll-on, roll off berths built in the Western Docks.

Mr Henderson said:
‘It would be crazy for the Government to expand the Port of Dover in this way. Strategically, it would do the country no favours. The current roads infrastructure in and around Dover can barely cope with the existing level of business and I dread to think what will happen if another four berths are built.

‘We already have the nightmare of Operation Stack closing down the M20 on a regular basis and this will only get worse if the port expands still further.

‘What the Government should be doing is helping the Port of Sheerness to expand its operations to enable it to hand more roll-on, roll-off business.

‘Such an expansion at Sheerness would have a number of benefits. It would provide an alternative route if there was a problem at Calais, which seems to happen increasingly often, and this in turn would do away with the need for Operation Stack, because freight could be re-directed via Sheerness. With the new bridge across the Swale such an option is now possible.

‘An expansion at Sheerness would also provide more skilled, semi skilled and unskilled jobs for the people of Sittingbourne and Sheppey. It would be a real shot in the arm for our local economy.

‘The problem at the moment is that Sheerness Docks simply cannot compete with Dover because of that port’s status as a “trust port”, which means that although it has all the commercial advantages of private ports, it is backed by Government money and does not have to make a profit. Frankly it is unfair competition and it is about time the Government privatised Dover and made it compete fairly with ports such as Sheerness.’
…ends…

MR & MRS or MR & MR

Dear Editor

I am a keen Caravan User but one of the downside is you sometimes watch Rubbish TV couple of weeks ago I spent ½ hour watching a game show called MR & MRS. I am told this used to be a show where married couples would be asked questions to see if they really knew their spouse. Yet the format has changed because ordinary people are no longer good enough so celebrities are now used, much more interesting “I don’t think”. First thing I noticed is that the name of the show is false because most of the couples were not married in fact one couple were Homosexuals surely they should be called MR & MR and for those not married maybe the title HIM & HER. I have been married for 38 years and take the sanctity of marriage very seriously, one of the important titles given to a married couple is MR & MRS this tells everyone they have made a legal (most cases religious as well) commitment to be together for life. The title Mr & Mrs is of significant importance in distinguishing our place in society, Nu Labour has done as much as it can to out law marriage now it seems the Media are jumping in on the act.
As for the programme why not just change the name to the Partnership Show and the great British Public can stay riveted to finding out whether one or the other can guess their favourite food. TV is has been really dumbed down over the years good job Doctor Who is on other wise there would nothing to watch !!!!!!

Martin Clarke Sittingbourne