Bruges Group

The EU Constitution:Context and PredictionsRevisiting predictions on the fate of the EU Constitution
Two years ago the Bruges Group predicted the path of the EU treaty and warned of the consequences of railroading integration on Britain. Now the Bruges Group looks at what will happen next. And how Britain can finally resolve the EU question and become a good neighbour to the continent, rather than being an overcharged lodger.
We predicted in early 2005 that the EU Constitution would;
fail somewhere in a referendum(France and the Netherlands voted No. Britain would have certainly done the same)
the rejection of the Constitution would provoke a panic in Brussels(EU leaders did not know what to do next, EU Commission Vice-President, Margot Wallström, even moved onto Plan D)
this panic would create the opportunity for Britain to rethink our terms of EU membership(This however was missed and the EU stumbled on)
a failure to change our membership would mean the original plan would go back onto the table, and the breakup of the EU would become inevitable(The federalists only idea was to re-submit the same old tired Constitution, just under a new name)
What happens next and why a vote is inevitable
Brown under pressureThe Prime Minister has found himself stuck in the middle between the masses of people demanding a referendum on the Treaty and the Europhiles that are floating the idea of holding a vote on our very membership of the EU.The inevitability of a referendumA referendum, sooner or later, is inevitable and long overdue. The British public will not sit idly by as they see a referendum on the revived and renamed EU Constitution taking place in Ireland. They will not forgive the Labour Party for breaking its 2005 election manifesto.After the fiasco of the election that never was, Brown cannot afford to duck the will of the British people yet again.It is just a matter of what the final question will be.More wasting of taxpayers moneyWe can expect the Government will restart is costly, yet futile, roadshow to convince us of the ‘benefits’ of EU membership without actually naming any.The European Commission will also spend more of our money on propaganda in a vain attempt to make us support the Reform Treaty. We can be sure that some of this propaganda money will come from the European People’s Party which the Conservatives in the European Parliament are members of.The opportunity of the revived EU ConstitutionA vote rejecting EU integration in the UK will open up the prospect of new opportunities for Britain including a new arrangement of free trade and friendship, replacing burdensome regulation and the constant antagonism caused by Britain’s reluctance to submit itself fully to the federalist project.These opportunities were acknowledged by the very drafters of the EU Constitution itself. Article 7a, the Good Neighbour clause, of the draft Reform Treaty would allow Britain, if it were to leave the EU's political control, to enjoy a special relationship with the EU, where the UK can remain outside of the political structures, but still enjoy good working relations. This will give Britain free trade with the European Union. There is no reason why we cannot aim for such a relationship once the Treaty is rejected.This ‘good neighbour’ arrangement is clearly therefore an achievable objective, replacing our existing terms of membership.EU expert Dr Lee Rotherham says,“You don’t have to be Mystic Meg to predict a stormy 6 months for Gordon Brown. The question really is whether the Captain will follow his policy to the bottom of Davy Jones’ Locker, and whether David Cameron seizes the opportunity to steer a bold new course in Britain’s dealings with Europe.”Robert Oulds, Director of the Bruges Group, says,“Blair will be remembered as the man that failed to make the British public love the EU as he did and, above all, he ran from the challenge of the Eurosceptics and failed to even hold a referendum on the euro.“Unless Brown holds a referendum his legacy will also be one of cowardice, not courage, on the question of Europe.“If Brown fails to let the British public have their say he will also go down as the man that sunk Britain’s membership by pushing the people too far without their consent.”
Powers that Britain must reclaim
Once there has been reform at home by affirming the Primacy of Parliament over EU law, striking out the parts of the acquis communautaire that do not suit Britain. And after an official inquiry into the costs of EU membership has reported on the price we are paying; Britain can replace our current membership with the ‘good neighbour’ status.Below is a list of minimum demands that would be needed to make the 'good neighbour’ relationship work.
Repatriate CAP to national control. Reforms to be undertaken at national level
Repatriate CFP. Local community management
Restore Social Chapter opt-out
Remove Employment and Social Affairs from the arrangement
Repatriate all of International Development, and link with good governance
Remove Defence and intergovernmental affairs from the agreement; cut Commission representation; cut UK funding for Galileo; remove WEU from any EU agreement
End regional aid: budget saved to be restored to exchequers
Cut R&D funding or withdraw from UK participation and funding
UK to represent itself internationally unless we request otherwise. Option to join NAFTA subject only to anti-dumping talks with EU
Tax harmonisation to end. Britain allowed to set own tax rates, including ending VAT
Education and Culture to go to Council of Europe (a non-EU institution) with budget line
Health and Consumer Protection to be scaled back vastly
Stop the ability of the ECJ and the Commission to govern Britain
Justice and Home Affairs to be taken away from the EU and discussed at a broader level of intergovernmentalism
All remaining competences to see the restoration of the veto
Click here to read the original Bruges Group paper from early 2005 on where Britain should go next and the mechanics for changing the UK’s relationship with the EU
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For further information contact:Robert OuldsDirectorThe Bruges Group227 Linen Hall, 162-168 Regent Street, London W1B 5TBUKTel: +44(0) 20 7287 4414Mobile: 07740 029787E-mail: info@brugesgroup.com
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No Ban on Red Arrows

Date: 20th October 2007
Release date: Immediate
Subject: Gordon receives reassurance on Red Arrows “ban”.

GORDON Henderson has received an assurance that the organisers of the 2012 Olympics have not banned the Red Arrows from performing at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics because the RAF display team is considered to be “too British”.

The assurance was given by the Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Jeremy Hunt MP, who explained that the issue was raised with Lord Coe and Hugh Robertson, MP for Faversham and Sports and Olympics Spokesman, at the London 2012 fringe meeting at The Conservative Party Conference.

Lord Coe stated quite unequivocally that the issue had never even been raised with him and that the Red Arrows would be extremely welcome as part of The London 2012 Olympic Opening ceremony.

Furthermore, he pointed out that a fly past by The Red Arrows had been a key part of the celebrations in Trafalgar Square when we won the right to host The Games and that the London 2012 Organising Committee had not even settled on the format for our eight minute handover slot in Beijing in 2008 - let alone begun to consider possible formats for 2012.

Mr Hunt went on to say:
‘On a personal level, I would only add that I am a strong supporter of our Armed Forces in general, and The Red Arrows in particular, and would certainly wish them to have an appropriate role in the London 2012 celebrations. As the Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport I have been closely following this issue and will continue to do so in order to ensure such a role is secured.

‘I hope that this reassures you about the current position, however we will continue to monitor the government closely as ever!’

Gordon said:
‘I am happy to accept the reassurance from Jeremy Hunt, however, I haven’t yet received a response from the Government itself, so I am still slightly nervous that the politically correct brigade in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will try to twist the arm of the 2012 Olympic organisers in an effort to change their minds. I hope I am wrong and that the Red Arrows will play a part in the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony.’
ENDS

"Immigrants No Bottle" says Ollie

My mate Ollie sent me the following:

Isn't it funny how foreign immigrants in this country (illegal or otherwise)claim to be here because they didn't like the set-up in their own country.What really sticks in my gullet, however, is that they are soon happy to stand up and shout about the wrongs of this country (and their rights), when they didn't have the balls to do so in their own country!

Alan returns from Afghanistan

You may have seen one of the Swale Martial Arts Club members in the various tabloids on Monday; it was of course Cpl Alan Cain cuddling his two children. Why was he doing this, well he was a member the TA London Scottish Regiment who had just returned from active service in Afghanistan. You may also have also seen the pictures where these troops paraded through London without any member of the public cheering them on.

What a despicable country Great Britain has turned into where true hero’s, where men and women are willing to lay down their lives to protect us from terrorists yet we the public can not even celebrate their return home. Had this been a winning Football team you would not have been able to move the same would be for a pop band or celebrity and the only threat to their lives would be the amount of drugs or alcohol they consumed. Can you imagine what will happen if England wins the Rugby, there would be loads of politician singing the team there praises and knighthoods would go out of fashion
This government sends these troops out to be killed, then get embarrassed when they return at least Maggie Thatcher gave our troops a parade for their deeds in the Falklands but then again she did not court Celebrities and pop stars she dealt with real people.

I hope those who lived in the area where the parade was feel thoroughly ashamed of themselves.

Martin Clarke East Street Sittingbourne

Sittingbourne People want referendum

I am proud to say I spent a couple of hours with Gordon on Saturday getting some signatures, I thought it was about time I stopped complaining and done something

LOCAL Conservatives were out in Sittingbourne High Street at the weekend as part of their campaign to force Prime Minister Gordon Brown into holding a referendum before ratifying the EU Reform Treaty.

The EU Treaty, which transfers more powers from Westminster to Brussels, replaces the European Constitution which was resoundingly rejected by voters in France and Holland, but has now been resurrected under a different name.

Led by Parliamentary Candidate, Gordon Henderson, the campaigners received lots of attention and support from members of the public, who queued to sign the Conservative petition calling on the Prime Minister to honour the promise in the Labour Party manifesto at the last election to hold a referendum on the EU constitution.

The Conservative campaign was supported by The Sun, which has launched its own campaign for a referendum. The national newspaper supplied flags for the stand, which was set up outside the Forum and also sent along a photographer to take pictures of the campaigners.

Gordon said:

‘This was the best supported campaign we have ever organised. In just two hours we collected over four hundred signatures.

‘People were queuing to sign our petition because they are really angry about the way the Prime Minister is refusing to deliver on the Labour promise to hold a referendum before ratification of the new EU Reform Treaty.

‘Mr Brown maintains that this treaty is different to the EU Constitution, but that is nonsense. The documents are almost identical, which is why the Irish government is allowing its citizens a referendum.

‘Why is the Prime Minister scared of letting the British people have their say on this very important issue? First he chickened out of calling a General Election, now he is chickening out of holding a referendum.’

Council Tax to rise again

GORDON Henderson says that he is “absolutely horrified” that residents of Swale face inflation-busting hikes in council tax, following the publication of the Government’s new tax and spending plans for the next three years – the so-called “Comprehensive Spending Review”.

Gordon’s comments follow news that: -

· The cross-party Local Government Association has forecast that “the Chancellor's announcement will mean above inflation rises in bills for council taxpayers”.
· Insufficient resources have been given to local authorities to tackle the soaring costs of care for the elderly, waste collection and disposal, and other burdens imposed by Whitehall.
· Independent commentators have said that the Government’s claim that council tax bills will be kept down “do not look plausible”.
· The small print of the Government’s report reveals that council tax revenues are forecast to rise by 5 per cent this year. Assuming council tax rises of 5 per cent every year over the three years of the Spending Review, this would push the average council tax bill in Swale to £1508 on Band D. Under the Labour Government, bills have already soared across the country, and have increased bills by 112% across Swale.

Gordon remarked,
‘Thanks to Labour’s fiddled funding, council tax has gone through the roof across the country. Since 1997, council taxes in Swale have already rocketed by 112%. Now I fear that Gordon Brown is engineering three more years of inflation-busting hikes. I am absolutely horrified that rises will be imposed on our residents, because those increases will hit hardest the most vulnerable in Swale – particularly pensioners on fixed incomes.

‘This is yet another tax con from a tired Government that has run out of ideas. Using council tax to raise more money is the most dishonest tax hike of them all – engineered by Whitehall but with local councillors taking the blame when bills hit the doormat.’

Notes to Editors

GOVERNMENT PLANS TO HIKE COUNCIL TAX BILLS EVEN MORE

The small print of the Government’s Pre-Budget Report and Comprehensive Spending Review reveals that council tax revenues are forecast to soar this year by £1.2 billion, from £23.7 billion in 2007-08 to £24.9 billion in 2008-09. This is an inflation-busting rise of 5.1 per cent; only a tiny proportion of this change is due to the increase in the size of ‘tax base’ from population change (HM Treasury, 2007 Pre-Budget Report and Comprehensive Spending Review, October 2007, p.168, table B8).
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/F/9/pbr_csr07_annexb_305.pdf

In their response to Labour’s Pre-Budget Report, the cross-party Local Government Association has warned: “This is the worst settlement for local government in a decade. Councils will continue to work hard for the people they serve but they face tough choices. The Chancellor's announcement will mean above inflation rises in bills for council taxpayers and businesses, and there remains a black hole in funding for the care of the elderly. The money allocated to local government is simply not enough for councils to provide everything ministers have promised and meet the extra cost of looking after an ageing population which will cost £9m every single day. Even though this is a real terms increase in grant we estimate there will be a shortfall overall. The council taxpayer will once again be left to pick up the bill for promises made by the Government” (LGA Press Release, 10 October 2007).
http://www.lga.gov.uk/PressRelease.asp?id=SXEAC2-A7848E45

Leading commentator, Peter Riddell of The Times, has added: “Council tax, not inheritance tax, is what the Autumn Budget will be remembered for in the long term... Whitehall funding for councils will increase by an average of 1 per cent in real terms in the three years from next April: 1.5 per cent in the first year, then 0.8 and 0.7 per cent. The Government claims that this should be sufficient to ensure improved services, enabling local government to keep council tax rises low, with ‘an overall increase of well under 5 per cent in each of the next three years’. This is well above the forecast 2 per cent annual growth in consumer prices over the period. These figures do not look plausible. Local authorities complain that the Whitehall grant is not enough to provide new services promised by central government” (The Times, 11 October 2007).
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/peter_riddell/article2633826.ece

Sainsbury call its workers lazy

Dear Editor
Sainsbury recently announced that immigrant workers are very Conscientious, hard workers and will take on more then one job, indigenous British workers can learn a lot from them.

Well I would like to speak up for the Sittingbourne Sainsbury Worker, I have always found them smartly dressed, polite , helpful and always busy, the few I know personally are very hard workers.
One must asked the question if the British Worker is such a lazy bunch how did Sainsbury made its massive profits over the last 50 years? Sainsbury workers have been very loyal to the company maybe the company should respond the same.

Sainsbury like many companies have their own language every sentence they make has a hidden meaning so I have translated some Sainsbury Speak:
1) Very Conscientious = Do as they are told regardless, i.e. slave mentality
2) Will take on more then one job = Will work excessive long hours (this can cause health and safety problems due to tiredness)
3) Hard Workers = When told to jump they ask how high.
What Sainsbury is really saying here is a group of workers who we can take advantage of to make even bigger profits for the Fat Cat owners, Sainsbury has no loyalty to its work force or Great Britain its only loyalty is to the management and share holders, The British Worker is expendable.
Can I suggest if Sainsbury employ a disproportional amount of immigrant labour we all boycott the store?

The above can apply to medium size builders and farmers who now refuse to employ British workers


Martin Clarke Sittingbourne

Conservatives Back On Top

Gordon Henderson cutting away the Bacon from Labour

Conservatives back on top
As a Conservative I obviously want a Conservative Government but in the past it has been anything is better then this Soul Destroying Government yet this weeks conference give me confidence that the next Conservative Government can claim the country back for the British people for example they pledge to:
1) Increase to £1 million pounds the Inheritance Tax threshold
2) Build more Jails so we can lock up the scum who ruin our lives, criminals to be treated as criminals not victims of society.
3) Stop earl y prison release
4) Tougher Immigration Laws
The one thing that has affected many steel workers in Swale was the Pensions debacle so I have attached a letter from Swale next MP Gordon Henderson




Gordon Henderson
PRESS RELEASE
Date: 1st October 2007
Release date: Immediate
Subject: Gordon “absolutely delighted” at Tory promise to help ASW pensioners

LOCAL Tory Parliamentary Candidate, Gordon Henderson, says that he is “absolutely delighted” David Cameron has promised to help workers who lost all, or most, of their pensions when their company pension schemes were wound up.

The issue has been a hot topic locally since ASW went into liquidation and workers at the steelworks in Sheerness saw their pensions destroyed overnight.

The Government eventually stepped in and set up the Financial Assistance Scheme, but the scheme only provides pensioners with 80% of their anticipated pensions and there are such long delays in processing claims that only 2000 pensioners have actually been helped, out of an estimated total of 125,000 victims.

Now David Cameron has promised that a Conservative government would immediately provide a £30 million a year “lifeboat fund” to provide immediate help to those facing hardship because of the loss of their pensions. As an interim measure, he promised that the Treasury would provide a £30 million loan so that victims could receive their proper pensions whilst the lifeboat fund was being set up.

Gordon said:
‘I am absolutely delighted that David Cameron has made this unequivocal pledge. So many weasel words have been spoken over the past few years as Gordon Brown and his Labour Government have tried to wriggle out of their moral obligation.

‘At last ASW pensioners can see an end to their struggle. They now have a cast iron guarantee that they will receive justice under a Tory government.’
….ends….

X Factor Cry Babies

Over the weekend I had a bout of food poisoning, I had a chicken cannelloni in Canterbury, So I spent 14 hours of on the toilet this started to ease of just as the X Factor came on the box, I will admit I do like watching the first rounds as you get some really crap acts which are hilarious but I normally stop watching when it comes to Boot Camp as it always seems to be a repeat of previous years except with different face in fact a rather boring affair but as I could not go out I decided to watch. The format was as expected but what has happened to the “British Stiff Upper Lip” where you deal with adversity, disappointment and jubilation in a dignified manner, all I saw was a lot of crying, jumping and shouting I was quite disgusted, luckily enough I had recorded the latest episode about “The Royal Marines” here was at least some young people I as an Englishman could be proud of, young people who were prepared to give their lives for others rather then seeking fame and riches in the overrated, over egotistical world of the celebrity
Can any of you official ado’s of the X Factor tell me do they have any acts apart from singers copying well known artists?

A True POOF

I have just returned from a Caravan holiday on the Isle of Wight, while there I watch the programme “Hell’s Kitchen” I have already listed one instant on the show but the incident with Brian Dowling (I that is his name ) and Jim Davidson took the biscuit. Both are supposed to be celebrities obviously everyone has heard of the comedian Jim Davidson but the other guy is Militant Gay who won Big Brother (I have mentioned him in a previous Blog) as I am not yet brain dead I have not watched Big Brother so I did not know him. Jim, as a very UN PC comedian, and Brian, as a extremely Camp Homosexual ,working together was bound to cause friction, most probably the TV company knew this. So the stage is set, Jim has to serve some of Brian’s Camp mates who behaved in a way that irritated Jim, at the end of the services Jim said to Boxer Barry and Brian “do those shirt lifters always give that kind of look”. In the staff room afterwards Brian berated Jim for using an offensive word i.e. “Shirt Lifter”, Jim brushes him away and makes the comment as “Good As You” a homosexual rallying call. Brian went into a screaming and crying fit supported by the to silly young girls on the show, Adele Silva and Abigail Clancy saying leave him alone he is only a boy (he is 29). Why do silly young women want to defend a thing like Brian? ITV told Jim he had to leave the show for insulting Brian. At the end of the week some of the so called celebrity diners were asked the best bits of the programme at one of the Nolan sisters (the one who was in the Bill) said that moment with Brian was inspiration for millions of men the way he stood up against Jim. The next day several papers carried a large report the incident.
While this programme was on I had been reading a book called “Sniper 1” a true story of British Snipers in Iraq, who’s bravery was unsurpassed these were young men who were being killed, wounded while serving their country. I did not know whether they were homosexual or heterosexual and I did not care all I knew I felt a great sense of pride. Compare this with the disgusting behaviour of the Camp, Publicity seeking, excuse for a man Brian; he was upset because some one called him a name thanks God the great majority of Englishman are not like him. As for that Nolan women maybe in her showbiz world that type of behaviour is a sign of bravery but it is not in the real world, You can see why the UK is fast going down the pan when people put these celebrities on a pedestal

Thank fully the Public voted a real man to win the show BARRY McGuigan an ex World Boxing Champion, mid you I am surprised the PC Brigade did not have a go at him as they want Boxing banned.

Below is a comment made by a reader in the Daily Express which I think is apt


Nobjocki
Comment No. 685403
September 12 13:49
I'm one of those people who, whilst I find homosexuality physically and morally wrong ,have many gay friends and work colleagues.However I think if you wish to go through life being theatrically camp like Brian Dowling then you should be prepared to expect a certain amount of attention coming back the other way.Indeed many of those gay friends and work colleagues believe the behaviour of Dowling and like-minded exhibitionist gays does them no favours.I mean - does anyone really find the term " shirt-lifter " THAT offensive any more.Certainly not as offensive as the term " pikey " which wasn't deemed bad enough by TV producers to have Marco Pierre White removed from the show.Double standards all round methinks.
Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this comment.

Union Flag in distress

Martin Clarke
118 East Street
Sittingbourne
ME10 4Rx

Dear Editor
In your paper last week you featured a piece where a Labour Councillor disagreed with the Union Flag being flown at the SBC Offices as he thought the National Flag was a racist emblem, he then suggested flying the Flag upside down, this was done when someone was in distress. For once I agree with a member of the Labour party not that the Flag is racist but it should be flown upside down as a sign of this countries distress at having Gordon Brown and his Labour government ruining this great Nation we call the United Kingdom, the flag should not be flown in the correct way until a Conservative Government is in power.

Referendum

Together we can make Gordon Brown listen
At the last General Election, Gordon Brown promised us a referendum on the EU Constitution but now he is breaking that promise.
He claims we don't need one because the new document is called a "Treaty" rather than a "Constitution". But it doesn't really matter what people call it. The fact is that the new Treaty is basically the same as the Constitution and it means giving away more powers to the EU.
It would create a new EU president and lead to the loss of at least 60 of our national vetoes. It gives the EU the power to make treaties and introduces a new ratchet clause that would make it easier for the EU to taken on even more powers in the future.
Just before becoming Prime Minister Gordon Brown said "the manifesto is what we put to the public. We've got to honour that manifesto. That is an issue of trust for me with the electorate." That manifesto included the promise of a referendum and it is up to all of us to make sure that he honours that pledge.
The campaign for a referendum is supported by people from all parties - in fact more than eight out of ten of Labours own voters want a referendum.
If you would like to play your part in making sure that Gordon Brown keeps his promise, then I hope you will offer your support to the cross-party "I want a referendum" campaign by signing their online petition at www.iwantareferendum.com

Red Arrows to British for Olympics

The world-famous Red Arrows have been banned from appearing at the 2012 London Olympics because they are deemed "too British".Organisers of the event say that the Arrows military background might be "offensive" to other countries taking part in the Games. The display team have performed at more than 4000 events worldwide, but the Department of Culture, Media and Sport have deemed the display team "too militaristically British". Red Arrows pilots were said to be "outraged", as they had hoped to put on a truly world class display for the Games, something which had never been seen before. Being axed from a British-based event for being "too British" is an insult - the Arrows are a symbol of Britain.The Red Arrows have been excellent ambassadors for British overseas trade, as they display their British-built Hawk aircraft all over the world.The Arrows performed a short flypast in 2005 when the winning bid was announced, but their flypast at the Games was to have been truly spectacular.It is to be hoped that common sense prevails

Immigrants increase traffic accidents

So 1/5 of all crimes are committed by immigrants, immigrants create an increase in traffic accidents> Not my words but reports in the media, in tuesday's Mail there were some interesting comments:

No surprise there, then. Yet another reason to celebrate our membership of the EU.What is not mentioned in this report is that most EU drivers in this country leave their cars registered in their home countries. This avoids the need to pay for the Motor Vehicle Licence (car tax), MOT and insurance and also allows the driver to avoid detection when caught by cameras breaking road-safety laws. Furthermore, the authorities don't check for a valid insurance certificate at the point of entry when these cars are driven into our country.- Lickyalips, Richmond, Surrey


The vast majority of East Europeans driving on our roads will be doing so illegally. Those who bring their cars here will have been here for more than 6 months and should therefore register their vehicles here and then pay their road fund tax and submit their vehicles for a MOT and if they bother with insurance it will be their inadequate Eastern European one which will be invalidated if they are permanently in the UK, but they don't and the police find it easier to ignore the problem. Others will just leave the country with their car on a booze and cruise ferry for a day and return 24 hours later so that their 6 months exemption from registering their vehicle start from scratch. They bring their old customs and habits with them which are not compatible with our customs and laws such as drink driving, illegal fishing, carrying knives etc and they belong to criminal gangs having a field day carrying out crime with impunity, again, because police shy away due to their human rights and language difficulties.

Iraqi Women and English Pin Badge

An incident occurred in a supermarket recently, when the following was witnessed: A Muslim woman dressed in a Burkha (A black gown & face mask) was standing with her shopping in a queue at the checkout. When it was her turn to be served, and as she reached the cashier, she made a loud remark about the English Flag lapel pin, which the female cashier was wearing on her blouse. The cashier reached up and touched the pin and said, "Yes, I always wear it proudly. My son serves abroad with the forces and I wear it for him". The Muslim woman then asked the cashier when she was going to stop bombing and killing her countrymen, explaining that she was Iraqi. At that point, a Gentleman standing in the queue stepped forward, and interrupted with a calm and gentle voice, and said to the Iraqi woman: "Excuse me, but hundreds of thousands of men and women, just like this ladies son have fought and sacrificed their lives so that people just like YOU can stand here, in England, which is MY country and allow you to blatantly accuse an innocent check-out cashier of bombing YOUR countrymen". "It is my belief that if you were allowed to be as outspoken as that in Iraq, which you claim to be YOUR country, then we wouldn't need to be fighting there today". "However - now that you have learned how to speak out and criticise the English people who have afforded you the protection of MY country, I will gladly pay the cost of a ticket to help you pay your way back to Iraq ". "When you get there, and if you manage to survive for being as outspoken as what you are here in England, then you should be able to help straighten out the mess which YOUR Iraqi countrymen have got you into in the first place, which appears to be the reason that you have come to MY country to avoid." Apparently the queue cheered and applauded.IF YOU AGREE... Pass this on to all of your proud English friends. I just did.............!!!

PIKEY & Hells kitchen

I rather enjoy the programme “Hell’s Kitchen” it was quite interesting seeing celebratees (most of whom I have never heard of) trying to cope with proper work. What I find insulting, annoying and completely unnecessary is the continual swearing but I was gob smacked when someone named Lee from a Boy band Blue complained about “a pikey kitchen” with reference to the word Pikey which is a derogatory name for Gypsy , this remark has made the newspapers and the Commission for Racial Equality who have asked the chef to apologise. Well Chef Marco DON’T most of us use the word PIKEY to refer to those individuals who travel the roads in beat up Caravans, leaving a mess where ever they go, abuse the benefit system, steal and generally make a nuisance of themselves, some maybe travellers but more often then not they are the dregs of society. They are certainly not proper travellers or true gypsies. A Pikey Picnic is where everything that has been obtained or purloined during the day is thrown together as a meal
What is more interesting this rather immature individual Lee was upset by the term Pikey but was continually using bad language, derogatory gestures and remarks to fellow inmates, I note no one wants an apology from him any way what happened on to “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me”
It is interesting that in most of these programmes they have the “Token Homo” and one that is extraordinarily camp, this programme we have a Militant Poof (poof is a homosexual who is extrovert and camp, parades his sexuality when ever he can, it does not refer to Homosexuals in general) Although these type of men are comical to watch when they mince about the TV but I would have thought that the wider Homosexual community would find them insulting. I still can not understand what a person’s sexuality has to do with running a Kitchen maybe some one can tell me.

Martin Clarke Sittingbourne

Derek Wyatt MP & Crime

M Clarke
118 East Street
Sittingbourne

Saturday, 01 September 2007

Dear Editor

I note from the amount of articles featuring our local MP Derek Wyatt he must have returned from a long holiday or is there an election in the offering?

It is pleasing though to see his intervention in the soaring crime rates especially amongst the young, which is bringing the country to the verge of anarchy. Having read some of his ideas, although not new, does show that these young hooligans can be dealt with, although I am not to sure what he meant by “boarding element to state schools” I recently sent a letter in suggesting ways that we can stop this massive crime rate, my ideas were more prevention then cure but sadly it was not printed (I am told I write to much) but you can view it on my MartinClarke.blogspot.com

Although I congratulate Mr Wyatt, you have to admit that he and his government are responsible for this state of anarchy. When the Conservatives lost office 10 years ago did we have this epidemic of Crime NO, de we have this epidemic of Drug use NO, de we have this epidemic of Booze Britain NO, did we have this epidemic of Gang Culture NO, did we have this youth culture of disrespect for their elder and authority NO.

There are many reasons why these things have happened one of the main reasons is the introduction of the “European Human Rights Act” this act has been the catalyst for most of our ills as it continually favours the rights of criminal above those of the victim. The Labour government have been responsible for “I am not to blame” culture this attitude of not taking responsibility for ones actions is now the norm. The young thug who beats up a pensioner and who’s solicitor then try to make the excuse the thug had a bad childhood or his mother never breast fed him, the liberal minded judge who believes them and lets the thug of with a warning BUT what about the pensioner did he or she deserved to be beaten, was it he or she who was responsible for the thugs upbringing NO The Labour government and the rich lawyers and judges just consider the pensioner collateral damage. Remember fat cat Judges and lawyers get rich on crime.
Was it not this government who decided to release convicted prisoner early rather then build more prisons, who in recent report have suggested a lot re-offended again within 24 hours, why? Just so the y can save money, who would have ever believed Socialist Government would put money before the safety of its people. Money has become this Government’s God not the people it was elected to represent, take the ridiculous idea of Police Support Officer! What the country needs is more trained Police Officer even if they do cost money.

As for the Police they also have to take a lot of the blame on a recent Radio 4 News programme a Senior Police Officer would not admit to there being a crisis, it seems to me every rank above Inspector is more interested in climbing the slippery pole to promotion then worrying about crime, this governments obsession with Political Correctness, Positive discrimination in favour of Women, ethnic minority and Homosexuals has produced an inadequate, unsuccessful, under achieving Police Force (sorry Police Service) maybe time has come to employ Police Officer’s because they are best qualified to do the Job, now there would be a radical idea. Mind you the lower ranks must take some of the blame, how long does it take a PC to come to an incident? How many crimes warrant a call out or just a crime number? Mind you they are pretty good prosecuting those disgusting motorist or arresting people for defending their property or even themselves need I say more.

My England is collapsing around me not just on the crime but in nearly every respect, this is a country that panders to the worst elements in society, a country where in places you do not even hear the English language. At 57 years of age I to old to leave but what is more important I do not want to leave the time has come to take our country back.

If you are reading this I expect you will be on my blogsite, I know I have a lot of readers, with the slow erosion of democracy in this country the individual is no longer listened to. Yet through the Internet we all have a voice so why not start your own Blog put your views across you will not always get favourable replies, I know I don’t, but you do have a voice.


Yours Faithfully

How do we cure our sick society?

How do we cure our sick society?

Events during the last couple of weeks have left me depressed as I have come to realise just how sick is the society in which we now live. Every day we are confronted by yet another example of the deplorable sub-culture of anti-social behaviour that is slowly pervading our lives.

Binge drinking, rampant drug taking, burglary, shop lifting, threatening behaviour, vandalism, swearing in public and the verbal abuse of anyone who has the audacity to upbraid the perpetrators, are simply different sides of the same coin; lawlessness, and the most worrying aspect of this disorder is the seemingly unstoppable increase in the incidence of unprovoked violent attacks on innocent people.

The ghastly murder of 11 year old Rhys Jones, allegedly shot by a 15 year old youth on a BMX bike, is the latest high profile crime to hit out national TV screens. But such crimes are not confined to Liverpool, Leeds or London; locally we have our seen more than our fair share of violence, indeed not a week goes by without yet another appalling story appearing in our local newspapers.

Who can ever forget the senseless killing last year of 16 year old Michael Chapman as he walked across a Sittingbourne playing field, or, the more recent vicious attack on a Sheppey pensioner, which left him battered, bruised and hospitalised?

At the weekend my depression deepened because of a very minor incident, but one that I believe is hugely significant because it epitomises the problem that is ripping the heart out of communities up and down the country. It is the lack of respect many youngsters have for authority, for older people, including their own parents, and for their fellow citizens.

The incident happened as I finished clearing all the litter out of our front garden; I looked up just as two teenage girls walked out of the alley opposite my house. As they made their way down the road one of them simply threw an empty crisp packet over her shoulder. I was incensed and shouted at her to pick it up. She looked at me as if I was mad, laughed and walked away.

Thirty years ago I would have chased after her, grabbed her by the scruff of the neck, marched her back to the crisp packet, made her pick it up and put it into the nearest litter bin. Today if I had taken such action I would have been arrested for physical, and, quite likely, sexual assault.

What can we do on such occasions? Call the police? Hardly! They are not going to be interested in a single crisp packet when they are so short of manpower that they cannot even respond to calls about a burglary if the culprit is not still on the property!

Contact the girl’s parents? Not possible, because I had no idea who the girl was and she was unlikely to tell me even if I had asked her name, anyway, if I had discovered her identity it is very unlikely I would have received a sympathetic hearing from her parents!

The truth is that in today’s Britain we can do nothing but fume about such insolence. No wonder decent citizens are becoming so frustrated and losing respect for the law and those who are charged with upholding it.

Now you might well ask what that crisp packet has to do with the shooting of an 11 year old in Liverpool or the murder of a 16 year old in Sittingbourne. There is a clear link.

The problem is that if people get away with dropping litter without fear of punishment, some of them will believe the same goes when they bend a car aerial, daub graffiti on a garage door, throw empty beer cans at somebody’s window, urinate in the street, or even “do a bit of shoplifting”. And, unfortunately, too often they are right, because even if they are caught, the police increasingly refuse to prosecute for such a “minor crime”.

But often those “minor crimes” lead the perpetrators to more serious crimes. The problem is that failing to punish people for the little things makes them feel they can do what they like, including attacking those to whom they take a dislike. And sadly, our current sentencing policy is such that they almost certainly will get away with little more than a slap on the wrist for even the most vicious assault. Just remember, young Michael Chapman’s killer was sentenced to a derisory four years in prison!

So what can we do to reverse this increase in lawlessness? In two words: Zero Tolerance. I know this is a concept that has been talked about on and off for years, ever since Mayor Juliano used it so successfully to bring crime under control in New York City a few years back, but we have never really embraced it in this country. I believe the time has arrived for us to practice Zero Tolerance.

If we crack down on the minor criminals such as litter droppers and graffiti writers then we might just discourage them from progressing to more serious crimes.

Of course, schools have a big role to play in teaching our children the right way to behave, but over the years we have slowly reduced the avenues of discipline open to schools and now teachers have to enforce rules and regulations with both arms tied behind their back!

Some schools do have good discipline, however, teachers in those schools would tell you that they only have pupils in their care for a relatively short time; the rest of the time they are at home, where very often all the good work of our schools is lost because of indiscipline or disinterest by parents. That is another problem. Some parents simply refuse to accept responsibility for their children. Those parents must be brought to book and should be prosecuted for the misdemeanours of their children.

In my opinion, the breakdown in social cohesion and the increase in anti social behaviour began the day that Parliament voted to abolish Capital Punishment. Doing away with the ultimate deterrent sent out entirely the wrong message and undermined the whole sentencing system. That particular decision was further exacerbated when corporal punishment was banned in schools. Of course, there are some who are now trying to have corporal punishment banned in the home. God help us!

I know there will be many who disagree with me on this, and I respect their right to differ. I hope they respect my right to hold an opinion different to their own, without trying to brand me as some hang and flog ‘em monster!

Indeed, I would simply say to my critics that it cannot be a coincidence that the increase in anti-social behaviour and violent crime has happened at exactly the same time that we have done away with capital and corporal punishment.

In Singapore anyone caught dropping litter is caned, which could have something to do with why it is one of the cleanest cities in the world! These days, schools cannot use the cane or the slipper; the maximum punishment that can be metered out is “exclusion”, but what sort of punishment is that to a teenager who doesn’t want to be in school anyway? It is hardly surprising that the current level of truancy in our secondary schools is quite scandalous, with one local school having an appalling 25% truancy rate. 25%! That means that on average one pupil in four is absent every day!

Perhaps the time has come to set up special “detention” schools to which pupils who are excluded from their current main stream school, or, who habitually play truant, are sent. Those schools could offer a robust secure disciplined environment, with a properly structured educational day, but a tough regime of physical recreation once the academic day was finished. I suspect that discipline levels in our secondary schools would soon improve and truancy rates would drop dramatically!

Now such a scheme might be impractical, or, politically impossible, but at least we should have the debate about how we are going to combat the current lack of discipline in schools. I know that many teachers are frustrated with the lack of support they are given when they try to solve this problem.

Similarly, the police are frustrated when they see criminals for whom they have spent a lot of man hours to obtain a conviction, being released early because the Government simply has not built sufficient prisons. And on the subject of police, so bogged down are they with the paper work needed to obtain that conviction, that they simply have no time to do what they should be doing, which is preventing crimes form happening. Which leads me to another problem; when was the last time that you saw a policeman on foot patrol in your area?

We are told repeatedly that foot patrols are not the best way of using police time and that car patrols are more efficient. I am not convinced because the facts simply do not support this argument. Once again, it cannot be a coincidence that incidence of anti-social behaviour has increased as the number of foot patrols has reduced. Certainly, residents would sleep better in their beds if they knew that their local streets were being patrolled regularly by a policeman.

I believe we have reached a watershed; unless the decent majority start to fight back with determination and firmness, our country will become an intolerable place in which to live. To succeed in that fight we need to increase the number of police on our streets and bring discipline back into our schools and homes. Such measures will cost a lot of money, but that is a small price to pay if it means saving Britain from the anarchy that David Cameron spoke about last week.

Gordon Henderson
Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman
Sittingbourne & Sheppey

SWALE A DIRTY BOROUGH?

PRESS RELEASE

Date: 27th August 2007
Release date: Immediate
Subject: Gordon “frustrated at the way in which the level of tidiness and cleanliness is rapidly deteriorating across Swale”.

The director of the Swale Community Action Project (SCAP), Gordon Henderson, has written to Kent Highway Services to complain about the poor service being provided to the residents of Swale.

In his letter Gordon highlighted a number of issues including:-

· The poor standard of road sweeping, particularly on Sheppey.

· Blocked drain culverts that cause flooding.

· Overgrown and litter strewn alleys.

· Badly overgrown roundabouts and verges on the A249, which are unsightly and a hazard to motorists.

Gordon said:
‘I am becoming increasingly frustrated at the way in which the level of tidiness and cleanliness is rapidly deteriorating across Swale.

‘As the director of the Swale Community Action Project (SCAP) I am doing all I can to encourage members of our various communities to take ownership of their areas and help keep them clean and tidy. But it would make my task much easier if those agencies with a statutory responsibility for keeping our highways, verges, alleys and footpaths clean, set a better example by fulfilling their obligations with more diligence!

‘The situation has certainly become noticeably worse since the highways agreement with Swale Borough Council was ended a couple of years ago. Perhaps it is time to revisit that decision!’

In his letter Gordon also raised again the problem of speeding in Queenborough Road and Minster Road, and the lack of proper white lines in the area.’
….ends….

Enc: Copy of letter to Kent Highway Services

Planning is a Nonsense!!!

BEFORE AFTER
The two photographs attached have been taken on the land next the Swale Martial Arts Club in East Street Sittingbourne. Photo no 1 shows a long lean to shed where the club houses some of its equipment, it a very neat affair with recently refurbished roof, painted front and parts decked with hanging baskets. SMAC decided to keep this ground in reasonable good order because it was the first thing people who come from Faversham side see of Sittingbourne. It seems that the planning authorities at Swale Borough Council did not like our shed as a few weeks ago they sent an enforcement officer ( who was in all fairness very pleasant and helpful) to SMAC telling us that the Sheds and our bird aviary did not have planning permission and had to come down. It was true that the big shed and aviary did not have planning something I did not realise I needed the club had no option but to agree.
The questions one must ask oneself are as follows:
1) Why did we have to knock them down, planning departments answer was no planning, yet the sheds were more attractive then what is left, they did not ruin the look of the area, they were not affecting anyone in terms of a hazard, they were not a danger to anyone and not in a state of disrepair. Surely common sense can prevail when this sort of things happen or is that beyond the remit of planning department?
2) Is it necessary to send a Planning Contravention Notice with fine of £1000 if you do not reply in 21 days?
3) A 8ft x 6ft garden shed is also part of the order, yet this stands in the garden of one of the flats on land that has been residential and in continual use as such for over a 100 years, in that time there must have been scores of garden sheds. So why now is it that contravenes planning regulations could it be planning are flexing their bureaucratic muscles it will not be the first time SMAC has been singled out someone, years ago we were taken to court because we had a banner which did not have planning permission yet all the major stores had banner adverts without planning, for nearly 100 years there has been a roadway to what used to be stables and a barn at the rear of the buildings, when the new roundabout was erected our entrance from the road was taken away so we were told to use another route from the road after doing this for 20 years some KCC officials tell us we are breaking the law and must cease. Are the SMAC being harassed by some at the council or is it we are not one of the big companies and an easy target?
4) The planning department tell me you need planning permission for a garden shed and do this you must have proper drawings so for an 10ft x 8ft shed you will have to have a set of drawings which will cost £100 or more. So if you have had a shed erected in less then 4 years you could be breaking planning laws.
Local Councillors seem to have less and less powers and in reality we are governed and administered by a unelected autonomous organisation, Councillors must start clawing back control of Council affairs and return power to the people.

Immigrants Must Adapt "take it or leave it" veiw from Australia

Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told onWednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in abid to head off potential terror attacks.
A day after a group of mainstream Muslim leaders pledged loyalty to Australia and her Queen at a special meeting with Prime Minister John Howard, he and his Ministers made it clear that extremists would face a crackdown. Treasurer Peter Costello, seen as heir apparent to Howard, hinted that some radical clerics could be asked to leave the country if they did not accept that Australia was a secular state, and its laws were made by parliament. 'If those are not your values, if you want a country which has Sharia law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you', he said on NationalTelevision.
'I'd be saying to clerics who are teaching that there are two lawsgoverning people in Australia : one the Australian law and another Islamiclaw that is false. If you can't agree with parliamentary law, independentcourts, democracy, and would prefer Sharia law and have the opportunity togo to another country, which practices it, perhaps, then, that's a betteroption', Costello said.
Asked whether he meant radical clerics would be forced to leave, he saidthose with dual citizenship could possibly be asked to move to the othercountry. Education Minister Brendan Nelson later told reporters that Muslimswho did not want to accept local values should 'clear off. Basically peoplewho don't want to be Australians, and who don't want, to live by Australianvalues and understand them, well then, they can basically clear off', hesaid.
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.'
'However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the'politically correct' crowd began complaining about the possibility that ourpatriotism was offending others. I am not against immigration, nor do I holda grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to Australia.' 'However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to ourcountry, and apparently some born here, need to understand.' 'Thisidea of Australia being a multi-cultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. And as Australians, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle.'
'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trialsand 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 becomepart 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 Christianprinciples, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It iscertainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If Godoffends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as yournew home, because God is part of our culture.'
'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why.. All we ask isthat you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.'
'If the Southern Cross offends you, or you don't like 'A Fair Go', thenyou should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We arehappy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don'tcare how you did things where you came from. By all means, keep yourculture, but do not force it on others.
'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, British citizens will findthe backbone to start speaking and voicing the same truths!*
If you agree please SEND THIS TO EVERYBODY YOU KNOW

SCHOOL leaving age 18 you must be joking

Dear Editor
The latest idiotic idea to come from our new labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown is that we should keep children at school till their 18 years of age. One wonders if he and his government have a clue what it is to be normal or maybe because he has had children very late in life he does not know what it like to have a 15/16 year old who does not want be at school, well he should go and ask a Teacher who will have to put up with young Men and Women who would rather be working. For that what 16/18 year old are, they are not children, at 16 they can smoke, they can get married, they can legally have children (under this government rather then deal with that problem they will bring the age down to 12 so at a stroke you will have no under agemothers), drive a motor bike, at 18 you can vote and die for your country.
Now a far better idea would be to let youngsters leave at 15 years as long as they have an apprenticeship or equivalent, which will include a day release where their education can continue but in a more adult environment. I have dealt with young people most of my adult life as a Judo/Sombo Wrestling Coach and at 14/15 the youngsters move up to our Senior section where they come involved with adults, this especially beneficial for young boys. Being involved with adults made them feel more mature and they acted accordingly, obviously not every adult pastime is encouraged my Judo pupils were never allowed to drink till they were 18 they were discouraged from smoking and taught respect for other people. I know you will say that is easy in my line of work because you have pupils who want to be there and that is true but that is exactly what the old apprenticeship scheme did it put young people mainly boys working with older people, people they would be with for as little as 40 hours a week, these people would become their mentors and friends without either of them realising it. I started work at 15 years and 3 months as an Agricultural Apprentice, after being out with my mates for the weekend I came back to work on the Monday my head full of rubbish planted by other adolescents of may age group, these ideas I would start bragging about in front of older work colleagues who would soon put me straight by giving me a verbal tirade, a kick up the backside or in extreme cases a cow pat hitting me along side the ear but there would always be someone who would tell me why I had spoken rubbish. Today teenagers only mix with their own age group and sadly believe all the hype that they talk and see “the blind leading the blind”.
If at 16 years of age a youngsters doesn’t opt to got back to education, doesn’t have a job he or she would go in the Forces for a year not as front line service personnel but as back up staff doing the mundane jobs.
Jobs being the answer but yet for a 16 year old to get even a basic job is becoming more difficult as foreign labour is pushing them out of the Labour market, I have been told that most farmers and companies who want low cost labour now refuse to take on British workers, it is easy to condemn youngsters for not working but if fellow countryman do not give them the chance what are they supposed to do.

Flooding Action NOT Words

Gordon calls for flooding action, not words.

Gordon Henderson has demanded that the Government learns lessons from this summer’s floods and bans all housing developments in areas at risk from flooding, such as Sittingbourne & Sheppey, until the safety of those developments can be guaranteed.

Gordon said:
‘We have been immensely lucky in our area. We have witnessed flooding across huge swathes of north, west and south England, but we have been spared the traumas faced by so many families. However, the truth is that what has happened elsewhere could so easily have happened here.

‘It is time to call a halt on the huge housing developments planned for our area until the Government can guarantee that such developments are safe from the threat of flooding.’

Government Ministers in Whitehall are planning an inquiry into the floods; and Gordon is calling for a number of areas of concern to be taken into account:

· Who’s in charge ?: There should be clearer lines of responsibility for preventing flooding and tackling flooding emergencies. Since 2000, there have been at least 25 reports on flooding: and yet no single Government Minister, Department or Agency in charge.

· Building on flood plains: The Government’s building plans and regional targets will mean even more high-density development on floodplains, such as in Rushenden and Iwade, many of which may be uninsurable or have exorbitant premiums. Such development should not take place unless the safety of both assets and homes can be guaranteed.

· Urban drainage and gully cleaning: “Cinderella” issues such as urban drainage must no longer be neglected. Pressures on town hall budgets in recent years have squeezed highways budgets, leading to cuts in gully cleaning and more localised flooding.

· Emergency funding review: There must be a complete review of the “Bellwin scheme”, a central fund which gives local authorities financial assistance in the aftermath of large-scale emergencies.

· Climate change matters: The Government should make an annual statement on climate change adaptation, which would include evaluation of flood defences.

Gordon went on to say:

‘Across the country, the emergency services and local authorities have done an immense amount of work in recent weeks to tackle the problems of flooding – from major floods to small-scale incidents. But with a changing climate, we need to learn the lessons.

‘There should be clearer lines of responsibility for preventing flooding; we should end the neglect of urban drainage, sewers and gullies; and we must review Whitehall’s plans for reckless building on flood plains - that threaten to become the sink estates of tomorrow.’

Notes to Editors

LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM SUMMER OF FLOODS

The Government has announced an inquiry into why this year’s flooding was so extensive, whether its impact could have been predicted and prevented, and whether the immediate response was effective and co-ordinated. Conservatives are calling for the inquiry to consider a number of issues:

· General co-ordination: As early as 2001, the Environment Agency acknowledged: “the confusion of responsibility for managing the wide variety of flood problems” (EA, Lessons Learned, 2001). However, 25 reports later, responsibility for preventing and managing flooding is still divided among Whitehall departments DEFRA and DCLG, and the Environment Agency, drainage boards, water companies and local authorities.

· Condition of flood defences: The National Audit Office has warned that less than half of the country’s high-risk flood defences were at “target condition”. The Environment Agency has a target of 63 per cent (NAO, Building and maintaining river and coastal flood defences in England, June 2007).

· How cost overruns at the Rural Payments Agency led to cuts in vital flood defence work: After having to set aside almost £400 million to pay for RPA failures and to provide for possible EU fines, DEFRA slashed £200 million from its agencies, including £15 million from flood defence work at the Environment Agency. The Government subsequently promised an extra £200 million a year for flood defences from 2011. However, there are concerns that the money is for capital funding only, with the Environment Agency’s planning budget being slashed.

· Pressures on town hall finances mean less gully emptying: Financial pressures on councils have squeezed highways budgets, which in turn have led to cuts in gully clearing. The industry has warned, “with a continuing shortfall of funds, the backlog of work can only worsen. There is increasing concern about the deterioration of our roads and the consequences for safety... [There is] some considerable concern over problems with localised flooding resulting from reduced frequency of gully emptying. This was mentioned by numerous authorities” (Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance Survey, March 2007, pp.4, 17).

· More building on floodplains: According to the Environment Agency, 50 per cent of the housing built in Britain since the Second World War is on flood plains. Some 15 per cent of all current development is in the flood zone - as is 30 per cent of the building planned for 2016-2021. The Government’s new Housing Green Paper, published on 23 July, has signalled that even more building will inevitably be on flood plains. The Association of British Insurers has said that insurance companies would continue providing insurance “as long as it is in an area where the Government continues to invest in flood defence systems” (ABI Press Release, 11 November 2005). However, less than half of the UK’s flood defences are in target condition. This means that new developments may be uninsurable or have exorbitant premiums.

· Is the Bellwin scheme adequate?: The Bellwin scheme was introduced in 1983 to provide financial help to local authorities in the aftermath of large-scale emergencies. At present, Bellwin covers only revenue spending, not capital payments. It also only covers 85 per cent of costs, although this has been temporarily changed to 100 per cent. Even in 2001, the Government warned that “the main live issue [with Bellwin] is local authority expenditure on flood protection and responses to flooding” (DETR, Impacts of climate change: implications for DETR, 2001). There should be a complete review of the Bellwin scheme, including the capital costs of flooding, rather than short-term fixes.

ENDS

Who are these fools who support Gordon Brown?

The polls tell us that this Labour Government under the new Prime Minister Gordon Brown is 9 points ahead that would mean a complete landslide victory for the Labour Party, purely because people think we have a new government!
WE DON’T
Gordon Brown was Tony Blair’s second in command since 1997 and as such supported everything he done so lets have a look at Labours legacy:
1) Increased Taxation
2) Increased Teenage Pregnancy
3) Increased usage of illegal drugs
4) Increase in crime especially teenage crime
5) Increase in illegal immigration
6) Increase in deadly hospital diseases
7) Increase in power to the EU
8) Increase in unemployment for native Britain’s, work taken by 2 million EU workers who accept lower wages
9) Patients having to go to European Court to get the NHS to supply life saving drugs
10) High percentage of youngsters out of control
11) More money and help given to foreign disaster areas then our flood disaster
12) A massive recruitment problem for the Armed Forces
I could go on and on, so who are these people who want to vote for this treacherous, inefficient, corrupt government? I am no great lover of David Cammeron but I would rather vote for him then Gordon Brown and his henchman mid you I would rather vote for my neighbour’s dog then vote labour

Is Gordon Brown a traitor to GB or a EU Patriot

Scandal of new EU “Constitution”.

GORDON Henderson has added his voice to criticism of the EU draft treaty that was recently negotiated by Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, accusing the Government of “scandalously undemocratic behaviour”.

The treaty, which was signed by Tony Blair just before he stepped down as Prime Minister, but was heavily influenced by his successor, Gordon Brown, is almost a carbon copy of the European “Constitution” that was so decisively rejected by Dutch and French voters less than two years ago, and on which both Mr Blair and Mr Brown promised the British People would be able to vote in a referendum.

The problem is that currently few members of parliament can make a proper judgement on the “treaty” because the only copy circulated in the House of Commons is in French!

The ludicrous situation has been highlighted by North Thanet`s MP, Roger Gale, who this week challenged the Leader of the House, Harriett Harman, to make the EU Draft Constitutional Treaty available in English to Members of the House to study during the parliamentary recess period.

Gordon said:
‘Hooray for Roger Gale! At least we have one Kent MP who believes in British democracy. It is quite scandalous that the Government has failed to provide members of the parliament with a copy of the treaty in English.

‘How on earth can they make a proper judgement about the treaty when it is French! The conclusion has to be that the Government does not want MP’s to read the treaty in English, because they will be able to prove conclusively that the treaty is simply the European Constitution under a different name!

‘Whatever one’s views on Europe, this is simply an undemocratic manoeuvre by the Government to stifle debate and avoid having a referendum that Gordon Brown knows he would lose. That is quite shameful!

‘This whole episode once again tarnishes the whole image of the European Union and simply reinforces my own view that we would be better off out of the EU.’

Derek Wyatt betrays local pensioners

Gordon Henderson once again highlights how this government and it's MP's care very little form its own people.

Let us be quite clear; our local MP’s decision to vote against the pensions “lifeboat fund” was not only a betrayal of the ASW pensioners, but was a kick in the teeth also for many other local people who have lost their occupational pension through no fault of their own, despite repeated Government assurances that those pensions were safe.

And that latter statement is the whole crux of this issue; this was an issue of public confidence in Government information. These pensioners have been misled, deceived and now betrayed. No wonder those workers are bitter!

Our MP tells us that “the lifeboat scheme cannot work” and that any rescue plan would “hit the general taxpayer”. In addition, he persists in the deceit that this was a Tory initiative. I am sorry, that is all so much hogwash!

Firstly, this was a cross party initiative promoted by Conservatives, Lib Dems and Labour MPs, including Frank Field MP. Secondly, the “lifeboat scheme” is almost identical to the help given to Mirror Group pensioners when Robert Maxwell stole their pensions. The idea was that the Treasury would loan funds to help pensioners NOW and those funds would then be paid back over time. The money loaned to the Maxwell victims is still being paid back today, at no cost to general taxpayers!

It is true that the Government has now (at long last) agreed to pay 90% of the pensions, the problem is that nobody knows when the pensioners will actually start seeing any money. The Government’s record to date has been abysmal, with millions of pounds being spent on administration, with only a relatively few payments being made to pensioners.

The scandal is that many of the pensioners who are seeking justice will be dead before any money is paid out. If the “lifeboat fund” had been agreed then those pensioners could have started receiving money almost immediately.

I hope our MP is proud of himself!

Yours sincerely
Gordon

Happy Days From The Past

Just for a minute, forget everything stressful and readthis...............Close your eyes and go back in time...Before the Internet...Before semi-automatics, joyriders and crack....Before SEGA or Super Nintendo...Way back........I'm talking about Hide and Seek in the park.The corner shop.Hopscotch.Butterscotch.Skipping.Handstands.Football with an old can.Fingerbob.Beano, Dandy, Buster, Twinkle and Dennis the Menace.Roly Poly.Hula Hoops, jumping the stream, building dams.The smell of the sun and fresh cut grass.Bazooka Joe bubble gum.An ice cream cone on a warm summer night from the van that plays a tune.Chocolate or vanilla or strawberry or maybe Neapolitan or perhapsscrewball.Wait......Watching Saturday morning cartoons, short commercials or the flicks.Children's Film Foundation, The Double Deckers, Red Hand Gang, TomorrowPeople, Tiswas or Swapshop?, and 'Why Don't You'? - or staying up forDoctor Who.When around the corner seemed far away and going into town seemed likegoing somewhere.Earwigs, wasps, stinging nettles and bee stings.Sticky fingers.Playing Marbles. Ball bearings. Big 'uns and Little 'uns.Cops and Robbers, Cowboys and Indians, and Zorro.Climbing trees.Making igloos out of snow banks.Walking to school, no matter what the weather.Running till you were out of breath, laughing so hard that your stomachhurt.Jumping on the bed. Pillow fights.Spinning around on roundabouts, getting dizzy and falling down was causefor giggles.Being tired from playing....remember that?The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team.Water balloons were the ultimate weapon.Football cards in the spokes transformed any bike into a motorcycle.Choppers and Grifters.Eating raw jelly. Orange squash ice pops. Vimto and Jubbly lolliesRemember when...There were two types of trainers - girls and boys, and Dunlop GreenFlash The only time you wore them at School was for P.E.And they were called gym shoes or if you are older - plimsolesYou knew everyone in your street - and so did your parents.It wasn't odd to have two or three 'best' friends.You didn't sleep a wink on Christmas Eve.When nobody owned a pure-bred dog.When 25p was decent pocket moneyCurly Whirlys. Space Dust. Toffo's.Top Trumps.When you'd reach into a muddy gutter for a penny.When nearly everyone's mum was at home when the kids got there.When any parent could discipline any kid, or feed him or use him tocarry groceries and nobody, not even the kid, thought a thing of it.When being sent to the head's office was nothing compared to the fatethat awaited a misbehaving pupil at home.Basically, we were in fear for our lives but it wasn't because ofdrive-by shootings, drugs, gangs etc.Parents and grandparents were a much bigger threat and some of us arestill afraid of them.Didn't that feel good?Just to go back and say, Yeah, I remember that!Remember when....Decisions were made by going "Ip, Dip, Dog Sh*t""Race issue" meant arguing about who ran the fastest.Money issues were handled by whoever was the banker in MonopolyThe worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was germs.And the worst thing in your day was having to sit next to one.It was unbelievable that 'British Bulldog 123' wasn't an Olympic event.Having a weapon in school, meant being caught with a catapult.Nobody was prettier than Mum.Scrapes and bruises were kissed and made better.Taking drugs meant orange-flavoured chewable aspirin.Ice cream was considered a basic food group.Getting a foot of snow was a dream come true.Older siblings were the worst tormentors, but also the fiercestprotectors.If you can remember most or all of these, then you have LIVED.Pass this on to anyone who may need a break from their grown life...I DOUBLE-DARE YOU

Global Warming A Reply

Dear Editor

In last weeks EKG Mr Ben Murphy lambasted Miss Helmsley- Flint because she suggested Climate Changes have happened since the World was formed and you also suggested that anyone who does not believe that man is not totally responsible for Global Warming must be mad or a member of the Flat Earth Society. Now I am not a scientist and can not make any scientific judgement on Global Warning but I can read and have enough imagination not to be conned by indoctrination techniques. I started reading articles on Global Warning first of all the only information you could get was that of those who believed that Global warning is a man made problem what made me have doubts was the hypocrisy of those who preached man’s forthcoming doom and then it was all the politicians/pop stars who jumped on the bandwagon and lastly the clincher was that it was an excuse for governments to raise taxes. The main theme is that greenhouse carbon dioxide is to blame and we should cut back and the worst offenders are:
Aeroplane flights which have been taxed has this stopped people flying NO all it has done is given more taxes to the government, if Global Warming is going to destroy our planet in a few years time why have not all flights with the exception of humanitarian ones been banned? We must all cut back on electricity and use energy saving bulbs, yet our towns and motorways are lit up like Christmas trees at night, supermarkets open 24 hours what about the electricity there. Save the Planet Pop concerts which use an inordinate amount of electricity, ten of thousands of people to travel most coming by vehicles which produced carbon monoxide, how many plastic cups and bags are used at these events, World governments flying all over the world with their entourage to attend meeting on Global Warming, how much carbon is produced shipping food from all over the World to the UK, for instance why do we need apples from South Africa or Strawberries form Spain I could go on. I am not suggesting that all these things should be altered but its hypocritical for us to be lectured at for being so Naughty.
Mr Murphy goes on to say that our only chance is the European Union this most probably one of the most corrupt organisation their has ever been, it cannot balance its own books, it promised to get rid of corruption in its organisation something it has not done, any thing the EU says or does cannot be trusted it is like the old Soviet Union using propaganda and subterfuge to justify its existence. As for 95% of scientists agreeing that World warming is man made where he did get this information form was it just plucked out of the air was every scientist in the World asked? Mr Murphy condemned the Channel 4 documentary inferring it was a one off but there has been several articles suggesting the same as Channel 4 the latest is an article entitled “The Great Man Made Global Warming Fraud” by John Prendergast is article is supported by 43 bibliographies I suggest every one read it. Can I quote from his article

“All three major UK political parties accept man made global warming as dogma, fostered by such as Lord Rees, Al Gore, Sir David King, Sir Crispin Tickell, Sir Nicholas Stern, Nancy Pelosi, Dr Pachauri, I)avid Milliband, and Heidi Cullen. Other greens such as Monbiot and Porrit also are homo flagelists. The US Academy of Sciences is in this camp as is the Union of Concern Scientists (another Trade Union). Their focus is the UN body called the Inter governmental Panel for Climate Change (actually heavily funded by the UK Would it be cynical to say their anti capitalist target seems to be the humbling of Big Oil and pursuit of funds or are they just Mencken’s Hobgoblins?”

Do I believe Global Warming is man made I do not know but one thing is for sure I will not be bullied into believing anything whether it be by Government dictate or by order of the European Dictatorship

I do believe in recycling it makes good sense not to use up the Worlds resources, I do believe in cutting back on pollution for health reason, I do believe in making cars more efficient it will save me money and keep the limited oil stocks longer.
Oh and by the way Editor your own letter in Gazette Gossip with reference to the unusual weather conditions being a modern day phenomena can I suggest you look at your article on “Dusting of the files where in 1957 there was a freak Hailstorm and Sittingbourne High street was flooded” also do you remember the heat wave of 1976?
Martin Clarke www.sittingbourne .org

SWALE LAND TO BE DESTROYED

GORDON Henderson is urging Swale Borough Council and Kent County Council to object to the current proposal being put forward as part of the Medway Estuary and Swale Shoreline Management Plan which is recommending 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.

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.

Gordon Henderson said:

‘I am not happy with the current proposal. I know it could be worse and our shoreline could have been classified as “no active intervention”, but the proposals contained within the current consultation document are simply unacceptable.

‘The proposed “managed realignment” will see the loss of large tracts of land both on Sheppey and along the coastline from Murston to Faversham. Currently that land is not being farmed, however, it is strategically important to the country’s long term ability to be self sufficient in food.

‘I am deeply sceptical about the motives behind this policy, particularly relating to the stretch of coast from Shell Ness to Kingsferry Bridge, because from a cost point of view the current proposal to build sea defences further inland, thereby losing acres of land nearer The Swale, simply does not add up. I suspect that this has more to do with meeting European Union targets for bird habitat than it does managing our land effectively!

‘Surely it would be more sensible, and more cost effective, to simply raise the existing sea defences, rather than abandon them and build new defences further in land.

‘I believe that the Government, via the Environment Agency, has a secret agenda and I call upon both Swale Borough Council and Kent County Council to object to these plans until the public receives a fuller, and more honest explanation for the proposal to allow huge tracts of Swale to disappear under water.’

GORDON ATTACKS GORDON

GORDON Henderson has written to new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, and challenged him to make good his promise to make the Government more accountable to its citizens.

In a speech this week Mr Brown told Parliament that the thrust of his proposed changes to the constitution were all about “devolving more power directly to the people”.

Gordon Henderson said:

‘I am willing to take the words of our new Prime Minister at face value, so I have written to him and asked him to demonstrate his sincerity by turning those words into action.

‘I say to Mr Brown that if he is really serious about returning power to the people, rather than simply saying the words as a cosmetic exercise designed to gain some temporary political advantage, he should take the following steps.

‘Firstly he should hold an immediate referendum on the recent European Union amending treaty, which is a European Constitution in everything but name, to let the British people decide if it should be ratified.

‘Secondly, he should allow the English a referendum on whether they would like their own parliament, or, whether they would like to limit to MP's with English constituencies a vote on matters relating only to England. I really cannot see that such a referendum should be a problem for Mr Brown, because he was a member of the Labour Government that allowed the Scots and the Welsh a referendum about how they should be governed!

‘Lastly, Mr Brown should call a General Election so that the British people can decide who they want as their Prime Minister. That is real democracy at work!

‘If Mr Brown refuses these requests, then his fine words about democracy and making Parliament accountable to the People is just so much hogwash.’
….ends….

Metric Martyrs

Can I bring to your attention about a petition calling for a “Royal Pardon for the Metric Martyrs” these were 4 men Steve Thoburn, Julian Harman, Colin Hunt and John Dove who were convicted in 2001 for selling fruit and veg in pounds on imperial scales instead of using metric? For more information www.metricmartyrs.co.uk.

The BBC particularly try and convince us that our Imperial Weights and Measures are out dated and we should use the EU metric system but even they in times of crises or moments of great achievement and joy revert back to our traditional methods i.e.

The recent floods they reported how many inches of rain fell and rivers had risen by so many feet, they usually use centimetres and meters.
The very high winds some months ago were reported at speeds of miles per hour not in Kilometres.
When a celebrity’s baby is born it is announced in pounds and ounces.

Why? Because British People can Relate and Visualise our Traditional British Measurements.

Martin Clarke Sittingbourne

Is Wyatt MP telling Porkies?

The Editor
Kent On Sunday
Via email Sunday 24th June 2007

Dear Sir
The protestations of innocence from the Labour MP for Sittingbourne & Sheppey, Derek Wyatt, in which he claimed that he voted against the cross party proposal to set up a "lifeboat fund" because he "questioned the legitimacy of seizing unclaimed assets" and because any such fund "could create a huge financial burden for the taxpayer" raises a number of interesting questions.

1) Why did Mr Wyatt sign the Early Day Motion in Parliament which supported setting up the lifeboat fund and using those very same unclaimed assets?

2) Why did Mr Wyatt in March this year present a bill to Parliament (with Labour colleague Frank Field) to, and I quote, "establish an Unclaimed Assets Agency; to confer powers on the Agency to obtain information from banks and building societies relating to unclaimed assets; to make provision for the transfer of a proportion of unclaimed assets to the Agency for distribution among certain members of occupational pension schemes; and for connected purposes"

3) If Mr Wyatt is so concerned about the poor old taxpayer then why recently did he vote himself an additional £10,000, each and every year, as a "communication allowance"? This decision is going to cost the taxpayer over £6 million a year, without any hope of a refund from unclaimed assets!

I really do hope that even at this late stage Mr Wyatt will change his mind and back the amendments to the Pensions Bill when it returns to the Commons in a few weeks time. If the amendments are passed it will ensure that the ASW pensioners, and many other people, get the justice they richly deserve.

Yours sincerely
Gordon
GORDON HENDERSON
Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman
Sittingbourne & Sheppey

Is Global Warming a myth

Once again reports are appearing in the Press about people may be fined and imprisoned if they put their rubbish in the wrong containers all in the name of “Saving the Planet”, we are told we will soon have a container for Glass, Paper, Plastic, Garden waste and Food Slops that 5 Bins to put out in front of your house. Why must we do this “because of Global Warming” because we evil Humans have ruined the Planet? Well I am not a scientist but I am also not stupid, Abraham Lincoln said "You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time."
This Global Warning has divided the Worlds Scientists into two groups , the best funded group which are also supported by the three main political parties in the UK sate that man is evil and is causing Global Warning via mans carbon consumption. The second group think that Carbon consumption is not the cause of Global warning.
I have read both for and against. I have yet to be convinced either way. What I do know governments are making a lot of money in taxation with the excuse of Global Warning and recent surveys show that the majority of people think like me.

With regard to rubbish instead of making some abstract statement that Re-Cycling will save the World which no one believes, why not try the following

Tell people we are fast running out of Holes in the ground to put our waste, so recycling makes good practical sense and you can make money, for several year our Judo club has been collecting waste paper and drinks can which we get money for. Most sensible people want clean air, clean rivers, clean sea, clean everything, so why not convince people that what they are doing benefits them directly, rather then tell them a lot of Horror stories.

Martin Clarke Sittingbourne

Strawberries unpicked

It seems our Farmers have so much soft fruit that they do not have enough pickers; this is all because the government is pandering to the public who have had enough of foreign workers and illegal immigrants, according to the farmers.

Some of these farmers have done extremely well out of having low cost foreign workers as have the public with very cheap seasonal fruit but surely now the “birds have come to roost” and all of us must pay more. Farmers must pay their workforce more money which will encourage a more local workforce, it was not that long ago that all frit picking was done by English people but over the years we have seen the Mother with her children being thrown off farms because of Health & safety edicts and a benefit system which pays the unemployed to much and discourages them from getting work. The latter can solved very easy if the unemployed refuse to work cut their benefit. Farmers tell the English are to lazy to work, I do not believe that they will not work for a pittance and I know of occasions where English people have been refused a job on farms with preference given to low paid Eastern European workers.. Foreign workers are starting to revolt, they want more money and they want better living condition not shanty towns so the press tell us. What I cannot understand is that Farmers knew they would not get the workforce so why grow so much ?


Martin Clarke Sittingbourne

4 year old on TV Talent show

I never watch any of the so called reality shows, I am also not keen on these latest fad of talents show but by chance I sat down and watched the latest talent show “Britain got Talent” this seemed to be different from all the others as it had many different types of acts. I am not old enough to have visited an old fashioned MUSIC HALL but I should imagine this programme would be on the same lines.

Yet I was disgusted by seeing some children performing, one as young as 4 years, OH I hear you say but she is cute! My problem is that as a Judo and Martial Coach I have to attend along with most Coaches in the Combat Disciplines “Child Protection Courses” all club have to have a “Child Protection Officer” we are continually told Children are not Mini Adults and they must be allowed to develop as children. In the case of Judo and Sombo Wrestling the minimum age to participate is 5 years, special competitions are organised for the 5, 6, 7 year old. Judo and Sombo coaches are very aware that some parents try to fulfil their dreams through their children, pressuring their children to enter competition and win medals. Does this benefit the child or the ego of the parents? I am not against competition as I believe it can be character building but it must be handled responsibly.

Should this 4 year old be allowed to enter a Talent Show which is mainly for adults and very high profile? Is this a form of abuse by the parents and Talent show organisers? Or are the parents giving the child a helping hand for the future in what has become this countries New Religion “The Celebrity”?

I honestly do not know? Maybe some one from the high echelons of Child protection can enlighten me

My Honda Stolen

I recently took my granddaughter and her bike on my truck into the country so she could get used to cycling on roads, she enjoyed the experience so I thought I would like to join her. Because of my hip and knee injury cycling is out of the question, so an electric cycle, no not man enough so I purchased an old Honda 90 on EBay. This turned out to be a boon, instead my truck I could help save the world by cutting down on pollution, save money on fuel and get round town a lot quicker. At 6ft 2inces and weighing 23 stone I did get some strange looks and comments when I was flying about on my little moped but no matter as it was an enjoyable experience until Thursday! I whizzed down to Nobby’s Gym on Milton Regis Playing Fields to do some training something I do on a daily basis and left my bike outside of the gym by the window and you guessed 1 ½ hours later it was gone, stolen by some young hoodlum in a Burberry cap. Using my brothers van I visited all the possible places this thieving fool could have gone, so now I am back to using my environmentally unfriendly 4x4, my cheery little Honda I expect by now is raced to death across some field by some low life. Eventually I will find out who stole my little fun machine these thieves do not have many brain cells so they will brag to someone and when I find out, then I will have to give the culprit a very good talking to and make him realise the error of his ways.

Martin Clarke Sittingbourne

Brian Austin YJC Tribute

Most of you will have read in the local paper that former Councillor Brian Austin has died from Cancer, you can read in the local paper the good he has done for the community has a whole but I thought fitting that their should be some mention of his support for the Young Judo Club and the Clarke family.

The most important thing I found about Brian was that he never forgot his roots; he went to School in Sittingbourne, worked in Sittingbourne, lived in Sittingbourne and knew Sittingbourne. With Sittingbourne becoming more of a commuter town and with these new people becoming more involved in the community i.e. Councillors etc he never forgot the originals who put time and effort into the town long before it was fashionable. He had helped the Young Judo Club on numerous occasions and would often be guest of honour at Club events where he would spend a couple of hours, in my attempt to make the 1980 Moscow Olympics it was Brian and the late Ernie Madgwick who stood up in Council and asked the Swale Council to support me, they refused but I will not forget his help. I like Brian shared an interest in politics but we had different points of view but he never let that effect his judgement or friendship in fact when I told him I had been approached by the Conservative Party to stand as at the local elections he said “Good we need some Sittingbourne Originals on the Council”.

Brian Austin will not be forgotten he gave his all for Sittingbourne, I am often known as the Sittingbourne Big Man in the Martial Arts World but to me Brian is the Sittingbourne Giant and I am proud to say I have stood in his shadow.

My Families and Young Judo Club sympathises and respects go to his wife Valerie and his family.


Martin Clarke
On behalf of the Clarke family and Young Judo Club

What is to be British

I am a Tory but not someone who favours David Cameron some of his policy statements have annoyed me intensely, yet today in the press he has come up with a policy I support totally, a future Conservative Government will introduce “Proper history should celebrate our nation's” this where children in Schools will be taught in a way that celebrated our positive achievements at home and abroad. Remember GB had the greatest Empire the World has ever seen and brought the rule of law, free speech, freedom of the individual, parliamentary democracy as well as tangible things like education, railways, better farming methods, medicine massive engineering projects and much more. The World would be a much worse place if Great Britain and its empire were not here, of course we have done some bad things you tell me of any nation that has done so in the past. but the good GB has done outweighs our bad by a massive amount. For the last Ten years we have seeing the sickening site of Government ministers apologising for our past, instead of saying to the World you should thank us. Knowing our Past and being Proud of our past makes us English and British any individual or religion who can not accept this should not be in this country we call GREAT BRITAIN.
One last point David Cameron also said a Conservative Government will insist that new immigrants learned to speak English to communicate with the rest of society. Nearly everyone in GB has been saying that for the last 20 years I suppose better late then never for a politician to listen to the people.
Martin Clarke East Street Sittingbourne