I have never seen such a bad housing situation as the current crisis in Thanet. I meet rough sleepers on a daily basis. Many people visiting our isle comment on the number of occupied doorways and individuals begging in the town centres. This is the visible homeless. I’m fighting to raise the profile of the […]
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Thanet’s homeless need government action
There are a considerable number of local parents dealing with the impacts of homelessness in Thanet. As local authority housing stock has decreased and the number of private landlords who will not accept tenants on benefits increases, families are getting caught in calamitous housing scenarios. Homelessness in Thanet is on the increase. As a local […]
Happy Birthday to our NHS
I have been involved working in the NHS for about 25 years. My first job as a GMB union organiser in the East Midlands meant working in Kingsmill Hospital in Mansfield (among others) representing the cleaning staff. I was called in when the employees had been TUPE’d to a private cleaning company. In other words […]
Manston Airport is the sensible option for new social housing
Westminster officials have ruled that thousands of new homes must be built in Thanet. The question now is whether to build them on multiple sites around the isle, including on prime agricultural land, or to use the redundant site of the former Manston Airport. BBC Radio Kent were discussing this thorny issue this morning and […]
Armed Forces Day in Ramsgate
On Saturday I attended the Armed Forces Day service which was held near the seafront in Ramsgate. Along with the other Town, District and Westminster officials, and hundreds of locals and tourists, I watched current and ex-service personnel and young cadets parade from the Sailors’ Church to the obelisk near the Royal Victoria Pavillion. I […]
Appearing on Paul on Politics
It was a pleasure to accept another invitation to appear on KMTV’s political discussion show, Paul on Politics. On this edition we covered recent news topics including Theresa May’s announcement about additional funding for the NHS, the possibility of decriminalising cannabis, waste management in Kent and, of course, the football World Cup. With studio guests […]
Fund schools. Tackle poverty.
Right across the country primary school funding is being systematically cut back. This means a freeze on recruitment, fewer teaching assistants and heavier workloads for staff. It means our children aren’t getting the education they need and deserve. I’ve checked out Newington Community Primary school which is in my Thanet District Council ward of Newington. […]
Standing against the Kent bus pass price increase
The recently announced increase in the cost of a Young Person’s Travel Card, which allows school children to travel on buses, has been widely reported. Writing for Kent Online, Paul Francis covered opinion from the Conservative County Councillor responsible for the increase, as well as a comment from myself. I’m glad I got a reasonable […]
Sainsbury’s and Asda – protecting the workers
Over the weekend news was circulating about talks between Asda and Sainsbury’s supermarkets. Today it has been confirmed that the two retail giants plan to pool resources and become bigger than Tesco. With over 350,000 employees between them and most of those on the shop floor, those of us with the interests of workers at […]
Cancer screening is key to saving Thanet lives
Former Tory Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley has admitted his bowel cancer could have been caught earlier if his own recommendations to his Government had been followed. Early diagnosis is key to stopping this cancer and others. That effectively means early access to screening. Currently Thanet has amongst the worst bowel cancer outcomes and more needs […]