Many of us are now aware of the threat of closure of emergency stroke services at QEQM Hospital in Margate. A plan is on the table to rationalise the service and cut the number of stroke units in Kent from seven to three. The implication for residents in Thanet is that our nearest unit will […]
News and opinion
Thanet’s NHS surgeries shake up will hit us all
It seems an advanced plans for a massive shake up of General Practice’s surgeries (GPs) and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM) services is well underway. Here is my take on the plans and impact, but nothing is yet in the open so I am surmising a likely direction of travel and outcomes based […]
Thanet tops child poverty table
Thanet has the highest rate of child poverty in Kent and the south east, with around 10,500 children affected according to a survey by End Child Poverty. This is utterly repugnant to me and should be to all Thanet’s residents. All children should have an equal chance. Child poverty scars and hurts for life. As […]
Tories scupper Thanet’s Local Plan over Manston
Thanet’s Labour councillors have spoken with one voice to alert local residents to the dire consequences of the failure to pass the Local Plan. After the Thanet Local Plan was rejected by 35 votes to 20 on Thursday 18th January our council is now in a state of crisis. Conservative, UKIP and independent district councillors […]
Guesting with Paul on Politics
For the first of his KMTV shows for 2018, Paul Francis invited myself and the Green Party’s Martin Whybrow to discuss recent political developments at KCC and in Westminster. Amongst the topics we covered were Theresa May’s (sort of) reshuffle, bus services in Kent, the new Tory green agenda and Brexit. KMTV is the TV […]
Seeing Red: Do we need a new royal yacht?
As an elected Labour County Councillor for Ramsgate I am privileged to have a column in The Isle of Thanet News.
Seeing Red: A decent day’s pay for a decent day’s work
As an elected Labour County Councillor for Ramsgate I am privileged to have a column in The Isle of Thanet News.
Karen Constantine: District & County Council Report, December 2017
It’s that festive time of the year again, how quickly it seems to come around. It’s been such a busy 12 months, with so much going on. Since being elected to Kent County Council in May, I’ve been able to spend all my time on ‘local’ politics. You might be aware that Labour is on […]
Karen Constantine: District & County Council Report, October 2017
October was a busy month, especially because I was fortunate to be called on to visit Kurdistan. I went as part of UK delegation who were visiting to ensure that the referendum for independence, was free, fair and unobstructed. Which it was. I learnt a great deal about this complex situation, about Middle East politics, […]
Karen Constantine: District & County Council Report, September 2017
I’m what’s known as a ‘double hatter’, I sit on both Thanet District Council and Kent County Council as a local councillor. As Thanet District councillor for Newington and Kent County councillor for Ramsgate, I have a great variety of issues and responsibilities to attend to. I believe in accountability and transparency and I like […]