Today, 13th June, Kathy Bailes in The Isle Of Thanet News covered the tragic story of Ben Stone and his brother, Lee Thrumble. Both local men were victims of suicide, the rates for which are higher for men in Kent than elsewhere in the country. The story highlights the problems of accessing mental health services […]
Category: News
Stroke unit: judicial review progress
After amazing support from Thanet residents who wish to keep a stroke unit locally, we raised £5k in days, we were able to begin a formal Judicial Review. This is now at the High Court and we are waiting to hear when it will be heard. We are hopeful that it will be called in […]
Think local, not Brexit on May 2
Have politics around Brexit affected how we might vote on May 2nd? BBC South East News Political Editor, Helen Catt invited myself and district council candidates to a round table discussion. Gathered on the terrace of Ramsgate’s Wetherspoon’s pub, the group, representing the mainstream parties were open about the challenges in the forthcoming local elections. […]
Documenting Thanet gentrification
Sean Gallen is studying to be a journalist. The university student is about to complete his degree and recently submitted a film about Thanet as part of his course. Having received a request from Sean for an interview and local insight, he and I spent a few hours criss-crossing the Isle as he researched his […]
Brexit siege looms for Isle
At Kent County Council full Council meeting last week. I raised a number of key issues relating to Brexit preparations. Ramsgate Port is not ‘ship ready’ and there is no infrastructure in place. Government at all levels has made no progress forward at all and the Port has other significant limitations. The Manston site has […]
NHS satisfaction survey shows historic low
A damning NHS satisfaction report has been published this month by The Kings Fund and Nuffield Trust. The public and those that work in the organisation are feeling the least satisfied in many years. I was interviewed by Ian Collins on BBC Radio Kent about this latest shocking report. Joining me as a guest on the […]
Ambulance service crisis
I was very pleased to be able to contribute to the important Ambulance Service debate on Radio Kent this Morning. Adding my voice and Labour’s perspective along with Charlie Elphicke, Conservative MP for Dover. The Ambulance service is an extremely important part of our NHS. However, like a great of deal of the NHS, it […]
Ramsgate’s new fire station and running
As a member of Kent & Medway Fire and Rescue Authority, I am very pleased to see Ramsgate Fire Station open in it’s new location with state of the art facilities. On 5th February I was with the Service as a guest to witness their new base in Ramsgate and listen to how they intend […]
Stroke unit in Thanet to be killed by Tories
Thanet’s need to retain a stroke unit for East Kent residents has been dismissed by a committee dominated by Conservative representatives. On Friday 1st of February the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny meeting at Kent County Council in Maidstone was a disaster for our isle with locations elsewhere in Kent being nominated for specialist stroke […]
Not buoyed up by Seaborne
We received news this weekend that the Government has awarded contracts to ferry companies ahead of an impending no-deal Brexit. The total budget of £107million is to be shared between three companies as part of a plan to alleviate stress on transport networks in Kent. Yet, one of the named firms, Seaborne Freight has no […]