Equal pay is a stubborn problem As the influential magazine ‘personnel today’ turns 30 years old, I’m reminded of my own input and fight to achieve equal pay for women workers, along with many others. I was the first national union officer to lead the change on closing the pay gap by calling for compulsory […]
Category: Opinion
Distain at KCC breastfeeding decision
Why, when figures for breastfeeding in the UK are the worst in the world are we cutting the breastfeeding support budget by £400,000, and reducing the service across Kent that is there to support breastfeeding mums. We know that the rate for breastfeeding in Kent is lower than the national average and is falling. It […]
Craig Mackinlay backs plans to close NHS stroke service in Margate
I have been on BBC Radio Kent this morning ahead of today’s demonstration at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM). Once again, Craig Mackinlay accuses us of making political milage out of a threat to NHS services. This is political! The austerity measures of Craig’s government are putting people’s lives at risk. Closing the […]
Stroke Units in Kent – Our questions need answers
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 […]
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 […]
Disability ordeal – bringing housing plight to light on the BBC
I meet and support residents across Newington and Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet on a daily basis. The variety of issues and needs brought to my attention are considerable, but there are some definite themes. Quite often, the people I meet are at the end of their tether and don’t know what to do. […]
Thanet street lights – the facts speak for themselves
I was utterly devastated by what happened to my own daughter, Lillian Constantine. It was a truly horrific attack on a Thanet street where the street lights had been switched off. That she had the presence of mind to record her attack and attacker, which led to his capture, conviction and sentence for thirteen and a […]
RiverOak and Manston Airport – my consultation response
My letter in response to the RiverOak Strategic Partners (RSP) consultation on the former Manston site. I have made contact with Rosie Duffield MP and the Labour Party’s Shadow Minister for Transport, Lilian Greenwood. Dear sirs, I am writing in the strongest terms to oppose the proposed development of the former Manston site via a […]