Hang on!

They’re … talking about … themselves!!

Yes, this latest offering from the senior coalition partners is a Party Political Broadcast with a serious message. A real serious message.

So please do watch it, and take careful note of what it’s saying.

Real lives are at stake…

Thirteen young Conservative Party supporters braved the dismal weather to attend the launch in the surroundings of historic Medway, in the shadow of Rochester’s Cathedral and Castle.

Greeting Ms Crouch was the Chairman of the new branch, Joe Armitage, who thanked everyone for their attendance and said that he looked forward to campaigning and socialising with everyone over the coming months.

For more information, please visit www.medwayconservativefuture.co.uk.

Veteran Conservative Councillor Ted Baker will be Mayor of Medway for 2011/2012, after being chosen by the ruling Conservative Group.

Cllr Baker (pictured above), who was re-elected in Rochester West last week with almost 200 extra votes, will be officially elected Mayor at Medway Council’s Annual Meeting on Wednesday, 25th May, along with his Deputy Mayor, Cuxton and Halling Cllr Ray Maisey.

Cllr Baker was Mayor of Medway in 2002/2003 and Deputy Mayor of Medway in 2008/2009, and will be accompanied by his wife Sylvia as Mayoress.

Cllrs Baker and Maisey (picture left) will take the chains of office from present Mayor, Cllr David Brake, and Deputy Mayor, Cllr Vaughan Hewett.

The new Mayor was announced following the first Medway Conservative Group meeting since last Thursday’s local election, which saw Cllr Rodney Chambers and Cllr Alan Jarrett re-elected Leader and Deputy Leader of the group.

It was also announced that, following Ken Bamber’s failure to be elected in Strood South, Cllr Barry Kemp will take over as the Group’s Chief Whip.

Meanwhile, Labour have confirmed that Cllr Paul Godwin will continue as their Group Leader, though, in a surprising move, Cllr Vince Maple replaces Cllr Glyn Griffiths as Deputy Leader. Cllr Julie Shaw will be their Group Whip.

And the Liberal Democrats have announced that Cllr Geoff Juby and Cllr Sheila Kearney will continue as their Group’s Leader and Deputy, after their disappointing results last week, with Cllr Diana Smith as Group Whip.

Wherever you live in Medway, you will have the opportunity to vote for local Conservative candidates in the full local elections tomorrow.

From the Hoo Peninsula, or rural Strood, to urban areas in Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham, the Conservatives are standing for all 55 seats up for election.

And the Conservatives are standing for you. They are standing on six key pledges to make life better, and easier for you.

Low Council Tax and Value?for Money – Medway’s Conservative-run council has frozen your council tax for two years. Despite claiming this as their own policy, Labour voted against this at February’s budget meeting. The Conservatives have kept parking charges frozen for the past three years and will continue to keep parking costs down. And the Conservatives will ask the Independent Remuneration Panel to reduce councillors’ allowances.

Delivering Community Safety – Medway Conservatives will continue to tackle anti-social behaviour and?alcohol-related issues. They will work hard to improve neighbourhood policing and continue to adopt a no-nonsense approach to littering, graffiti and fly-tipping.

Better Transport – Medway Conservatives have continued to invest in creating a sustainable transport plan for the future. They will continue to invest in roads and pavements and for drivers and pedestrians, and maintain the 9am start time for concessionary bus pass holders. Medway Conservatives will retain the popular and important yellow bus scheme and will also work towards a Freedom Bus Pass scheme in an affordable manner.

Choice in Education – Medway Conservatives have protected all 19 Sure Start Centres in Medway and will continue to do so. They will protect Medway’s Grammar Schools, which Labour’s leader locally has admitted he doesn’t agree with, whilst supporting schools wishing to become academies. Medway Conservatives will create a new apprenticeship scheme to support young people in Medway and, whilst continuing to support Medway’s four universities, explore options for a new University Technical College.

A Cleaner and Greener Environment – On the eve of the 2007 local election, Labour tried to scare voters by saying that the Conservatives were going to switch to fortnightly rubbish collections. Medway Conservatives have always supported weekly rubbish collections, have maintained weekly rubbish collections and will continue to do so. Medway’s Conservative-run council has also introduced rubbish collections on bank holidays to avoid disruption for you. Medway Conservatives will also continue to protect our green spaces including Capstone Valley and Rochester Airport, and fight any proposals for an airport in the Thames Estuary or on the Hoo Peninsula.

A Brighter Future – Medway Conservatives will continue to expand sporting opportunities for all after re-introducing free swimming for under-16s and over-60s. They will continue to attract investment into Medway and work with employers to encourage job creation. They will continue to ensure that Medway gets the recognition that it deserves as a modern city in all but name with rich historic roots and continue to provide an annual calendar of free events and festivals, including the popular Sweeps Festival this past weekend.

Medway Conservatives have run Medway Council for 11 years, and with your vote tomorrow, they can continue to invest in Medway whilst keeping your Council Tax at the lowest rate in Kent.

Your Conservative candidates across Medway

Chatham Central

5 – Nigel Simon MAJOR
10 – Denise Kay WILDEY
11 – Eric Graver WILLIAMS

Cuxton and Halling

2 – Ray MAISEY

Gillingham North

2 – Rifat CHISHTI
8 – Jonpaul James KELLY
13 – Kamran SAFDAR

Gillingham South

4 – Shirley Margaret Pamela GRIFFITHS
5 – Jim HATTERSLEY
14 – Atma Singh SANDHU

Hempstead and Wigmore

2 – Diane Margaret CHAMBERS
3 – Rodney Brian CHAMBERS

Lordswood and Capstone

4 – Alan Leslie JARRETT
6 – David Robert WILDEY

Luton and Wayfield

2 – Tashi Tamang BHUTIA
5 – Mike FRANKLIN
9 – Gloria Chukwuka Blessing OPARA

Peninsula

3 – Phil FILMER
6 – Chris IRVINE
11 – Tony WATSON

Princes Park

2 – Matt BRIGHT
4 – Pat GULVIN

Rainham Central

2- Rehman CHISHTI
3 – Barry Joseph KEMP
6 – Mike O’BRIEN

Rainham North

1 – David John CARR
4 – Vaughan Baden HEWETT

Rainham South

3 -Howard Francis DOE
8 – David ROYLE
10 – Leslie Alan WICKS

River

5 – Craig MACKINLAY
6 – Andrew MACKNESS

Rochester East

2 – Brian GRIFFIN
6 – Jim NUGENT

Rochester South and Horsted

1 – Trevor CLARKE
3 – Sylvia GRIFFIN
10 – Rupert TURPIN

Rochester West

1 – Ted BAKER
9 – Kelly TOLHURST

Strood North

2 – Jane CHITTY
4 – Jane ETHERDIGE
9 – Paul RAI

Strood Rural

8 – Peter HICKS
9 – Tom MASON
11 – Peter RODBERG

Strood South

1 – John AVEY
3 – Ken BAMBER
7 – Josie ILES

Twydall

7 – Diana Marion LAWRENCE
8 – Tony ROCCO
9 – Arthur WENHAM

Walderslade

2 – David Frederick BRAKE
6 – Adrian Victor Henry GULVIN

Watling

4 – Phillip Stanley MANNING
5 – Wendy PURDY

This post was written by the quoted author, independent of the Conservative campaign in Medway. Policies are taken from the Medway Conservatives’ policies released earlier and candidates are taken from Democracy in Practice.

Medway?s Conservative Group have launched their 6-point pledge to the residents of Medway.

They will be campaigning on their commitment to Low Council Tax, Better Services and Value for Money in the run up to May?s local election.

This include freezing Council Tax for the next two years, free swimming, working towards a Freedom Pass and remaining committed to retaining Sure Start.

The Leader of the Conservative Group Rodney Chambers welcomed the pledge and said:

“Under the Conservatives, Medway has seen vast improvements over the past four years and if elected again on 5th May, the Conservatives will continue to improve and protect front line services and maintain the lowest Council Tax in Kent, which is on average ?130 less than elsewhere in the county.

“The improvements we have made over the last four years help everyone in Medway, and the pledge we make in our manifesto will continue to make Medway a better place for us to live, work and enjoy our leisure time.”

The Medway Conservative?s 6 point pledge is:

• Low Council Tax and value for money;
• Delivering community safety;
• Better transport;
• Choice in education;
• A cleaner and greener environment; and
• A brighter future.

The Conservative Group has promised and delivered on many policies over the past four years.

This includes maintaining the weekly bin collection, safeguarding green spaces such as Capstone Valley, improving our libraries, maintaining our free festivals and introducing the half price bus fare scheme for young people.

Deputy Leader Alan Jarrett said:

“Only the Conservatives have a successful record of financial management and from that delivering real improvements in Medway. We are totally committed to continuing with these improvements in the future if re-elected to represent you on May 5th.”

Those pledges in full

Low Council Tax and Value for Money

• Council Tax frozen for 2 years and we will retain the lowest Council Tax, which is on average ?130 lower than the rest of Kent;
• Car parking charges frozen for past 3 years and we will ensure they remain amongst the lowest in Kent;
• Continue to improve front line services such as care homes, libraries and expand community hubs; and
• Ask the Independent Remuneration Panel to reduce councillors? allowances.

Delivering Community Safety

In partnership with the police we are committed to:

• Continuing to tackle anti-social behaviour and alcohol related issues;
• A no nonsense approach to littering, graffiti and fly-tipping;
• Improving neighbourhood policing; and
• Cracking down on dog fouling by promoting responsible dog ownership.

Better Transport

We will:

• Work towards a Freedom Bus Pass scheme for Medway?s students;
• Maintain the 9 am start time for concessionary bus pass holders;
• Maintain the popular yellow bus scheme; and
• Continue to invest in our roads and pavements.

Choice in Education

We will:

• Remain committed to Sure Start;
• Protect Medway?s Grammar Schools and support schools wishing to become academies;
• Create a new apprenticeship scheme to support young people in Medway; and
• Continue to promote the four Universities in Medway and explore options for a new University Technical College.

A Cleaner and Greener Environment

We will continue to:

• Maintain the weekly bin collection;
• Increase recycling rates and improve the street scene;
• Protect our green spaces including Capstone Valley and Rochester airport; and
• Fight any proposal for an airport in the Thames Estuary or at Cliffe on the Hoo Peninsula.

A Brighter Future

We are committed to:

• Free Swimming for the under 11s and over 60s and we will expand sporting opportunities for all;
• Continue to attract investment into the areas and work with businesses to create jobs and opportunities;
• Medway receiving the recognition it deserves as a modern city with strong historic roots; and
• Maintaining a strong calendar of annual free events and festivals.

George Osborne, the Shadow Chancellor, was outlining his financial plans for a future Conservative government. To?wondrous?surprise and support from the floor, Mr Osborne stated “I can tell you today that the next Conservative Government will freeze your council tax for at least two years. Every council tax bill of every family in every council that takes part will be frozen”.

Immediately, the pledge attracted headlines and popular support. From everyone, that is, but Labour. “”George Osborne’s council tax pledge is a con,” said Yvette Cooper, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury said in response. “Slashing a billion pounds from council budgets [over two years] will put vital programmes at risk,” said Sir Jeremy Beecham, leader of the Labour Group on the Local Government Association.

Fast-forward to February 2011. The Conservatives are in government with the Liberal Democrats. They have pledged to fund councils who freeze council tax to save families money. Medway Council, run by a majority Conservative administration (again, Conservative administration) did exactly that. Council tax in Medway this year has been frozen as part of the budget.

So how, dear reader, did this happen:

Whilst their union chums Unison are calling for a Council Tax rise, Labour are claiming that they have frozen Council Tax for Medway residents.

It would be laughable if the lie (yes, not just dishonesty, but blatant lie) were not so serious.

Labour has been in opposition in Medway for almost eleven years. At first, they produced alternative budgets in advance of council budget meetings to attempt to prove to residents that they, too, could run the local purse efficiently. However, they have not done this for some time, as John Ward restated yesterday.

Most of their contribution to budget meetings, in my experience at least, has been politically-motivated. They consistently vote against the budgets, despite the fact that they are sound, balanced and fair.

At the time the Council Tax freeze was first pledged by the Conservative Party, it was ridiculed and opposed by Labour in government and their representatives on the Local Government Association.

Now, though, ten weeks before a local election, Labour are claiming they froze residents’ Council Tax, when, from what I have heard from sources at the meeting on Thursday, they voted against the budget in which it was frozen.

No doubt it is a lie that will be spread across their literature over the coming weeks. And it is a lie that needs to be rebutted. So, for the record:

The Conservative administration on Medway Council, with the help of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats in government, have frozen Council Tax for all Medway residents.

Labour had nothing to do with it!

Conservative run Medway Council has the lowest Council Tax levels in Kent, which is on average ?130 lower.

This year it is proposing to freeze Council Tax bills to help hard pressed families and businesses in Medway.

However, Unison, which has long established links with the Labour party, has called for Medway to look at increasing Council Tax and to not accept the government?s freeze on tax levels.

In an interview on BBC Radio Kent (10 February 2011) a Unison representative said: “We?d like to see the Council looking at the Council Tax option and not necessarily entering into this deal which the government has offered to the councils”.

This comes as the Conservative Medway Council announces its budget plans this week. These propose to maintain key front line services without cutting important areas including Sure Start, libraries or green spaces.

Deputy Leader Alan Jarrett said “This shows how out of touch the unions and Labour are to the needs of residents in Medway. The Conservative Council is proposing to freeze Council Tax levels this year so that residents continue to pay the lowest tax in Kent, which is around ?130 lower than the average.

“On top of that we?ve proposed a budget which maintains key front line services including Sure Start, green spaces and libraries. If Labour were running Medway we could look forward to Council Tax rises rather than being frozen under a Conservative administration.”

The Conservative-run Medway Council has announced its budget plans, which show transparently how the Council is proposing to address its ?23.5 million gap.

Despite this large reduction in funding, the budget proposals maintain key front line services without cutting important areas including Sure Start, libraries or green spaces.

Yet Labour has yet to reveal what budget changes they would like to make.

An insider from the Medway Labour group has revealed that they may target libraries, yellow buses and impose a toll on the Medway tunnel.

Labour has also refused to publicly support funding for Sure Start. At a vote at the last Full Council meeting (13 January 2011) they refused to support a Conservative motion fully funding the 19 Sure Start centres in Medway.

And last year, at a Council meeting in January 2010, Labour suggested that the popular yellow bus scheme should be cut. Instead the Conservative group made the decision to expand this scheme onto the Hoo Peninsula and St Mary?s Island.

This comes as Labour controlled councils elsewhere, such as in Manchester, have announced swingeing cuts to services, targeting public toilets, rubbish collection, swimming pools and libraries.

Deputy Leader Cllr Alan Jarrett said “We have now published our clear and transparent budget proposals, which detail how we?re going to breach the ?23.5 million gap the Council is facing. It is time Labour also revealed what they?d do. Sources are suggesting that they want to cut key services, such as libraries and yellow buses and impose a new tax on motorists with a toll on Medway tunnel, which would be a travesty for the area. It is a matter of record that Labour ? despite the rhetoric ? does not support funding for our Sure Start centres.

“Labour councillors have always been quick to criticise but never offer any worthwhile suggestions nor present their own alternative budget. If they wish to be taken seriously they must reveal their own plans so residents can judge for themselves whether Labour has anything to offer.

“I?m concerned that councils controlled by Labour elsewhere are introducing swingeing cuts to valued services such as toilets, leisure facilities and libraries. Residents deserve to know whether Labour in Medway want to do the same If they were ever in a position to do so.”

The Council’s proposed budget, which is due to be discussed at next Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, can be found on Medway Council’s website.

At a packed meeting, Strood North Ward branch members had five candidates from whom to choose. Victorious was sitting ward Councillor Jane Chitty. In Strood South the branch members had four candidates before them. They chose current Peninsula ward Councillor Ken Bamber.

Election agents for the Strood North and Strood South wards will respectively be Parish Councillors Gary Etheridge and Chris Buckwell.

“Unbelievable?#labourgain from Tories in ward in Witney! (Cameron’s own constituency) Great work all involved.” came the cry from Ellie Gellard (a.k.a. @BevaniteEllie, The Stilletoed Socialist).

The only problem is that the Tories were not actually beaten. Yes a Tory councillor was replaced by a Labour councillor (the only Labour councillor on the 17-strong council), but the Conservatives didn’t actually contest the by-election.

It was called because Conservative Councillor Louise Chapman was disqualified for not attending a meeting for six months. In response, the Conservatives branded the by-election a “waste of money”, according to the Witney Gazette, as full elections are to take place this year anyway.

Labour (and Co-operative) Party winner Duncan Enright saw off a challenge from Liberal Democrat Mark Balaam and Green Kate Griffin.

With full elections only months away, though, something tells me that Mr Enright shouldn’t get too comfortable in his new role…