Cameron InDirect on Peninsula

Conservatives are leading proposals for airport in North Kent

Have just returned from a rather windy and wet afternoon on the Peninsula canvassing opposition to the Estuary Airport referendum.

It is clear in the community that there is a dawning realisation that this government plan is not just a pie-in-the-sky idea. Many residents recounted stories from previous airport proposals from Maplin Sands and beyond and many appreciated seeing us on the doorstep and listening to the opposition.

Labour need not make any excuses for being out on the doorstep canvassing and speaking to the public, and getting them involved in the democratic campaign to oppose the proposals.

I have to say the Tory attack on us speaking to residents is a bit baffling; whilst on the doorstep we also advised some people on how to register postal votes. I might add these were elderly voters and many who worked shift patterns. For the Tories and supporters to jump on this to claim this is some sort of agenda is absolute and total nonsense.

This is not about electoral calculus; for the same Tory argument they have themselves given in the 'non-Tory' 'Tory-leaning' blog from John Ward. If Labour were about a purely party agenda why would we not spend out time in Strood South or Gillingham; those are the most marginal seats for our resources. The Tories are totally wrong; this is about standing up for people wherever they may be and whether they may or may not vote for us is secondary to the public interest.

Labour has a clear and consistent position on the airport people find refreshing; it can be read in the FT article below:

It is only a Conservative government that now seeks to bulldoze over the Peninsula.

The simple truth about why the opposition is being aggressive is because we know the local Tories have sat on the airport campaign, with a non-existent and in their own words failed 'pie-in-the-sky' campaign, for three years. They have ignored any attempts, including motions in full Council by the Labour opposition, to raise this issue up the agenda and for a proper campaign.

It is particularly gauling as David Cameron was specifically challenged on the airport proposal at a Cameron Direct event in Chatham & Aylesford by a member of the public. He has simply not held to his word (or has he...)

Watch live streaming video from conservatives at livestream.com

If you want to see the Cameron wriggling; please see his answer to the direct question in 2009 (from 5 minutes 33 seconds) answering to the Friends of North Kent Marshes

Despite the assertion by Medway Lib Dem Ginger Blog there is no mention of increasing aviation capacity, merely more high speed train capacity.

And still we see the same Conservative arrogance; ignoring cross-party letters and managing a campaign which, when compared with 2002/2003 is nowhere near the level of engagement required yet. The simple truth is that those involved in the campaign in 2002/2003 can remember the public meetings and lamp post posters; there is simply no excuse why we should not have full, public and aggressive campaign against this proposal.

Initial Tory dithering and denial can not become obfuscation, ignoring the public and lip-service.

The Labour and Liberal Democrat Council in 2002/2003 did allow a full-blown opposition campaign. The comment below from Cllr Stephen Hubbard makes clear the difference between now and then.

The simple truth is that these proposals are more detailed, have more support, and have more feasibility then any posed in 2002/2003 because the Tories have trailed the coversation on an Estuary airport in the press for three years.

Labour believe it is our obligation as an opposition to stand up for residents and push for a stronger and more robust campaign position, not outside of, but from within our cross-party position of being anti-airport.

It is right to ensure the administration is not beholden to two masters and is managing and running the most effective campaign as possible.

We also believe it is important for the national party to have a position which reflects the public in Medway. We are working to have an influence on the policy agenda.

It is also right to highlight the hypocrisy of MPs because we are self-evidently here now because of local Conservative inaction. It is also right to expose the hypocrisy of talking about a referendum for Europe and 'trusting the people' but then rejecting the idea on a matter which could have a fundamental and existential threat to the fabric of our towns. We had a referendum on Europe; we have never had one on any major airport proposal.

Labour is right to compare the campaign in 2002/2003 with the campaign now, and call for more public and overt visual campaigning.

It is time for lamp post posters; time for open public meetings and it is time to give people in Medway a referendum so that forty years of airport proposals in North Kent can finally, in the ballot box, be put to rest.