Rainham Tory snub as Gideon visits

Rainham has been taken for granted by lazy Conservatives for the last four years but the electorate had expected them to campaign on election day for their vote.

EyeSpyMP has revealed however that Cllr Rehman Chisthi MP will not be campaigning for his seat, but will instead by in Parliament asking a 'planted question'

'Red Reh' (as he is known in some Tory circles) was 'selected' by the Rainham branch in 2006/07, keen to safeguard this former Labour PPC a Council seat for the 2010 General Election after his high profile defection from Labour.

It is suggested that Tories in the area were desperate for a decent PPC because of the failure of Medway Conservatives to find any talent locally. A trait repeated in Chatham & Aylesford, when a well known Tory Councillor was snubbed by the membership for lacking leadership traits.

'Red Reh's' selection saw the party split down the middle - some of whom stood as independents in 2007 - including one of the Tory rising stars Matthew Fearn, who represented the more traditional membership.

A number of Rainham Conservatives have been in correspondence with this blogger and have explained how the Conservative base in the town is in open revolt but is being held together by the wiser hands.

It is further suggested that Rehman has the support of the Gillingham part of the towns which has little Tory presence but has major problems in Rainham. He also has the the support of the more ambitious of Councillors who get the fact that a putsche would represent a major problem in a marginal area. He has major problems in the Rainham part of the constituency.

The fact Rehman is polically more New Labour than Conservative is causing disquiet amonst the membership who note his lack of independence from the national party

Either way it would explain why the MP is re-standing in Rainham and the planted question. Both represent the reasons why there is disquiet.

Meanwhile, George Osborne is visiting today with rumours that he has been asked to intervene in the plight of Gillingham FC and to perhaps help on the doorstep. Perhaps the media can enquire as to whether he feels the MP should be in Parliament or campaigning for his seat on the Council?

This blogger can give Gideon a piece of advice.

Mr No-Growth should keep away from erotic dreams as that thought in the voters minds might lower his voter appeal to below sub-zero levels.

Heritage gets Local Support

Do you want to call time on the destruction of local heritage?

Medway Labour is working with local heritage organisations in calling time on the legacy of historic vandalism overseen by Medway Conservatives, who have bulldozed and trashed historic town centres and industrial heritage in an aggressive attempt to foist regeneration schemes on residents.

Labour supports the regeneration of our historic town centres but it does not support the roughshod and digger-like approach to town management, which has steamrollered over public opinion and local heritage groups who have struggled to get their voices heard.

Labour will back local societies and heritage organisations in ensuring their voices are heard at the top of local government. We will consult and listen to residents and not just run roughshod over local accountability.

Over the last four years we have seen the systemic destruction of heritage including

• Aveling & Porter demolition
• Closure of the Dickens Centre, Rochester
• Bulldozing of the historic Paddock, Chatham
• Demolition of the Theatre Royal, Chatham

The main opposition party will encourage heritage-led regeneration; that is working in partnership with local heritage organisations to improve our communities with full respect for our environment and our communities. Although less directly profitable than market-led regeneration, the heritage approach has an advantage of creating community-led changes in social conditions and local pride.