Forum Topic

Guess who did not attend tonights Hustings Meeting?

Thats right,Ann Keen who had "prior engagements" and is also unable to attend Wednesdays Hustings at the St Pauls Centre!

Paul Fisher ● 7305d23 Comments

Sarah Ann Keen makes me laugh with her claims of how ‘wonderful’ she is in securing all manner of improvements for us. Where I wonder, does she think that the funds for the investment in the West Middlesex hospital came from? Don't we pay our taxes for hospitals and other essential services or is Ann Keen claiming that we are the lucky beneficiaries of some mysterious benevolent philanthropist? Not all of us realise yet that we will be paying for the privatisation of the West Middlesex hospital for many years to come.

Gareth Evans ● 7296d

I will not defend Ann Keen - but the hard fact is that I have looked into the abyss, and I really ain't into going over the edge, I would never forgive myself if I didn't vote Labour on the 5th - the one thing I couldn't face is waking up on Friday with Michael Howard as Prime Minister and knowing I was in some way to blame.

Vanessa Smith ● 7298d

Morag I think that a great many individuals across the country have become disenchanted with New Labour since they came to power and a great many locally are disenchanted with Ann Keen.In New Labour’s 1997 manifesto Tony B’Liar made a commitment on the issue of open government, which stated “Unnecessary secrecy in government leads to arrogance in government and defective policy decisions”. - Time has since proven that Tony B’Liar kept secret from his own ministers and MP’s the full facts, which were used as a basis by Tony B’Liar for taking Great Britain into war. A case in point of Tony B’Liar’s own arrogance in government which led to “defective policy decisions”.On London, Tony B’Liar through the 1997 New Labour manifesto made a commitment stating: “London is the only Western capital without an elected city government. Following a referendum to confirm popular demand, there will be a new deal for London, with a strategic authority and a mayor, each directly elected. Both will speak up for the needs of the city and plan its future. They will not duplicate the work of the boroughs, but take responsibility for London-wide issues - economic regeneration, planning, policing, transport and environmental protection. London-wide responsibility for its own government is urgently required. We will make it happen. – Yet when the public showed support for Ken Livingstone through “popular demand”, Mr B’Liar backtracked and attempted to stop Ken Livingstone being elected by putting up the stool pigeon, Frank Dobson. Yet another example of Tony B’Liar’s “arrogance in government”.What the people of this country need is faith in their elected representatives. Many others and I have no faith in Tony B’Liar and I have no faith whatsoever in Mrs Keen who seems to see being elected to the House of Commons as an opportunity only to further her own interests. Good luck to anyone who wants to be associated with a party leader such as Tony B’Liar, be they Ann Keen, Luke Kirton or indeed, anyone else.

Gareth Evans ● 7298d

Gareth perhaps Luke may have become a little bit dis- enchanted with Labours idea of democracy, It should be interesting to see if Luke stands in the next council election?

Morag Campbell Hawick ● 7302d

I recall being at a meeting at the Pottery Arms which was called to save John Aird House when Cllr Ron Bartholomew told me not to worry about the support of Labour councillors representing the Brentford ward or the support of Cllr Luke Kirton of AbeeC because as Ron Bartholomew pointed out, Luke does what he is told to do. So in effect if Luke Kirton does indeed do what Labour tells him to do, there are 37 Labour seats and not the official 36. I’m all for parties working together but not to the detriment of democracy. It might be an interesting exercise for someone to look into how Labour and AbeeC voting patterns have developed since the last local elections.

Gareth Evans ● 7302d

JimFyi the current make-up of the London Borough of Hounslow is:Labour 36, Conservative 14, Liberal Democrat 5, ICG 3, ABeeC 1.  The other seat is occupied by John Connelly, who was returned as a Labour councillor but has since had the whip withdrawn.Although there is not much likelihood of any of the minority parties winning over 30 seats next year, you will note that Labour needs to lose just eight seats to forfeit its overall majority.What will happen if/when that occurs is a matter for conjecture, however I would hope that all the minority groups and parties would recognise that they have a duty first and foremost to rid the borough of the pernicious influence of the New Labour sect and its years of burrowing into the fabric of our community like a malevolent tapeworm.

Phil Andrews ● 7303d

Correction: Its the Hounslow Chronicle...(not Middlesex)

Jim Lawes ● 7303d

One presumes that the Middlesex Chronicle is a font of local knowledge.This local knowledge would be gained from its contact over many years with local residents,local readers,local journalists,local companies,local advertisers,its own "Letters to the Editor" department and its own observations of what's going on.For its own reasons it has therefore treated as serious..the news that Mrs Keen has deemed it not necessary or worthwhile to attend the recent hustings meetings. The Middlesex Chronicle has judged that the matter is front page material and so today's issue carries the front page headlines "NOT KEEN ENOUGH"Is it deserved? ;0)I'm sure that her opponents will be well peeved that she organised a meeting with Gordon Brown in Isleworth last week at the Church in St John's Road WITHOUT MOST OF US KNOWING.If she is re-elected to Westminster, I guess that her opponents will be well miffed. Then all eyes will be on next year's local Council elections...where Labour have a majority of the 61 seats. But for how long? Most residents and others that I speak to in my work seem to know about Mrs Keen "not attending meetings".  That may be an unfair judgement. But there is a Brentford Labour Councillors who don't attend local meetings either. Hopefully he will be for the chop next year.

Jim Lawes ● 7303d

[i]I cannot why the Labour Group could or would send someone along to deputise for an M.P., I have never known it to happen, and I think it would be quite wrong for them to do so.[i/]Why? Is there some unwritten law in why she wouldn't send a trusted deputy. Or do you simply think it would be a breach of etiquette? Or as I suspect the lady might be asked some embarrassing questions regarding her expense accounts?Missing one husting is bad, but missing two is downright careless? 

Morag Campbell Hawick ● 7304d

Fair point Vanessa but i think the total lack of any representation by the Labour Party was an insult to the electorate.Ann Keen has laid her stall out as having minimum contact with the public before the election because she knows she is simply not up to the job.

Paul Fisher ● 7304d

I cannot why the Labour Group could or would send someone along to deputise for an M.P., I have never known it to happen, and I think it would be quite wrong for them to do so.

Vanessa Smith ● 7304d

[i]Is there an official statement on Mrs Keens expenses intentions?[i/]Spend, spend, spend, as my friend Gordon has a cornucopia? and if he can't screw it out of the tax payers, well there's always the world bank?

Morag Campbell Hawick ● 7304d

[i]Is there an official statement on Mrs Keens expenses intentions?[i/]Spend, spend, spend, as my friend Gordon has a cornucopia? and if he can't screw it out of the tax payers, well there's always the world bank?

Morag Campbell Hawick ● 7304d

Ann Keen claims to take on issues e-mailed to her at annkeen@voteannkeen.com but judging on my past experiences e-mailing her,that would be a waste of time.I did e-mail her earlier today asking if she would still be claiming for her Covent Garden home if re-elected but am still waiting on a reply.Perhaps she will prove me wrong this time??Is there an official statement on Mrs Keens expenses intentions?

Paul Fisher ● 7304d

I did hear a rumour or two Morag so perhaps you could be correct.If it is true then its even more outragous that we should be expected to pick up their bill.

Paul Fisher ● 7305d

MoragI expected to be asked questions about my early political history and I don't have a problem with answering them.  I didn't realise it was Andrew's mother until he told me after the meeting.  I did of course meet her at the event to which she referred, but like everybody else she has changed in the 22 years which have since elapsed.  She had every right to ask her question, but all I can do is answer and whether or not she accepts that answer is of course down to her.I was disappointed that local issues did not form any part of the discussion, and am just pleased to have "held my own" in an arena which is as peripheral to my campaign as it is central to the other candidates.  On local issues I'm sure the discussion would have been very different, and according to the promotional literature local issues will comprise at least a part of the agenda on Wednesday.

Phil Andrews ● 7305d

Paul did it ever occur to you they might need to homes?Does the word "estranged" not spring to mind?

Morag Campbell Hawick ● 7305d

I attended my first hustings meeting, and to be quite frank about it I was more than a little bit disappointed not because Ann Keen our sitting M.P. could not be bothered to turn up to give an account of her neglect of the people in her constituency That she was elected to represent. That I'm afraid is the utter contempt that she has shown though-out her career as an M.P. for her Brentford and Isleworth constituents.I was hoping I would hear at least something along the lines about local issues and just what each of the candidates have achieved on the home front, but dear O'dear not a dickybird.The only highlight of the whole evening was when the Lib Dem candidate had his mother (who was planted in the audience) raise the twenty year old chestnut of Phil Andrews belonging to the N.F. which by the way Phil Andrews explained with the greatest of ease. So when she did not achieve what she intended,(now how does one say this) oh yes now I remember...... *she did a runner* I shall attend the Wednesday Husting and I'll make sure that local issues will be at the forefront I would so much like to know if the two babes in arms have done anything at all for the constituents they hope to serve.No need to ask Councillor Andrews, we can see what he has achieved in the past several Years against all odds I may add.M.C.H.

Morag Campbell Hawick ● 7305d

My partner had a leaflet addressed to her from the Labour Party promising blah blah blah but i must have been crossed off their potential voters list as i never recieved one ;-)Interesting point Sarah about the space to tell her what issues affect us etc as this Woman must be possibly the worse communicater in Britain and if she cannot be arsed replying to her constituents before an election then what chance have we got when she could be safe and sound with a Covent Garden pad thrown in for another 4-5years if re-elected?

Paul Fisher ● 7305d

We received our second leaflet from the Labour party today, directed at one of our sons.  Again no Tony Blair in sight, just Gordon.  This one says "re-lect Ann: she understands patients' health needs" Dr Liz Owen, Hospital Consultant.  £62 million investment in the West Middlesex hospital.  Again there is ample space for you to fill in and send off your issues to tell Ann what you would like her to focus on when she is re-elected.Is it her choice not to have a photo snap with Tony Blair on her election material, or is it sound financial advice from Gordon?

Sarah Felstead ● 7305d

Another interesting point was that the Local Labour Group declined to send a representative in her absence although invited to do so!

Paul Fisher ● 7305d

So: another news story for Isleworth, Brentford and Chiswick'slocal press!

Jim Lawes ● 7305d

Seems she's taking the you know what. Just goes to show how much she cares about Brentford.

Neil Chippendale ● 7305d