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Alan Keen didn’t speak up for Heston or Brentford residents last night.

Alan Keen MP didn’t speak up for Heston or Brentford residents last night.I came away from a meeting of the Heston Residents’ Association on Wednesday evening having great doubts whether the lack-lustre chap we’d all been listening to was really qualified and worthy enough to represent 50% of the London Borough of Hounslow at Westminster.Certainly as a Campaigner against Heathrow expansion he is a non-starter for sure.  He didn’t sound too au fait with many facts on these important issues. His presentational skills seemed lacking. It was perhaps all too much for him. It’s time he retired.  Justine Greening the Conservative MP for Putney came to my mind.   In contrast she’s so on the ball as displayed when I listened to her at a recent meeting.If this had been an interviewing session to for some important local job, I would have given this chap2/10.  If it had been an interview at Sandhurst he’d have been rejected swiftly. Even in a small room ..the size of a classroom say..with only 30 people attending, it was sometimes difficult to hear his mumbling voice.  He appeared too casual, not smartly dressed enough, no tie, no socks even (according to someone else who I spoke with this evening) and a very laid back attitude.  Is this what our future MP’s are all about?We’re talking about Mr Alan Keen MP who represents the Constituency of Feltham and Heston.  I thought it important to let you know what happened.  For guidance I phoned someone else tonight who had been at the meeting and asked whether my assessment was wayward or not.  They agreed with my thoughts and recollections.Mr Keen, speaking about Heathrow, told us (TWICE) last night that he lives in Brentford (“No you don’t” some called out!”)  where residents are not too much troubled by aircraft noise. (“honest, that’s what he said”).  He further didn’t think that Heston residents would be much affected by Third Runway take offs..(Causing more protests from the floor from residents who said that their street WOULD be affected).“The Third runway won’t be with us for 10 years at least” said Mr Keen..”but at least we’ve put off the mixed-mode idea (take offs and landings alternating on same runway) for the time being” (is this so?). Mr Keen didn’t mention night arrivals (5800 per annum between 11.30pm and 6am) that must upset Brentford folk surely as the flightpath is often above them.The Cranford Agreement (which forbad easterly take-offs on the northern runway)(historically for security and safety issues) will disappear and no longer restrict take offs over populated areas said Mr Keen and this could come into being very quickly.  “No it couldn’t” responded the Chairman as too many time consuming  alterations  would need to be done to the runways (lighting?) etc. The change will take time! How on the ball is Mr Keen one kept thinking.It was reassuring to hear that at Westminster a group called “Heathrow Watch” exists made up of local MPs including Justine Greening. Her presence must surely offset Mr Keen’s laid back demeanour in tackling Heathrow Expansion issues.  Mr Keen indicated that there was a balance somewhere between his representing the Unions at the Airport to protect their jobs and work patterns..and listening to locals complaining about expansion etc. One Heston resident dared mention pollution from airport activities. Mr Keen would have none of it.(honest). The meeting was strictly chaired and quite rightly so. The subject of “Expenses” was banned.Mr Keen apparently says to many groups and delegations “You can ask me whatever questions you like..but being politicians we’ve been taught not to answer questions”  If last night’s poor quality presentation, answers and information was anything to go by.. we’re not missing much…if you know what I mean.Surely Mark Bowen can make a better job of it.?

Jim Lawes ● 6110d83 Comments

"Would it ruin the illusion that we're bestest chums if I told you I think both your stupid pointless political parties are just two sides of the same greedy, corrupt, deceitful, coin?"No it wouldn't, Stephanie. You chose to intervene in an argument between a Tory and a Labourite - and you chose to do it by directing all of your venom at the latter. If the parties are just two sides of the same coin, it's funny how you reserve all of your scorn just for the one side - and how you're so critical of the Keens without saying anything against a local Tory candidate who accepts donations from billionaire tax exiles.On another thread, you chose to intervene in a discussion between me and an ICG councillor who voted to cut £650,000 of funding to "Hounslow Language Service" - and you intervened on his side. His party is in coalition with the Tories on Hounslow Council. Find out about HLS, Steph, and the vulnerable people who depend upon it, and then come back on here and continue your self-righteous diatribe against Labour politicians who are fighting these cuts.I'd like to know what connection you really had with the "protestors". Wasn't one of the squatters who was interviwed on TV called "Steph"? And even if that wasn't you, I believe your support for, or involvement in, their cause goes beyond the mere warm words you have offered up this morning.I could answer every point you make, Steph, but I've got a living to earn (and it will be more difficult for me when Jim's beloved Tory Party gets in, becuase they'll roll back all of the low wage legislation that this government introduced for the benefit of people like me).

Robin Taylor ● 6103d

"Is it really? As someone who has chosen to ally herself on this thread with a right wing Tory like Jim Lawes, it's amusing to hear you use a term like that."Only in your world Robin does not verbally attacking someone mean that you're 'allying' yourself with them. I don't know Jim from Adam, which I quite clearly said in a previous post, the only thing I said about him that may be deemed as 'allying' was that I admired his photographs, and I do, they're very nice. (But watch out, that now makes us photography allies apparently and we shall take over the world one summer fete snapshot at a time). Again (quite predictably) it just comes down to politics with you though doesn't it? How dare someone like 'tory' photos, I must disinfect my eyeballs after looking at them so the 'toryness' doesn't rub off on me. Get a grip.Funny you'd find my choice of words amusing, I find it amusing for someone that flaunts their class discrimination so flagrantly and openly to call somebody else 'right wing.'"Isn't it? Well, the last ones he took led to the house being occupied," I know this is something you're clinging to dearly but I'm afraid I'm going to have to burst your bubble.. No they didn't. Nobody from Brook Road South had even seen those pictures until they were included in an article (the Guardian I believe) about the house being squatted. It was local knowledge before those pictures were taken and passed around and those 'middle class layabouts' are local people (from Chiswick, Brentford and Hanworth)."They unfurled a banner that contained the lie that the Keens had bought the house out of people's taxes."Again, no they didn't. Not one of the banners said 'this house was bought with tax money', I can only presume you're talking about the 'reclaiming your taxes' banner? The second home was paid for with taxes, thus enabling them to pay for the building work and the interest payments on their mortgage on their first home in Brentford. Even if that wasn't the case the 'reclaiming your taxes' banner wasn't necessarily referring to the house specifically, however much you seem to like to think it was."That's just plain patronising." Was it? I do apologise, it wasn't meant to be."There is nothing wrong with my sense of 'inner wellbeing'. But there probably would be if I spent my spare time going round to the property of the Tory candidate, harrassing her and posting photos of her house on local forums."As apposed to spending your spare time on a forum board of a place I presume you've never lived in and probably spend about as much time in as the Keens, just to defend them to the death when any of their constituents dare to complain about their MPs? It wouldn't stand out so much but you're so so venomous with no provocation at all, it's actually quite unsettling."I get the impression from your postings that you sympathise with the eco villagers and former squatters (indeed, Jim seems to think you are one of them). It frankly beggars belief that these oh so "cool dudes" can side with Tory activists against two Labour MPs"Sympathise? That's a strange word to use in that context, what they're doing at eco village is brilliant, the local support is overwhelming and it's a really positive progressing project involving really warm welcoming and friendly people.. What on earth makes you think they need 'sympathising' with?It all comes back to this 'siding with' thing again doesn't it? You're really quite focused on that aren't you? Would it ruin the illusion that we're bestest chums if I told you I think both your stupid pointless political parties are just two sides of the same greedy, corrupt, deceitful, coin? This is why I don't vote or get involved in politics, because all the options are just as bad as each other. That said Robin, just because two independant people don't like you, doesn't mean they're 'allies'.Anything else or are we done?ps. 'Cool dudes'...? Really Robin...? I prefer the term 'swingin hip-cat', or if we have to stick to surfer-isms then 'bodacious babe' will do just fine.

Stephanie Kitsune ● 6103d

"I'm sure there probably are pictures of these two groups in the same place at the same time, it's called 'solidarity' Robin."Is it really? As someone who has chosen to ally herself on this thread with a right wing Tory like Jim Lawes, it's amusing to hear you use a term like that."See Robin therein lies your problem, I don't need to question why he's doing it, because taking pictures of a crooked fence is hardly vindictive or malicious."Isn't it? Well, the last ones he took led to the house being occupied, causing much distress to Ann. They unfurled a banner that contained the lie that the Keens had bought the house out of people's taxes. There was also an alleged sexual assault on the premises during the time that the "legal occupiers" were there."So if he wants to take pictures of fences, let him take pictures of fences, everybody has to have a hobby! Getting so worked up over such trivial things can't be doing much for your health and sense of inner wellbeing."That's just plain patronising. There is nothing wrong with my sense of 'inner wellbeing'. But there probably would be if I spent my spare time going round to the property of the Tory candidate, harrassing her and posting photos of her house on local forums.I get the impression from your postings that you sympathise with the eco villagers and former squatters (indeed, Jim seems to think you are one of them). It frankly beggars belief that these oh so "cool dudes" can side with Tory activists against two Labour MPs.

Robin Taylor ● 6103d

"It's very clear from the pictures that have been published of the eco villagers at Kew Bridge and the former squatters at 38 Brook Road South that some of them are definitely the same people."I'm sure there probably are pictures of these two groups in the same place at the same time, it's called 'solidarity' Robin. The Brook Road South group visited the Eco Villagers lots of times, and still do, and vice versa. That does not however make the Brook Road South squatters residents at Eco Village, just like how posting on a Brentford forum doesn't necessarily make you a resident of Brentford. "And the fact he's an active member of the Conservative Party doesn't make you question why he's doing this?" See Robin therein lies your problem, I don't need to question why he's doing it, because taking pictures of a crooked fence is hardly vindictive or malicious. It would be if he was somehow deliberately setting up the scene to make the Keens look unfavourable, but I can't quite imagine anyone jumping up and down on a fence until it looks sad enough to photograph, or carting along half a ton of overgrown foliage to dump on top of it. So if he wants to take pictures of fences, let him take pictures of fences, everybody has to have a hobby! Getting so worked up over such trivial things can't be doing much for your health and sense of inner wellbeing.Can't help but notice in that picture that the whopping great grape vine has gone off the back of the house, I hope it was rehomed somewhere nice.

Stephanie Kitsune ● 6103d

Robin, the addressee of your comment is neither here nor there in relation to the comment I made. You made a definate statement that the house was more of an eye-sore during the time of the squatters occupancy. I merely pulled you up on the fact that your opinion, although still valid and welcome, does not hold as much weight as that of the people who have to look at that building every day. That isn't to say the neighbours of number 38 would disagree with you, and that isn't to say that Jim would be included amongst those neighbours (personally I haven't a clue where he lives, although I do happen to quite admire his photography skills :)) it was just an observation that I thought perhaps you should take on board.Another observation - you do have quite a habit of exaggerating and criminalising the smallest comment or action from people you have a personal dislike for, you may find yourself better able to express your opinions effectively if you toned this down a bit, ie. taking a picture of a house and showing it to people is just relaying pictoral truth not 'causing trouble', I'm fairly sure he's not trying to deliberately sabotage Mr and Mrs Keen through the medium of a wonky fence..Incidentally I believe he did refer to me as such, however as I'm sitting at a computer typing you a message on the internet I think it's fairly obvious that I am not currently 'camping' at an eco village which has no electricity.I can also confirm that no eco villagers were in residence at 38 Brook Road South.

Stephanie Kitsune ● 6103d