Forum Topic

Priorities

Looking at Ann Keen and Mary Macleod's websites, I note that they have put the different areas of the Brentford and Isleworth constituency in completely different orders. Does this reflect their differing priorities?Ann Keen:"Ann Keen MP representing the people of Hounslow, Osterley, Gunnersbury, Brentford, Isleworth and Chiswick."Mary Macleod:"I am the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Chiswick, Brentford, Isleworth, Syon, Osterley and Hounslow."

James de Vivenot ● 5883d38 Comments

This is partly due to years of Labour allowing attractive buildings like the old Town Hall and Library , Alexandra Road school etc to be destroyed. Divey buildings attract divey people. Even the flats above Asda look like the worst of the 60s.

Ian Speed ● 5874d

"The thought of having anything in common with someone who calls his own employees "scum" is not one that appeals to me." And now I agree with you Robbie. It wasn't very pleasant to work with scum. It didn't appeal to me either; so sleep easy because she's history now.

Steve Taylor ● 5875d

For once I agree with Steve Taylor: it is a relief to know that the two of us are not related.The thought of having anything in common with someone who calls his own employees "scum" is not one that appeals to me.

Robin Taylor ● 5875d

No!! that is genuine criticism.

Dawn Hardy ● 5875d

You may well be right there!

James de Vivenot ● 5875d

Nobody adnits to having ever seen or met Robin of Southall.However, in light of the damage he has done to Ann K££n, some suspect he may be Mary Macleod or someone from her inner sanctum!

Steve Taylor ● 5875d

I totally understand your reluctance to be associated with your namesake!

James de Vivenot ● 5875d

"Steve, are you by any chance related to Robin?"James - I am always more than  happy to respond to any decent question put to me on these forums but I'll treat yours with the contempt it deserves.

Steve Taylor ● 5875d

"Nit Picking"DawnI suppose some might say that my disgust at Lib Dem Chris Hulmes claiming for a trouser press or my disgust of the K££ns expenses on the Satnavs and Bose home entertainment sytem is also Nit Picking!

Steve Taylor ● 5875d

Nit Picking

Dawn Hardy ● 5875d

Sorry Tracey but I asked several questions and your response doesn't answer any of them.  I know what the Executive is, who is on it and which political parties they belong to.What I asked you was why you think 24 Conservative councillors control a council made up of 60 councillors, and what role you feel the Community Group councillors play within this administration.Specifically, I wanted to know whether you believe the 8 Conservative Executive members control the other 2, and if so why and how.Lastly I asked whether any of the more senior Conservative councillors or spokesmen also believe they control the Community Group councillors.  No response so far inclines me to believe they agree with you that they do.

James Dash ● 5875d

Hi James,The following link explains how the executive works on the council:http://www.hounslow.gov.uk/executive_portfoliosThere is a pdf attachment that you can download that details each post, with a name and picture of the post-holder and the party/ group that they belong to.I hope this answers your question.Best RegardsTracey

Tracey Bleakley ● 5875d

Tracey, is this the official Conservative party explanation?  That the Conservatives have been in control of the council for the last four years?Where, in your opinion, has the Community Group fitted into all this?Are you telling us that the Conservative members on the Council Executive "controlled" the 20% who were from the Community Group?If this is not the part viewpoint, possibly a more experienced Conservative spokesman might wish to comment.

James Dash ● 5875d

Steve, are you by any chance related to Robin?

James de Vivenot ● 5875d

Hi Steve,No, not at all.  I wrote the newsletter, and as I said in my previous post, the council is led by a Conservative leader and has more Councillors than any other party.  In addition, 80% of the Council Executive is Conservative.  My interpretation therefore is that the Council is under Conservative control, but you are more than welcome to a different interpretation.The Council is fully transparent in terms of the way it is run.  If you are interested in fiding out more detail, there's lots of information available at:http://www.hounslow.gov.uk/index/council_and_democracy.htmBest RegardsTracey

Tracey Bleakley ● 5876d

"In Hounslow currently 24 councillors are Conservative, 23 Labour, six Community Group, three Liberal Democrat,"Thank you Tracey - so you are now confirming that the Tory statement  " Hounslow Council has been under Conservative control now for the past four years "  is in fact a lie?

Steve Taylor ● 5876d

Hi Steve,Yes of course.  In Hounslow currently 24 councillors are Conservative, 23 Labour, six Community Group, three Liberal Democrat, two West Area Independents, one Hounslow Independent and one is an independent councillor in the Bedfont ward.Following 35 years of Labour rule, during this term the Conservative and Community groups have formed a partnership administration to run the authority.  The Leader of the Council is Peter Thompson (Conservative).Best RegardsTracey

Tracey Bleakley ● 5876d

Hi Tracey Yes I saw your newsletter on TW8 but I was concerned at your statement: " Hounslow Council has been under Conservative control now for the past four years (following 35 years of labour rule)" Its not at all true is it? That statement. I have written to Peter Thompson on 29 March asking for clarification but he hasn't responded. Can you advise what it means?

Steve Taylor ● 5876d

Rather like your posts, James, I doubt they make the slightest difference!

Robin Taylor ● 5876d

Robin, do you you think your posts on this forum and others actually help boost the Labour vote?

James de Vivenot ● 5876d

Tracey makes a good point: it is important to come out and vote.Votes keep democracy alive.But let's be clear: a vote for the Conservatives in Brentford is a wasted vote - they were a distant third last time.Brentford has one Lib Dem and two Labour councillors: it is a Labour/Lib Dem marginal.I hope the Labour and Lib Dem candidates will make that fact known on the doorstep - and squeeze the Tory vote until the pips squeak.NB: In the unlikely event of a Tory breakthrough in Brentford, the Conservatives get that much closer to achieving a majority on the council. Labour & the Lib Dems have a duty to ensure that does not happen.

Robin Taylor ● 5876d

Hi Steve,Brentford currently has no Conservative Councillors, so I thought it might be helpful to introduce you to the candidates to help with your comparisons. We are Tracey Bleakley, Nicky Dykes and Colin Ford, and for those of you who would like to know more about what we stand for, we have a newsletter available on the TW8 site and a blog at:http://brentfordconservatives2010.blogspot.com/We would very much like the residents of Brentford to have a stronger voice in the borough, and have been out meeting as many people as possible over the last 18 months. I think one of the great things about Brentford is the community spirit and the strong engagement in politics and the commitment to the democratic process shared across so many residents, across a range of political beliefs. Whilst I know that lots of these opinions will be voiced very loudly over the next 5 weeks or so, I think I can speak for the council candidates across the political divides in Brentford (we all know each other pretty well by now) to say please do come out and vote on the 6th May (whatever your political persuasion)!Best RegardsTracey

Tracey Bleakley ● 5876d

"Should we as voters necessarily infer that the MP/PPC behaves (or would behave) in the same way as local councillors of the same political party?"Absolutely

Steve Taylor ● 5877d

Why? would we wish to discuss Brentford's No.1Enemy who has done absolutely nothing for our community, but has quite sysematically milked the system for her own benefit, I remember Brentford as a bustling River Town with Dock's galore also shop's in abundance Labour destroyed that so the only time I think of Labour it is with disdain.

Dawn Hardy ● 5877d

It is interesting that most of the responses to my post relate to the performance of the local council rather than the MP or PPC.Should we as voters necessarily infer that the MP/PPC behaves (or would behave) in the same way as local councillors of the same political party?

James de Vivenot ● 5877d

I asked you why?? the goverment did not allow councils to use monies of ex-council houses, I knew that I would not get an answer so I looked it up on Google please see attached:-www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/sep/.../housing.housepricesUnderneath such miracles, unfortunately, there lurked all kinds of drawbacks. When councils sold properties - at discounts of up to 50% - they were legally obliged to use the money to pay off debt rather than to build replacement homes.

Dawn Hardy ● 5881d

Not sure how that comment is relative to this thread - yet again.

Vanessa Smith ● 5881d

When you consider that the only person Ann Keen has ever represented whilst being our MP is herself, do you need to ask?

Dawn Hardy ● 5881d

almost true Vanessa,there is one,compared to four who do just Chiswick High Road.

Robert A Field ● 5881d

"take a look at the street cleaning,compared to Brentford."How often do streets get cleaned in Brentford, then?

Richard Jennings ● 5882d

Evidence provided - answer is there none!

Vanessa Smith ● 5882d

You'll get no argument from me, no doubt we'll be accused of paranoia.

Vanessa Smith ● 5882d

Have you seen the state of Hounslow High St. and the surrounding area? Filthy! The great and good of Chiswick would be - rightly - up in arms if Chiswick looked as half as bad. What has happened to the redevelopment that has dragged on for ever, and who pulled the plug?Why was Chiswick School pushed ahead of others which were originally considered a 'priority' in the BSF programme on the spurious basis that their place in the deprivation index was greater than an Isleworth school? Could it be - no, could it really? That the then Lead Member for Education was a Chiswick Tory councillor? Note to self: Uncharitable thoughts - must not be so cynical.

Vanessa Smith ● 5882d

obvious for years Vanessa,take a look at the street cleaning,compared to Brentford.

Robert A Field ● 5882d

"however judging by the Tory council's priorities only Chiswick EVER matters. The rest of the borough can go stuff itself."Agreed

Steve Taylor ● 5883d

Evidence Vanessa please?

John Todd ● 5883d

I doubt there's any sinister motive to be read into this - however judging by the Tory council's priorities only Chiswick EVER matters. The rest of the borough can go stuff itself.

Vanessa Smith ● 5883d

I would say that Mary is just listing the areas from Chiswick to Hounslow in order.Ann is probably attempting to do the same but the opposite was round. However, having not visited the area since her last election she has forgotten which way round they are lol

Claire Peleschka ● 5883d