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The Dartford Labour Party has submitted a petition to local Tory MP, Gareth Johnson – supported by 375 ordinary members of the public – opposing the Conservative-led government’s plan to hike the tolls at the Dartford Crossing by an inflation-busting 66%.
The text of the press release can be found at: http://www.dartfordlabourparty.org.uk/blog/press-releases
During the 2010 general election, Gareth Johnson left local people in no doubt that he would campaign for the tolls to be scrapped. He even told parliament in June 2010 that he would “never stop campaigning for the tolls on the Dartford crossing to be scrapped.” Yet, not only has there been no such campaign from the MP, but the tolls are to actually rise. People in Dartford
….. Continue reading LABOUR SUBMITS PETITION TO MP OPPOSING TOLL HIKES
Last week, the Dartford Labour Party submitted its views to the Department for Transport on the government’s unacceptable plan to massively increase the tolls at the Dartford Crossing. You can see our full submission by following the link below:
http://www.dartfordlabourparty.org.uk/blog/consultation
Naturally, Labour opposes this unfair increase and believes that – in the current tough economic conditions – businesses and hard working families shouldn’t be paying anymore at all to use the crossing. We’re also outraged at the inactivity of Tory MP Gareth Johnson who has sat by while his own government has pushed through a hefty hike in the tolls. Yet in his maiden speech to the House of Commons in June 2010, he promised to “never stop campaigning for the tolls on
….. Continue reading LABOUR CONDEMNS TORY TOLL INCREASE
It was a great pleasure to see Dartford’s former Labour MP, Dr Howard Stoate, on Friday 23 September where he addressed a packed meeting of the Dartford Labour Party on the subject of the government’s NHS reforms. Given his role as chair of Bexley’s Clinical Cabinet, which has given him a leading role in the reform process, his analysis of the government’s plans was impressively knowledgeable.
Dr Stoate was clear that a core principle behind the reforms – that clinical services should be commissioned at the GP-patient level – had considerable merit. Indeed, he pointed out that this basic concept had first been pursued by the last Labour government but that GPs in most parts of the country had not,
….. Continue reading The threat to our NHS – Howard Stoate speaks on health reforms
Plans to increase the cost of the Dartford River crossing will hit locals hard and the Government needs to think again, says Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, Maria Eagle MP.
The Tory-led Government has just announced plans to hike up charges from £1.50 to £2.00 next year for cars, rising to £2.50 in 2012. Prices for other vehicles will also increase under the plans.
Labour’s Shadow Secretary for Transport, Maria Eagle MP: “The proposals will hit motorists who use this vital link hard. At a time when drivers are already being squeezed by the VAT increase on fuel imposed by the Chancellor, the government should be doing all it can not to add further burdens. The government will struggle to justify
….. Continue reading Dartford Crossing latest
Disabled people are under pressure,through reassessment of vital disability benefits. And Tory MP Philip Davies displayed his ignorance and insensitivity to the needs of many by suggesting that disabled people should offer to work for less than the National Minimum Wage. We’ve posted a link to a national protest petition on this site.
Once again the Tories show their true colours, picking on those least organised and most vulnerable to reduce spending, while not addressing the inequalities of society.
Our local college offering higher and further educational courses to students aged over 16 has become the latest casualty of Tory cuts in the South East. The college has more than 4,000 full time learners at campuses in Dartford and Gravesend. But Principal David Gleed said the college was facing a shortfall of £3 million if nothing was done. Staff have been told 156 roles are deemed redundant. Sixty-five post are at risk-nine in management, 14 teaching jobs and 42 support posts. Existing employees, a member of staff said, may have to reapply for their jobs. We say: • Fewer and fewer jobs are available for young people and now the Coalition Government are putting at risk educational opportunities. •
….. Continue reading Coalition cuts hit North West Kent College
As we reported here, Kent Police are about to lose about 500 officers. This week the Kent Messenger reports that the Kent Police Federation have started a campaign, combatting the government line that the frontline won’t be affected.
Ian Pointon, chairman of the federation’s Kent branch, said: “The government has slashed spending on the police by 20 per cent and told the public the frontline won’t be affected. In reality they don’t even understand what the frontline is – it is certainly far more than uniformed police officers on patrol, as important as they are. A government reassurance that cuts of this level can be found solely from the ‘back office’ or through ‘efficiency savings’ is at best poorly
….. Continue reading Kent Police cuts – latest
Motorists in Dartford are currently being hit by a Tory double-whammy. Not only has the Tory increase to VAT led to a hike in the price of fuel, but this year will see the charge to use the Dartford Crossing increase to £2 and then go up further to £2.50 in 2012. This increase will hit thousands of motorists and businesses which use the Dartford Crossing daily.
Gareth Johnson, Dartford’s Conservative MP campaigned during the General Election for the tolls on the crossing to be scrapped. But less than six months after he was elected, he presided over an astonishing U-turn which saw the tolls doubling rather than being abolished. Dartford Labour Party continues to campaign against this increase to
….. Continue reading Tory Double Whammy For Dartford Motorists
Dartford Labour has announced its manifesto for the 2011 Borough elections. The full transcript is available as a section on this website: 2011 Manifesto. Also, see our press release of 12 April 2011.
The gap between rich and poor is widening. One half of the UK population now owns just one percent of the wealth. A generation ago, they had twelve per cent.
Unlike bankers’ bonuses, giving employees, consumers and residents a wider share of ownership and wealth is good for society and the economy.
Co-operatives and mutuals are businesses that are owned by members and share their profits.
We are calling on government to support action to share ownership and wealth in a co-operative way by:
* encouraging business to share profits with staff, customers and communities more widely; * promoting community ownership as one way to save lifeline services, such as village shops and pubs, and enable people to take action
….. Continue reading Co-operatives Fortnight. The Campaign for Co-operation
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