BEDROOM TAX CAMPAIGN IN THANET

Thanet Benefit Justice group begin a campaign against the bedroom tax.
People in Thanet, East Kent, speak of the impact of the tax on their lives.
A councillor compares the new tax to the poll tax which brought Mrs Thatcher down.

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UKIP BIRCHINGTON BUST UP

UKIP election candidate Roger Latchford calls in the police after a confrontation with a local councillor

The trouble arose after councillor Bernard La Roche stood holding a placard with a Nazi swastika in front of Latchford’s stall.

Latchford was until recently in the Tory party and previously the deputy leader of Thanet Council.

He was a close colleague and friend of the ex-leader of the council, currently serving 18 months in prison for misconduct in public office.

For more about the politics and murky goings on in Thanet, East Kent see the new issue of Thanet Watch magazine in newsagents now, or if you have trouble getting a copy, ring Thanet Watch on 07989 070843.

THANET COUNCIL SAYS NO TO FILMING – AGAIN

A THANET WATCH REPORT. On April 23rd the Overview and Scrutiny Panel of Thanet Council met to discuss Ramsgate seafront and missing art from council buildings. The chair, Ian Driver, had said he would welcome filming from local journalists. But when we set up to film, the councillors and the council official present objected. This film is of highlights of the debate before we were asked to stop filming. Full report in Thanet Watch magazine

THROWN OUT FOR FILMING IN THANET COUNCIL

A journalist is thrown out of a meeting of Thanet District Council for filming.
Christine Tongue of Thanet Watch magazine got out her camera when an important meeting about a controversial development on Ramsgate seafront descended into chaos. She was ordered to stop filming and escorted from the building by a security guard.

THANET WATCH CORRESPONDENCE WITH MARTYN HEALE OF UKIP

We asked Martyn Heale of UKIP tobe interviewed about his past membership of other parties, including the National Front. Here is his reply.

Thank you for your email.

Dear Mr Thomas,

Martyn is not giving interviews, however, a copy of a recent press statement follows.

 

 

I can confirm that I was an active  member of the National Front over 34 years ago in London. I have said on many occasions that I regret that youthful, and as it turned out unwise decision to join. After I left the NF I had a short daliance with New Britain before becoming a candidate in a by election in Fulham  in 1979 for the multi-racial Progress Party which my wife and I had joined. I was after that a member of the Conservative Party in West Ham, Fulham and finally South Thanet for over 15 years. While in the Conservative Party I was Chairman of Northwood Ward for seven years and Chairman of Ramsgate Conservtives for one year, at the same time  Major John Thomas was Chairman of the Association. I stood for them in Northwood Ward in the local elections, twice, and also in the Northwood and Eastcliff KCC Division. I confirmed my previous NF membership to the selection committee and was endorsed by both local Party and Jonathan Aitken.

I left the Tory Party in 2000 to develop my business, and in 2003 stood with my good friend Bernie Baldwin in Ramsgate as an Independent Candidate after disagreeing with the replacement candidate for Aitken, Mark Mcgregor and John Kirby’s view of Ramsgate’s future, particularly the sea front. I met UKIP members at the count and then in August 2003 joined UKIP declaring my past history as an activist with the NF on my application form

I categorically state that my NF membership was a bad decision,, and one that I sincerely regret. I denounce racism in any form, which is evidenced by me marrying the woman I loved,  who is Egyptian. We were married for 15 years and have a family, my 30-year old son from that marriage also lives in Broadstairs.

I am standing in the Ramsgate Division for Kent County Council with the full support of my branch. I stood down as Chairman of the local branch for the duration of the election to enable me to concentrate on the campaign in which  I am not only a candidate, but the Agent for five others standing in  both County and a TDC by election.

 

I will not be giving any interviews, or making further comment.

Kindest regards

Martyn Heale 

  

THE NHS IN THANET – ONE MAN’S DOUBTS

A THANET WATCH REPORT. Groups of doctors called Clinical Commissioning Groups are now in charge of health care in all regions. Here Independent Thanet Councillor Ian Driver expresses his serious doubts about the CCG which has taken over in Thanet, East Kent.

UKIP AND THE EX-NF CANDIDATE

Campaigning for UKIP in Ramsgate for the Kent County council elections, Trevor Shonk answers questions about the ex-chair of Thanet UKIP party, Martyn Heale, who was in the past an organiser for the National Front. UKIP has a rule not to allow membership to people who have been members of far right parties such as the National Front and the British National Party.