Hull Floods

It is difficult to talk to anyone in Hull who has not been touched by the recent floods. People who have had homes flooded have had a dreadful experience. It will take some areas many months to get back to normal. We all know that Hull is a low-lying city which sits on a flood plain below the tidal high water line. But the threat from one day of very heavy rain had a devastating result on many thousands of residents.

The main now is the clear up operation, the quick removal of damages furniture and the prevention of future flooding.

Gordon Brown takes over as PM.

So its finally happened and Gordon Brown has taken over from Tony Blair as Prime Minister. The next 3 months will be an interesting period as the new Prime Minister sets the agenda for the rest of the parliament. He has already said that Health and Housing will be top priorities. But what changes will be made. The house price boom has been mostly driven by increased demand and increased population. Opening up new areas for increasing supply of houses will be crucial in reducing housing shortages. On health the Labour government has put a huge amount of investment into the NHS. Massive improvement have been made without the government getting credit for the improvements in waiting times, pay, numbers of doctors and dentist etc.
Perhaps a new health secretary can change that.

Harriet Harman becomes Labour Deputy Leader.

On Sunday Harriet Harman became the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and replaced local MP John Prescott. The role is likely to be a much different from the one occupied by John. Harriet Harman has been appointed as chair of the Labour Party and will focus much of her attention out and about up and down the country.

The result of the election was extremely close between West Hull MP Alan Johnson and Harriet Harman.

The special Labour Party conference also saw Gordon Brown replace Tony Blair as Labour leader.

Watching the conference it is very clear that the changes made at the top of government will benefit the country and the Labour party.

The government has been given a fresh impetus and focus on making the housing market work more effectively and further improving the NHS.

Opinion polls show Labour improving and moving ahead of the conservatives reflecting the complete failure of the Tory party leadership.

Labour back in the lead.

A new poll published in the Observer this weekend by Mori puts Labour back into the lead over the Consevatives with the nasty Lib Dems trailing in the rear.

Labour 39%
Tories 36%
Lib Dems 15%

There is clearly a long way to go befor the next general election but it is clear that voters prefer Brown to Cameron.

Pearson Sells Out

Once upon a time after a long career with a club a footballer would be given a testimonial match to help with life after football such as buying a pub or a business or a career in teaching. Testimonial matches are a rarity now. Footballers even in the lower leagues can earn thousand every week whether they play or not. Players switch clubs as frequently as hairstyles with few ever gaining the respect of fans or a long service award.

Most club owners supported their local team, putting money and time into “getting the backroom” stuff sorted and a seat in the director’s box. Jack Walker at Blackburn, Michael Sugar at Tottenham and Elton John at Watford all supported their local teams as boys and went on to put their wealth into football clubs they loved.

Not anymore, football clubs are a commodity to be bought and sold by people who don’t support the team, city or care about the fans. They can come and more importantly go at a moments notice.

Paul Duffen and his associates are talking about the premiership in three years. Great. I want to see premiership football at the KC. But lets not forget what happened at Leeds United, spending millions to soar before crashing in debt and the farce of a bankruptcy buy back scheme.

What is needed in football is a real say and real control for real fans. Supporters who follow local teams in good times and bad deserve more of a say in what happens to “their” team than listening to a hasty press conference to be told its been sold to a group of southern based gamblers.

Hull Liberal Democrat Councillor sacked.

McCobbs Revenge.

Not towing the party line within the Nasty Liberal Democrats in Hull has led to the sacking of one of the newest Lib Dems councillors. The only crime committed seems to be voting for themselves. Nasty man Dave McCobb has already lined the seat up for one of his old school friends.

Hull Liberal Democrats are all about money and greed.

It seems the Hull Liberal Democrats are still all about money and greed. A comment former deputy leader Janet Toker used to describe the party in Hull. Recently the Area Committees met to elect chairs for the coming year. It seems the Lib Dems are having difficulty getting members to toe the party line when it comes to chairs of committees and the additional allowance involved. One Lib Dem member was in such a rush they even managed to nominate themselves for the post ahead of the party nominee.

Sloan dash for power defeated.

Andy Sloan made a dramatic dash for power as he stood for Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and the Council. Unfortunately for Andy he received a just one vote, his own. Even his fellow ward councillors failed to back him!

Labour Group Elect New Leader.

This week I attended the first Labour Group meeting following the council elections. One of the first items to be decided was the election of a new leader after Ken Branson stepped down. I am please to say that my East Hull colleague Steve Brady has been appointed with Daren Hale continuing as Deputy.

Hull Liberal Democrats are all about money and greed

Janet Toker the former Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Hull made this stinging remark in her resignation speech fro the party. The comment clearly still hits a very raw nerve with some sections of the Hull Lib Dems who are currently still squabbling over paid positions. I have even had outraged comments sent to me regarding the matter. However, as usual with the yellow Hull fib dems without a backbone and sent anonymously.

John Prescott

Last night I attended the East Hull Labour Party meeting at which John Prescott announced his intension to step down as Deputy Party Leader. Of course it wasn’t a surprise and the date had been widely tipped for some time. The meeting gave John an opportunity to thank the local party and people of East Hull for the support given over the past 37 years and to outline some of the many achievements of the Labour Government over the past 10 years.

Lib Dem /Tory packed comes under pressure.

The Lib Dem /Tory pact on the Hull City Council is coming under intense pressure this week as the squabble for extra council allowances hots up. The ruling group no longer need the support of the two Tory councillors and they now face losing their highly paid additional allowances so the positions can be handed out to new Lib Dem councillors. Former Lib Dem councillor and ex deputy leader of the council Janet Toker famously left the Lib Dems following a similar squabble claiming the local “Liberal Democrats are all about money and greed”. The result of the squabble will be very interesting and will have an impact on the council for the rest of the year. If the two Tory councillors are given the highly paid posts of Chair of Planning and Chair of Licensing they will continue to vote with the Lib Dem group for the next 12 months. However, if the money and greed group win the day two Lib Dems will be appointed and every vote in full council will be on a knife edge.

Full Drypool Result

James Parker .............. Conservative ............................138

Janet Toker..................Independent ...........................139

Gary Wareing ...............Labour ...................................1234

Angela Wastling ...........Lib Dem .................................1642

Total votes 3059

Turnout 31.17%

Drypool does it again

Well after what must be one of the longest election campaigns in the city i lost the Drypool Council seat late on Thursday night. It is now some years since a sitting councillor was able to hold the seat most recent councillor only able to manage one term in office.

The election campaign as always was huge fun very tiring but finally disappointing. I must thank everyone who helped with the campaign especially Jill my wife who has had to put up with the ups and downs of months of leafleting telephones and of course mountains of paperwork stacked all over the house.
My agent Bobby organised a wonderful campaign and managed to organise huge amounts of help in the ward from the university Labour Club. Oh and he really did try to kill me near the end of the campaign.

Vote Wareing X

The Drypool campaign is now in its final week with the result looking like it will be a very close result. The vast majority of postal votes have now been cast with over 600 already returned. The represents a very large turnout of the potential voters. This is the final week of the election campaign with the postal voted opened on Wednesday and polling stations open on Thursday.

First week

Campaigning is now well underway in the area with 3 weeks left until polling day on May 3rd. Much of this week has been spent leafleting, talking to residents and dealing with problems in the ward. I have been able to sort out problems with fly-tipping, housing repairs and street cleaning issues this week.

Nomination Papers In

With the local elections in Hull taking place on the 3rd of May nominatios for candidates are currently open. On the first day 8 nomination papers went in including my own.

Hull Liberal Democrats to be investigated for Election Fraud

Leading Liberal Democrats are to be investigated over alleged election fraud during the Local Council Elections in 2006. A 50-page report recently submitted details the allegations together with supporting documents.

Lib Dems bosses turn off CCTV system.

Lib Dems turn CCTV off.

The Liberal Democrats who control Hull City Council have never supported CCTV in the city. When the system was first proposed they did everything they could to prevent Hull getting a system despite huge grants being available from the government for a system.

Now we discover that staffing of the CCTV control room is being run down with job vacancies left uncovered for months.

They have undermined the system and staff and the confidence of residents in the city.

Street Sweeping Concern

Over the past few months many residents have contacted me regarding the decline in the standard of Street Sweeping in Drypool since the Liberal Democrats took control of the Council. It has been suggested to me by a resident that this is a deliberate policy on behalf of the ruling group in order to justify putting Waste Management out to a tendering process and letting a private company move in.