Home from tonight’s historic
@medway_council
annual council meeting.
Medway - you have given the Medway Labour & Co-operative group the opportunity to serve, we will not let you down. 1/6
#ProudToBeMedway
To the people of Medway - thank you for placing your trust in the Labour & Co-op Group giving us the opportunity to serve. I’m proud to be part of a team of 33 talented councillors. We will work tirelessly to bring the change that people have voted for.
#ChosenChangeChosenLabour
Absolute honour to have been elected unanimously as the Medway Labour & Co-op Group Leader and our nomination for
@medway_council
Leader on Wednesday 24th May.
I’m proud to have nominated Teresa Murray as Deputy Leader who was also elected unanimously.
#ProudToBeMedway
With lots of people saying
#BoycottPPV
it's worth asking what else can £15 pay for when it comes to football?
Well at
@ChathamTownFC
£15 will get you:
Entry
Programme
Cheesy Chips (they are delicious!)
2 Coffees
and still have change!
A huge thank you to
@Keir_Starmer
and
@AngelaRayner
for joining us in Medway today on the eve of poll.
We have been working as hard as we can to deliver the change that Medway is crying out for - tomorrow we will be seeking the opportunity to serve.
#ChooseChangeChooseLabour
In the last 24 hours on social media I've seen:
- Someone sacked for phoning in sick today
- Someone invited to a disciplinary hearing on Christmas Day
- a national restaurant chain saying if you phone in sick you will be disciplined
Please join a union today
Proud to have been elected unanimously as the new Chair of the Association of Labour Councillors.
Congratulations to
@Ms_SThompson
elected unanimously as Vice Chair.
A positive first meeting of the newly elected executive today representing around 7,000
@UKLabour
Councillors
Thanks for the hundreds of kind tweets and messages (and even the unkind ones too!)
Looking forward to getting to work with our brilliant, talented new
@MedwayLabour
team.
#ProudToBeMedway
I’m devastated to share that my awesome Dad slipped away earlier today - an amazing husband, brother, grandpa, shipmate,theatre techie & much more.
I’m grateful for 46 years of love & support I was lucky enough to receive from him & I’ve been proud to be his son every single day
I’m proud to bring forward a cabinet full of talented women & men.
We will be getting to work to deliver our five key pledges and dealing with the economic mess left by the previous Tory administration.
This cabinet is the first 50/50 gender balanced in the history of Medway.
Absolutely honoured to have been selected as the Parliamentary Candidate for Chatham & Aylesford.
I will work as hard as possible, alongside our brilliant local activists, to get a Labour representative for the place I proudly call home.
#VoteLabour12December
#VoteVince
Today is a wonderful day as we welcomed Edward Keir who arrived 7lb 2oz.
Absolutely huge thanks to the whole
@Medway_NHS_FT
team who helped his safe arrival.
Mary and Ned are both resting after a long weekend.
Today’s Tier 4 announcement will have been very difficult for many.
If your mental health is struggling reach out to:
Samaritans 116 123
CALM 0800 58 58 58
YoungMinds 0800 018 2138
ChildLine 0800 1111
No Panic 0844 967 4848
SANE 0300 304 7000
Get Connected 0808 808 4994
People that are more worthy of a knighthood than Iain Duncan Smith
1 - Every single resident I've represented at a PIP appeal
2 - Every single member of court and tribunal staff who have facilitated appeal hearings
3 - Pretty much most other people
Sacking staff and rehiring them is a reprehensible employment approach at any time, but in the middle of a global pandemic is unbelievable.
I stand with those women and men defending their rights.
#StopTheBritishGasFire
It is very disappointing that this was tweeted hours before
@michaelgove
actually wrote to me.
There will be a response sent before Christmas.
In that response I will be clear on which party was running
@medway_council
from May 2003 - May 2023 and the progress made since then.1/2
Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities
“I am issuing a direction to seven of the worst authorities in terms of plan-making that have failed not just to adopt a plan but even submit one to examination since 2004. And I am designating two councils for poor quality decision making.”
As Chair of the
@SELabour
Regional Board, I have to say it is very disappointing that our region doesn't have a Leadership or Deputy Leadership hustings.
We are not the only region without one either.
I hope this can be urgently rectified.
@DehennaDavison
Let me fix that:
You just voted to break international law. You voted to break an agreement you voted for just 9 months ago. You voted to give up on dispute resolution mechanisms before they’ve even been tried. You voted to give other nations excuses for future law-breaking
Every single day (except Easter Sunday!) we have amazing activists out on the doorsteps of Medway.
Whether people out for their first campaign session or the Leader of the Labour Party the message is clear
#ChooseChangeChooseLabour
Energy Bills
Council Tax
National Insurance
Stamps
Water Bills
Broadband Charges
The Weekly Shop
All are rising and we are seeing an out of touch government simply failing to support households adequately in this cost of living crisis
#AprilCruelDay
Strong performance from
@Keir_Starmer
today as
@UKLabour
Leader at
#PMQs
striking the balance of constructive opposition right at this unprecedented time.
The constituency of Chatham & Aylesford has been lucky to have two MPs since its creation-both have had the respect of those across the political spectrum.
Enjoyed working cross party with Tracey when needed or disagreeing agreeably.
I wish the very best for future endeavours.
Let there be lights!
Incredibly pleased to say companies have stepped forward to fund Christmas lights in our five main Medway town centres.
Thanks to Marston Holdings, Volker Highways & Norse Group
There is also positive news on Christmas parking & buses
#ProudToBeMedway
1/2
Remember when you go to the polling station between 7am and 10pm on Thursday:
You don't need your polling card
You don't need ID
You just need hope
#VoteLabour
#RealChange
@michaelgove
Hi Michael, I didn't watch the Leaders Debate tonight as I was at a
@medway_council
meeting (I didn't send my Dad) but I understand you seem to be saying it's unclear why
@Channel4News
didn't let you on the Leaders Debate - hopefully this helpful reminder will assist👇👇👇👇
Having watched the
#C4Debate
it makes it even clearer we need
@jeremycorbyn
as our country's next Prime Minister
If you want to help in making that a reality join
@UKLabour
today
Huge congratulations to the brilliant Zoe Van Dyke on her election as new Medway Labour & Co-operative Councillor for Strood North.
She will stand up for the residents - working closely with ward colleague Stephen Hubbard
Thanks to everyone who played their part
#LabourGain
I love the
@UKLabour
Party but in recent times there have been some issues which should have been dealt with in a different way.
I am putting myself forward for the National Executive Committee to try and deal with some of those challenges
#VoteVince
I have been a member of
@UKLabour
under the leadership of Blair, Brown, Miliband & Corbyn.
As I said recently to the
@MedwayPolitics
I will be cremated with my Labour Party Membership Card (although I'm not planning on that any time soon!!)
Remember that time when Netflix had a three hour conversation about local gardening matters or Amazon Prime highlighted what a local charity is doing or whether your child's school is open..... no neither do I.
#ProudOfTheBBC
Once again, a huge congratulations to
@MedwayLabour
's newest councillor Alex Paterson with a 26.5% swing.
Thanks to members and activists from across
@UKLabour
who supported the campaign and to over 1,200
#RochesterWest
residents who voted
#ForTheMany
Thank you
@Keir_Starmer
for joining us in Medway today - our team is all fired up and ready to roll for May 4th
Great conversations with local residents as we work towards delivering a
@MedwayLabour
Council.
#ChooseChangeChooseLabour
Britain has extraordinary potential.
Working people deserve a country that works for them and their family.
Vote Labour on 4 May. Together we will build a better Britain.
I talked about failed DWP processes in this months
@MedwayPolitics
column including 7 in 10 appeals being upheld.
Anyone saying
#IDanielBlake
is "not a documentary" simply doesn't realise the impact of Tory austerity and cuts.
#IDanielBlakeBBC2
Let me correct that for you
@ScottBentonMP
@JoeBiden
is absolutely a friend of Britain, defending the Good Friday Agreement, rejoining the World Health Organisation & the Paris Agreement.
Sounds like a pretty good friend to have if you ask me.
#SpecialRelationship
Good morning Medway!
Today we ask for the opportunity to serve, to make the place we call home even better.
Please use your vote for your
@MedwayLabour
Candidates to send the clear, positive message - Medway chooses Change.
#ChooseChangeChooseLabour
Complete failure by Medway Labour Run Council to coordinate road works, properly.
Unsatisfactory to close Lower Rainham Road, & carry out Road works same time in High Street.
This was the scene I saw this morning in Rainham along with Cllrs Hackwell & Barrett.
Thanks to the brilliant officers of Medway Council for the organisation of tonight’s Marketplace for the 59 new councillors elected last week.
Fantastic opportunity to see first hand the amazing range of services delivered for Medway residents.
#ProudToBeMedway
He rewarded his chums just before he quit as an MP
He lied to the Queen
He lied to Parliament
He tried to build an airport in the River Medway
He broke the Covid law that he made
A real honour to be presented this at
@SELabour
#Lab23
Reception by the General Secretary.
This award is for all our brilliant candidates & our 33 councillors, our amazing activists, Owen & Fay, trade unions,
@LondonLabour
&
@SELabour
friends, PLP & many more.
#ProudToBeLabour
A truly brilliant night at
@RoyalAlbertHall
listening to the absolute musical legend that is Mr
@PeterFrampton
on his Farewell Tour
If tonight was his last UK Concert the reaction after Do You Feel showed just how loved Peter Frampton is.
But as said at the end
#NeverSayNever
Although we didn't get over the line - we have the biggest
@MedwayLabour
Group since 1997 - 20 Councillors ready to work hard for residents across Medway and to hold the administration to account in a constructive manner as the main opposition group. 1/2
A pleasure to giving the closing speech at the
#Lab23
Local Government rally as one of the new 22
@UKLabour
Leaders after May 4th with Labour now the largest party in local government.
A huge thank you to LGA Labour, the ALC & LLGCC for the Project Victory programme.
Amazing turnout today as we campaign across Chatham.
Big thanks to friends from my trade union GMB and the brilliant Bromley Labour team.
Hundreds of conversations with lots of people voting Medway Labour for the first time.
#ChooseChangeChooseLabour
Let me be absolutely clear there is no room for racism anywhere in Medway.
My thanks to
@TheGillsFC
(in particular
@JoeComper
for his powerful statement) and
@kent_police
for their swift action today and I know 99.9% of GFC supporters will be disgusted by one person’s actions.
Great first in person group meeting tonight.
So proud of every single Labour & Co-op member elected on May 4th who will make such a positive contribution to the change,making Medway an even greater place.
They will work tirelessly for our near 300,000 residents.
#ProudToBeMedway
She worked hard. Despite being written off, with support and determination she turned her life around, put herself forward to serve - and was elected.
Too many people are told they’re not good enough and get held back from fulfilling their potential. I’m proud of who I am.
This is the crest of John Hawkins - England’s first slave trader.
It is a black man tied in ropes.
@MedwayLabour
proposed that a Council car park has Hawkins name removed & the community involved in what is the alternative.
The Tories on Medway Council twice voted against it
Fantastic
@labourunionsuk
campaign day heading to both Rochester & Strood and Gillingham & Rainham.
As well as our two fantastic parliamentary candidates
@LaurenREdwards
&
@naushabah_khan
brilliant to be joined by our Kent Police and Crime Commissioner candidate
@LennyRolles
I have written to
@michaelgove
in response to his letter regarding
@medway_council
reminding him who was running the council from May 03-May 23 & the quick progress since May.
I hope he will take up my invitation to come to Medway to see first hand.
1/2
Warning so it doesn’t put you off your breakfast - On my way to Tunbridge Wells to talk to Julia George on
#PoliticsSouthEast
about the results on Thursday across the
@bbcsoutheast
region
From Medway to Brighton, Dover to Thanet and many more, residents have chosen Labour.
Very proud and honoured to have been re-elected unanimously as
@MedwayLabour
Group Leader.
Looking forward to working our fantastic expanded team of Labour Councillors who will stand up for their communities and will fight for a Medway where nobody is left behind.
To everyone:
Who is now a candidate
Who has signed a nomination form
Who is now an election agent
Who is knocking doors, delivering leaflets & making calls
It all plays a part in making sure communities know they can Vote Labour (or Vote Labour & Co-op) on May 2nd
Thank You
Fantastic result with
@LaurenREdwards
@MedwayLabour
taking more than 63% of the vote today.
Lauren will make a great
@UKLabour
representative for Rochester East.
Thanks to everyone who lent a hand & all those who
#VoteLabour
today.
Nick would be very pleased with the result.
Finally very proud to have been re-elected to represent the community I call home alongside the brilliant
@sijuwadeade
&
@Harinder__Singh
- Julie & Paul will be a tough act to follow but both will be fantastic community champions for Chatham Central
#ThankYouChathamCentral
For seven years I got the 132 bus to travel to The Howard School.
Tonight I’m back on the 132 on my way to the first
#MedwayMattersLive
where I’ll be sharing my thoughts on the first six months as
@medway_council
Leader & taking questions from local residents.
#ProudToBeMedway
Eleven years on, the greatest Prime Minister Canada never had.
"My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world." – Jack Layton
It's official - I am the
@UKLabour
Parliamentary Candidate for Chatham & Aylesford! Pleased to say our
@CandACLP
Secretary
@LolOyewusi
is my election agent - bring on December 12th.
Thanks in advance to hard working
@medway_council
&
@TMBC_Kent
officers for their ongoing work.
So I presume this suggested legislation will mean adequate funding to allow local government to help all those who are homeless in our communities and isn’t the latest attempt by the Home Secretary to attack vulnerable people and indeed charities helping vulnerable people.
A stark reminder that
@medway_council
have had a 91% cut in Government Funding since 2010.
The pressure on all councils, particularly those with statutory care responsibilities, are real and genuine meaning difficult decisions have to be made to balance the books.
I may disagree with
@tracey_crouch
on many issues but I respect her for her reported consideration to resign on principle over the government's disgraceful decision to delay changes to
#FOBTs
for another six months - another six months damage to communities and lives being ruined
For the idiots who damaged NHS and police vehicles after the
@England
victory yesterday - who on earth did you think that would impress, the nation looks on at you with absolute shame.
The decision of Michael Gove’s department to take £170 million from Medway is deeply disappointing.
Any elected representative welcoming such a decision to starve our community of much needed resources and infrastructure needs to take a long hard look at their priorities.