The Week in Medway Politics, 24 Feb

Proud to give my good friend Ed Jennings his Pride in Medway nomination award tonight #BusyMayorofMedway pic.twitter.com/uVr5cJsjea

— Cllr Steve Iles (@SteveIles) February 15, 2019

This Thursday its #MedwayCouncil meeting which means its the time for the return of #FullCouncilBingo Stay tuned for rules and confirmed prizes pic.twitter.com/7w7jiQJLIf

— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) February 18, 2019

#Poll How long, after a Cllr engaging in hate speech is raised in Full Council, should it take for the Cllr’s party to react?#Retweet #Vote #Comment

— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) February 10, 2019

Us: Last week was the biggest traffic we ever got through the site.
The Pentagon: Hold my beer.

This week we have seen over twice as many visitors, and it's all thanks to a bloody shopping centre.

— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) February 17, 2019

#Poll Do you agree with Leader of Medway Council, Cllr Alan Jarrett that spending an est £45m on the Pentagon shopping centre represents;
“sound financial sense with the opportunity to generate an annual income”#Retweet #Comment #Vote

— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) February 17, 2019

Hi @MedwayTories. Can you please confirm that Cllr Franklin has indeed had party whip removed, and if so, why is he still listed as a Conservative on @medway_council's website? pic.twitter.com/yLYunR7AHS

— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) February 17, 2019

Further Reading: https://t.co/LC5ExfTbjV https://t.co/CRIqeGGy4W

— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) February 18, 2019

Group meeting for @MedwayLabour tonight. Unconfirmed if any of their councillors will be forming a splinter group to meet next door.

— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) February 18, 2019

We have updated our 2019 Medway candidates page again.
– Cllr Les Wicks (Con, Rainham South) will be moving to Gillingham South in this election.
– Gary Hackwell will be standing for the Conservatives in Rainham South.https://t.co/1hNixoUcBG

— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) February 18, 2019

Hi @MedwayTories Is there a reason Cllr Franklin is still listed as a conservative on @medway_council's website? (Image taken 8.30am 19th Feb) pic.twitter.com/ofWt8JQOC8

— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) February 19, 2019

It is unconfirmed whether @MrAWJLawrence proposed his bold idea that it’s impossible to steal from the poor to Kent PCC @MatthewScottPCC as a way of bringing down crime figures. pic.twitter.com/yLeW64WEy6

— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) February 19, 2019

The Beginning of a Medway Centrist party… https://t.co/tl3HlvVFlY

— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) February 20, 2019

We have updated our Medway 2019 local elections candidate page to add the following:
– @kittporterx for Labour in Cuxton and Halling
– Ian Hookway for Conservatives in Rainham North.
Conservatives now have 44 named candidates, Labour on 35.https://t.co/1hNixoUcBG

— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) February 20, 2019

Interesting to see that @MedwayTories are still delivering leaflets with Cllr Franklin on in Luton and Wayfield, despite his supposed suspension from the party for Islamophobic tweeting. Any idea why @RobbieLammas @Andrew__Kennedy? pic.twitter.com/BOxUuTJiYQ

— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) February 22, 2019

We've updated the 2019 local election candidates page with the following additions:
– Nusrat Ahmed, Jan Aldous, Barry Kemp for Conservatives in Rainham Central.
– Roger Barrett, Howard Doe for Cons in Rainham South.
Now 49 named Con candidates, 35 Labour. https://t.co/1hNixoUcBG

— The Political Medway (@MedwayPolitics) February 23, 2019

Council currently discussing huge potential investment in centre of Chatham. Worth also noting largest investment this administration has made: the allocating over £121,000,000 to new housing in Chatham and Rainham on 26th April 2018 which (wait for it) Labour voted against…

— Medway Conservatives (@MedwayTories) February 21, 2019

Also includes voting against pothole repairs, increased pay for staff, reducing the bulky waste charge, improvements to children's play areas, funding for the Corn Exchange & Guildhall museum, and purchase of the Pentagon centre – to name but a few! pic.twitter.com/zDgyHz7dGk

— Medway Conservatives (@MedwayTories) February 22, 2019

Cllr Vince Maple talks about the #Islamophobic tweets of Cllr Franklin in his Budget Response 2019 @MedwayPolitics @SayeedaWarsi @TellMamaUK pic.twitter.com/qS5FRAkV2G

— Medway Labour (@MedwayLabour) February 21, 2019

Cllr Maple Budget Response 2019
Refusing to tackle period poverty, rejecting calls to manage modern day slavery in council supply chains, cutting Sure Start Centres… the ‘Nasty Party’ is an epithet the Medway Tories are determined to uphold. pic.twitter.com/YElpqIfcGT

— Medway Labour (@MedwayLabour) February 21, 2019

Cllr @vincemaple Budget Response 2019:
The people of #Medway didn’t #vote for a leader, or a party, who puts the interests of their own before the interests of residents, but that’s exactly what they’ve got with this administration. pic.twitter.com/4TKQsa45UW

— Medway Labour (@MedwayLabour) February 21, 2019

Cllr @vincemaple Budget Response 2019#Medway is being starved of the resources it desperately needs, and the Medway #Tories are complicit in this. pic.twitter.com/OTqvlConli

— Medway Labour (@MedwayLabour) February 21, 2019

Cllr @vincemaple Budget Response 2019:

We fully support putting aside funding for a potential legal challenge on the deeply flawed decision making regarding the placement of the Hyper Acute Stroke Unit. pic.twitter.com/PjqI7FKd8p

— Medway Labour (@MedwayLabour) February 21, 2019

Cllr @vincemaple Budget Response 2019:

Adrian Gulvin, who has responsibility for CCTV… stated he wasn’t aware he had responsibility for 2 years because the sign at the front of Gun Wharf didn’t say he had to do that. pic.twitter.com/64aIAEMTb3

— Medway Labour (@MedwayLabour) February 21, 2019

Cllr @vincemaple Budget Response 2019:

Put simply – it’s time for #Medway Council to take back control of its services from #MCG. pic.twitter.com/u1FKoZfSzZ

— Medway Labour (@MedwayLabour) February 21, 2019

Cllr @vincemaple Budget Response 2019:

This council has seen its gender pay gap increase over the last year – very disappointing to say the least. You would expect any good employer to want to explore why that may be the case. pic.twitter.com/39Ul0ziM9C

— Medway Labour (@MedwayLabour) February 21, 2019

Wait to see any local defections to the new #independentgroup but it seems to offer no real change. Climate/environment has a low priority on their initial statement of values (10th of 11) – if you value social justice & environmental protection @TheGreenParty is the real choice.

— Medway Green Party (@medwaygreens) February 19, 2019

An article written for @MedwayPolitics by one of our members, in which he calls for future Medway Council administrations, of whatever Party, to commit to regreening the urban area. #Strood #GreenMedway https://t.co/scFAmAgthD

— Medway Green Party (@medwaygreens) February 21, 2019

We've built our local election offering around the hashtag #Medway2019, but others have been suggested. A universal hashtag would be easier to follow all coverage up to 2 May. Which hashtag is best?

— Medway Elects (@MedwayElects) February 17, 2019

We spoke to @ajpaterson from @medway_council over fears that the Riverside Development in #Rochester could cause chaos for the town.
Full story on #KentTonight at https://t.co/dnkBnGopxt #Freeview7 #Virgin159 pic.twitter.com/EiP8uLcjEs

— KMTV (@KMTV_Kent) February 20, 2019

Medway Council made more than £10k by selling your names and addresses…https://t.co/GaEO50ulpa

— Medway Messenger (@MedwayMessenger) February 21, 2019

Does Medway have an image problem?https://t.co/ZL8qr2Jc9n

— Medway Messenger (@MedwayMessenger) February 21, 2019

Is this a good investment?https://t.co/3UUcaoovFr

— Medway Messenger (@MedwayMessenger) February 22, 2019

Members of @medway_council have voted through a council tax increase of just under 3%. More on this story here: https://t.co/r3OjTaQFtr pic.twitter.com/k2ibet3Fdh

— BBC South East (@bbcsoutheast) February 22, 2019

Excellent meeting with my brilliant constituent world renowned (in stem Cell research) Professor Shetty & Professor Gopal looking at further health and education investment in Medway Towns helping to also create around 250 jobs. pic.twitter.com/dUYyGZ7iPV

— Rehman Chishti (@Rehman_Chishti) February 22, 2019

With Roger & Clayton @GtLinesparkrun on this occasion just to thank volunteers and meet some of the runners. Great to meet Maggie the founder of “5K Your Move against cancer”.Terrific to meet young volunteers from @DofE. Enjoy your run everyone sadly can not join you as injured. pic.twitter.com/9IsWWHsufJ

— Rehman Chishti (@Rehman_Chishti) February 23, 2019