UKIP have been back out on the stump. This has been sent by a resident of Rotherham West.
If any reader should receive election leaflets or other election materials, be very grateful for a .jpg. Rothpol.
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Rotherham Politics
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Rotherham Politics 
Following the local elections, former Cllr for Rotherham West and Deputy Leader for RMBC Mr Akhtar has said the loss of his seat was due to UKIP being in touch with the concerns of local voters and Roger Stones refusal to stop squandering their poll tax money on BMW cars and politically correct jollies.
Former Cllr, Mr Akhtar also refuted any suggestions that voters had held him to account for the matter raised in the Times.
As we speak former Cllr, Mr Akhtar was hard at work clearing out his desk and trying to work out how to plug the £70k a year hole in his income.
RMBC would like to point out the laughter coming from the Town Hall was no way connected to the loss of Rotherham West, each and every member of the Rotherham Labour Group wish Mr Akhtar all the best for the future and being able to spend more time with his family.
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Wonderful because it’s insightfully correct. I’m voting for ’em!
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One correction. They got rid of the two BMW late in 2013, replacing them with new Audis. However the people who washed them may be made redundant.
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Unfortunately the Planning Inspector has told RMBC it must build a further 3000 new homes in addition to those already planned so whilst I agree with the main thrust of this leaflet I’m afraid restricting building on greenbelt land is impossible under current regulations.
On the question of immigration I asked Labour controlled Anston Parish Council at a meeting last year where the extra school places were planned and could the local GP practices cope with an influx of up to 3000 new patients? I was told extra school places was not a problem and the local medical services could cope. That’s OK then.
Labour Cllr.Dalton tweeted a link last week saying “immigration was not as bad as forecast” The very next day figures were published that showed net immigration into Britain last year was 212,000.
Question for Cllr. Dalton: If 212,000 extra immigrants is ‘not bad’ then what figure does she consider would be bad? Labour elementary maths versus old school maths tells me she is wrong.
If UKIP keeps up the pressure and challenges Labour’s woeful record in Rotherham then I forsee several UKIP gains and a severe butt kicking for Labour.
I could be wrong but I doubt it.
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The Planning Inspector claims Rotherham needs another 17000 homes, yet Group 4S the company responsible for dispersing asylum seekers around the country says it has sent more of them here than any other town in Yorkshire because Rotherham has plenty of available housing! There’s a clear mismatch between what each of them is saying!
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I would genuinely be interested to know how UKIP would make the required £23 million savings in 2014/15. £113,000 saving from chauffeuring the mayor, a few hundred thousand if they got rid of all chief officers who are paid more than £100,000. £500,000 from councillors’ allowances (incidentally, will Caven Vines hand back some of his allowance seeing as it is UKIP policy to cut allowances?) It’s not obvious where UKIP would take the other £22 million from.
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Where on the UKIP leaflet does it mention “£23 million savings in 2014/15”?
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It doesn’t…but that’s the budget gap for Rotherham due to central government funding cuts. Just wondered how UKIP would bridge the gap.
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By reducing or cancelling the amount of money we have to pay the EU every year.
Don’t forget Miliband will follow the same economic strategy as the coalition so RMBC and the Compliant Drones can forget any thoughts and hopes a Labour government will suddenly turn on the cash taps.
It isn’t going to happen.
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So, any hope of UKIP carrying out any local promises are predicated on parliamentary/European success as they seem to hinge on withdrawing EU spending? Is that it?
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Not really.
Cutting councillors allowances and getting rid of the mayoral limo, not readvertising non jobs when the postholder leaves or retires, proper and open competitive tendering, auditing every department for the purpose of a cost/benefit analysis, selling off unused/unwanted buildings, getting rid of translation services and so on ad infinitum. It isn’t difficult to control costs and spending.
25% of council taxes are used to fund council pensions. No business can be viable when 25% of its income goes into pension payments.
It is not my job to show how RMBC can be run efficiently and effectively. Whilst I think you ask valid questions why not put forward your proposals to control RMBC spending?
“Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain–and most do.”
― Dale Carnegie
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I think Robin seems to have smoked you out Colin. Admit it you haven’t got a clue about how you would cut the £23m from the Council’s budget have you? And I understand your man Caven doesn’t even bother attending the budget meetings and even when he does he sits there like a lemon without even asking a single question according to the Advertiser.
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You have not read or understood Caven’s reply to the Advertiser article.
Perhaps in your infinite wisdom you can tell us all how you would cut £23 million from the council budget?
It won’t do you any good to keep attacking me I’m above that. If you are going to post only negative responses then perhaps you need to reconsider your reasons for being a member of rothpol.
You have not posted anything worthy of further comment or debate so far.
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It is interesting how UKIP always fall back on the good old stop paying the EU, this is no help what so ever to the hard pressed people of Rotherham. No mention what so ever of standing up to the government, don’t forget UKIP’s leader is a self confessed Thatcherite, this means they believe in letting the market decide every thing. The answer to the council cuts is not to make them, stand up to the government. Last Wednesday I put this to a cabinet member, councillor Gosling, he said he was not prepared to go to prison like they did in Clay Cross, worth reading about. I then looked at what a cabinet member gets paid, Special responsibility allowance £16,083 + councillors pay £12,130 total £28,213. Councillor Gosling is a retired miner, he is getting paid more for not working than he did at the pit. Councillor Gosling is of course not alone this is rife throughout the Borough, the reason I am using him as an example is to show that they will not put this kind of money at risk to fight for the people they pretend to represent; money comes in principle go out.
Dave Smith
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Hence my comments about cutting councillors allowances.
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To be honest the leaflet doesn’t say a lot. More like a drunken tap room rant me thinks. What I’d like to know is what are UKIP’s policies on funding for children and aged services, youth services, support for te disabled. Details please.
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Ask Caven Vines.
From the UKIP Manifesto (Google is your friend)
Children and Families: Develop and invest in youth services, facilities and youth clubs. Encourage young people to have a voice through empowerment schemes such as youth councils. Energise the voluntary sector: Devolve budgets to local communities. A community which owns its assets is one that will support and look after them, often through the use of volunteers at a cost saving that can not be achieved by the State, it is however important that budgets are devolved for looking after the asset, not just the costs of running the asset.
Public Health & Social Care: Put local communities at the heart of health care by introducing elected county health boards. Improve care for the elderly and oppose the government forcing people to give up their homes to pay for care. Oppose cuts to frontline doctors, surgeons, dentists and nurses but encourage the removal of failing managers and executives. Support the availability of specialist care as needed, to save lives now lost through delay.
http://www.ukip.org/issues/2013-01-25-10-55-7/local-2013
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Thanks for the link Colin but the info on there raises more questions than answers. Under the heading “what your UKIP Councillors will work for you” it lists things like –
– Leave the EU
– Drop the EU landfill directive
– Tax foreign lorries using British roads
– Oppose EU directives
– Build partnership to reduce costs
Along with some other generic statements about cutting red tape etc.
The problem with all that is that a Councillor can’t do diddly about most of them things.
Clearly UKIP either doesn’t understand local government or thinks people are too stupid to notice they have no credible or tangible policies to put forward.
Things like cutting unnecessary waste is such a lame statement but I suppose if you haven’t got anything else then that’s all they can say.
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Fine words butter no parsnips. Wouldn’t we all like to see investment in youth services. The $64,000 question is how would UKIP fund it? As for putting local communities at the heart of health care, how would UKIP do this and what does it actually mean? Farage is critical that the Coalition has failed to cut the deficit and he will espouse cutting the NHS according to the Telegraph (see link)
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/benedictbrogan/100257048/nigel-farage-the-tories-have-failed-only-ukip-dares-cut-spending-on-nhs-and-pensions/
The trouble with UKIP is they’re all mouth and trousers!
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” The $64,000 question is how would UKIP fund it?”
I’ve no idea but I do know they couldn’t make a worse job of it than the previous Labour government or the coalition. Labour proved that chucking money at the NHS did not bring improvements for patients but the NHS employed more ‘Tick Box’ managers and Labour mortgaged our futures by increasing the number of PFI contracts.
I’m not here to defend UKIP, I’ll leave that to others but it seems strange to me that most of us want to get rid of this Labour council but whenever an opposition party puts forward proposals they are criticised and condemned. Surely the point of all this is to ask Labour councillors and candidates what they propose and how they will fund them?
Alternatively contributors to this blog can put forward their own proposals/manifesto to bring council spending under control while at the same time defending whatever their pet projects are.
Simples.
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” I am not here to defend UKIP” what ?? I would love to have a pint of what you’ve drinking. Pull the other one Colin, that’s all you’ve been doing. You do nothing but advocate on their behalf.
I am sure readers can check your previous post containing your pearls of wisdom and decide for themselves if you’re just a neutral observer or a fervent supporter and apologist for the hard right UKIP.
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Hold hard there cowboy!
Just because I like most of what UKIP advocates does not necessarily make me an “apologist for the hard right UKIP” Hard Right? Are you sure? Hard Right parties include the BNP and EDL. It is disingenuous of you to equate UKIP with the apologists for fascism.
I comment on UKIP mostly simply because I believe they have something to offer me and in a democracy all viewpoints are valid.
I am only responsible for what I write, not what you infer.
I don’t care whether you support the discredited Labour party or even Save the Gay Whale movement but what I do not do is post personal attacks on contributors to this blog.
It would help if you came out of the closet and stated your own political preferences, it will not make you any less of a person but it will give me and others the opportunity to debate with you even if we think you are wrong.
As you are with your last post.
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In terms of local politics ukip does it’s very best for local people whatever that might be. Just listening and acting for those who voted for them is a lot more than the other dribble do
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Colin
I am sorry if you thought I was making an attack on you. That was not my intention and of course we all have right to express our opinion.
You have asked about my political persuasion, I can tell you that I am not a member of any political party but have voted for the LibDems and Labour in the past. So that probably confirms to you that I am rather to the left of your political leanings.
I do have to say though Colin, I find some of your comments in the last post a bit puzzling. You say you’re not speaking on behalf of UKIP and purport to be just a member of the public expressing your views but yet you stood as a UKIP candidate in the 2010 local elections and will probably be again in May.
So tell us Colin which UKIP policies do you support and the ones you don’t.
For example do you agree women should clean more behind the fridge ?
Do you agree we give too much money to ” Bongo Bongo land” ?
Do you believe there should be an increase in taxation to a whopping 31% so everyone from shop workers to billionaires would pay the same rate ?
Do you believe Gays are responsible for climate change ?
Do you believe city firms who employ women lose out because women tend to get pregnant ?
Do you support your Leaders commitment to slash funding for the NHS and schools ?
There’s just a few for you to be getting on with.
Ta ta for now
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Re: Steve H’s post above. As I am sure you know only one of these was a UKIP policy but even then you misinterpreted it. The 31% flat rate tax was not an increase as it would have included NI which would have been abolished. The aim was to reduce the costs of administering two forms of tax(that end up in the same pot anyway) by combining them. The policy is currently under review pending the manifesto for 2015. What is still policy is that we would not tax the minimum wage, a measure that would help the very lowest paid.
Rob Sanderson,
UK Independence Party candidate,
Swinton ward.
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I was a UKIP candidate and I got just short of 700 votes, not enough to win but enough to make sure Robin Stonebridge lost his Borough councillor’s seat.
I am not standing as a UKIP candidate this year or ever again as I and a group of like minded people are putting our efforts into trying to get Independent candidates elected but…………In the absence of an Independent candidate I can see no reasons why the UKIP candidate cannot win in my local area..
I have to presume you asked your list of questions with your tongue firmly planted in your cheek. You have obviously used remarks made by Godfrey Bloom (ex UKIP member) to formulate your list.
The ‘Flat Tax’ combining Income Tax and NI contributions was in the previous UKIP Manifesto but it is not a policy I supported.
UKIP was the first political party to say all earnings under £11k would be tax free, the coalition are slowly introducing a similar policy (for 2014 > the tax free allowance will be £10k)
I have travelled to China, Cuba, and Poland, Romania and Bulgaria when they were under the control of the former USSR and I can state categorically Socialism Does Not Work
The citizens of France have come to the same conclusion.
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I heard confirmation today that irony is alive and well in UKIP. Apparently whilst defending himself at today’s Council meeting from criticism regarding his apparent lack of commitment to his elected position Cllr Vines gave the excuse that……wait for it…………………………..he’d been working abroad!
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Here we go Labour cherry picking again if you are wanting to have a go tell the full story
What said was I unlike the majority of the labour contingent i work full time and often go overseas and bring much needed income into the Uk along with employment.and if they held these important meetings at a time when most people could attend in an evening instead of 9am just before the Labour group meetings which they attend so they do not really put themselves out now do they
And I also said if any of them had the slightest incline of how to run a business they would have realised years ago that setting up things like 2010 And BT Connect and PFI like I raised in 2005 they would not be in the mess they are now and realise that running things in house ware 50% of the cost goes in contractors profits
But what do you expect when they have a leader who couldn’t remember when he went to Scotland with hi mate Garvin if went on the train by car or walked so he claimed £50 on the off chance
No wonder the towns in such a mess
And as far as sitting there like a Lemmon their 47 sheep who agree with everything the gang of 12 tell them cos not one have the back bone to disagree cos it might just lose them the chance to keep their seat from within
And I think the answer to my commitment to the people who elected me will be revealed in May
The people who I represent will judge me not some sound bite cherry picker
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Caven- You’re still not getting the irony of you saying you work abroad! UKIP wants to close our borders to Johnny Foreigner but there’s you swanning off to other countries taking their jobs which their own people could be doing. I can just imagine their version of Kippers getting the hump on with you mate.
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I can confirm that what Caven vines says is true. I was sat about ten feet away in the Public area. Seeing that we have moved on to the meeting of the Council, let me give my view of events. The conduct of Labour Cllrs was their normal bullying self. When an opposition Member stood to talk, he received none stop heckling and verbal abuse from the Labour Members. The Mayor just sat there and let them continue. Whenever Cllr Vines or Cllr Mannion had finished speaking, the opposition, including Rodger Stone, made personal attacks against them, without actually addressing the issue, again the Mayor did nothing.
But the best part of the whole meeting was when the Labour Party Members nearly had a collective heart attack, they were informed that there had to be a recorded vote. Each individual Cllr had to state loud and clear if they were for or against the Budget. Talk about squirming in their seats. Democracy in action at its best. One Labour Cllr was even protesting that he should not have to do it, Yes you should, its called being accountable to your voters.
Several Cllrs are now in a severe dilemma, they have been “shouting and spouting” about the cuts to Children`s Services (Sure Start) at Parish level, and then they voted to cut them at Borough level. You know who you are and you will be held to account. On the issue of the Budget, not one Labour Cllr opposed it, and not one Labour Cllr dared to make reference to any figures.
Caven was right, it was a done deal before it even reached the Chamber.
It was such a fun day I may go again.
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I also was there at the muppet show, Caven Vines is right, S Thornton is also right, don’t answer a question attack the questioner seems to be Labours policy. Watching that lot just confirms why we are in the state we are in. We in Dinnington can expect no help from our dumb puppets, Havenhand and Falvey kept their heads down said not a word then when Stone the puppeteer pulled their strings up when their little wooden hands. The so called opposition party, the Conservatives, are frankly a joke, my five year old grandson puts up more fight when he doesn’t want to eat his sprouts.
Dave Smith
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Steve H
I am not taking work from any one I am bringing work back to the UK because the company’s I visit overseas have not got the technical skill base to complete the total job The package is then sent back to the country and their people install with the rest of the kit which they can construct so I call that a win win but of course like Labour Councillors you dont get it either If i didnt go and desighn it and sell it and bring something back to the UK some one else will and then we would have even less work and more unemployment. As I said in the Council Meeting total lack of any Business sence thats why the Town run by this shower is in the mess its in.
Or maybe you could do better or are you just good at sound bite like the rest
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Where were you this time Caven?
I met a fair number of water engineers in my time in Africa – all good guys! People like Steve H simply have no understanding of what it’s like.
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Only Rotterdam this time I’m getting too old now to go all the way internet a wonderful thing
It’s a younger mans game as you know
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Rotterdam?! So you’re happy to trade within the EU but you don’t want to be part of it. I apologise; I was wrong to call it irony as I now realise it is downright hypocrisy.
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How so? You make a spurious leap of logic!
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Robin
You really have no idea just like your labour mates
Mouth opens before brain engages
Rotterdam is one of the main ports in the world where lots of special designed purpose built ships dock including British registered red ensign flying ships
So when something goes wrong you have visit the ship when it docks at the first port
So what part of Europe does that make me trading with
but if you know as much as you think you do you would know that UKIP believes in free trade and that includes Europe trading is not the same as being part of or ruled by
Last October I was in South Africa now I suppose That makes me a racist according to your reckoning
I would be interested to know just what you are doing to bring income and work to the UK
Not a lot I would think just sound bite and criticism
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Cavin
Just ignore the ill-informed criticism. You’re going to get sh*t-piles of it all the way up to the elections.
(It just means you’ve got them scared!) .
There was a long time when I worked hard to destroy apartheid; but it’s in no way racist/wrong to work in RSA now – and it’s a lovely country – and needs your skills and knowledge.
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Steve H and Robin Symonds conveniently forget War Monger Blair was quite happy to sell arms and equipment to repressive Middle East regimes and in some instances part of the equipment was in CKD form. ‘Taking jobs from the UK then, we could have built it all’. So runs the looney logic of the Left.
Never a solid and positive alternative from them, just old fashioned criticism.
argumentum ad hominem
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I would never put ‘Blair’ and ‘the left’ in the same sentence. Blair is a war criminal as far as I’m concerned and New Labour was an abomination.
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Let’s all reflect since Blair was made Middle East envoy by whom no one really know’s
Theirs been more unrest and civil wars than ever Libya , Syria, Egypt the
On the home front Labour no different. Everything they interfere with goes tits up
Northern Rock bail out sold to Virgin for a pittance now making profit at the tax payers expense
They do not have clue how to protect the future
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Sorry Caven, your earlier post suggested that you “often go overseas and bring much needed income into the UK along with employment”. You now seem to suggest that your stock in trade is the repair of British ships. Either way, it’s difficult to know what UKIP believes in since Farage ripped up your manifesto! I suppose it’ll all be perfectly clear once they finish re-writing it.
It will be interesting to see if the new manifesto will still include the policy of cutting the public sector to 1997 levels; where the 2 million jobs would be cut from and how exactly this would fit in with UKIP’s commitment to invest in health and social care, youth services etc.
It’s all a bit of a contradictory mess isn’t it. No doubt written on the back of Farage’s fag packet!
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MR VINES,
you will get my vote Sir,
and from talking to many, many people around Rawmarsh you will get their vote.
Keep up the great work.
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