Questions have been raised over Cllr Tony Hooke’s comments to the Cabinet of Hampshire County Council regarding an ‘alliance’ between the trade unions Unison, Unite, UKIP and the Labour Party to fight proposed cuts to HCC staffing. Cllr Hooke said in a meeting of the Cabinet on 28th October “We’ve now formed probably an historical alliance with our colleagues in Unite and Unison and Labour.” Hampshire County Council is planning to cut 1000 jobs by 2015 as part of cost cutting measures introduced due to Government funding cuts.

A webcast of the meeting can be seen here. However it appears Cllr Hooke may not have consulted the other groups allegedly involved prior to his announcement as both Labour and Unison deny any ‘alliance’ has been formed.

Cllr Hooke said of his comments to Cabinet “It is crucial that we scrutinise the proposed cuts as to press on with them as they are will damage the community for years to come. We cannot afford to cut any more from our frontline services.The purpose of the cross party talks is to propose alternative strategies to make the savings. Criss Connor had committed to come to our meeting and I think it is publicity which has made him change his mind. I’m deeply uncomfortable that Labour are turning their backs on the workers and leaving us to fight for jobs without their support.”

Criss Connor, Labour Group Leader said “Like any political party we are prepared to talk to any other political party if it for the benefit of the public and particularly the employees of the County, on that score with regard to Deeside [care home] I was prepared to talk to UKIP with Unison regarding keeping the building open, retaining jobs for staff and keeping residents in their home.”

He continued “At no time was there any suggestion of any formal alliance between the two parties, it was very much a discussion on the basis of there being a possible benefit to the County. We have never received an invite to a cross party meeting with them.”

A spokesman for Unison told Andover Town that it was “against the rules of the union to hold any formal links with any political party other than Labour.”

The support of workers rights by UKIP in Hampshire comes as a surprise to many after their policy, posted on the UKIP website earlier in the year, was noted for stating “UKIP would put an end to most legislation regarding matters such as weekly working hours, holidays … overtime, redundancy or sick pay etc.”

Meanwhile, Cllr Hooke has angered some local residents by suggesting, on a social media website, that he fight Test Valley councillors in exchange for donations to a local community project. After a number of posts questioning his comments both his profile and the Facebook group have been removed. Cllr Hooke said “The boxing comments were made very much tongue in cheek and I am surprised that some local residents took them so seriously.”

Hampshire County Council said “The County Council does not comment on matters relating to Members’ conduct issues.“

]]> https://www.andovertown.co.uk/news/questions-raised-over-alliance-claims/feed/ 5 https://www.andovertown.co.uk/news/storm-warning-for-hampshire/ Thu, 24 Oct 2013 14:42:51 +0000 http://www.andovertown.co.uk/?p=3995 [Read more...]]]> The Met Office has today issued an Amber Weather Warning for South East England on Monday in what has been described as ‘the worst storm of the year.’

Winds of up to 80mph are expected across South East England along with heavy rain and a high risk of flooding between midnight on Sunday and 21:00 on Monday according to the Met Office Chief Forecaster.

The public “should be prepared for the risk of falling trees as well as damage to buildings and other structures bringing disruption to transport and power supplies” said the Met Office.

The Amber Warning, the middle level of preparedness, was issued today with some uncertainty of the track and timing of the storm.

This follows a smaller storm on Tuesday night which caused damage across Hampshire. In Southampton, the roof of a block of flats blew off in the wind, while in Shirrell Heath near Bishops Waltham a bolt of lightning caused a house fire.

Further details will be added when they become available over the course of the weekend.

At present only two caravans are present next to the children’s park in front of the new development on Smannell Road.

We are told that the Police are aware of the situation, however the local Taylor Wimpey office knew nothing of their arrival or of plans to remove them.

One local resident, who did not want to be named said “They arrived yesterday, luckily there are only two caravans, we hope there aren’t going to be more“.

The fire, which firefighters suspect was arson, was amongst a large pile of blue plastic containers on grounds to the rear of the building, the building itself was left undamaged. On scene just after 6pm, firefighters said the fire was put out within minutes using foam.

Speaking to our reporter Ryan Sutton at the scene, one local resident said “I went in to tell the guys [firefighters] that there was a load of bottles like the ones near the fire, a hoody and an empty petrol can, they were the same bottles that were by the fire“.

The Police and Firefighters remain on scene in an attempt to determine the exact cause of the fire. 

This is the second fire at an Andover school this month, earlier in September a fire caused damage to the boiler room and roof of Winton Community Academy.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) say this will put both firefighters and the public at risk as they claim 66% of firefighters in their late 50’s will not be fit enough to continue with the job, a claim the Government who say such a retirement age has been in place since 2006, deny.

Speaking to Andover Town after the strike began, the four firefighters on the picket line made clear that Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service has a contingency plan in place that ensures public safety is not at risk, Crew Manager Ali Stone said “We were given the option of choosing to be recalled if there were a major incident“. Non-Union firefighters are still on duty and able to respond to emergencies.

With many worried this will turn into a repeat of the 2002/’03 strike with ‘Green Goddesses’ being deployed in emergencies, the firefighters were hopeful this would not be the case, particularly as the 1950’s vehicles have since been sold.

The strike ends at 16:00 today and those on the picket line in Andover say they hope this will be the only action taken by the FBU.

In an email, seen by Andover Town, the Chairman of the NW Hants Constituency Labour Party tells party members ”For the first time in many years, we do not have a local candidate. We will, therefore, have to consider outside candidates.”

This has also been evident in other parts of the South, an area where Labour has historically polled poorly. John Denham MP (Lab, Southampton Itchen) revealed earlier this year that he was standing down from Parliament at the next general election after holding his seat since 1992.

While many local party members, including Southampton City Councillors put themselves forward for selection, the candidate eventually chosen was Rowenna Davis, a Councillor in the London Borough of Peckham, journalist and regular contributor on Sky News. Prior to this, during the by-election in Eastleigh earlier this year caused by the resignation and of disgraced former Liberal Democrat Chris Huhne, who was later imprisoned, Labour members there decided to select a ‘celebrity’ candidate, in writer John O’Farrell, over many local candidates.

Evidence suggests that other Parties are also bolstering their elected ranks with members from their youth wings, a notable case being UKIP County Councillor Christopher Wood (Fareham Crofton), the youngest County Councillor in Hampshire.

”Whilst quite a few young people are interested in politics and want to try to improve their local areas, they are not taken as seriously by the other parties and their established branches, so are not selected as candidate” said Cllr Wood.

”Another problem facing young people is the lack of incentive to be a councillor, a person between 18-25 is probably looking to leave home and start a family, the allowances from the council do not provide a salary which enables this, hence why I also have a full time job” he continued.

This may be a problem for those less well off who want to stand in further elections as UKIP campaign to reduce council ‘waste’, including members’ allowances.

Labour however, appear to be unwilling even to choose candidates from members of ‘Young Labour’. A Young Labour Party member speaking to Andover Town put the issue down to ”Machine politics, the irresponsible behaviour on the part of some trade unions and an antediluvian attitude of certain CLP’s” which he said ”discourages young people [from standing]”.

Cllr Wood suggests that parties do not put their young members to good use. Saying ”Other parties all too often use young people as leaflet fodder, however because UKIP has fewer members it is actually easier for young people to be heard, to stand for election for our party and to influence policy. Other parties tend to be subject to major lobbying by other groups, UKIP is in the unique position where we have widespread national support, without the national representation in the House of Commons, so such lobbying groups do not target us as strongly”.

With incumbent Conservative MP and Government Chief Whip Sir George Young unlikely to face a serious threat in North West Hampshire in 2015, local voters here are unlikely to be concerned with the locality of candidates from other Parties, however with Labour having to regain at least some Parliamentary seats in the southern counties to have a chance at regaining power this could prove a sticking point for voters in other areas who are hoping for a local candidate to represent them in Westminster.

Article by Ryan Sutton – Andover Town