Might as well start one up as this subject is going to run and run for a bit...
As you know I am in favour but will not repeat the reasons right now having expressed them elsewhere. I must say that it feels somewhat odd to me to be supporting the Labour Government against my own Conservative partiamentary candidate.... hey ho.....
Having looked more closely at what Gordon Brown & Co have been up to, I found the Government Parliamentary Statement from Monday that paves the way for the privatisation of our port. See
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100125/wmstext/100125m0002.htm#1001256000023
The idea there is a "high bar" is a lot of nonsense. It's clear they can't wait to sell off our port. These conditions are easy to meet. There are two important things missing: the effect on our national security and the views of our community. Now, why might that be?
What's clear to me is that Gordon Brown doesn't rate Gwynfor and has written off Dover.
What we need out of this is a good deal for Dover.
We need a 'golden share' for the Port employees, for the Port Pensioners (plus other guarantees), for other Port related employers and their employees as well as for the local community as a whole. What we dont want is for the Port just to be sold off to the highest bidder.
Would it not be wonderful if the Port were to really become largely owned, through the purchase of shares, mainly by us who live and work here in Dover and East Kent?
I would like Gwyn and Charlie to be exerting their efforts in that direction instead of a doomed fight against this move.