Ethnic Minority Politicians

I first noticed the term ‘BME’ only a few weeks ago, and I choose not to remember exactly what the initials stand for -- something to do with ethnic minorities, and by implication their promotion.
I’ve been unwittingly promoting ethnic minority politicians for years, not because of their background, but because of what they have to offer regardless of their ancestry. I find the BME agenda distasteful.
There was nevertheless a row yesterday about the fact that Operation Black Vote was quick to report the selection of Labour’s Stanwell County Councillor Victor Agarwal for the marginal seat of Swindon North, yet it took them a while to catch up on the selection of Conservative Kwasi Kwarteng for the winnable seat of Spelthorne.
I was however grateful for OBV’s fulsome apology.
For me, Spelthorne has the best candidate in Kwasi, and Swindon are welcome to Cllr Agarwal (though not as an MP).

Agarwal Abandons Spelthorne

A month ago I was puzzled as to why the Spelthorne Labour Party had ditched their bright young hopeful Parliamentary candidate Robert Ferguson (born and bred in Sunbury) for an outsider with a double barrelled name.
Now the plot thickens, when today we learn that Spelthorne’s most popular socialist has clearly been over-looked.
County Councillor Victor Agarwal (born and bred in Stanwell) has had to go carpet-bagging to Swindon to find a Parliamentary seat.
Is this the same suicidal mentality that caused Labour to ditch Tony Blair -- their most successful election winner ever -- in favour of Gordon (bottler) Brown?

Stanwell SureStart

Locals will know that several regeneration projects in Stanwell have hit snags, many of a legal nature.
Today at long last, groundwork started on new premises for the Stanwell Children’s Centre in Hadrian Way. At the moment nearby Portakabins house the vital service which supports disadvantaged families with young children, mainly as a place where they can turn to in need of help.
SureStart is one of the Labour Government’s few success stories. Contrary to Labour’s propaganda the Conservatives will not slash the scheme. In fact it needs developing so that it is more effective at a local level.
So instead of providing yoga classes for yummy mummies, SureStart should be seeking out the most deprived families in our broken society, and ensure everyone has a fair start in life.

Stanwell Club House Wrecked

Without being complacent, Spelthorne doesn’t suffer too badly from the upsurge in crime under this Labour Government.
All the more shocking therefore was the attack on the Long Lane Recreation Ground club house in Stanwell over the weekend.
The place was completely wrecked, with an estimated £40,000 worth of damage. Every internal fixture was ripped apart, the ceilings pulled down and the whole place deliberately flooded.
Usually vandals from outside the area are responsible, but of course it’s local youths who will suffer, losing their changing rooms over the winter.