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Taxpayers Alliance on EU waste

Kent Latest Unemployment figures October

Kent's latest unemployment figures were released on Friday. Overall Kent had a slightly better month in October with the number of unemployed falling slightly in the county.

In Ashford there was better news with 31 more people finding new jobs to bring the Ashford unemployed total to 1977.

Kent House Prices exceed ability to buy

Buying a home is still an impossible dream for many families because average house prices in Kent are nearly 11 times the average individual income.
That is the gloomy conclusion of South East Home Truths, a new report by the National Housing Federation.
The report, which reveals that Sevenoaks is the least affordable part of the county and Medway the most affordable, highlights the ever-increasing need for more affordable housing in the county as well as the wider region.

The average house price for Kent in 2008 (£233,143) stood at nearly 11 times the average individual income (£21,507), with even homes in the lowest quartile costing an average of £150,000.
In most areas of Kent, an annual income of £50-60,000-plus would be required for a 90 per cent mortgage and £100,000-plus in Sevenoaks, closely followed by Tunbridge Wells with £77,000-plus.

In Ashford the average house price is £238,746 which is 11.3 times the £21096 average salary




 
Warren Finney, NHF South East regional manager said: "Given the current state of the economy, where we are seeing increasing unemployment and repossessions, combined with a growing population and rises in overcrowding, home ownership's just a dream for thousands of low-to-middle income households in the south east.
"The solution has got to be to invest in more high quality homes for social rent now, before prices begin to shoot up again.
"Housing is at the heart of the solution to economic recovery, and the Government must ensure it remains a funding priority, enabling the region's housing associations - who build the majority of affordable homes here - to deliver the high quality affordable housing we so desperately need."
 

UKIP Support up to 6%

Politicalbetting.com has just released the results of their latest survey.
The most striking characteristics of this afternoon’s exclusive new poll by Angus Reid Strategies for Politicalbetting.com are the increases in the shares for UKIP with the Tories slipping down to 38%.

Like yesterday’s YouGov poll the total proportion of respondents opting for other parties has seen an increase with Angus Reid reporting the largest share of any of the monthly pollsters. What YouGov did not tell us yesterday was the make-up of their “others” total. My guess is they saw a UKIP increase as well.

The fieldwork finished last night after a period when MPs expenses were making the headlines as well as the Tory decision on the Lisbon treaty referendum.

Whether it’s the latter that has driven the UKIP numbers I don’t know. But 6% of voters according to this poll are saying that they will go with UKIP which is the highest proportion by far in any survey since the effects of June’s Euro election worked its way out of the system.

So it looks as though the Tories are taking a hit but Labour are still in very serious trouble up just single point to 24%.

The poll took place online with a sample in excess of 2,000.

First reaction to David Cameron's EU stance

Cameron's wishlist fails to impress Norfolk MEP



Norfolk farmer turned MEP, Stuart Agnew has described David Cameron's decision to withdraw the 'cast iron' commmitment he gave to a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, as a "betrayal" of Britain and has accused the Tory leader of producing a "meaningless wish list" that is completely unrealistic.



Mr Agnew, who is one of the UKIP MEPs for the East of England said: "Mr Cameron has effectively allowed the President of the Czech Republic to decide the future of our country. His meek acceptance of the Lisbon Treaty following President Klaus becoming a signatory, is a betrayal not just of our country but of the many who voted for the Conservatives in June's European Election, believing them to be an EU-sceptic Party on the strength of their reform of the EU platform.



"As for his so-called future plans, they amount to a meaningless wish list which sounds good but has absolutely no grounding in reality. Mr Cameron in all his talk of a UK sovereignty bill, a referendum lock and trying to get powers back has forgotten that the European Court of Justice was created to ensure that member states implement the laws created by the unelected European Commission and would challenge his plans. He has also forgotten or does not understand that the EU has a rigid structure of treaties that cannot be unpicked and an acquis communautaire - a law book, to which all member states are bound. If David Cameron were on a cricket field, would he seriously expect the umpires to accept the proposition that Tory batsmen are exempt from the LBW rule?!!



"In his remarks today, Mr Cameron has clearly demonstrated that he will do absolutely nothing to rock the EU boat and that his Party is firmly committed to membership of the European Union, in perpetuity. There can be no further doubt that a vote for the Conservative Party is a vote for more Europe and more outside interference in the way our country is governed."

UK Independence News Round Up

Folkestone and Hythe

The constituency association held a hustings last night in Hythe. Mr Frank Mckenna, a resident of Folkestone, was selected to represent the constituency at the next general election on behalf of the UK Independence Party. The members of the Ashford Branch send our congratulations.

The South East Regional Hustings

The SE hustings take place tomorrow, Saturday 31st in Lyne, Chertsey in Surrey.

4 of the 5 candidates have now put up campaign websites or blogs and they are now listed below. Please click on the name to go to the site.

Gerard Batten


Nikki Sinclaire


Lord Pearson of Rannoch


Alan Wood


Ashford Branch

We are looking to hold a members social event in early November and we wish to hear from members about their prefered location in the constituency. Please email your suggestions.

The Parliamentary Candidate is still looking for an election agent to help over the 4 weeks of the general election campaign probably in May 2010. Full training available. Please email if you would like to know more about what is involved