KENT MP ATTACKS TV DECISION ‘OLDER PEOPLE PAYING FOR KENT’S VANITY SAYS STEVE LADYMAN

MP, Stephen Ladyman has described Kent's £600,000 TV channel as 'a vanity project paid for at the expense of of our older people.' Speaking from Westminster after calling for a debate about the way KCC abuses its powers, Dr. Ladyman said: "Kent have demonstrated crass insensitivity. The constantly tell us they are short of money but the reality is that they can find money to employ more PR people than 10 Downing Street, pay their top officers more than the Prime Minister and to pay for vanity projects like a TV channel. Older people are paying for Kent's vanity and it's not right."

"Kent have received record amounts of revenue support grant every year, and every year they complain. In fact not only do they get more money than the formula used to calculate council funding suggests they need they get tens of millions of additional grants on top that they never tell the public about. The proof of the pudding is in the eating - Kent can afford its own TV channel when no-other Council can and can afford the highest paid officers in the country."

Note to editors: The following was Dr.Ladyman's question to the Leader of the House (25.10.07) ....

Is my Rt.Hon Friend aware that Kent County Council have just spent £600,000 setting up a TV channel of its own while at the same time putting up home care charges for older people in order to raise £600,000? There is no better supporter of the principle of devolving responsibility for local matters to local councils than me, but shouldn't the House have a debate to allow us to expose the way that Tory Councils like KCC abuse that power?

The Leader of the House replied 'My goodness. In the old days [Tory Councils] would call that 'propoganda on the rates!'