A New Year Dawns As The Borough Thaws

AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR, Canvey Beat readers were debating whether Bob Spink, with the Echo’s support, would again retain his House of Commons seat as the Borough’s MP in May’s general election. This year, this Blog’s readership will be debating whether Dave Blackwell and his Canvey Island Independent Party (CIIP) can retain control of Canvey Island Town Council in the local elections to be held in May.

Blackwell and his party, like Spink last year, can be expected to receive a great deal of friendly press coverage from the Echo; but that did not help Bob Spink’s campaign. Instead, the paper’s local political coverage alienated a large swathe of residents when it became apparent that it was supressing publication of relevant breaking news and evidence produced by this Blog.

The Echo never did publish details of Bob Spink’s fraudulent office expenses; the lies he used to deceive voters; or his close working relationship with the borough’s failed Labour candidates in the shape of Dave Blackwell and his CIIP. Neither has it ever exposed the financial incompetence exhibited by CIIP Town Councillors or the way that party manipulates public opinion for its own political ends.

There is no evidence to suggest there will be any change to the Echo’s particular form of political coverage this coming year.

Political spin and misinformation is likely to be reported again later next year – this time by the Parliamentary Committee formed to examine the 2010 Daylight Saving Bill, introduced by our new MP, Rebecca Harris. The parliamentary debate was covered live on this Blog; but, again, no analysis of this important issue was conducted by the Echo. Once again it was left to this Blog, and the dogged investigative journalism of the Daily Mail’s Martin Delgado, to highlight inconsistencies in the Lighter Later’s campaign and its so called ‘evidence’ to support a move to adopting Central European Time (CET) in Britain.

With the possible exception of the Guardian, which has painted itself into a corner by openly backing the move, an increasing number of the major newspapers are likely to be falling off the fence into Daily Mail territory this new year.

Castle Point thawed to a new form of politics in 2010, ably represented by its newly elected  MP, when it overwhelmingly rejected the divisive politics of Spink. It remains to be seen if, following the island’s thaw from its December snow, Canvey Island residents will also usher in a new spring to its CIIP led Town Council in May…

… (Ted Pugh, 24/12/2010) – Focussing On The Dangers Of 2011

… (British Chronicle, 27/12/2010) – More Protests Predicted For 2011