It's not just the run-away councillor that has let down Dane Valley by not showing up to council but the entire party but not showing up to Dane Valley.

For example why is a Dane Valley Councillor Mayor and not a Margate Councillor? Dane Valley is big enough and complex enough to need three councillors. With one doing duty as mayor, one on permanent vacation and one yet to show up on the estate but at least is available in session I think it is time for a by-election in which all three councillors take a hike. Especuially the two whose only representation of Dane Valley is on paper.

The conservatives managed to win the last round of lacklustre voting to scoop all three seats in Dane Valley in what had to be the easiest win in ages. With the Labour party dropping the ball by not giving much of a damn about the area the Tories had an excellent opportunity to rub their noses in it and do better - they did worse.

The ready to retire do-nothings that the Labour party put in place in Dane Valley prior to the last elections have shown a lack of consideration for the people of Dane Valley but we have since learned that not even being able to spare an hour a week for the people you represent is something that Stephen Broadhurst, Michael Jarvis and Ted Watt-Ruffell are just as good at.

When the right wing parties get more than a nominal foothold in a council estate dominated area it is a sure sign that the people of the area are mightily p*ssed off with their political representatives. From there it is a short timer wherein the centre and left can redeem themselves before the likes of the National Front show up and start winning seats.

Given the local racists, Nazi's and other less acceptable members of the political fraternity seem unable to get much of a foothold it seems that the Tories (Conservatives party to you and I) were enjoying a free ride. A free ride they seem to have cocked up mightily.

Admittedly Cllr Watt-Ruffell is a good councillor and I have met with the guy and found him to be helpful if a little out of touch with the people. However for all that he is a good man putting in a good effort (something that other councillors on both sides could well seek to emulate) is this one lone "worker" able to do the job of three especially when he also is Mayor of Margate (for what it's worth)?

After all Stephen Broadhurst managed a pathetic 40% attendance at council and is unknown on the estate and Michael Jarvis is equally unknown. A straw poll I carried out in Dane Valley found that no one could name even one of the three councillors for Dane valley.

I put it too you that representing an area means more than showing up to council to vote (or not as the case may be) but also having time to be active in the community. These three councillors need do nothing more than clock in, vote as directed, collect the beer money and leave again without ever having made a significant contribution for the people they reprisent and yet have never met.

I put it to you, the readers, that the Tory party has failed Dane Valley and Millmead estate.

It's no good unleashing the Tory attack dog, Simon Moores, with attempts to justify Mr Broadhurst's lack of attendance by attacking a Labour blogger (with a better blog rating) for having a better attendance record. (Yeah, that was lost on me too, read it if you want.)

The fact of the mater is that by not even bothering to show up Mr Broadhurst is just being honest about his feelings for "Meal Ticket Millmead". Sure he is going to be attacked for it but at least he is not pretending that he gives a damn about Dane Valley.

Time for some fresh blood to stand methinks. The question is which banner stinks the least?