Defending the PM proves messy

THE Conservatives got into a bit of a mess over their social care reforms and one of the casualties of the party’s U-turn was the Ashford candidate and pensions minister Damian Green.

He has been one of Theresa May’s faithful lieutenants in the campaign, dispatched to TV studios and radio stations to explain and defend the Prime Minister.

Appearing on the BBC Marr show to discuss the row, he made it perfectly clear there would be no rowing back.

Asked by Andrew Marr if there was any chance at all of reconsidering, he gave an emphatic “no” – and went on to say “we are not looking at it again.” The only problem was that 24-hours later, the answer became “yes” as Mrs May contrived a U-turn – which we were told wasn’t one – to head off her critics.

HUSTINGS meetings are a traditional element of election campaigns and allow voters to confront their would-be representatives in a direct way.

But one Conservative candidate has decided to give them a miss. Gordon Henderson, Conservative candidate for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, took out an advert to say he wouldn’t be taking part in any but was arranging a series of surgeries where voters could come along and ask him questions.

HOW much will our newlyelected county councillors receive from the public purse to do their job? A report setting out the proposed allowances they would be eligible for was due to be published this week.

Only it hasn’t – at least not exactly in the way expected. The independent panel which makes recommendations on allowances has agreed to a temporary arrangement whereby the existing payments are retained on an interim basis.

Why? Well, a report says that after discussions with the various party leaders “it was clear to the panel that it would be helpful to understand and possibly have some discussions with some of the newly elected members” to get their views.

So, the decision has been put on hold until the summer. Politically, this means that the situation whereby one of the first decisions the new council takes is how much money members will get is avoided.

For the record, the current basic allowance that all 81 members get is £12,805 and for those in the cabinet, £27,370.

AS the election campaign rolls on, the battle buses bringing down the party big guns are still nowhere to be seen.

The tally of visits so far is just one, thanks to the education secretary Justine Greening making a fleeting visit to Thanet.

Still, there are still two weeks to go and enough time for a final flurry – although frankly it seems highly unlikely.

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