Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells - but keep it quiet

YOU don’t get many rebellions among the Conservatives at County Hall but just occasionally, some backbenchers have the temerity to put their head above the parapet. When the ruling administration staged a vote opposing plans for a nuclear waste dump in Shepway at a full council meeting in July, there was a large majority in favour. But the minutes of the meeting record that two Conservatives did not support the motion condemning the idea. Step forward Cllr Roy Bullock and Cllr James Scholes - both from Tunbridge Wells. A further four abstained. Not exactly a revolt to worry the leadership unduly but interesting nevertheless.

WHO to blame - or credit - for the idea of directly-elected police commissioners? Step forward Lord Howard of Lympne - the former Folkestone and Hythe MP Michael Howard. The former Home Secretary acknowledged his part in bringing forward the proposals in a filmed message recorded and played at the launch of the campaign for Kent Conservative candidate Craig Mackinlay. The filmed message could perhaps have done with some work in the edit studio. Lord Howard appeared on screen like a ghostly holographic apparition, half his face in shadow as he delivered his personal endorsement. There were some bizarre cutaway shots which added up to a film that

perhaps warranted a PG rating.

A PLANNED shake-up of Parliamentary constituencies that was to have seen the abolition of the Faversham and Mid Kent seat looks like it may be shelved. This might be good news for its MP, the well-regarded Olympics minister Hugh Robertson, who could have been left scouring for another berth come the next election. There had been speculation that he would go for the Tonbridge and Malling seat being vacated by the retiring veteran Sir John Stanley but the Conservatives appear to believe the boundary shake-up will be kiboshed by the Lib Dems.

BELATED congratulations to Folkestone and Hythe MP Damian Collins, who has secured a job as parliamentary private secretary - sometimes known as a bag carrier - to the new Northern Ireland minister Theresa Villiers. The downside is that he has had to stand down from the backbench culture, media and sport committee, which with the Leveson Inquiry and other issues has arguably given him a higher profile than his new job may.

LOTS of scurrilous rumours are doing the rounds about various Conservative county councillors who have applied for rather safer divisions than the ones they currently represent. The reason? Some are in seats that may be vulnerable at the KCC election next May.