PM loves it here, so why is he off to Lanzarote?

Only last week, David Cameron was extolling the virtues of Kent and its attractions for holidaymakers.

As it turned out, it emerged that he had delivered similar eulogies in articles for the local media in other parts of the country, urging people to visit and boost the tourism economy. It was all part of a PR offensive, and there’s nothing necessarily wrong with that, although it was a bit crass to make it so obvious.

So, is Mr Cameron walking the walk as well as talking the talk? It seems not. He is off to Lanzarote for an Easter break.

The Conservatives may be at loggerheads nationally but it seems the party is doing its best to keep relations rather more harmonious at a local level as devolution discussions get underway.

It might not last. We hear there have been one or two strained meetings involving district councils and Kent County Council over the issue. One source tells us that councils interested in breaking away feel like they are walking on egg shells whenever the subject is raised. Watch this space.

So now we know. Anyone who has been pondering just how big the planned Operation Stack lorry park site off the M20 is now has an answer, thanks to the transport select committee. It produced a graphic showing that it is bigger than Disneyland but smaller than the Vatican City. We feel opponents of the scheme will probably seize on the Disneyland comparison to highlight what they consider to be the fantasy element of the proposals.

There was one word which kept cropping up at this week’s hearing into Operation Stack at Westminster.

Not everyone seemed 100% sure of its meaning but there were several references to the need for a “holistic” solution. It conjures up images of a yoga class and not everyone liked it – especially KCC roads cabinet member Matthew Balfour. He tried desperately to avoid referring to it but lost his karma during the meeting, eventually having to refer to it in the context of the need for a wider strategy to deal with Stack.