Canterbury and Whistable residents - Rosie Duffield

[drwitch]

Is there anything we can and should do to signal our support for her. I know of 3 cases personally where she has helped. But what can we do to a) show that she is a very good constituency MP and b) that lots of canterbury and whitstable residents agree with her on the importance of sex (as opposed to gender)

I'm not in the UK but my suggestion would be to contact her directly and ask her what she thinks would be helpful.

I was thinking of some coordinated thread of locals saying how she'd helped them

She over turned a huge Conservative majority to win that seat. She did that because she was a sensible, middle of the roader and voters welcomed that. It was a very personal vote. I cannot imagine that seat will remain Labour is they replace her with someone who thinks people can change sex.

I know it's very worrying. The local Labour party is full of nutters

I can tell you exactly how self ID is going to go down among the good people of Kent

It's a shame Canterbury has that shit university in the middle of it really. A hotbed of idiocy.

Hey, my 1st post here, so please be gentle,

With regard to Rosie D, I totally agree with her on her sex based rights mantra, as it is totally unheard of in the Labour Party... I wish when she is afforded the live TV MSM / BBC platform she would actually say something about it? She just seems to look at the floor and mumble?

As far as being a wonderful local MP? (I live in Whitstable) she is shocking, she had a Twitter spat with an old boy who was asking about the bins.. and they hadn't been emptied for 6 weeks, there was a load of "do you know who I am" stuff from her (I won't bore with the rest) but her basic answer was that she couldn't do anything about the local situation as Canterbury has a Tory council, so what could she do??

So yes as a Labour girl, hats off for supporting women rights, but maybe they all should be doing that? And when she gets on the TV she should be saying it!! as most of the allies are not allowed on MSM TV etc, she does have the voice as she gets the invites to Politics Live etc etc......

(I won't bore with the rest)

No do provide some detail.

A link would be good then we can all see what you're talking about as otherwise it's just you saying 'oh well she was rude to someone about the bins once' and us saying 'hmmmm, does that necessarily detract from concerns about the concerted and targeted misogynist harassment of a woman for daring to stand for women in public life?'

I know of three cases where she has actually helped and she has spoken up quite a few times in the commons about local issues. I know what a crap local MP looks like, we had one before 2017 (if he was in a book you would write him off as being implausible)

@RepentMotherfucker

(I won't bore with the rest)

No do provide some detail.

A link would be good then we can all see what you're talking about as otherwise it's just you saying 'oh well she was rude to someone about the bins once' and us saying 'hmmmm, does that necessarily detract from concerns about the concerted and targeted misogynist harassment of a woman for daring to stand for women in public life?'

I think I split the 2 sides of the story, I am totally behind her and her standing for the rights of women, and trying to stand against the insanity of the trans lobby, and would stand by her side against the idiots in her Labour party trying to drag her down... I will be there with a big stick..

My point about her not being a great local MP is the other point, if you want me to list stuff? Well I could, but there are no "links" its just interaction with normal people.... I know "the bins not being emptied for 6 weeks" is a little thing, but that what a local MP is there for, and what you go to your MP for help with? maybe I have got it totally wrong? if so I apologise, but on past interactions Rosie is really upset about the Yemen and rejoining the EU "at our earliest opportunity" but not to concerned about Canterbury and Whitstable.

If you want to get in to the demographics, Whitstable is mainly old dears, just going about their retirement, plus some right on down from Londons :o) Canterbury is as it always has been. but Rosie was voted in by the "Peoples republic of Canterbury university", Rosie was shocked she won, and the people that voted for her, were voting for Jezza C, she is now not toeing the JC hard left line in support of trans, come furry, come, MAP agenda and so they hate her and want her gone.......

But as I said, I will stand by her for her GC views, but I wish she would talk about it when she has the platform which she is given.... But if you really want local stuff, I will list some for you, but there won't be "Links" as it is just local interaction, just local stuff... not to sure many people would be that interested? but she is not an amazing local MP....

As I said, its my 1st post and if I have upset anyone, I am really sorry..

Following with interest as also live in Whitstable. I think she is a very warm and personable MP and great communicator and I fully support her views. She’s being targeted lately (speculation about where she lives) because like it or not there’s a perception among many locally and in local Labour Party that she’s not actually around in person in her constituency a whole lot and they feel that’s damaging.

Whitstable is mainly old dears

What is an 'old dear'?

down from Londons grin)

What is so funny about people being priced out of their home city - by people from all over the country... including Whitstable?

Hello mowly77

I dont have any speculation about Rosie, just what people I know local to me have said about her, if people are coming out with nonsense about her and her private life et al, well they should hang their heads in shame, that is her business, and maybe not true? if it is, maybe it's nothing to do with us?

Yes @RockisDeadTheySay the speculation is wild & seems designed / blown up by some to further discredit her following what they considered her gender critical views (liking a tweet that said only women have a cervix). But you also seem to think she is not a v good local MP from your posts? That she focuses on international issues at the expense of constituents. I don’t know enough to say whether she does but all MPs are largely expected to be in London and do have a range of interests. She’s an MP not a local councillor (who would be a better person to take a bin fracas too)

Yes @drwitch I am wondering what can be done to help to? When you say she’s helped people what do you mean in relation to specifically ?

I know "the bins not being emptied for 6 weeks" is a little thing, but that what a local MP is there for.

It's really not. It's the council's responsibility. An MP is your local representative in parliament. She's not handling the bins, and there's no real point her taking her concerns about bins to Parliament, because they don't handle your bins either.

I mean, maybe if there was something worth making a fuss about, speaking in the House of Commons about the state of the bins in your county, as a political point, say about national rules on bin handling privatisation?

But it won't actually directly deal with your bins now - you have to deal with the council there and elect/not elect the councillors.

@Tealightsandd

Whitstable is mainly old dears

What is an 'old dear'?

down from Londons grin)

What is so funny about people being priced out of their home city - by people from all over the country... including Whitstable?

An old dear in this case is a retired Lady or gentleman, or both together.

Nothing is funny about being priced out of your home town! I bought my house in Whitstable in my early 20s, so 30years ago, the kids today cannot afraid to live here, so sad,

The main ringleader for Rosie is a "down from London" he describes living in Whistable as "a state of mind" ???? trust me, its just quite nice and by the seaside, not a state of mind FFS :o)

Great harbour though, selling frozen sea food from Scotland?? go figure....

@NecessaryScene

I know "the bins not being emptied for 6 weeks" is a little thing, but that what a local MP is there for.

It's really not. It's the council's responsibility. An MP is your local representative in parliament. She's not handling the bins, and there's no real point her taking her concerns about bins to Parliament, because they don't handle your bins either.

I mean, maybe if there was something worth making a fuss about, speaking in the House of Commons about the state of the bins in your county, as a political point, say about national rules on bin handling privatisation?

But it won't actually directly deal with your bins now - you have to deal with the council there and elect/not elect the councillors.

I get your point, but if the council won't reply to you, you go to you elected local MP? maybe not? the local MP is not a worldwide MP they are your local elected MP.....

It is great that Rosie is very worried about the Yemen and Africa.. and her big cause of rejoining the EU, but she was elected to look after Canterbury and Whitstable? or do I have that wrong....

”Rosie is really upset about the Yemen and rejoining the EU….but not too concerned about Canterbury and Whitstable”

I would argue that both of those issues have a direct impact on Canterbury and Whitstable. Whatever your view on Brexit, much of the prosperity of the Canterbury area - hotels, hospitality etc depends directly on the tourist trade from the EU. This has all become much more difficult with the end of freedom of movement. Staffing is also much easier because Canterbury can recruit skilled, motivated hospitality workers from the EU. These skill sets are not available locally.
And the Canterbury area Kent is the area most affected by back logs of trucks waiting to cross the Channel as we have already seen.

Yemen - apart from representing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world today also impacts on refugee flows which hit Kent disproportionately.

So both of these are in my view very much local issues.

I would really dispute the fact that she doesn't care about Whitstable and Canterbury. She has been a big support in the poo in the sea issue (even though the some of the most vocal people in that campaign are those bullying her). She has spoken in parliament about local issues.

If you are local and want to help Rosie the answer is simple. Join Labour and fight for her and sex based rights in the local constituency meetings. There is nothing you can do which is more important than that. Obviously no-one wants to do that alone, but I am sure there are already people there on side and once you get a few people together you will get stronger and stronger. As we have seen from recent victories inside the Greens this is a fight that can be won if we want it enough.

I am not local, but from what I have read there is dissatisfaction over her ability to tie into local issues and non appearance at local events. Part of the move against her is manufactured by a left clique locally that have hated her since she turned against Corbyn over anti-Semitism and Brexit in 2018. However none of this matters. The fact is the GC cause cannot afford to lose her because this is bigger than local politics.

Rosie is a flawed politician. However she needs to be defended because she has been great at getting attention to Gender issues nationally. I don't think gender issues is her core interest though, she fell into it by accident. However if we lose her it is a major blow to gender critical cause, the symbolic impact would be immense. It will signal to any other secret terfy politician on the left that going public is career suicide. That will be bad in the UK, but this is a global battle too. The things we do here matter well beyond this island. Everything we have seen shows that.

Whitstable is not a town of retired people, I would say it is primarily young families. There are two infant schools, two junior schools and three large primaries!

I get your point, but if the council won't reply to you, you go to you elected local MP?

Yes, sure, as a second line of attack. Raising it to someone who can make a fuss.

But there will be a limit to what she can do directly. She could effectively campaign and be a mouthpiece for you, but she doesn't have responsibility here. She can't solve your problem - at most draw attention to it.

I agree with @drwitch that Rosie has been present and vocal on local issues

I'm a resident, she has been immensely supportive and active in a local campaign we have against the proposed (unnecessary) developments which the Tory councilors are doing everything they can to push through without proper public consultation. I wrote to her about it, she replied within two days and has since met up with the campaign leaders (who are cross party) to actually come to see the land which is going to be built on and meet the community to talk about how the area is used by local families Far more than the local Tory councilors have done (which is to dig their heels in and say the developments in canterbury are necessary for their construction mates )

Here's a list of your local councillors @RockisDeadTheySay : democracy.canterbury.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?bcr=1

I would contact them about issues with council provided services.

Telling someone they're not the right person to contact with a moan about bin collections seems fair enough. Where I live, our MP doesn't even engage with the locals on social media, much less direct them to the appropriate resource!

Down our way we have DFL's (down from London's) we also have the NFL's (normal for London) who complain about our local deli not having the rights sort of vegan food