This page was last edited at 2010 Hrs GMT London Thursday 2 October 2008
KHOODEELAAR! comments on each of the components of this evidence [below] will be pub shed in the next 24 hours
'
HEADLINES:
Mayor forces Met chief out of job..... PM praises Sir Ian's leadership..... Two charged over banker's murder..... Mixed fortunes for bank stocks..... Banks expect to cut back on lending..... Burglar steals MI5 device from home..... MS sufferer's assisted suicide plea..... Water firms plan big price hike..... Cabinet reshuffle is delayed..... Million more homes in fuel poverty.....
Grand design: Irish developer Sean Mulryan and an artist's impression of his Pan Peninsula towers at Canary Wharf
Credit Crunch Towers
Keith Dovkants
02.10.08
A deathly hush has fallen over the Pan Peninsula. Until recently it was one of the noisiest areas of the property boom. Now the only clamour is the sound of buyers stampeding for the exit.
Few places in London characterise so completely the gloom that has overtaken the recent exuberance of the property market, and for good reason. The development, which broke all records for apartment prices in Docklands, was a product of the off-plan phenomenon. It attracted speculators in droves. They saw an opportunity to buy at a discount before even a brick was laid and dashed to place deposits. Now the rush is in the opposite direction.
It's happening all over London. Buyers are walking away from deposits rather than completing on properties now worth far less than they agreed to pay for them. In many cases, even if they wanted to complete the deal they can't, because mortgage funds have dried up. This is the unseen side of the property crash and its full effects are yet to be felt.
The Pan Peninsula project is due to be completed early next spring, ahead of schedule. For months, a sign has hung outside the towers boasting that all flats are sold. The sign is a relic of better times. One property website alone currently has almost 100 advertisements selling flats in the development. Many are being sold by investors hoping to recoup what they have spent on deposits. In some cases, the sums are over £100,000 and hopes of recovering anything like this amount are fading fast.
The man behind Pan Peninsula is Sean Mulryan, one of Ireland's richest tycoons. A stonemason by trade, he named his company, Ballymore, after the town in Co Kildare where he started his building firm in 1982. In 10 years, he had moved to London and Ballymore is now one of the major developers in Britain and Europe, with a property portfolio valued in excess of £1 billion.
Mulryan is among the most successful of the current generation of Celtic tigers. Like his contemporaries John Magnier and JP McManus, he has an impressive string of racehorses and has invested in English football, taking a stake in Sunderland FC.
When he launched the Pan Peninsula development three years ago, there was intense interest, especially among property professionals. Ballymore's daring new towers, one standing 50 storeys tall at 489ft, the other a little lower, were not just the highest of high-rises, they also promised to be the best.
Every apartment, from studios to the penthouse, was designed with floor-to-ceiling windows. The views from the riverside blocks were exceptional, with a glimpse of the sea possible from the upper floors. The fitting-out was exceptional, with high-quality kitchens and bathrooms.
Even more impressive was the marketing. Pan Peninsula was sold not just as a place to live, but as a way to live. Residents of the 762 apartments were promised a “signature” restaurant, a health club and spa, a private cinema and a cocktail lounge on the 50th floor.
They were also offered an entrée to the Quintessential concierge group which links its clientele to the world's most exclusive and expensive shops and services.
Docklands property prices have always lagged behind London's more established areas such as Chelsea and Mayfair but the two towers helped the area stage a quantum leap. The £1,000 a square foot barrier was broken for the first time in sales at Pan Peninsula. Just before Christmas 2006, Ballymore announced it had sold the penthouse for £7 million, believed to be a record for east London.
Mock-ups of the apartments were created on a barge floating on the Thames close to the rising towers. Plans of the development were on display and purchasers were able to choose their flat from those that remained. In those early days, studios were selling for around £299,000, one-bed flats cost around £400,000 and larger ones clustered around £700,000 and above.
At the time, London property prices were rising at a giddy rate. Some estimates suggested gains of 20 per cent a year. Buying off-plan at a place like Pan Peninsula seemed a one-way bet. Soon the website carried a notice advising everything had been sold. The marketing suite number was disconnected.
For those who had bought in, by placing a 10 per cent deposit, it seemed all they had to do was wait for prices to rise sufficiently and then “flip” the property by selling the option for a profit. Some did. Pan Peninsula attracted investors from the City and Canary Wharf, most of whom were financially astute.
It was estimated that 65 per cent of those buying off-plan were single men looking for an investment. Around 20 per cent were single women professionals keen to acquire a smart Docklands home. There was an unconfirmed report that 50 per cent of the purchasers of the flats in the second tower, located to the west of the site, were Irish investors.
In the City bonus frenzy of early 2007, money poured into Ballymore. The company planned another huge tower, this time at Piccadilly, Manchester. That project has now been shelved.
As a development, the future of Pan Peninsula is assured. Work is said to be several months ahead of schedule and the towers appear to be almost finished. But as an investment, the immediate future is far less rosy. A local estate agent revealed that a client bought a one-bedroom flat two years ago, off-plan, for £420,000. So far he has paid two deposits totalling 20 per cent of the price, just over £80,000. Now the flat is thought to be worth only £375,000. He is trying to sell for that price. If he can sell, it will limit his loss to £45,000. If he cannot, he faces losing his deposit of more than £80,000.
“He has to make a decision,” the agent said. “Does he complete and wait for the value to go up, or does he walk away, sacrificing his deposit? Our advice is to go through with the deal and rent out.”
This was the advice being given by Foxtons, who are trying to sell nine flats in the development. If possible, a spokeswoman said, it was better to complete and rent out until values recovered.
Not everyone can afford this option. A Russian investor who is trying to sell two flats privately at Pan Peninsula said the downturn had thrown his investment plans into chaos.
“I bought two two-bedroom apartments, one quite large for £770,000. Now I'm trying to get £775,000 for it but it's not looking good. To be honest, I'm very disappointed. I can't afford to wait for the market to recover. From what I can see now people are not buying because they think the market still has some way to go before it bottoms out. I just don't know how much I'll lose. My strategy now is to try to get buyers in Russia or perhaps Kazakhstan. If the worst came to the worst, I suppose I could live there.”
The off-plan phenomenon was more a feature of the recent property boom than any other. The incentive for buyers, in a decade when prices trebled, was huge. Between reservation, exchange and completion, properties were soaring in value. Speculators had no intention of moving in. Hundreds of thousands of pounds were to be made without so much as lifting a tea chest.
The idea also spawned much-criticised “investment clubs”, which persuaded people of limited means to invest in unbuilt property on the understanding that they would profit from big price rises before they needed to pay up.
In a block of flats near Victoria, two-bed flats were available off-plan for £650,000 in October 2006. At the time of their completion, a year later, local agents were quoting £950,000 with a waiting list. Now owners looking to sell are receiving offers no higher than the £650,000 they paid.
At Arsenal's old stadium in Highbury, now a 700-unit residential development, off-plan buyers have been walking away from their deposits. As the Evening Standard revealed last week, a large number of those who paid 10 or 20 per cent deposits have seen their £500,000 flats plummet in value to around £400,000. Buyers have lost interest and investment clubs have all but disappeared.
Ballymore declined to give details of how the Pan Peninsula development is working out. A spokeswoman said the company was “comfortable” with progress and interest remains high. It was, she added, “virtually sold out”.
Workmen are finishing off the health club and cocktail lounge. Whatever the market does, the view from this 50-storey eyrie will be undiminished, even if some residents find themselves sipping their caipirinhas through gritted teeth.
Link to:
Reader Views (6) Add your view | Show all
Here's a sample of the latest views published. You can click view all to read all views that readers have sent in.
What does the fire brigade say about these and similar height flats and offices?
- Helen, Norwich
Seems like we're all discovering that home is the place where you live, not a cash machine that you get free money from. It's hard to feel sympathy for people who are now suffering financial hardship when they were originally motivated by greed.
- Paul, London
'
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
KHOODEELAAR! updating the evidence of the serious flaws in peddling for Crossrail London at the expense of the needs of the North of England [145]
This page was last edited at 1858 Hrs GMT London Wednesday 1 October 2008
KHOODEELAAR! updating the evidence of the serious flaws in peddling for Crossrail London at the expense of the needs of the North of England [145]
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/opinion/Chris-Leslie-The-North-deserves.4544759.jp
"
Chris Leslie: The North deserves a transport renaissance
Published Date: 01 October 2008
By Chris Leslie
POLITICIANS from both Labour and the Conservatives will have spent some of the past couple of weeks travelling north up the West Coast Mainline on route to their respective party conferences.
I hope that such journeys gave them a chance to reflect on the transport needs for the North of England and in particular how to make sure that the focus on major infrastructure problems doesn't solely focus on London and the South East.
It would ADVERTISEMENT
seem that the Conservatives may be heading in this direction of travel, albeit perhaps taking a little longer in their journey than some of us would have liked. Their announcement this week
that a Conservative government would build a high speed North-South rail link instead of adding a third runway at Heathrow will be
seen as a canny political move. Ruth Kelly's successor as Transport Secretary will need to act swiftly to catch up on this agenda.
It is a truism to say that London remains the economic powerhouse in the UK and its public transport infrastructure must, of course, remain modern and efficient.
However, northern eyebrows should be rightly raised at the sheer scale of investment that is routinely lavished on the capital city by Treasury decisions across the decades.
Just compare the painfully slow time it took to decide and deliverthe upgrades to Leeds City Station or the Bingley Relief Road in my former constituency –following literally decades of campaigning – with the far speedier billions of pounds prioritised for the new Jubilee line and the Crossrail project.
Step on most trains during the day and it becomes quickly apparent that Britain's railways are almost at capacity.
We have seen passenger numbers double in the past 10 years, meaning that more passengers are now travelling by train than at any time since 1946.
If a community can offer a clean, efficient, comfortable and convenient means of linking into the main centres of economic activity, it will boost its prosperity manifold.
Modern rail links could revitalise the North, taking pressure off an already overheated South-East and offering businesses a viable option of investing where costs are more competitive rather than automatically gravitating towards the capital city.
The impact would be astounding – some estimates even suggest fast-rail link journeys from Leeds to Manchester could take as little as a breathtaking 17 minutes, while travel time from Leeds to London would be shaved by over half an hour.
I would go further. At the moment it is quicker and easier to reach the North-East from Lancashire by road than by rail. A complicated system of changing trains at York can sometimes lead to journeys exceeding four hours.
Linking together direct routes to the main northern cities would offer a viable alternative to air and rail travel and encourage better
trade between Yorkshire and the rest of the North. The success of Greater London has been built in part on the infrastructure of the underground network.
A transport network connecting northern cities should surely not be too much to ask.
There are also other issues where the North needs a fairer deal. Unlike the rest of the country, London benefits from a regulated bus
service, ensuring that the Mayor enjoys key strategic power over its services.
There remains a glaring disjoint in the fact that local authorities outside London don't benefit from similar powers. The Government
has relaxed the rules and given council leaders at least a say in
where bus routes should be allocated but a surely more effective solution would be to devolve the entire power to local elected leaders.
Links towards Europe should also be explored. Currently, access to the Eurostar is based on London and Kent, meaning that whole swathes of the country have to travel south just to get on the train.
Local leaders and business in our region should lobby for better links from the North, which would open up new opportunities for business and travel.
Following the notorious Policy Exchange report earlier this year which advocated a mass emigration from northern cities into the "successful" South, the rail link policy is a shrewd move by David Cameron aimed at replenishing his credentials within Yorkshire and the North.
I hope, though, that the fast rail link issue won't become a party political issue. Rather, it should begin a serious debate within Westminster about how we can achieve a renaissance of public transport in the North of England and how economic prosperity can be encouraged in all corners of the country.
Chris Leslie was MP for Shipley from 1997-2005. He is director of the New Local Government Network.
KHOODEELAAR! updating the evidence of the serious flaws in peddling for Crossrail London at the expense of the needs of the North of England [145]
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/opinion/Chris-Leslie-The-North-deserves.4544759.jp
"
Chris Leslie: The North deserves a transport renaissance
Published Date: 01 October 2008
By Chris Leslie
POLITICIANS from both Labour and the Conservatives will have spent some of the past couple of weeks travelling north up the West Coast Mainline on route to their respective party conferences.
I hope that such journeys gave them a chance to reflect on the transport needs for the North of England and in particular how to make sure that the focus on major infrastructure problems doesn't solely focus on London and the South East.
It would ADVERTISEMENT
seem that the Conservatives may be heading in this direction of travel, albeit perhaps taking a little longer in their journey than some of us would have liked. Their announcement this week
that a Conservative government would build a high speed North-South rail link instead of adding a third runway at Heathrow will be
seen as a canny political move. Ruth Kelly's successor as Transport Secretary will need to act swiftly to catch up on this agenda.
It is a truism to say that London remains the economic powerhouse in the UK and its public transport infrastructure must, of course, remain modern and efficient.
However, northern eyebrows should be rightly raised at the sheer scale of investment that is routinely lavished on the capital city by Treasury decisions across the decades.
Just compare the painfully slow time it took to decide and deliverthe upgrades to Leeds City Station or the Bingley Relief Road in my former constituency –following literally decades of campaigning – with the far speedier billions of pounds prioritised for the new Jubilee line and the Crossrail project.
Step on most trains during the day and it becomes quickly apparent that Britain's railways are almost at capacity.
We have seen passenger numbers double in the past 10 years, meaning that more passengers are now travelling by train than at any time since 1946.
If a community can offer a clean, efficient, comfortable and convenient means of linking into the main centres of economic activity, it will boost its prosperity manifold.
Modern rail links could revitalise the North, taking pressure off an already overheated South-East and offering businesses a viable option of investing where costs are more competitive rather than automatically gravitating towards the capital city.
The impact would be astounding – some estimates even suggest fast-rail link journeys from Leeds to Manchester could take as little as a breathtaking 17 minutes, while travel time from Leeds to London would be shaved by over half an hour.
I would go further. At the moment it is quicker and easier to reach the North-East from Lancashire by road than by rail. A complicated system of changing trains at York can sometimes lead to journeys exceeding four hours.
Linking together direct routes to the main northern cities would offer a viable alternative to air and rail travel and encourage better
trade between Yorkshire and the rest of the North. The success of Greater London has been built in part on the infrastructure of the underground network.
A transport network connecting northern cities should surely not be too much to ask.
There are also other issues where the North needs a fairer deal. Unlike the rest of the country, London benefits from a regulated bus
service, ensuring that the Mayor enjoys key strategic power over its services.
There remains a glaring disjoint in the fact that local authorities outside London don't benefit from similar powers. The Government
has relaxed the rules and given council leaders at least a say in
where bus routes should be allocated but a surely more effective solution would be to devolve the entire power to local elected leaders.
Links towards Europe should also be explored. Currently, access to the Eurostar is based on London and Kent, meaning that whole swathes of the country have to travel south just to get on the train.
Local leaders and business in our region should lobby for better links from the North, which would open up new opportunities for business and travel.
Following the notorious Policy Exchange report earlier this year which advocated a mass emigration from northern cities into the "successful" South, the rail link policy is a shrewd move by David Cameron aimed at replenishing his credentials within Yorkshire and the North.
I hope, though, that the fast rail link issue won't become a party political issue. Rather, it should begin a serious debate within Westminster about how we can achieve a renaissance of public transport in the North of England and how economic prosperity can be encouraged in all corners of the country.
Chris Leslie was MP for Shipley from 1997-2005. He is director of the New Local Government Network.
Monday, September 29, 2008
KHOODEELAAR! updating the evidence of the crassness-beyond-the-pale plugs by Big Business CROSSRAIL scammers [139]
THis page was last edited at 1545 GMT 1645 Hrs UKTime London Monday 29 September 2008/29 Ramadan 1429 AH:
KHOODEELAAR! analysis of the Big Business-promoted looting-the-public scam Crossrail has been vindicated in everything that has been happening in the banks and in the bankruptcy of the robbing capitalist operations and raids... But the DAILY MAIL seems to be on another planet.... If the following item taken from its web site is any guide as to any ‘thinking’ that occurs in the ‘editing’ of the publication.... They say that the ‘south east’ of England has been subsidising the ‘north’ of England to the tunes of £Billions... So what do they provide as the answer to that? They don’t say that the ‘saving’ should be spent in improving the EXISTING services and the quality of life of the people whose are let down by the ‘health’ ‘education’ ‘housing’ service providers. They don’t say that crime and social deterioration should be addressed they do not say any of that. The Daily MAIL says ‘build CROSSRAIL’! Now there is a limit to tolerating idiocy... But the DAILY MAIL is behaving even more irrationally than the word CRASS can denote....[To be continued]
KHOODEELAAR! analysis of the Big Business-promoted looting-the-public scam Crossrail has been vindicated in everything that has been happening in the banks and in the bankruptcy of the robbing capitalist operations and raids... But the DAILY MAIL seems to be on another planet.... If the following item taken from its web site is any guide as to any ‘thinking’ that occurs in the ‘editing’ of the publication.... They say that the ‘south east’ of England has been subsidising the ‘north’ of England to the tunes of £Billions... So what do they provide as the answer to that? They don’t say that the ‘saving’ should be spent in improving the EXISTING services and the quality of life of the people whose are let down by the ‘health’ ‘education’ ‘housing’ service providers. They don’t say that crime and social deterioration should be addressed they do not say any of that. The Daily MAIL says ‘build CROSSRAIL’! Now there is a limit to tolerating idiocy... But the DAILY MAIL is behaving even more irrationally than the word CRASS can denote....[To be continued]
Friday, September 26, 2008
Gordon Brown acted irresponsibly in making that 'commitment' of £Billions for London Crossrail! He lacks credibility for doing that [130]
2150 GMT London Friday 26 September 2008: KHOODEELAAR! No to “Crossrail hole Big Business City of London looting of the public” CAMPAIGN....Gordon Brown acted irresponsibly in making that 'commitment' of £Billions for London Crossrail! He lacks credibility for doing that.. [130]. KHOODEELAAR! Organiser MUHAMMAD HAQUE has this evening told the London timnesonline the following in response to their report on Gordon Brown’s utterances in the USA of the need for responsible acton by the bankers and financial traders: “Gordon Brown may recall the fact that he contributed significantly to the further stooging of the Houses of UK Parliament to suit Big Business agenda. The ‘commitment nt’ that he made of £Billions of public funds for Crossrail was made without allowing Parliament to examine the evidence to justify the irresponsibly contrived project. The main propaganda came from the very City of London interest and Big business elements ‘against’ whom Brown is now floating his own image as a belated and opportunistic backer of ‘integrity and responsibility’! Is Brown going to correct his record of irresponsibility and imprudence in peddling Crossrail and scarp that scam now? [To be continued]
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Andrew Neil is PART of the problem. In fact he is part of the worse aspect of Big Business lying that has 'got us all here'
This page was last edited at 2100 Hrs GMT London Thursday 25 September 2008/ 25 ramadan 1429 AH
Andrew Neil is PART of the problem. In fact he is part of the worse aspect of Big Business lying that has 'got us all here'
There was NOTHING in either Andrew Neil or any of his ‘expert;’ guests said that showed that they can be trusted.
Yet the BBC has over extended its complicity with the parasitic propagandists of the Right.
Andrew Neil now has been given as many slots on the so-called documentary programming on the ‘mainstream’ channels of the BBC as can be counted. Wherever you turn, there is Andrew Neil. As unoriginal and as untrue as ever.
Now what is Andrew neil’s secret? Why do the BBC agenda setters keep giving him so many slots?
[To be continued]
Andrew Neil is PART of the problem. In fact he is part of the worse aspect of Big Business lying that has 'got us all here'
There was NOTHING in either Andrew Neil or any of his ‘expert;’ guests said that showed that they can be trusted.
Yet the BBC has over extended its complicity with the parasitic propagandists of the Right.
Andrew Neil now has been given as many slots on the so-called documentary programming on the ‘mainstream’ channels of the BBC as can be counted. Wherever you turn, there is Andrew Neil. As unoriginal and as untrue as ever.
Now what is Andrew neil’s secret? Why do the BBC agenda setters keep giving him so many slots?
[To be continued]
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
RUTH KELLY had nothing to say about transport needs of people in London. Except a one-line cult-like plug for Big Business CRASSRAIL
This page was last edited at 1055 Hrs GMT 1155 Hrs UK Time London Wednesday 24 September 2008/24 Ramadan 1429 AH
"
In full: Ruth Kelly's speech
Times Online
This is the full text of the speech by Ruth Kelly to the 2008 Labour Party Conference
Conference, it is a pleasure to close this debate on sustainable communities.
I'd like to start by thanking all of you who've been involved in our discussions over the past year. Labour party members, trade unionists, councillors all working together on the policies we need to deliver a historic fourth Labour term.
In particular I'd like to thank Rosie, Tom and Jim for being such great ministers and such great colleagues over the past year.
Conference, I hope you will forgive me, for departing from my text for a moment.
As you may have heard on the news this morning this will be my last time addressing you as a member of the Cabinet.
I told Gordon before the summer of my decision to leave the Government for family reasons at the next reshuffle.
This was not a decision I took lightly. I was still in my 20s as Labour was given the honour of leading the country.
And I have been particularly proud as a minister at the Treasury to be able through our proposals on the Child Trust Fund. At Education, opening up school choice for parents, At Communities recasting our policies on violent extremism and devolving more power to local government.
In transport, I was delighted it was Labour that secured the deal on Crossrail.
It's also been a tremendous privilege to have worked with both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown - two towering figures in the Labour Party, Government and on the world stage.
But Conference, as well as a front line politician, I am also proud to be a mother and wife. To be able to hold these jobs, I have relied on the support of my husband and family.
So I ask for your understanding when I say that I now owe it to my children and family to put them first. If I do not, then I know that this is something I will come to regret deeply.
Conference, while we have not a lways agreed on every issue, I am enormously proud of all that we have achieved together over the past decade.
And I am confident that Labour has the values, vision and determination to see this country through difficult times.
There are some who claim that there would be no difference between a Conservative and a Labour government.
RELATED LINKS
Ruth Kelly - profile of the young pretender
Ruth Kelly set to quit
Timing of Ruth Kelly departure will hurt Brown
But Conference, tell that to the pensioner using her free bus pass, not just in her own neighbourhood but now right across the country.
Tell that to the young mum who can now rely on a brand new bus service to take her to the local shops.
Tell that to the commuter, who is now benefiting from newer, more frequent and more reliable trains - the biggest investment in capacity in a generation.
Conference, never again must we allow the Tories to take the axe to our vital public infrastructure when economic conditions get tough - as they have done time after time.
To slash investment when the country entered a time of economic difficulty would be reckless, short-sighted and irresponsible.
So that is why the Government will stay true to its commitments - on Crossrail, on Birmingham New Street, on Reading and across the country.
And we must continue to be ambitious for the future and to put in place the right long-term framework to deliver affordable investment in transport.
So Labour will develop options for a rolling programme of electrification of our railways - potentially the largest programme of electrification in our history.
I have asked Network Rail to consider the case for new lines if passenger numbers continue to grow in the future.
And if we need new lines, of course we should be asking whether they should be high speed.
We all know that in the current climate, with high food and fuel prices, getting good value for money is more important than ever.
So I have been working to help rail passengers by ensuring that fares are simp le, fairly set, fairly sold - and readily available.
RELATED LINKS
Ruth Kelly - profile of the young pretender
Ruth Kelly set to quit
Timing of Ruth Kelly departure will hurt Brown
And Conference, I can assure you that the lessons will be learned from the failure of the XL tour company so passengers can feel more secure when booking their annual holiday.
Conference, on Sunday I was privileged to take part in a ceremony naming a train in honour of Barbara Castle, one of the great Labour women of all time.
She was fearless in her determination to improve the lot of working people, full of courage and conviction, never afraid of taking the tough decisions - of doing what she thought was right.
I admire that.
The real test of the character of a politician - or a party - is how they deal with difficult times and unpopular decisions, not just the easy ones. And in transport over the past eighteen months, there have been both.
We all cherish the opportunity to visit friends and family abroad, catch up with loved ones, or take a well earned holiday.
But if we wa nt to maintain those hard-won opportunities, I truly believe we must be brave in challenging those who would ration flying and make it once more the preserve of the rich.
If London is to thrive as a major international hub, supporting the UK economy by providing good international connections, then it needs a hub airport that has sufficient capacity to serve all the regions and countries of the United Kingdom - as well as the emerging economies of China and India.
Boris may find his fantasy island airport a useful device to distract from the Tories' divisions on Heathrow.
I call it politically opportunistic, economically irresponsible and environmentally disastrous.
Conference, we must always be the party prepared to take the tough decisions, to do what is right, not just what is popular. To be the radicals in politics.
So I congratulate Sir Richard Leese and the Greater Manchester authorities for their ambition. Recognising the problems th at congestion causes. And, being prepared to argue for a congestion charge backed by a step-change in public transport to ensure that Manchester remains a world-class place to live and work.
RELATED LINKS
Ruth Kelly - profile of the young pretender
Ruth Kelly to quit Cabinet 'for family reasons'
Timing of Ruth Kelly departure will hurt Brown
It is seeing strong leadership in action, as we have here in Manchester, that has convinced me that we must continue to devolve powers to local communities.
I am proud that from this autumn, councils will have new powers to plan bus routes, fares and frequencies across their borough - powers opposed by the Tories every step of the way in Parliament.
And because buses are a vital lifeline to many in our communities I am delighted to announce today an extra £25 million to Kickstart new bus services, in both urban and rural areas.
Conference, this week we have set out a compelling vision for the future of our country.
This party, the Labour party, will continue to invest, to inspire and to lead.
Because Labour's values are rooted in the convictio n that by investing in our nation we are investing in our future.
This is the greatest of parties which has changed Britain for the better since 1997. It has been the greatest honour of my life to play a part in that.
I am leaving this stage today, but I will be with this great party all the way in the battle to keep improving our country. We can and must do even better - and Conference, I will always be with you in our great mission.
Thank you.
"
"
In full: Ruth Kelly's speech
Times Online
This is the full text of the speech by Ruth Kelly to the 2008 Labour Party Conference
Conference, it is a pleasure to close this debate on sustainable communities.
I'd like to start by thanking all of you who've been involved in our discussions over the past year. Labour party members, trade unionists, councillors all working together on the policies we need to deliver a historic fourth Labour term.
In particular I'd like to thank Rosie, Tom and Jim for being such great ministers and such great colleagues over the past year.
Conference, I hope you will forgive me, for departing from my text for a moment.
As you may have heard on the news this morning this will be my last time addressing you as a member of the Cabinet.
I told Gordon before the summer of my decision to leave the Government for family reasons at the next reshuffle.
This was not a decision I took lightly. I was still in my 20s as Labour was given the honour of leading the country.
And I have been particularly proud as a minister at the Treasury to be able through our proposals on the Child Trust Fund. At Education, opening up school choice for parents, At Communities recasting our policies on violent extremism and devolving more power to local government.
In transport, I was delighted it was Labour that secured the deal on Crossrail.
It's also been a tremendous privilege to have worked with both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown - two towering figures in the Labour Party, Government and on the world stage.
But Conference, as well as a front line politician, I am also proud to be a mother and wife. To be able to hold these jobs, I have relied on the support of my husband and family.
So I ask for your understanding when I say that I now owe it to my children and family to put them first. If I do not, then I know that this is something I will come to regret deeply.
Conference, while we have not a lways agreed on every issue, I am enormously proud of all that we have achieved together over the past decade.
And I am confident that Labour has the values, vision and determination to see this country through difficult times.
There are some who claim that there would be no difference between a Conservative and a Labour government.
RELATED LINKS
Ruth Kelly - profile of the young pretender
Ruth Kelly set to quit
Timing of Ruth Kelly departure will hurt Brown
But Conference, tell that to the pensioner using her free bus pass, not just in her own neighbourhood but now right across the country.
Tell that to the young mum who can now rely on a brand new bus service to take her to the local shops.
Tell that to the commuter, who is now benefiting from newer, more frequent and more reliable trains - the biggest investment in capacity in a generation.
Conference, never again must we allow the Tories to take the axe to our vital public infrastructure when economic conditions get tough - as they have done time after time.
To slash investment when the country entered a time of economic difficulty would be reckless, short-sighted and irresponsible.
So that is why the Government will stay true to its commitments - on Crossrail, on Birmingham New Street, on Reading and across the country.
And we must continue to be ambitious for the future and to put in place the right long-term framework to deliver affordable investment in transport.
So Labour will develop options for a rolling programme of electrification of our railways - potentially the largest programme of electrification in our history.
I have asked Network Rail to consider the case for new lines if passenger numbers continue to grow in the future.
And if we need new lines, of course we should be asking whether they should be high speed.
We all know that in the current climate, with high food and fuel prices, getting good value for money is more important than ever.
So I have been working to help rail passengers by ensuring that fares are simp le, fairly set, fairly sold - and readily available.
RELATED LINKS
Ruth Kelly - profile of the young pretender
Ruth Kelly set to quit
Timing of Ruth Kelly departure will hurt Brown
And Conference, I can assure you that the lessons will be learned from the failure of the XL tour company so passengers can feel more secure when booking their annual holiday.
Conference, on Sunday I was privileged to take part in a ceremony naming a train in honour of Barbara Castle, one of the great Labour women of all time.
She was fearless in her determination to improve the lot of working people, full of courage and conviction, never afraid of taking the tough decisions - of doing what she thought was right.
I admire that.
The real test of the character of a politician - or a party - is how they deal with difficult times and unpopular decisions, not just the easy ones. And in transport over the past eighteen months, there have been both.
We all cherish the opportunity to visit friends and family abroad, catch up with loved ones, or take a well earned holiday.
But if we wa nt to maintain those hard-won opportunities, I truly believe we must be brave in challenging those who would ration flying and make it once more the preserve of the rich.
If London is to thrive as a major international hub, supporting the UK economy by providing good international connections, then it needs a hub airport that has sufficient capacity to serve all the regions and countries of the United Kingdom - as well as the emerging economies of China and India.
Boris may find his fantasy island airport a useful device to distract from the Tories' divisions on Heathrow.
I call it politically opportunistic, economically irresponsible and environmentally disastrous.
Conference, we must always be the party prepared to take the tough decisions, to do what is right, not just what is popular. To be the radicals in politics.
So I congratulate Sir Richard Leese and the Greater Manchester authorities for their ambition. Recognising the problems th at congestion causes. And, being prepared to argue for a congestion charge backed by a step-change in public transport to ensure that Manchester remains a world-class place to live and work.
RELATED LINKS
Ruth Kelly - profile of the young pretender
Ruth Kelly to quit Cabinet 'for family reasons'
Timing of Ruth Kelly departure will hurt Brown
It is seeing strong leadership in action, as we have here in Manchester, that has convinced me that we must continue to devolve powers to local communities.
I am proud that from this autumn, councils will have new powers to plan bus routes, fares and frequencies across their borough - powers opposed by the Tories every step of the way in Parliament.
And because buses are a vital lifeline to many in our communities I am delighted to announce today an extra £25 million to Kickstart new bus services, in both urban and rural areas.
Conference, this week we have set out a compelling vision for the future of our country.
This party, the Labour party, will continue to invest, to inspire and to lead.
Because Labour's values are rooted in the convictio n that by investing in our nation we are investing in our future.
This is the greatest of parties which has changed Britain for the better since 1997. It has been the greatest honour of my life to play a part in that.
I am leaving this stage today, but I will be with this great party all the way in the battle to keep improving our country. We can and must do even better - and Conference, I will always be with you in our great mission.
Thank you.
"
KHOODEELAAR! TOLD YOU SO! that CRASSrail has been turned into a ‘CULT Rail’ now by Gordon Brown...
This page was last edited at 1020 Hrs GMT 1120 Hrs UK Time London Wednesday 24 September 2008/24 Ramadan 1429 AH:
KHOODEELAAR! analysis of Ruth kelly’s role in peddling the Bechtel-contrived London CRASSrail hole scam as being linked with CROSSRAIL being turned into a ‘cult’, has again been confirmed and vindicated..in the last 45 minutes! By Ruth kelly herself! Addressing the Blaired party annual jamboree staged in Manchester, Kelly said she was departing from the script and then stated her reason for leaving the Brown fronted UK cabinet is to do with her family....After that she resumed reading off the script. As the picture we have put here shows... That script contained cult-like reference to the securing of the ‘deal’ on Crossrail! That was it... No reference to London people. No reference e to the transport needs and the transport problems... Except the plug about bus passes... That was already stated by Brown himself in his own spiel as delivered on Tuesday....
[To be continued]
KHOODEELAAR! analysis of Ruth kelly’s role in peddling the Bechtel-contrived London CRASSrail hole scam as being linked with CROSSRAIL being turned into a ‘cult’, has again been confirmed and vindicated..in the last 45 minutes! By Ruth kelly herself! Addressing the Blaired party annual jamboree staged in Manchester, Kelly said she was departing from the script and then stated her reason for leaving the Brown fronted UK cabinet is to do with her family....After that she resumed reading off the script. As the picture we have put here shows... That script contained cult-like reference to the securing of the ‘deal’ on Crossrail! That was it... No reference to London people. No reference e to the transport needs and the transport problems... Except the plug about bus passes... That was already stated by Brown himself in his own spiel as delivered on Tuesday....
[To be continued]
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