By a remarkable coincidence, Communities Secretary James Brokenshire, the minister in charge of ruling on TWBC’s compulsory purchase orders on Hoopers and others for its flawed £93m Civic Centre project, is guest of honour at Tunbridge Wells Conservative Association’s Annual Dinner tonight (10 January) at High Rocks Hotel.

While Brokenshire may indeed be coming along just for the fine dining experience and the usual sparkling conversation, this shows an astonishing lack of judgement from the minister. How can the public be sure that local Tories attending won’t try to steer the CPO decision in their favour in ‘off-the-record’ conversations? It also highlights the arrogance of the local Party in not recognising that this is a massive conflict of interest. Everyone knew the CPO ruling would be going to Brokenshire long before he was booked for the dinner.

If you think that not everything will be above board as the cheese and port are being passed round, write in protest to both Greg Clark and James Brokenshire to let them know what you think!

james.brokenshire@communities.gsi.gov.uk

greg.clark.mp@parliament.uk

The residents of Tunbridge Wells will not give up this fight.