Medway Labour & Co-op Group

27/08/2026

Medway is more than a place on a map, or a council named after a river. It’s our towns, our history, our communities, and the people who work every day to make them better.

Medway Labour & Co-operative is proud to stand up for our area and determined to build a fairer, greener and more hopeful future for everyone who calls this place home.

Want to hear more, get involved or help shape what comes next?

Sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/3am9h2n4

27/08/2026

Plenty of people sadly hoodwinked by the Reform snakeoil salesmen, dropped by our last post to tell us all about Labour lies when we are trying to warn you what Reform have planned for you.

Here it is straight from the horse's mouth. If you are a single person, with a child on a housing waiting list, you will be punished. What do Reform have to say about that? 'Sometimes life doesn't work out'

26/08/2026

Tackling the cost of living crisis and make sure the Pentagon continues to serve our community

SE Kitchen will open a third shop, adding to the social enterprise's units in Ashford and Ramsgate.

25/08/2026

If you’re one of the 1,000 single parents on Medway’s housing waiting list and you’re thinking of voting Reform, read their small print.

They plan to screw you over.

Reform wants marriage to become a “core allocation factor” for social housing, with married couples given extra priority.

In a housing queue, extra priority for them means you and your children get pushed further back simply because you’re a single parent.

Labour is taking a different approach.

Medway’s Labour council has:

Acquired 12 new two-bedroom council homes in Borstal.

Been delivering 19 new family homes for social rent in Twydall.

Added 44 affordable-rent homes at Truro Manor.

Approved plans to bring a 791-property housing portfolio under council control—helping safeguard 569 social and affordable homes for Medway residents, subject to final checks.

And nationally, the Labour government has committed £39 billion to building around 300,000 social and affordable homes, with at least 60% intended for social rent. It is also allowing councils to keep all their Right to Buy receipts to reinvest in housing.

Reform would judge your family by your marital status.

Labour is building, acquiring and protecting the homes local families need.

24/08/2026

Today we marked Ukrainian Independence Day alongside members of Medway’s Ukrainian community.

Ukraine’s independence was founded on an extraordinary democratic mandate. In the 1991 referendum, more than 90% voted in favour including majorities in every region of Ukraine.

That peaceful, democratic choice should have allowed generations of Ukrainians to build their country in freedom. Instead, Russia’s invasion has shattered lives, separated families and attempted to destroy the independence Ukrainians voted so overwhelmingly to secure.

Today we celebrate Ukraine’s culture, courage and resilience and reaffirm our solidarity with the Ukrainian people.

18/08/2026

Two very different choices for disabled people.

Reform UK plans to scrap working-age PIP and replace it with a system in which cash support would be restricted to people with “severe and enduring” disabilities.

PIP is not an unemployment benefit. It helps meet the additional costs of disability and can support people whether they are in or out of work. Removing that support risks making it harder, not easier, for disabled people to access and remain in employment.

Labour has announced 24-hour free bus travel for eligible disabled people in England, removing the 9.30am weekday restriction and making it easier to travel to work, education and early appointments.

One policy risks keeping people at home. The other removes a barrier to work.

11/08/2026

Great to see a specialist deep clean of Chatham High Street in progress.

10/08/2026

07/08/2026

Really awful to see this happen to a local charity that does so much for our community.

Their work has rightly been recognised with the King’s Award for Voluntary Service, and this specialist boat helped them give more people the chance to get out on the water and take part.

Now it’s been stolen, leaving them needing to find around £800 for a replacement.

If you can afford to donate a few pounds to help them replace it, please do. It would be great to see Medway rally round and help get them back on the water as soon as possible.

https://www.paypal.com/donate?token=Q-hI7lFxMcBmeNNVqVu4oRJKvezDqkC3h9PXK0CiyV3iBmYOUcmi8um1pabG5oAk0hNuoZ_vP7LkTA0t

A charity has appealed for help after thieves allegedly stole a specialist boat used during sailing sessions for children with additional needs.

05/05/2026

It’s great to have members of Reform UK join us at our cabinet meeting to conflate the use of HMOs and asylum seekers.

It’s a shame that when we move onto the next agenda item covering adult social - one of the biggest challenges faces councils and the country as a whole face that they lose their interest and walk out.

Venue: St George's Centre, Pembroke Road, Chatham Maritime, Chatham ME4 4UHContact: Jon Pitt, Democratic Services Officer/Vanessa Etheridge, Democratic Servi...