Martin Linton was on the BBC's Politics Show last Sunday talking about London newspapers. He said that the Evening Standard wasn't really a London paper as it was largely read by people who were commuting home to places outside of London. He said
I think more people will read the Evening Standard in Tunbridge Wells than read the paper in Battersea.
The Press Gazette has a report and the programme will be available on the BBC web site until next Sunday's show replaces it.
This is Hertfordshire reports on the government's Civil Aviation Bill which was passed without a suggested clause which would potentially allow more night flights into Heathrow. Martin Linton is quoted as saying that it's not the number of flights that people should be concerned with but, rather, the amount of noise. He said:
I have always pressed for a complete ban on night flights into Heathrow or, failing that, a reduction in the permitted noise levels until everyone can sleep through the night.
This Government is committed to coming down on aircraft noise and the most effective way of doing that is to freeze numbers and reduce noise limits.
To portray this Government concession as a victory in the battle against aircraft noise is nonsense.
All they have done is to remove the power to define limits in terms of noise.
The Wimbledon Guardian reports on a ceremony held at the Battersea Arts Centre earlier this month which recognised the work of a number of Wandsworth community groups. Martin Linton was present at the ceremony and was quoted in the article:
Community groups are often more in touch with residents and are the first port of call when they experience problems or hardships.
Only by supporting and empowering groups, many of whom are small and self-help groups, can we begin to build better relationships in neighbourhoods and communities and provide services and support to those most at need.
Read the full story
The Times picks up on the story that Martin Linton is involved in Peter Hain's campaign to be the next Deputy Prime Minister. They also mention that Linton currently works for Harriet Harman, who is one of Hain's rivals for the job.
Candidates require nominations from 44 MPs. Mr Hain, the favourite, has been meeting MPs and is counting on more than 50 for support. His campaign team is run by Dan Norris, MP, his parliamentary private secretary; Paul Goggins, a Northern Ireland minister; and Martin Linton, the parliamentary private secretary for Mr Hain’s rival Ms Harman. Mr Linton said: “I am not in the role of PPS to support the minister in party terms, but in her ministerial job. She has no problem with it.â€
The Wimbledon Guardian has a story about the Battersea Tory party selecting their candidate who will contest the Battersea constituency in the next general election in 2009 or 2010. Jane Ellison is the editor of the John Lewis magazine Source and she is planning to move to Battersea in the near future.
The Wimbledon Guardian carries a story about Martin Linton's campaign to save Northcote Road.
This Is Hertfordshire has a story about a "Question Time" evening that was held to rasie money for the Royal Hospital for Neurodisability in Putney. The evening was hosted by Sir Trevor MacDonald and guests included Martin Linton.
Update: There's also a report on the evening from the following week's paper.
