Shh! Damian Collins Doesn't Want Local Residents to Know What He Is Doing [Updated: 10 August]

New Folkestone and Hythe MP Damian Collins has been slammed for "blocking" a number of local residents from following him on the "Twitter" service which allows people to keep up to date with what he is doing.

A number of local Councillors, including County Councillor Tim Prater, District Councillor Neil Matthews and Town Councillor Gary Fuller have been "blocked" from following Mr Collins - even though all information can be accessed publicly.

It's not just Lib Dem Councillors that Mr Collins has chosen to block - Sandgate resident Jan Fuller discovered she had also been blocked and commented:

"He blocks me and I'm not even a Lib Dem member!"

Town Councillor Gary Fuller said:

"Mr Collins is trying to be secretive - from his own constituents. It makes him look like he has something to hide - but his attempt is just inept as all his messages can be seen publicly anyway: he is just making it more difficult to keep up to date on what he is doing.

"Damian Collins should stop the childish games. Keeping in touch through Twitter should make him more inclusive. The way he is trying to control who does so makes him look narrow-minded and foolish."

You can follow many local Lib Dems on Twitter - there are more details www.shepwaylibdems.org.uk/shepwaytwitter/

[Update: Another Folkestone resident, Jae Kay (www.twitter.com/jaekay) comments on Twitter "He's done this to me too!"]

[Update: 10 August - Strangely, the day after this news story was published, a number of people mentioned above have now been "unblocked" from following Damian Collins. Coincidence?]