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Kevin, I think that you'll find that none of my postings or public utterances on this subject have been the remotest bit jingoistic.
I always refer to remote private equity interests and nothing else. I firmly believe that the port ownership model prevalent across the greater part of the rest of the world has delivered and continues to deliver far better returns to their port communities and to the respective nations than the private equity ownership model for ports prevalent here in the UK. Because of the various pieces of port legislation, the nature of the legislative framework that governs audit and accounting of public debt and public borrowing in the UK, it soon became apparent that simply adopting the ownership and governance model that seems to work best across the rest of the world would not be possible and so the DPPT ownership and governance model is an adaption that delivers the same effect. It is an undeniable fact that much of our infrastructure is in the hands of remote private equity (whether British or Foreign really doesn't matter), that is not a very good argument for selling even more of it, especially at a time when the drawbacks inherent in having sold so much of our infrastructure are becoming ever more apparent to government both local and national and there is an increasing amount of pressure on governments due to the concentration of wealth and equity into the hands of a very few and increasingly wealthy people.
Communitising ownership, cooperative ownership and the mutual model of ownership and governance of major assets and corporations provides a greater degree of accountability in the executives, a more widespread and democratic stake in the strategic direction and development of those corporations and a greater sense of ownership for the greatest number of people. Corporations so owned/governed have a track record of solid growth and investment, of a greater sense of corporate responsibility, tend to be better investors in people and are generally well known for their social responsibility.
I beleieve that the Port of Dover will prosper along with the town and district most when managed by experts and owned by its community and stakeholders.
Howard, having a list of all title deeds held by DHB and registered with the land registry here beside me, it is clear from the deeds and drawings that DHB does in fact own a part of the white cliffs straddling the Eastern Arm. Charlie appealing to an influential demographic through stating something that was true without being too specific.