The fight goes on
Date published: 07 May 2012
A councillor who lost her seat in last week's local elections, following her defection from the Liberal Democrats to the Conservatives, has thanked the people of Smallbridge & Firgrove ward that she has represented over the last 8 year and vowed to continue her fight against cuts at Rochdale Infirmary.
Jean Ashworth said: "I am no longer a councillor after last week's elections and yes I am sad at the result and very poor turnout, but I believe things happen for a reason and the future now for me personally looks a lot brighter than the last 18 months when I had to make some difficult decisions.
"I know in my heart I made the right move to a party that cares and works hard locally for this borough.
"Nationally none of them have got it right and it will be a long time before Britain recovers the dreadful debt that was left behind, but it should not be at the expense of the most vulnerable of people, our elderly, homeless, community centres and front line staff. which sadly what is happening in this borough and it is disgraceful.
"I hope other areas can be explored and some of these decisions turned round with more help given to those suffering the most horrendous cutbacks which are vitally needed services and I will continue to be vocal on this.
"I actually feel a sense of freedom because until all councillors can sit down and agree to working towards a better future for this borough, Rochdale will continue to sink. We know that won't happen as some people will oppose just for the sake of it and others will continue to make decisions without looking at the loss of much need vital services.
"This is why we lost our valuable services at Rochdale Infirmary. Management continues to grow whilst vital services are lost. We have been cheated and conned in this Borough, which has been proven, yet rather than action taken against the proof we are expected to sit back and accept an apology which is not acceptable for the many thousands of you who signed my petitions and are suffering through these cutbacks.
"An apology to the Council from the Pennine Acute is not enough and I will continue to fight for the return of a safer healthcare service at Rochdale Infirmary and a better transport system which we were promised and now we hear Staff on Outpatients at the Infirmary are on 90 days notice. What next?
"I might have lost an election but I have won a lifetime of true friends and genuine voters.
"Thank you."
Comments
You are going to be back one day. It's a shame that during what is a difficult time for Rochdale we have lost so many explerienced councillors; people like Peter Evans, Jean, Sharif and Greg together with Paul Rowen is what our town needs.
I am so surprised, I cannot for the life of me understand how you could have possibly lost. The great amount of work you did on behalf of us should have ensured your continued position. This is a, strange and surprising result. On the plus side, this will leave more time to campaign for better health services.
Thank you for all the work you have put in in times past and future work in times to come. Somehow, this result does not seem right.
You've not lost, Jean, you've got yourself back again.
It's Rochdale that is the loser for no longer having you in the council chamber.
Why she lost: fickleness of the electorate. Jean is a fighter, she was the only councillor who ever we saw shouting for Rochdale. What the electorate did in Smallbridge and Firgrove was criminal rejecting an excellent councillor who had shown she was for Rochdale.
Never mind Jean, you will probably think was it worth it?
Jean you are the winner because you have done so much for this town. It is the loss of the people of Smallbridge and Firgrove. You are the one we will always love.
Jean lost because she joined the Torys who have always wanted to privatise the NHS. She got what she deserved.
Please don't start again about the state of health care in Rochdale now that you'll have time on your hands. Its tiresome and boring and is no help whatsoever to the people who use the services or the people who are trying to provide them. I admire your stamina but why not surprise everyone and use your energy to spread a positive word about the wonderful services that are on offer at Rochdale, to encourage the community to use them and accept that it has changed for the better.
How on earth can she keep going on about all the cuts "in our borough" when she joined the party who are responsible for the cuts? We all know she didn't really consider herself a Tory but was happy to try and convince everyone that she was still fighting to save services, total hypocrite. I agree totally with the 2 previous posts, she clearly had no "insight" or understanding of the feelings of the people in her ward. Jean keep quiet and give us all a break.
Jean lost not because she became a Conservative, she lost because of the apathy of the Electorate.
No-one can deny she was a fine councillor.
Eyeballs, I'm sorry but I don't see the connection; can you explain why it didn't go in her favour, rather than the Labour candidate? The evidence was crystal clear, the people of Smallbridge and Firgrove wanted someone who doesn't get out of the kitchen when it gets too hot! Hopefully Jean will use her new found freedom wisely and start knitting quietly.
Have Your Say
Good luck Jeanie, enjoy your new found freedom.
You have my support in any venture you enter into next.
By charly @ 07/05/2012 13:40:51