Letter from Parlaiment - Jim Dobbin MP

Jim Dobbin MP

When constituents identify the Parliamentary recess as a holiday I remind them that I merely change my place of work from the House of Commons to the constituency. The work is different but continues just the same. Every MP could fill every moment of the day but the art is to discipline your diary and try to leave some time for your family and of course for a couple of weeks break. Nevertheless I always try to create plenty of contact time across the constituency, something that is difficult to plan when the House of Commons is in session. In a constituency that is so large and diverse as Heywood and Middleton that needs careful planning. I try hard to respond to local events and meetings as well as continue my surgeries although sometimes it is impossible to be two places at once. On Sunday for example I had Langley Festival and Castleton Carnival and did manage to attend both which I enjoyed. When the sun is shining, people are generally more cheerful and outgoing and Sunday was such a day.

It’s been a difficult few weeks for the Labour Party, and the Prime Minister. Gordon Brown is a workaholic and seldom stops. He doesn’t deserve the constant personal attacks aimed at him at the moment. When the media have it in for you then no holds are barred. I remember John Major, William Hague, Michael Howard, Iain Duncan Smith, Charles Kennedy, Ming Campbell and sports and film celebrities and even the Royal Family receiving similar treatment.

The media are seldom happy until they have another scalp. I hope when decision time comes they remember that as Chancellor Gordon Brown delivered independence for the Bank of England, the minimum wage, winter fuel allowance, increased child benefit and tax and pensioner credits. He delivered 10 years of a stable and low inflation economy, the envy of the world. He led the global relief on third world debt and delivered the largest investment ever in health, education and tackling crime. Every constituency including my own and Rochdale has new schools, health facilities, additional doctors and nurses and police officers. It was certainly needed after 20 years of neglect.

Yes there were mistakes and I recognise the 10p tax as an error, but as the Prime Minister goes off on a well earned holiday in this country, I hope people will respect that break and give him the time he needs to work with other global leaders to tackle and solve the international financial problems faced throughout the world. There are thousands dying in Africa and it is dedicated leaders like the Prime Minister who can restore economic confidence. The UK is not in recession as some suggest. All the pundits forecast we will escape recession but that will be thanks to Gordon Brown and his financial stewardship. So let’s cheer up a bit and be patient.

On Wednesday I attended a well organised conference at Touchstones based on the theme Believe in Children. We viewed an impressive exhibition of art by the young people. The event was about inclusive practices. Kathy Brown, Pauline Hadfield and Elaine Gansler on behalf of Barnardos did a great job and the young people who took part where magnificent

Baroness Andrews, who leads for the government on New Deal for Communities came to Heywood to “turn the sod” for the start of the building of a new health facility in Heywood. Phoenix House will be a huge asset in improving health care in Heywood and with the support of the GP practices in the town other services will be accessed from the same site.

I attended Millfield Care Home’s Summer Fair on a scorching Saturday 26 July. The patients looked after here need intensive care and the staff certainly look after them well.

I attended the charity book fair organised by Rob Wilson and Middleton Rotary club in aid of the Burma Disaster Fund and other Middleton Charities at the Lancaster Health and Racquets Club in Bowlee. It was a good event worth supporting and we left well stocked with summer reading.

It’s been a beautiful afternoon and long may the good weather continue to cheer us up a little more.