Festive meeting with former Littleborough and Wardle MP

Lord Barnett & Simon Danczuk

Simon Danczuk, Rochdale’s Labour Parliamentary Candidate, made a festive visit to a former local MP after a chance conversation while out canvassing in Wardle.

Mr Danczuk met with Lord Joel Barnett in the Houses of Parliament this Christmas. Lord Barnett’s former constituency was Heywood and Royton which included Littleborough and Wardle and he was an MP for the area for nearly 20 years.

It was whilst knocking on doors in Wardle Village that Mr Danczuk was told about Lord Barnett and his work in the area.

After a bit of digging around Mr Danczu got in touch with Lord Barnett, now 80-years-old, to arrange a visit.

Mr Danczuk says he was delighted to visit such a great former local MP.

“A couple of local residents said they hadn’t seen anyone from the Labour Party in the area since Joel Barnett was MP,” Mr Danczuk said.

“They spoke very highly of Joel so I thought I’d get in touch with him and see what I can learn from him.”

“Joel offered me a lot of useful advice, he also said he fully supported me and wished me luck.”

Lord Barnett who now sits in the House of Lords as Baron Barnett of Royton and Heywood said: “It was extremely nice meeting with Simon; he is a very nice chap and would be an excellent MP for Rochdale.”

Lord Barnett served as chief secretary to the Treasury and became a high ranking cabinet minister in the late 1970s as part of Jim Callaghan’s Labour Government.

His former constituency of Royton and Heywood was abolished in 1983 due to boundary changes.