Letter from Parliament - Jim Dobbin MP

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Jim Dobbin MP

I have written recently about the real threat to education and health following the Con Dem budget announcement. Now we hear that Neighbourhood Policing is under threat throughout Greater Manchester. Bobbies on the beat make us feel safer in our homes and communities. Neighbourhood policing relies on having teams of police and PCSOs on the street fighting crime and listening to constituents.

Under Labour crime fell by 43% and there were record numbers of police on the beat. But we still have along way to go in the fight against crime and anti-social behaviour. Cutting police budgets between 25% and 40% is not the way to do it Labour promised before the election to ring fence Education, Health and Policing from any funding cuts. Lib Dems have already reneged on their promise on VAT and are now reneging on their promise to provide another 3000 police. This ConDem government has its policies wrong. They are talking about putting fewer people in prison for serious crimes and now their budget cuts are threatening police numbers. We need to fight these cuts in policing in Heywood and Middleton and their new softly, softly approach to criminals. This is a kick in the teeth to victims of crime. I’m trying to get excited about the “Big Society” but I can’t help thinking will it be an improvement on our present voluntary sector? The third sector made up of volunteers do us proud and have been delivering services to the community for years. Unfortunately the coming public sector cuts will undermine and reduce our voluntary sector. The Big Society may soon become the Shrunken Society or the “Little Society”.

Simon Danczuk and I had a meeting with Health Minister Simon Burns and representatives of the Pennine Acute Trust and Primary Care Trust about Rochdale Infirmary. The infirmary is not closing as some people rumoured and will continue to provide a first class Health service to the people of the Town.

Parliament went into recess on 27 July. I was able to present awards to a number of young up and coming tennis enthusiasts at Middleton Tennis Club on 30 July. Congratulations to Tony Pitts who organised the week and coach Sylvia Decker and her assistants and all the contestants for their efforts. It just proves there are lots of things for young people to do if they are interested.

In the evening, together with a large number of Labour Party members and supporters I celebrated the amazing contribution of Jim Haslam from Norden, who has given unstinting dedication to the Party over the past 70 years, 45 of those years here in the borough. Jim is a Labour icon. I wish him and his wife Margaret many long and happy years.

I sponsored Norden cricket against Radcliffe in Bury. It made a nice change from politics.

We are off to Normandy with the family for a week’s holiday. I’m looking forward to the break and a chance to relax after a difficult election.