Letter from Parliament - Jim Dobbin MP

Labour is once again able to move on. We now have a new leader and a new team elected. The right wing press of course have already started their demolition job on the character and abilities of Ed Miliband and would have done the same whoever was elected by Labour. They will simply continue the vitriol they applied to Gordon Brown.

The press will completely ignore the idealistic attack on our public services. Britain’s public services are among Labour’s proudest achievements. I personally supported the investment and reform of our education system and NHS. We now have over 100 new hospitals and the shortest waiting times in history and new art and leisure facilities with huge investment in crime reduction and more police and support officers than ever before. The government’s austerity measures will put all of this at risk.

The British Medical Association has voiced serious concerns about the massive, expensive and unnecessary re-organisation of the NHS. The cancellation of hundreds of new schools to pay for new “free market schools” means 700 new school building projects have been shelved. Labour’s handling of the economic crisis has proved to be correct and working, with consolidation of the financial markets, increased growth and low inflation.

David Cameron is preparing the country for a double dip recession by suddenly talking about a global economic crisis, something he failed to acknowledge when Labour was in power. He should seek advice from a certain Gordon Brown to help the country avoid a serious financial disaster.

I note the Lib Dems are blaming the government for the coming cuts and rise in VAT as if they are not in coalition with the Tories. Nick Clegg cannot be Deputy Prime Minister and escape the blame for the impending disaster. The action taken by Labour helped to keep people in jobs and off the dole meant that repossession and business insolvency are running at half the rate of the 1990s recession. It is clear that although choices need to be made in the economy the Con Dem government will make the heaviest burden fall on the poorest and most vulnerable in society. We must continue to fight for an alternative. Yes, the coalition will be radical but sadly radically destructive.

I enjoyed a quick visit to the Big Coffee Morning at Bamford Chapel on Friday 24 September in aid of Macmillan Nurses. I always find this church community extremely welcoming and sociable. In the evening the Samaritans fund raiser at Heywood Civic Hall was most relaxing with the sound of ABBA. 

It was a pleasure also to present certificates along with Simon Danczuk MP at the  Borough Housing event to winners from Middleton and Heywood at their garden completion.

I followed that event by visiting the attempt on the world record apple bobbing competition in the country’s top public park, Queen’s Park in Heywood. Fun and games with lots of heads bobbing in and out of buckets of water and a world record achieved in Heywood. You know what they say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, a new antidote to the Coalition run NHS.