Letter from Parliament - Jim Dobbin MP

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Jim Dobbin MP

I was allowed away from Westminster to work in the Oldham East by-election for a few days but had to return for the vote on the abolition of the Education Maintenance Allowance which I voted against. The by-election of course was a super result for Labour and our new M.P. Debbie Abrahams. The issues that were raised on the door step were the issues I have been writing about over the last few months. Student Fees were a popular subject especially with former Lib Dem supporters. Cuts in local Government budgets and huge reductions in the number of police officers in Greater-Manchester were announced as we were door knocking in Oldham.

The Tory led coalition plans announced this week for the National Health Service will see the beginning of the end of the NHS. Around 25,000 health staff plus 27,500 Doctors and Nurses are to disappear.  The advice from medical practitioners is that the proposal will seriously damage services across the country and send waiting lists spiralling.  The government are still toying with the idea of granting votes to prisoners.  This could be a vote loser for the Tory -led coalition.  Labour Peers in the Lords are working overtime to stop the coalition introducing legislation that would bring in Alternative Voting and reduce the number of constituencies by 50.This is being rushed through at a time when there are  over 3 million  electors not on the register to vote.  Surely that should be the priority in a democracy.  The Tory led government flirtation with mutuals and Co-operatives as a substitute for public services delivery should be treated with caution.  As a Co-op MP I would hope that such ventures would ensure proper conditions of service for workers.  New money should be used and not taken from existing services.  Any public service that fails as a Co-op should be returned to the public services.  Assets and the service cannot be sold for undivided profit.  I suspect this tight regulation is not what the coalition wants to see in place.  They would prefer to de-regulate as happened to buses and trains under Thatcher. 

On Friday 14 January I met the proprietor of Bowring Newsagents at 136 Bridge St to support the retail trade.  I then met with Colin McIntyre Managing director of Robert McBrides Middleton in my capacity as Chair of the All Party Cleaning Products Industry.  McBrides is the UKs largest manufacturer of detergent and disinfectant products.  We were planning the group programme for 2011.  I had to attend Deen House Rochdale for a meeting with the voluntary sector groups about the cuts to their budgets followed by a briefing meeting with local council leaders and Chief Executive of Rochdale Council, Roger Ellis.

On Saturday 15 January I had my usual surgeries on the third Saturday of the month in Norden at St Pauls Church Hall, Black Pitts Lane from 9-10 followed by another surgery in Castleton  Community Centre from 11 to 12 noon.

In the afternoon I attended the annual lunch of the Showman’s Guild held in the Village Inn which is in Heywood.  It is always a great event and as an Honorary Member of the Guild I applaud their contribution to communities across the country. That evening I went to Bamford Chapel for the inauguration of their new Minister Richard Bradley to Norden and Bamford URC and to welcome him to the constituency.  I wish him and his wife and family every success in his new ministry. Sadly I was unable to attend the installation service for Rev Michael Reed as vicar of St Aidan’s Castleton and All Souls Heywood but I offer him congratulations and best wishes for his ministry in the constituency.