Letter from Parliament - Jim Dobbin MP

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Jim Dobbin MP

The reality of globalisation is now becoming more apparent. The disasters around the world in recent months in New Zealand, Australia, Haiti and now Japan affect us all. The financial markets are suffering, the stock market is affected and that has a knock on effect on our pension funds. Japan of course understands the dangers of radiation fallout, having lost so many hundreds of thousands of its people after the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. 

The safety of nuclear power is on the agenda of every nation from now on. Libya and the problems of the Middle East add to the calamities. The UN decision is probably the right one but I hope we can resolve this without any further invasions using British troops. I voted against the war in Iraq because we failed to get international backing. At least the Libyan issue has succeeded in that this time.

The NHS is centre stage in parliament as well as on the agenda at the Lib Dem conference and at the British Medical Association. The Lib Dems gave their Government Ministers and Nick Clegg a bloody nose and the BMA passed nearly 25 resolutions against the changes that Andrew Lansley wants to introduce or indeed is already introducing. We know that Pennine Acute Trust has identified 1000 job losses, many in frontline staff.

I led a debate on the possible commercialisation of the National Blood and Transplant Service. This was denied by the Government but the evidence I have seen makes this a real possibility. The Blood Transfusion service is very efficient and very cost effective. It should be left alone. The BMA debate makes it clear that doctors have no confidence in the Coalition Governments proposals. They have no mandate to make changes, since it was not in their manifesto. Constituents are coming to my office with evidence of some cancellation of operations like cataracts and hip and knee replacements which are stopped because of cash shortages. So much for ring fencing of the NHS.

Greater Manchester Police Federation lobbied their MPs on the proposed reduction of their numbers and cuts in pay and pensions by the Government. Remember I warned in earlier articles of what was to come. Well with unemployment rising this month by 27,000 you aint seen nothing yet.

I attended the opening of the St Anne’s Academy by Archbishop Sentamu of York. He is a really warm person but a bit of a character and all the students took to him very easily. I congratulate the Principal and all her staff, indeed the whole school and the parents for a memorable event.

As this article goes to the press the unions and supporters will be preparing to gather in London on 26 March for a March for the Alternative. As a UNITE MP I shall be in London to take part in this protest. The Coalition Government needs to review its financial strategy before it brings the country to its knees.