Letter from Parliament - Jim Dobbin MP

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Jim Dobbin MP

August, normally the beginning of the holiday period is generally a quietist month when the hurly burly of normal life gives way to some relaxation and family enjoyment. Alas August 2011 will be remembered for years to come. The riots, phone hacking and the global economy have filled the airwaves and media coverage relentlessly. Although there were a few incidents particularly in Middleton it was quiet across the constituency and the borough. I had regular updates on the situation and I give due recognition to Chief Superintendent John O’Hare and his team, the local authority partnership and the youth development team. I know they were working day and night to monitor known threats. They deserve our congratulations.

David Cameron is making statements and policy on the hoof. That is no way to run a country. He has come to his own conclusions about the causes instead of setting up an independent enquiry and consulting local communities including those involved in the riots. He has created chaos in sentencing policy by influencing the courts. Once Parliament makes laws he should let the legal system implement those laws. Only Parliament should make a collective decision based on expert advice but he has assumed a power he does not have. The Bullingdon club that he was a member of when he was a student used to rampage through the city for fun trashing small businesses. He has conveniently forgotten his actions as a student.

The phone hacking has come back to haunt Mr Cameron. His link to Andy Coulson is becoming more embarrassing. It’s difficult to believe he was unaware of Coulson’s activities. This story will continue and Mr Cameron and George Osborne may well regret the day they gave Coulson a second chance.

Unemployment, particularly affecting women and young people has reached 2.5million. I accept the global and European financial problems are involved. However that was the case before the last election in the UK and it began here following the economic decline in USofA because London was the centre of global financial markets. The Tories denied this and blamed Labour. Their misleading propaganda is now coming home to roost.
It has been quiet locally and I’ve been catching up with casework. It was a pleasure to be invited to the 30th wedding anniversary of Ken and Julie Mills in the Heywood Conservative and Unionist Club (the place nearly collapsed when I walked in). It was a lovely event with some great Country & Western and Irish folk music, plenty of good food and lively conversation.
Congratulations to the new Rochdale Sixth Form College and the Principal, staff, pupils and parents on the excellent grades achieved in the recent A level examinations. It’s an inspiring start in the first year and will lead to even greater things in future. Well done.

I spent last week in Cardiff visiting my daughter and son-in-law and two grandsons. The weather was mostly good and we enjoyed the break