Letter from Parliament - Jim Dobbin MP

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Jim Dobbin MP

A year ago the Tories gathered for their conference as a party of government for the first time since 1996. They did not win enough seats to form a government. Despite having announced cuts that went further and faster than the last government had planned, the economy was still growing and unemployment was still falling.

This year the world looks very different. The doubt is beginning to surface not only among coalition allies but even in the minds of some conservatives whether David Cameron, George Osborne and Nick Clegg are following the right path. Stock markets around the world are falling, the people of Britain are losing their jobs, consumer confidence has been wrecked by the cuts, economic crisis is returning, the austerity programme is failing and the Government looks confused and out of touch. Families around Britain are worried about how they are going to make ends meet and are anxious about their children’s future.

The Conservatives have no idea how to restore growth in the economy and dogmatically refuse to consider a Plan B so far. Cuts that go too far too fast are choking the economic recovery, flatlining growth and increasing unemployment. Their priorities are clear from the way they are cutting corporation tax for the banks while trebling tuition fees for young people. This Government is further restricting opportunities for the next generation by slashing support for training and job opportunities The Tories won’t help families who face a cost of living crisis by standing up for vested interests. Middle income families are being squeezed but there is no action on energy bills and rail fares rises. Instead they cut child care support and raise VAT, They want to cut the 50p tax rate for people earning over £150,000. They won’t tackle irresponsibility at the top, it’s business as usual for a minority of company executives pursuing the fast buck and damaging the long term health of the economy. The Government have all but abandoned young people with the future jobs fund and EMA scrapped, tuition fees trebled and youth unemployment reaching record levels with over a million young people unemployed. They continue with their reckless and chaotic NHS re-organisation. They take risks with 20% cuts to policing and huge cuts in the fire service, putting our communities in danger. Housing Minister Grant Shapps announces £400 million for new housing having previously cut the housing budget by £4billion. They are introducing planning legislation to favour those developers who recently made large donations to the Tory party. What’s the pay off I wonder?

I enjoyed an evening with St Paul’s Church Norden, enjoying a beautiful performance of Anno Domino as part of their 150 th anniversary celebrations. It was a great production involving young and old parishioners and was fitting way of celebrating such a long and thriving Christian presence in Norden. Last weekend was very busy as I visited Christmas Fairs all celebrated at almost the same time at St Paul’s, Bamford Chapel, St Margaret’s Heywood, St Martin’s Castleton and All Saints and Martyrs, Middleton.

I then drove to London for a meeting in Paris on the Council of Europe on Sunday. By the time this article goes to print George Osborne will have made his pre-budget statement. I look forward Plan B.