Letter from Parliament - Jim Dobbin MP

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Jim Dobbin MP

“We are all in this together”, sounds rather hollow now following Cameron’s Euro blunder. What a momentous week this has been for the UK and Europe. Cameron is lauded to the rooftops for out doing Maggie Thatcher and John Major by his own MPs. My instincts tell me that Thatcher and Major had more brains and would never have allowed this situation to have arisen in the first place.

No matter what follows now in Europe, Britain will play no serious part in its future. Cameron has completely isolated this country, possibly for a long time. The entire world looks on in amazement at his absolute mis-management of the situation. We have already seen a kamikaze Chancellor push growth down, raise the state pension age, put a 1% cap on public sector pay rises, borrow an additional £158 billion and drive unemployment beyond one million.

Now we have kamikaze Cameron walk away from Europe and leave the British people stranded. He has put his Eurosceptic party before the people. The euphoria we see at the moment will die over the next four months.

U.K citizens will rue the day that the Prime Minister came to power.
Hard pressed families facing higher prices for food and fuel are worried about an uncertain future for their jobs and their children.

The coalition remains hopelessly out of touch with the reality of life for millions of families who are desperately trying to make ends meet. This Government are still taking more than double the amount from families with children than they are from the banks.

Struggling families and small businesses urgently need support to kick start growth and create new jobs; not reckless, unfair cuts which are too deep and too fast.

Ed Milliband has backed Archbishop Rowan Williams and Archbishop Vincent Nichols, both church leaders have voiced concerns about a number of policies pursued by this Coalition Government and their constant attacks on the most vulnerable. Both Archbishops are morally correct to question the legitimacy of some of these reforms such as the badly managed top down re-organisation of the N.H.S. The Government needs to listen to community leaders because they are more in touch with ordinary people. They are doing the right thing by speaking out.

Ed Miliband has proposed a five point plan for jobs and growth. We need to find 100,000 jobs in order to build 25,000 new, more affordable homes. We need to bring forward long term investment projects in schools, roads and transport. The third decision would be to reverse the Tory-led Government’s damaging VAT rise for a temporary period, which could boost a family income by £450. We also would introduce a one year cut in VAT to 5% on home improvements which would help home owners and small businesses. Lastly we would begin a one year national insurance tax break for every small firm which took on extra workers.

I chaired debates in the second chamber last week which is always a challenge but an enjoyable one.

St. Michael’s Church Christmas Fair was well attended and the children’s choir performed a few lively Christmas songs and carols which helped set the scene beautifully. 

During my monthly surgery held in Middleton shopping centre, the Salvation Army band entertained shoppers enjoying Christmas shopping.

We break up from Westminster on 20 December for Christmas. My office in Heywood will close on 21 December until 10 January, but will continue to deal with our mail and follow up telephone calls. I wish every one of my 81,000 constituents a very happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year.