Letter from Parliament - Jim Dobbin MP

Jim Dobbin MP

When you are in the public eye as a local or national politician, or as a Council Officer or Civil Servant, you must expect to be scrutinised and criticised. I don’t mind that at all, but when a letter is sent to the local media and includes a personal attack based on misleading facts and evidence and is unsigned or anonymous then there ought to be a rule that forces the author to have their name revealed. I have respect for those who disagree openly, I have derision for those cowards who hide behind the phrase ‘name and address supplied’.

I have been appointed by the Committee on Social affairs, Health and Sustainable Development of The Council of Europe to be the United Kingdom representative on the ‘One in Five’ campaign. This campaign aims to stop sexual violence against children. My first meeting will be in June in Strasbourg. This is a global problem and all 47 countries of the Council of Europe will be working together, both to stop this happening in each individual country and to prevent the trafficking of children for sexual exploitation. The eventual outcome of the enquiry into the recent problem within the Rochdale Borough will probably provide local input into the ‘One in Five’ Campaign.

The Austerity programme is beginning to change following the election of Francois Hollande to the French Presidency. He has agreed with Ed Balls who has been proved correct as far as the U.K. handling of the economy by Cameron, Clegg and Osborne are concerned. At the G.8 Summit, President Obama supported a change from austerity to growth. Even the I.M.F., whose Head was appointed with the support of Cameron, Clegg and Osborne, has indicated a need to stimulate the economy. German voters, in a recent Regional election, sent the same message to Chancellor Merkel. The message being, Europe and the U.K. must have a plan-B! Cameron, of course, appears not to be listening. He is probably concentrating on how he should present his case when he appears before the Levison enquiry and when he should sack Jeremy Hunt, who will have to be sacrificed. We are in a real, genuine mess in every aspect of Government and it all leads back to No 10.

I had a look behind the scenes at the Odeon Cinema at Sandbrook Park, it was a fascinating visit. I attended the unveiling of the Blue Plaque in memory of Basil D’Oliveira’s time as a Middleton cricketer. His widow and son and daughter-in-law were present. Reference was made to the impact that he had on the Apartheid policy of South Africa. Nelson Mandela was in prison at the time, but we saw the part that D’Oliveira played as a sportsman in bringing down this regime. It was a great occasion. On the same day I travelled to Norden to sponsor their game against Middleton Cricket Club. The hospitality is always first class.

I was next in Dublin as a member of the British Irish Assembly, but had to return to London for the funeral of Phyllis Bowman who led ‘Right to Life’. She was a hero of mine and will be sadly missed.

One of the Senior Officers, Andy Zuntz, retired from Rochdale Council. Andy was a fine officer and contributed a tremendous amount to council services. I worked closely with him as a former Chair of Housing in the 1980’s and as Leader of the Council in 1996. I wish him a long and happy retirement. Gill Sarginson, Head Teacher at Hopwood County Primary, invited me to a Jubilee Summer Fayre at the school. It was a beautiful summer day and well attended. There were lots of stalls and goodies to eat and buy. I promised to have a look at the issue of Hopwood Park, which needs some further development work. I need to have this investigated.

Parliament is in Recess until 11 June, but I have a busy diary lined up throughout that period here in the Constituency.