Letter from Parliament - Jim Dobbin MP

Jim Dobbin MP

Following a fairly busy recess period we return to Westminster for two weeks before going into recess again for the party conference season.

During these two weeks, parliament attempts to function normally but finds it difficult due to the presence around the building of numerous contractors. These contractors move in during a recess period to carry out cleaning, repairs and alterations to the building, all essential work.

During the summer recess, civil servants normally prepare the legislative programme from the Queens’ Speech. In my opinion it would be much more productive for parliament to resume after the conference season. This would allow MP’s to continue working in their constituencies and tradesmen to get on with their contract work in parliament without any disruption from MPs who have daily meetings that take place all over the building. I can easily fill my time in the constituency.

We are experiencing the wettest period for over 100 years, which interestingly parallels the worst government performance in my lifetime. It’s a good job the Olympic games were organised at arms length from the Coalition or we would probably have witnessed a total shambles.

As expected, all involved presented an extremely successful event followed by an excellent Para-Olympic games. Everyone directly related to the Games and spectators who supported the Games can be proud of both achievements.

In sharp contrast, the funding for free schools is coming from the existing schools budget and many of them are failing to leave the starting blocks. Millions of pounds of wasted money lost to the education system.

This was followed by the exam marking fiasco where Michael Gove attempted to reduce the success rate of ordinary young people from working and middle class backgrounds.

Cameron attempted to cash in on the Para-Olympics at the same time as the Coalition are forcing genuinely disabled people back into work by reducing their much needed benefits.

Nick Clegg then demands the wealthy pay higher taxes for a period after he had supported a £46,000 tax cut for his millionaire friends. This is surely the move of a hypocrite.

Then of course we had a bunch of new Tories calling hard working families lazy and idle. Where do these people come from? Do they not understand how working people are struggling under their policies?

I attended the launch of the Hospice 2013 Calendar. The photographs by local people are superb and make the Hospice Calendar worth purchasing.

I welcome two new Methodist Ministers to the local Circuit, Reverend Diane Hicks and Reverend Helen Johnson. I am sure they will enjoy their time with us.

The Heywood Annual Fete in Queen's Park was also a great success, thanks for all the hard work.

The next time I write, parliament will once more be in recess for the conference season.