Letter from Parliament - Jim Dobbin MP

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Jim Dobbin MP

On returning to Parliament after the recess the Boundary Commission published its’ latest report on constituency changes. I was pleased to see that the existing boundaries are to be retained as they are. I thank all those constituents who made representation to the Commission. Their hard work obviously succeeded in convincing them to leave us alone. Although the Boundary Changes may go to a vote - there is a strong possibility that this issue will be dropped.

I was glad to be able to host a visit by a number of local associates of the Lancashire Fusiliers, led by Cllr Allen McCarthy. They came to parliament to lobby the Government to refrain from cutting the Battalion from the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. The gallery of the House of Commons was packed with Fusiliers and it was a privilege to be able to speak in support during the debate. We hope now the Government will change its’ decision but don’t hold your breath.

I regret that I had to apologise for missing the Hopwood Hall Graduation Ceremony and the St. Luke’s Church 150th Anniversary the same evening, but you can’t be in two places at the same time. I had to remain in London to join the T.U.C. march in defence of jobs and public services. Around 15,000 people supporting trade unions from Health, Education, Housing, Universities, Shop-Workers, Engineers and Council workers amongst others took part in this day of action. It highlighted the feelings of ordinary folks suffering under this coalition governments’ policies.

David Cameron had another disastrous Question Time, as the increasingly confident Ed Miliband pounded him with points he could not or refused to answer. Our elitist government is dwindling away the resources of ordinary people in this country as never before.

On Sunday I had to be in Glasgow for the British-Irish Assembly of which I am a full member. I was able to visit the City Chamber in Glasgow where I used to work for the Strathclyde Regional Health Authority. It is a magnificent building in a different way to our beautiful Town Hall. It brought back fond memories.

In Parliament I chaired a strategy meeting of the Christian Socialist Movement to consider ways of engaging parliamentarians in some of the major threats to Christianity and religious freedom.

I was in Parliament on Friday 26th to support a Private Member’s Bill on Family Justice that is important in the light of the Rochdale abuse cases.

The Chancellor will be preparing his pre-budget statement and it looks ominous for poorer families, pensioners and local communities as Local Authority budgets are due to be slashed again.