Letter from Parliament - Jim Dobbin MP

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Jim Dobbin MP

I suggested in my last article that Rochdale can become a model authority for child care and child protection. I understand that progress has already been made and that a number of other local authorities that have had similar child abuse problems are coming to Rochdale for discussions on the way ahead.

Enough damage has been done to the reputation of the town and we all need to promote the borough in a more positive light. The opportunity is there with a new Chief Executive and other new senior staff, a new Chief Superintendent and a council that is at last getting strong direction from its leadership.

It is great to see that the plan for the re-development of the town centre has at last been signed, another indication that the Council leadership is taking decisive action. I shall continue to give my support to policies that benefit the townships across the borough.

As the United Kingdom’s representative on the ‘One in Five’ campaign group, I attended a two day seminar in Moscow on 19 and 20 November to discuss the global problem of trafficking children for sex abuse.

The Lanzarote Convention on the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, including within the home and family, established an aim of encouraging every country in the world to sign up. To date 23 countries in the Council of Europe have ratified it and 22 have signed up to it. As yet the UK has not signed. I shall be pressuring the Government to sign the Lanzarote Convention, especially at this time. 

There was only one deferred vote in the Commons during the week of the 19 November to 23 November. It is clear that the coalition are frightened to debate policies in the chamber, or have no legislation coming through or are taking executive decisions without recourse to parliament. During my time in parliament I have never seen such a shambles.

Our inexperienced chancellor, whose maths doesn’t add up, will present his pre-budget statement in the first week in December and he will struggle to explain how he has led the country with the longest double-dip recession since the Second World War. Indeed we could be heading for a triple dip recession. George needs to accept the advice of the Shadow Chancellor and change course quickly.

The Siddal Moor High School Awards Evening was a celebration of the achievements of its senior students. The main speaker and guest was Sue Smith, an English international women’s footballer. She gave an inspiring speech about her own successful life and raised the aspirations of the young people present. I enjoyed the evening tremendously.

I opened the All Saints and Martyrs Christmas Fair. I think I’ve been present at this fair every year since my election in 1997 and have got to know the local community well. I then had three others to visit; St Martin's in Castleton, Bamford Chapel and St Paul's in Norden. Four Christmas fairs in one morning reminded me that our eight grandchildren will be descending on us in a few weeks for Christmas. I can’t wait.