Letter from Parliament - Jim Dobbin MP

Jim Dobbin MP

A number of constituents have raised the issue of MP's pay and the consultation introduced by the Independent Pay and Salaries Commission. I took no part in that consultation process as I think the timing is inappropriate. As the country is undergoing a process of austerity and cuts, the last thing we need is discussion about MP’s pay. Any discussion should wait until there is some growth and for salaries in general to rise. At the moment I am satisfied with my lot.

I pity Local Authorities like our own, who have had massive cuts to their budgets and are still expected to maintain the same level of local services to local communities. When the service stops or is reduced then the complaints start, but these complaints should be directed at the Government whose economic policies are the direct cause of the problem.

A.T.O.S., the group controlling and advising on disability benefit,s has been under fire in the Commons because of their cruel handling of disability benefits assessment. This is a botched system that ends up trying to force seriously ill and dying people back into work. Some of the examples are horrendous and these threats should not be imposed on seriously ill claimants.

Last week there were no votes on Monday, no votes on Tuesday or Thursday. On Wednesday we had votes on Labour back bench debates. This is a pattern that has evolved since 2010. It is indication of a Coalition Government determined to keep votes on legislation out of the system, for fear that both parties in the Coalition will have another public difference of opinion.

The issue of Europe of course is splitting the Tory Party. It looks like Cameron will announce a threat to leave the EU to satisfy his disaffected Euro-Sceptics. The C.B.I. and the Trade Unions of course will campaign against this as they realise the job losses here in the U.K. would be drastic.

Despite promising to cap rail fares to 1% above inflation, David Cameron has allowed train companies to increase fares by as much as 9.2% this year, reversing Labour’s strict cap on fare rises. Ministers have caved in to pressure from the private train companies by allowing them to increase fares when many families in Heywood and Middleton are struggling to make ends meet.

The extent of the Governments’ austerity measures and impact on residents across Greater Manchester make unhappy reading in the Greater Manchester Poverty Commission Report. The Commission published its’ findings on the 15th January this year. It calls for action to prevent nearly 1.6 million people, almost 50% of the population in Greater Manchester, from sliding into deeper and deeper poverty. Rochdale has one of the highest concentrations of child poverty and highest numbers of people not in work across the Manchester Conurbation. As we slip into some extremely cold winter weather, we see energy bills soaring up by nearly £300 since the Coalition came to power and of course this means more people are at risk of fuel poverty. The Government should radically reform the energy market so that people pay a fair price for their energy.

My Middleton surgery in the shopping centre was as busy as ever with a full range of concerns about local and national issues. What came across strongly from constituents was the increase in dissatisfaction with the Government.

Over the next couple of weeks the Government will force a vote on the Boundary Commission’s Constituency changes. The Lords have already defeated this move by a large majority.

On a final note - I ask you all to take special care in these adverse weather conditions.