Letter from Parliament - Jim Dobbin MP

Jim Dobbin MP

The death of Thatcher has, as expected, filled the national media this week. As a mark of respect, in the run up to her burial, I shall refrain from commentary on her Premiership until after her funeral.

The first of April has passed and the Government’s welfare reforms have begun to have an impact, as has the new system of commissioning health services. The National Health Service that we know will disappear over the coming months and be replaced by a privatised system which will produce a post-code lottery across the country.

The Beveridge Welfare System and the Bevan Health Service will disappear into history. April 1 2013 will become a tragic day to remember. The benefits debate has been hijacked by the comments of Osborne and Cameron on the very sad deaths of six children following the Philpot case. They irresponsibly linked many genuine benefit claimants to this terrible incident. Ed Miliband has criticised these ill-thought out comments and spoken powerfully in defence of genuine claimants who either are unable to find work or to get a job if there were jobs available.

The Labour Party has, at its heart, the defence of individuals and families in our communities. I would condemn any suggestion that Labour’s policies on Welfare, Health and Education should move closer to this Tory Governments’ agenda. It is easy to attack people who find themselves in a vulnerable position and can only lead to alienation or victimisation of those groups. It is also easy for people to jump on the bandwagon of Tory rhetoric and undermine our sense of community and of society.

In order to reach our goal of One Nation, as so eloquently described in Ed Miliband’s conference speech, it is essential that he is allowed to lead policy as the new leader. I for one have confidence in that vision for our local community and it’s needs.

I did not attend the House of Commons on Wednesday as I was preparing a speech for a Conference in Oxford on ‘Fighting Sexual Exploitation’. I represent the UK on the Council of Europe’s ‘One in Five’ Campaign against the trafficking of children for sexual exploitation. The aim is to get the UK. Government to join many other European Governments and ratify the Lanzarote Convention. Globally, one in five children is sexually exploited.

I was able to talk about the Rochdale grooming cases and highlight the progress that is being made in improving the protection of Rochdale children. As I have said before, this is a National and Global problem. We have seen similar cases in Newcastle, Derby, Rotherham, Glasgow and Belfast and now in Oxford.

On a happier note, I was able to join in the 10th anniversary of the creation of Heywood Magic Market. It was a super evening and the success of the last 10 years will be encouragement for the traders to continue in the same vein. This is a real community hub. I wish John and Graeme, who have been prominent in creating this magic, success and a healthy and happy retirement.