Letter from Parliament – Jim Dobbin MP

Jim Dobbin MP

I am pleased that the proposal to open up the River Roche is still under consideration. As leader of the opposition in the mid-80s, when the river was opened up for repairs to the bridge underneath the town centre, I suggested then that it should remain open. It would have enhanced an already attractive centre directly in front of our Grade 1 listed Town Hall and the entrance to Yorkshire Street. The cost and investment required would be paid back through enhanced tourism. A pity that my request was turned down by the then council leadership. I made that suggestion in the TV interview standing in the river speaking to Jim Hancock who was recording a North West political programme.

I return this week, once more, to highlight the dangers facing the NHS. Ed Miliband put David Cameron under intense scrutiny during last week's question time. I’m not sure whether the general public are aware of how fast the Government privatisation programme is advancing. We appear to take the concept of a ‘free NHS at the point of contact’ for granted. This is changing rapidly. This Coalition Governments’ agenda is cuts, privatisation and making patients pay for treatments received. If we allow this to continue, within 10 years, our NHS will be expensive, profit driven and administered by private companies and shareholders. Over 7,000 NHS clinical staff have been made redundant and maternity units are under pressure, accident and emergency units are under pressure, NHS contracts are being won by private contractors and the first NHS hospital at Hinchring Brook has been privatised. Soon if we require treatment we will be asked to produce our bank cards as they do in America.

It’s been a bad week for David Cameron in Europe and on the Levenson issue and his association with Coulson. He was outflanked by every nation in Europe except Hungary. His murky link with Coulson and his dinner party associates, which includes Rebecca Brooks, who in my opinion was lucky to get off, is hardly fitting. It seems that who you know counts.

I had an interesting meeting of Co-operative volunteers involved in the developing world- both Africa and Asia. My interest is associated with my chairmanship of an All Party Group in Parliament on child health and immunisation. The irradication of poverty and disease in developing countries has benefits for us in the developed world.

Locally, I sponsored the match at Norden Cricket Club on 5 July, thoroughly enjoyed the event and wished the club all the very best for the future.