Heywood Township Committee pay tribute to Jim Dobbin MP

Jim Dobbin MP

Members of the Heywood Township Committee have paid tribute to late Heywood and Middleton MP Jim Dobbin.

At the meeting, held this evening (Monday 8 September) tributes were led by Councillor Peter Rush and Councillor Colin Lambert.

Councillor Rush said: “I would like to pay my condolences to Pat and Jim’s family. I worked with gentleman Jim across a number of boards. He was a true, true politician and gentleman who represented Heywood well for a number of years. He was loyal to
his fellow councillors and always listened to people. God rest his soul.”

An emotional Councillor Lambert added: “This is not one of the easiest speeches I have even done. Our thoughts have to be with Pat and Jim’s children at this time.

"Jim Dobbin was an honest man who served the people of this borough every minute of every day.

“Jim Dobbin and I were never old Labour and we were never new Labour. We were Labour. He was more than an employer to me. He was a friend to me and a friend to my family and politically he was a mentor. He was, to me, a giant amongst a political elite who didn’t see politics as a bandwagon but as what we believed in.

"He will be missed here and by his family.”

A minute’s silence was held.

Jim Dobbin’s office was set to close this evening. Any outstanding casework is due to be dealt with by Bolton North East MP David Crausby who is assisting Jim’s team at the moment. Anyone who thinks they have any issues or any outstanding casework that needs to be dealt with can contact David via: crausbyd@parliment.uk