Letter from Parliament - Jim Dobbin MP

On Friday 3 September as I was driving from my constituency office I heard the news on the radio of the death of Sir Cyril Smith. Cyril will be remembered as a staunch defender of the people of Rochdale both locally and nationally.

Despite our political differences we were able to have a chat and a joke whenever we met. Cyril remained an independent thinker as he showed when he left the Labour Party, then the Liberal Party and joined the Lib Dems. Even then he was always able to dissent when he disagreed with party policy. He was a strong opponent of abortion and euthanasia. He disliked Westminster and preferred to be known as Rochdale’s local man.

When people think of Rochdale they think of the Co-op movement, Gracie Fields, Lisa Stansfield and of course Cyril Smith.

As each day passes the Con Dem government’s plans become more apparent with their risk strategy on the economy, which is robbing people of jobs, toying with the NHS and patients, experimenting with our children’s education and creating unsafe streets. The Lib Dems are putting power before their own supporters, power before their own principles and power before the needs of families. No wonder their supporters are coming over to Labour in droves.

Thank goodness the Labour leadership contest is coming to a close. Soon there will be a new Labour team in place and we can begin winning back the voters who are already disillusioned with the extreme right wing policies pursued by the Con Dem government.
On Saturday 21 August I enjoyed a summer concert at Bamford URC Chapel, “More Than Melody”, supported by Charlotte Exley a young Rochdale student studying music at Leeds Music College. It was a superb evening appreciated by a packed Chapel.

Ben Courtney and Kirsty Rhodes, co-chairs of Rochdale Homeless Forum invited Simon Danczuk and me to discuss the cuts to the Supporting People Programme, State Funding from the Government offering help and support to people with serious problems. This is basically financial support to voluntary organisations and a good example of David Cameron’s Big Society being subject to cuts by David Cameron.

As a Labour and Co-operative MP I will be in Cardiff this Saturday for the Co-operative Party Conference and although I will be unable to attend, can I remind the people of Heywood that there will be a public meeting in St Luke’s church at 1pm on Saturday 11 September to encourage the local community groups to look at supporting events in the church as a way of keeping it in use. I want to back this cause in any way I can. I have had a discussion with the Rev. Matthew Carlisle and offered to help. St Luke’s is the focal centre of the town and a part of Heywood’s heritage and needs to remain so. Please, I urge you to turn up on Saturday and show your support.

When this article is published Parliament will be back in session. I look forward with some trepidation to some more damaging idealistic announcements.