Letter from Parliament - Jim Dobbin MP

Since my last article I have attended the Co-op Party conference in Cardiff. I was able to stay with my daughter who lives and works there.

The Co-op Party is a sister party to the Labour Party and the political wing of the Labour Movement. Co-operatives are growing across the UK from societies, football, farming, finance, travel, insurance and much more.

The Co-operative membership is rising and the Co-op economy is doing well, despite the financial downturn. It has acquired Somerfields and merged with Britannia. The Co-op movement is of course international and is big throughout Europe, Japan, America and Canada.

On leaving Cardiff I travelled back to the constituency for the funeral of Sir Cyril Smith. Many tributes were made in the Town Hall and the public service was a worthy ending to his public life. I immediately returned to Westminster for a series of meetings and remained there for the visit of Pope Benedict XV1.

I was present at St Mary’s Teacher Training College in Twickenham when he spoke to 3000 students from
schools across the country. Pope Benedict had an obvious rapport with the young people who sang and cheered throughout.

In the afternoon I was privileged to be present at the Holy Father’s address to politicians in Westminster Hall, where St Thomas More was tried and condemned to death for refusing to put his loyalty to the monarch above his allegiance to God. St Thomas More was made patron saint of politicians by the previous Pope John Paul 2.

Retired Prime Ministers, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, John Major and Margaret Thatcher were present for this historic occasion, the first time a Pope has addressed politicians in Westminster Hall.
Despite the ranting of Peter Tatchell, Richard Dawkins and other extreme fundamentalists, the openness of the entire visit has been a resounding success and will strengthen all religious freedoms.

The Liberal Democrat Party Conference is over and I might comment later on the outcome. This weekend I shall be in Manchester for the Labour Party conference where I shall be chairing a fringe meeting and speaking at another. The main outcome of the conference will be a new Labour leader and a new shadow Ministerial team.

Can I congratulate the Friends of Queen’s Park for their outstanding input and determination in coming top in the country for the Green Flag environment award. Sheila Hill and her team of local volunteers deserve this accolade for their outstanding effort in making this local park a place where all ages can enjoy leisure activities in a beautiful setting.

I also note that the Sixth Form College has opened in Rochdale and the new Middleton St Anne’s Academy also both due to investment in education from the Labour government. How things change. I hope to pay a visit to both establishments in the near future. There are several new Head teachers in schools in the constituency. I intend to meet each of them over the next few months.

On Saturday evening (18 September), I enjoyed Prom Praise in the Bridgewater Hall, It’s always arousing event where you can sing and stamp your feet to your heart’s content. It’s a great ecumenical faith event that brings some joy and peace in the hurly-burly of politics.