well finally a considered response rather than infantile bilge.
Thank you thomas. Sincerely.
There's very little I'd disagree with there, as it happens. Apart from you claiming that your forum is unbiased (nice sense of humour you have there).
I even agree that John Leech should relinquish his conucil seat and its expenses. He can't possibly do both jobs as well as he would want to do.
Unfortunately, though, Iraq IS supremely relevant. It is the reason you lost the seat for God's sake, and you don't stand a prayer at winning it back till we're out of the place.
Consider this small point. The thinking heart of this constituency is West Didsbury and parts of Didsbury.
The 2 main paper shops are Inmans on Lapwing Lane and Leos on Burton Road. The best selling daily paper at both shops, by a very big margin, is the Guardian.
In fact on our particular paper round (Clyde Road/Old Lansdowne etc) there are only 3 non-Guardian takers.
What percentage of thos readers do you think voted Labour in 1997?
80? 90? a fair assumption.
And what percent voted labour at the last election? 10? 20?
And what percentage of that change was down specifically to Iraq?
I don't know the stats, but I doubt if you would disagree with the principle, Thomas?
Keith Bradley got caned because of Iraq. I know he protested about it at the time. But we got the clear impression that he did a bit of a protest to show willing, and then backed off for fear of falling out of favour with his Labour bosses.
Had he stood firm, stuck his neck out and stood up for his voters, he would probably still be an MP.
Christies didn't come into it. And for Chris Paul to claim that it is some kind of test of John Leech's honesty is plain daft.
People round here don't need any such test. People know from long experience that John is a hard-working representative who will do his damnedest for them. They had years of experience of it from him as a councillor. They don't need any lectures from Chris.
You asked for things John has said or done. This month
I'll quote from Lib Dem's website, (and sit back and watch the explosion - no doubt half your contributors will need to visit A+E forthwith. Pity you shut Withington, eh?):
John Leech, Liberal Democrat MP for Manchester Withington, has welcomed the opening of a new £7M Critical Care Unit at Christie Hospital in his constituency.
The new unit will have the best facilities in the country for cancer patients following major surgery and some forms of chemotherapy. This will mean that they can be cared for post-operatively at Christie Hospital instead of being transferred to Intensive Care Units in other hospitals.
The unit was first proposed in 2002, but later looked unlikely to go ahead when a review of North West cancer services was announced in 2005. This review led to 60 Doctors from Christie Hospital protesting publicly their fear over the future of services at the hospital.
John Leech and the Liberal Democrats fully backed the doctors campaign to preserve services at Christie, while the local Labour Party took no action to stand up for the renowned cancer hospital. John Leech was elected as Manchester Withington's first Liberal Democrat MP soon afterwards.
In the face of a huge public outcry and an effective campaign by the Lib Dems to resist any break up of cancer services at Christie, the Strategic Health Authority later ruled out moving cancer services away from Christie Hospital.
John Leech MP said:
"In 2005 there was grave concern for the future of the services at Christie Hospital. 60 doctors publicly warned that the Christie was under threat from the review of North West cancer services. I and the Liberal Democrats, together with thousands of local people, backed the doctors."
"It was a great example of people power, as the Health Authority backed away from any plans to break up services at Christie Hospital."
"To their shame, the Labour Party sat on their hands and did nothing."
"Now the world famous cancer hospital is going from strength to strength. The new critical care unit will be a wonderful asset to the patients being treated at Christie Hospital as it will mean that can always be treated at Christie in a state-of-the-art facility, whereas some previously had to be transferred to other hospital for some of their treatment."
"The new relatives' room will also be a great asset for patients and their relatives, as it will allow loved ones to remain close by during patients' times of need."
"I wish the Christie Hospital, its staff and all of the patients who benefit from treatment there, the very best in the future."
