First post on the sorry saga of the expenses row here in Rotherham.
This is when the internet comes into it's own, the links below take you to the main sources of information.
The Rt Hon. Kevin Barron MP. Parliament, Daily Telegraph. Does not have web site, and has provided no extra information. Why not? We have paid through the nose for it!
The Rt Hon. John Healey MP. Parliament, Daily Telegraph. From his own site HERE and HERE
The Rt Hon. Dr Denis MacShane MP. Parliament, Daily Telegraph. Own site on epolitixs, devoid of any extra useful information.
They make interesting reading! Have fun!
Showing posts with label John Healey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Healey. Show all posts
Sunday, 6 September 2009
Monday, 17 August 2009
Time to take stock!
It is now time to start to take stock after the longest continuous period of Labour in Government. This is an enormous task that will keep analysts and historians busy for the next fifty years or so. A few random thoughts to start with.
After 12 years of Labour Government, real anger is present amongst even the most loyal members and supporters. They feel betrayed and badly let down by a government that promised much. Why should this be?
We are in the midst of the worst economic crisis that capitalism has ever faced and this time the axe is falling much higher up in companies than hitherto. There are now at least 2.5 million out of work and it will rise rapidly in the autumn when seasonal jobs dry up. The youngest members of the workforce are also now bearing the brunt. Young people in the Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEETS) category is one of the the fastest growing sectors.
The poor have got poorer under labour and the rich, richer. Surprisingly the rich have gained three ways under labour, they now get a larger slice of the national income, pay less tax and even get a bigger slice of welfare benefits than they did before labour came into power in 1997. This has had a disproportionate effect in Rotherham given the demographics. This government has actually taken from the poor and given it to the much better off, not something a labour government has ever done before. No wonder ordinary people are in such a deep despair and feel such anger and estrangement from the Party they though would help them.
We are engaged militarily in two conflicts that, with the benefit of hindsight, were ill judged and have proved far more difficult, complex and costly than imagined at the outset. Can killing people just because they don't want a western style nation state and believe in a different way of life ever be justified?
Our civil society is under threat from both domestic and foreign terrorist attack. Unlike the IRA attacks the perpetrators wish to die whilst committing these atrocities. In some areas social cohesion is under severe strain like never before, with a siege mentality developing in some communities, doing irreparable harm.
Many questions come to mind that require answers, here are a random selection of these;
What is the state of the Labour Party locally and New Labour nationally? Why is this important?
What about other political parties in Rotherham and nationally.
What has it done for the people, especially at the lower end of the income scale?
How well have our three MPs, Kevin Barron, John Healey and Denis MacShane done for Rotherham and it's people? What have they achieved, if anything, for the nation? How have they spent our money?
How well have Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council done in serving its people?
How has the Leader, Roger Stone and Cabinet members benefited the people of Rotherham?
Elections, what do the previous elections in Rotherham tell us? Can any of the Parliamentary Seats be lost by Labour? We will show Labours vulnerability in next years General and Local Elections.
Over the next few months we will explore the record of Labour in Government in some detail, hopefully to bring illumination to some dark corners. We also invite contributions from others, either in the form of comments or letters and articles.
After 12 years of Labour Government, real anger is present amongst even the most loyal members and supporters. They feel betrayed and badly let down by a government that promised much. Why should this be?
We are in the midst of the worst economic crisis that capitalism has ever faced and this time the axe is falling much higher up in companies than hitherto. There are now at least 2.5 million out of work and it will rise rapidly in the autumn when seasonal jobs dry up. The youngest members of the workforce are also now bearing the brunt. Young people in the Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEETS) category is one of the the fastest growing sectors.
The poor have got poorer under labour and the rich, richer. Surprisingly the rich have gained three ways under labour, they now get a larger slice of the national income, pay less tax and even get a bigger slice of welfare benefits than they did before labour came into power in 1997. This has had a disproportionate effect in Rotherham given the demographics. This government has actually taken from the poor and given it to the much better off, not something a labour government has ever done before. No wonder ordinary people are in such a deep despair and feel such anger and estrangement from the Party they though would help them.
We are engaged militarily in two conflicts that, with the benefit of hindsight, were ill judged and have proved far more difficult, complex and costly than imagined at the outset. Can killing people just because they don't want a western style nation state and believe in a different way of life ever be justified?
Our civil society is under threat from both domestic and foreign terrorist attack. Unlike the IRA attacks the perpetrators wish to die whilst committing these atrocities. In some areas social cohesion is under severe strain like never before, with a siege mentality developing in some communities, doing irreparable harm.
Many questions come to mind that require answers, here are a random selection of these;
What is the state of the Labour Party locally and New Labour nationally? Why is this important?
What about other political parties in Rotherham and nationally.
What has it done for the people, especially at the lower end of the income scale?
How well have our three MPs, Kevin Barron, John Healey and Denis MacShane done for Rotherham and it's people? What have they achieved, if anything, for the nation? How have they spent our money?
How well have Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council done in serving its people?
How has the Leader, Roger Stone and Cabinet members benefited the people of Rotherham?
Elections, what do the previous elections in Rotherham tell us? Can any of the Parliamentary Seats be lost by Labour? We will show Labours vulnerability in next years General and Local Elections.
Over the next few months we will explore the record of Labour in Government in some detail, hopefully to bring illumination to some dark corners. We also invite contributions from others, either in the form of comments or letters and articles.
Thursday, 9 October 2008
Council looses £3.8M of your money in Iceland Debacle!
It has been reported today that Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) has lost £3.8M of your money by investing it in an Icelandic bank that has now gone bust in the effective bankruptcy of Iceland.
The council is engaged in furious lobbying for the government to reimburse them for the £3.8M they have lost. Some hope I suspect as the total revealed so far runs into hundreds of millions and may even exceed 0.5 billion by the time the full facts emerge. I wouldn't want to swap shoes with the minister for local government right now, one John Healey, the member for Wentworth Constituency, as the lobbying will be extreme at times because of the panic in many Town Halls today.
More when the full picture is clearer.
Total losses known to date £840M!!!!!!
The council is engaged in furious lobbying for the government to reimburse them for the £3.8M they have lost. Some hope I suspect as the total revealed so far runs into hundreds of millions and may even exceed 0.5 billion by the time the full facts emerge. I wouldn't want to swap shoes with the minister for local government right now, one John Healey, the member for Wentworth Constituency, as the lobbying will be extreme at times because of the panic in many Town Halls today.
More when the full picture is clearer.
Total losses known to date £840M!!!!!!
Sunday, 20 April 2008
Keep 'an eye on' our MPs & Lords from the comfort of your armchair.
'theyworkforyou.com', allows anyone to keep up to date with what your MP is saying on your behalf all from the comfort of your armchair.
This wonderful website offers a free update service that sends an email whenever your MP speaks. This service also covers members of the Lords. You do not need to sign up to the site to get email alerts whenever your MP speaks but joining has other benefits that are worthwhile.
Joining is free and as well as updates you will be able to comment on issues covered.
The Rt Hon Kevin Barron MP
The Hon John Healey MP Minister for Local Government (Communities Website)
The Rt Hon Denis MacShane MP
Lord Nazir Ahmed
This wonderful website offers a free update service that sends an email whenever your MP speaks. This service also covers members of the Lords. You do not need to sign up to the site to get email alerts whenever your MP speaks but joining has other benefits that are worthwhile.
Joining is free and as well as updates you will be able to comment on issues covered.
The Rt Hon Kevin Barron MP
The Hon John Healey MP Minister for Local Government (Communities Website)
The Rt Hon Denis MacShane MP
Lord Nazir Ahmed
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