Saturday 20 January 2007

Do you believe politicians?

Do you believe what politicians tell us? You don't have to answer.

In 2004 there was a parliamentary by-election in Hartlepool. Mr Blair said at the time that there was no question of the local hospital closing.

Now, less than three years later, the closure of the hospital has been announced. I know nothing of the local circumstances, and perhaps closure is the right option, but it does explain my cynicism when Patricia Hewitt and others tell us that there is no question of Bedford Hospital closing.

1 comment:

Steve Allison said...

As a Candidate during the 2004 Hartlepool by-election (for the UK Independence Party) it was obvious to me that the election hinged on two themes. First, after Mandelson, Hartlepool was sick of being a safe seat to parachute in New Labour Cronies without any connection to the town; Hartlepool wanted a local person as their MP, someone to put the town and the people above any personal party political ambition. Secondly, Hartlepool wanted assurances that their Hospital was safe.

Several high profile New Labour Names were linked with the vacant Hartlepool seat before the Labour party selected Iain Wright as their candidate, purely as the local option. During the campaign itself senior Labour Party figures qued up to give assurances the town’s hospital was safe. It seemed New Labour would repay the loyalty of the Hartlepool voters in both key respects.

However, the hospital is now to close and the town’s MP is reportedly devastated. The Mail Headline “BETRAYED” summed it up as far as the Labour Party attitude was concerned. If Iain Wright doesn’t now leave the Labour Party and sit in the House of Commons as an Independent “Save our Hospital” MP then he too will have betrayed everyone who voted for him. Iain Wright has claimed he wants to be Hartlepool’s representative in the House of Commons. It’s now time for him to put his money where his mouth is, resign the Labour Whip, and prove he’s not just another Party Poodle putting his political career above all else.

So good luck with your fight, but don't believe a word the professional politiciand of the Lib/Lab/Con tell you.....the're all the same!!!!