View From The House - 28th August 2003

Reprinted From The Lichfield Mercury

“DO YOU THINK that the Government ordered the death of the weapons expert, Dr David Kelly?” a number of people have asked me over the last few days. The answer is a definite “No!” I don’t think that for one moment. But it is a sad state of affairs that people hold our Government in such low esteem, they can even conceive that this might be possible. Programmes like ‘Spooks’ don’t help of course. But it is the Hutton Inquiry which has revealed the shadowy world in which New Labour operate: a world where truth is expendable and any means can be employed to reach a goal. I have seen for myself how government ministers have lashed out at chief constables, teachers, and other professionals when the Government’s own failings have prevented targets from being reached.

The latest victim is Dr David Kelly. Readers will know that I backed the Government with its decision to invade Iraq. Sadam funded terror throughout the Middle East and made a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians well nigh on possible. He persecuted his own population and was in defiance of 26 UN resolutions. In the United States, President Bush made clear his reasons for the action against Iraq. He did not feel the need to embellish the story with tales of a 45 minute threat to the United Kingdom. It is almost as if this Government is so enmeshed in the mechanism of spin, even when there is justification to a cause, it has to be spoiled by spin and deceit. When Tony Blair spent time in Cliff Richards’ swimming pool in the West Indies, I hope he had time to reflect on this.

IS IT JUST ME or did others share my disgust when some sad people destroyed the swan’s nest at the end of Stowe Pool in Lichfield earlier this year? Is it just me who felt sorry for the lady whose life was being made a misery by some school kids in Burntwood who kept throwing rubbish in her garden and when she complained was criticised by the school governors? Is it just me who cannot understand why people throw beer cans into fountains and supermarket trolleys into lakes? I suspect not. So why does it happen? Is it that parents don’t teach their kids how to behave any more? Have schools given up because of a lack of time teaching children how to be responsible citizens? I invite people to write to the Mercury with their suggestions on how to improve behaviour - what an old fashioned word! - in our part of Staffordshire.

WHEN PEOPLE WRITE to me with a problem, I like to deal with it promptly and effectively. Unfortunately, sometimes letters are not signed or the signatures or addresses are illegible. At other times, people address their letters to me incorrectly or they get delivered to my home in Lichfield. (If I am away, my staff don’t get to see the letter and it just sits on the doormat). On one recent occasion, someone came up to me at Lichfield’s Trent Valley Railway Station and said I hadn’t replied to a letter of his. When I asked where he sent it, he said he gave it to “one of my ladies”, he couldn’t remember who and where. The mind boggles! (How many ladies do I have?) Anyway, whether Parliament be in session or whether it be in recess, I have staff who provide a 365 day friendly service - just like the Windmill Theatre. But regardless of when Parliament sits or whether I happen to be up in Lichfield, always write to me at The House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA. It’s safer that way. Or you can phone Lichfield 419650 and your call will be diverted free of charge to my office in the House of Commons. I look forward to hearing from you.