Blair refuses to answer Rochdale MP Paul Rowen's question

Date published: 15/02/2006

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen quizzed the Prime Minister on Labour’s increasing reliance on the Conservatives to prop up the administration.

Paul asked: “The Leader of the Opposition has offered the support of his party to get the Government’s Education Bill through the House. Is the Prime Minister aware that in Rochdale Labour are in coalition with the Conservatives? Can he envisage such a thing happening here?”

In reply, Mr Blair refused to answer the question that was asked.

Speaking after the debate, Paul Rowen said: “The New Labour Machine has lost its shine, and more and more people are rejecting their culture of spin and pretence – just look at the recent bye-election in Dunfermline. I’m not surprised that the Prime Minister ignored the question, Tony Blair knows he’s in trouble.  He is continually refusing to answer questions in Prime Minister's Question Time, just like in this instance he's choosing to say what he wants.  Blair's refusal to answer questions is an affront to Democracy." 

Paul continued:  “In Rochdale, the Labour administration that was voted out of office by the electorate in 2004 has been kept in power by the Conservatives. Nationally, as Tony Blair faces more conflict in his party than ever before, Tory Leader David Cameron has offered to support unpopular measures like the Education Bill.  It’s a peculiar position, having a failing Government or Council propped up by the so-called Opposition, and it doesn’t wash with the public. In Rochdale, many people who voted for Labour or the Conservatives are disgusted with these coalitions. 

“Yet David Cameron felt able to ask Liberal Democrats to defect and join an anti-Labour party! Just like the Tories’ supposed new-found respect for minorities, the environment and civil liberties, it smacks of cynical opportunism. 

“That’s why I have written to Mr Cameron today to ask about these inconsistencies. As Leader of Her Majesty’s Official Opposition, is he happy that the Tories have backed every Labour cut in Rochdale, cuts that affect some of the most vulnerable people in Rochdale? Does he approve of Socialist policies being delivered by Conservatives councillors?

“When polling day comes, the public wants to be able to make a clear choice about the people and the policies that they are backing. Sadly, when Labour and Tory politicians are prepared to horse-trade their principles like this, the electorate and democracy lose out.”

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• The exchange during Prime Ministers’ questions was as follows:

PAUL ROWEN: The Leader of the Opposition has offered the support of his Party to get the Government’s Education Bill through the House. Is the Prime Minister aware that in Rochdale Labour are in Coalition with the Conservatives? Can he envisage such a thing happening here?”

TONY BLAIR: I tell him what I don’t need to envisage, but what I can tell him is a fact. That in his area thanks to the Labour Government that we are spending an extra £300 per pupil in his constituency with more teachers, more teaching assistants and greater investment in schools also the results are up as well. So I think the Government is doing a good job. I thank him for giving me the opportunity to say so.

• Paul Rowen has sent the following letter to Conservative leader, Rt. Hon. David Cameron MP.

Dear Mr Cameron,

Firstly, I can I take this overdue opportunity to congratulate you on becoming Leader of the Conservative Party.  I know that becoming Leader of the Conservatives is an immense job and I wish you well in providing the kind of second-party opposition that this country desperately needs.

I am however concerned about your comments on 16th December 2005, where you you said, "If you join us (Liberal Democrats), we can together build a modern, progressive, liberal, mainstream opposition to Labour."  I appreciate that this comment was probably an attempt to make advantage of the situation of the position of my former Leader Charles Kennedy MP.  The Liberal Democrats are miles apart with the Conservatives on issues such as Europe, civil liberties, the war on terror and many other issues.  I would compare the quotes attributed to you, to a youthful Tony Blair before he became Prime Minister.  I am especially concerned about your apparent U-turn on University Tuition / Top-Up Fees.

Here in Rochdale, similar to many parts of the North-West support for the Conservatives is low.  Your appeal will bemuse the electorate in Rochdale.

If the voters followed your assertions then this seat would go straight back into the hands of Labour!  I trust that you are aware that here in Rochdale the Liberal Democrats, with 27 Councillors are the biggest group on the Council, Labour have 24 Councillors and your Conservative Party currently hold 9.  Here in Rochdale there is a Labour / Conservative Party Coalition that runs the Council to keep my party out. Your Party have voted with Labour on EVERY Notice of Motion at Council and are now willing to vote through their budget.  A Socialist Budget that will affect almost every vulnerable group in Rochdale.

I was wondering how your "olive branch" to Liberal Democrats sits with this?

Your Party is effectively propping up the Labour Council that the people of Rochdale rejected in 2004.  Conservative Voters in the Borough are furious about this as this Council continues with its Socialist policies, delivered by the Conservatives.

I would appreciate your thoughts on this,

Paul Rowen MP