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The Sir Cyril Smith Page
August 11, 2005 12:45 PM
Sir Cyril Smith - Keeping you informed!
This is the second installment of the already popular Sir Cyril Column. We've had loads of emails which we have passed onto Sir Cyril - please keep them coming at sircyril@rochdalelibdems.org.uk
"GREETINGS!
13 years since I retired as MP for Rochdale, but still doing my bit for the Liberal Democrats in Rochdale. At 77 years, age takes its toll on my mobility, but otherwise I cope!
Can I first congratulate - Mark Hunter - the new Liberal Democrat MP for Cheadle. He first wrote to me as a 16 year old, he was interested in starting a Liberal movement in Ashton, where he lived at the time. I was delighted as he became, first a Councillor, then Leader of Stockport Council and now our newest MP. Mark will be a first class MP - and I know he will carry on the fine work his predecessor - the late Patsy Carlton.
I know the Conservative Party tried every dirty trick in the book in order to win this seat back. Yet again they failed, the voters soundly rejected their candidate and Michael Howard was denied a final swansong. As in Rochdale - the Labour Party did their level best to deny a very worthy Lib Dem Candidate. They campaigned solely against Mark in the hope that the Conservatives would win - THEY DIDN'T AND LOST THEIR DEPOSIT. Of course here in Rochdale we are used to Labour and The Conservatives joining forces and that brings me nicely onto Rochdale.
Just like in Cheadle - The Conservatives in Rochdale are on a downward slope. As you may know they made an agreement to vote with and, and to support Labour and Socialism! It's incredible and betrays all that the Conservative Party stand for. Rochdale Council now has 27 Lib Dem Councillors, 24 Labour and only 9 so called Conservative Councillors who are really Labour Poodles, and mere Labour Lobby Fodder! At the recent Rochdale Town Council Meeting the nine of them voted with Labour on every single vote that was taken. We now have a Labour Council, and a Cabinet with a couple of Tories included. The people voted against Labour at the last Council elections, yet the so called Conservative Councillors put them back in! Now it can be clearly said that a vote for a Conservative is a vote for Labour and that is a fact! WHAT A PATHETIC BUNCH THEY ARE!
Liberalism stands for the Liberty of the individual , always provided that Liberty does not interfere with the liberty of other individuals. Terrorism clearly does that - it is indefensible , and I hope that all terrorists caught are locked away for life - and I mean life, if found guilty in a court of law. Nonetheless we must, as Liberal Democrats take care to ensure that anti-terrorism does not result in unnecessary curtailments of Human Rights. ID Cards, for example would not have prevented the scandalous London Bombings, or those in Spain, The USA, Egypt or the others. My scores of Asian friends deplore these outrages and the attacks do not truly represent the Islam Faith - which is one of peace.
Life goes on! We have the ridiculous new laws, enabling binge drinking - the only people who stand to benefit are local newspapers, displaying page after page of License Applications, at the extortionate advertising rates that they charge. Yet the applicants are required to do by law... yet another gravy train!
Finally, I would like to say a few words about Robin Cook, the Labour MP who sadly passed away last weekend. I knew Robin as a fantastic Parliamentary performer, a politician of principles. Few will forget his memorable speech when standing down from the Government Front Benches over Iraq.... he will be sorely missed.
So there we have it for now, next week I'll be looking at how politics has changed over the last decade."
Sir Cyril Smith,
14, Emma Street,
Rochdale,
OL12 6QW