Sir Cyril Smith - the alternative Christmas Message!

10.27.29am GMT Fri 23rd Dec 2005

Sir Cyril Smith - Keeping you informed this Christmas!

First of all can I wish you all a Happy Christmas and an even better New Year. Christmas is always a happy time for me, with friends and family visiting and phone calls (and now Emails!) from old friends.

It's been a good year for Rochdale Liberal Democrats - as we start 2006 with confidence. The election of Paul Rowen MP was a great joy to us all, I know that he is doing an excellent job, growing in stature and experience. He even tells me that he enjoys it, so all is well!

As for me - I still cope, I have my disappointments, not least our being sold down the river by the local Health Trusts (if that's what you can call them) - It's a disgrace! I forecast it when they merged Rochdale with the others. Robert Clegg (now a Tory Councillor) and now in charge of Rochdale's finance assured us all would be well and that we should merge. Of course it was all well as it worked out - for him! I hope that you all sign the Rochdale Petition in this paper, though my guess is that the dye is cast. They assure us that a consultation is to take place. What Appleby and the Chairman really means is, we'll tell you what is to happen. They are no friends of Rochdale Health Service, is it any wonder that the staff pass resolutions of no confidence!

What of the rest? The Rochdale Conservative Councillors continue as poodles of Labour - toeing their every line. Both Brett and Duckworth climb on this Health Protest Wagon - but prior to this their silence in this field has been deafening! I wouldn't pay Duckworth in washers and I am surprised that his Conservative (so-called) Councillors put up with him.

Our pension positions (well yours not mine - at 77 plus I'm OK) are in a shambles. Some to retire at 60, others have to wait till 67 which seems unfair to me. All this went wrong when Gordon Brown became Chancellor of the Exchequer and it was in this capacity that he raided pensioner's investment funds by 5 Billion Pounds and that was only the start.

Tony Blair seems to surround himself with cronies, Iraq does not improve - he and Labour, with George Bush started it. In Education, despite spending billions, truancy is up and University Drop-outs increase because of the debt that they incur - what a mess the Government are in and to cap it all - Francis Maude, the Tory Party Chairman says the Tories are seen as "an intolerant party only interested in helping the rich." It's early days under David Cameron, but they do need to change. Don't forget that he wrote the Tory Manifesto in the last General Election! On top of this, the Labour Party, who claim they fighting anti-social behaviour introduces binge drinking, for which we will all pay a price.

Finally, to cheer you all up! your Tory / Labour Town Council in Rochdale tell us our Council Tax will increase by at least 4.5% in 2006, and that huge cuts will have to made by them and guess what? The disabled pensioners are top of the list for cuts in home helps and residential care staff. REMEMBER! Labour and the Tories did a deal to be in control. You cannot here put a candle between them and their financial matters are led by Councillor Robert Clegg - CONSERVATIVE. What a shambles, typical Tories - hitting the most vulnerable. I hope you all have a Happy New Year and hopefully a more Liberal future!

Sir Cyril

14, Emma Street,

Rochdale

sircyril@rochdalelibdems.org.uk