Gaza 'disgrace' tops the agenda for Rochdale residents

12.00.00am GMT Tue 13th Jan 2009

The current situation in Gaza, which has been branded a 'disgrace' and a 'massacre by MP Paul Rowen, is the current hot topic for a lot of Rochdale residents.

Emails and letters from concerned Rochdale constituents have flooded into local political offices over the past fortnight as the violence in Gaza has esculated.

Paul Rowen said: "I have received more emails on the subject of Gaza from the people from Rochdale than on any other issue in months."

Mr Rowen spoke in front of an estimated 100,000 people at the Gaza Rally in Hyde Park in London at the weekend.

He told the rally: "I am here on behalf of Nick Clegg to show solidarity for the people of Palestine. I am ashamed that our Government by its silence has condoned what has been going on in Gaza.

"Hundreds of people have been killed over the last few weeks. It is an absolute disgrace and I, like you, want to see justice for Palestine. I want to stop the massacre and I am proud to be part of this demonstration and next week, I and my colleagues in Parliament will shame our Government into taking a positive stance."

The Rochdale MP joined the tens of thousands of people on the march to the Israeli Embassy and met people from Gaza, as well as speaking to protesters. "It was clear that the strength of feeling is immense and I was proud to represent the Liberal Democrats on the biggest protest since the Iraq War," Mr Rowen said. "It was important that people from all walks of life show their support."