Until his morning I had never heard of junior Labour Health Minister Ivan Lewis and the MP for the highly marginal seat of Bury South. But not only has he emulated his Party Chairman in protesting against his own government's health service cuts, he's gone one stage further in the race among Labour MPs to be crowned 'Hypocrite of the Year'.Not only is Ivan Lewis a junior minister at the Department of Health, he is listed on the Department of Health Website as being responsible for 'maternity services'. So the very policy he himself has drafted and is implementing is the one which he is protesting against in his own constituency. You really couldn't make this up, could you? Joined up government? Don't make me laugh.
According to the newspapers this morning, seven Labour Ministers have protested publicly about government policy affecting their own constituency. In days gone by they would have found it proper and necessary to resign. And we wonder why voters think politicians are hypocrites. Ivan Lewis is a prime example.
Ivan a Clue is just follwoing nu-lab party policy, that's all. Bless.
ReplyDeleteI'm not surprised. I'd be surprised if they got something right.
What a bunch of tossers!
Hopefully the Tories can do a better a job.
Off to play golf.
This government is crumbling.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe these NL politicians are still pursuing john prescott's regional agenda.
ReplyDeleteThey tried with the Police, Fire services and now Hospitals. We all have to fit in with un-elected regional assemblies and quangos.
No one wants regionalization and it is time all councils in England put a halt to this wate of money.
Just think how Patricia Hewitt must be thinking. Undermined by her Party Chair, Chief Whip, Minister...
ReplyDeleteHer position is untenable if no action is taken on these Ministers who are acting against her dept's policy.
Iain
ReplyDeleteIvan Lewis is an Under-Secretary of State - not a Minister of State, thus he has no specific and direct responsibility for anything, he merely assists the Secretary of State and the Minister of State.
Culmination of a sorry trend. The doctrine of ministerial responsibility is a busted flush.
ReplyDeleteWhen's the next opposition day debate in Parliament? It ought to be used it for a full frontal assault on this politically and morally bankrupt government. Watching these office seekers trying to defend policies they clearly can't endorse themselves would be the fantastic. Shooting fish in a barrel. Game on.
Of course it's rank hypocrisy, but I can't really say I blame him. He's in a marginal and people are bound to say in the light of this "What a good constituency MP he is - even defies the Labour party machine to stick up for our interests."
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be surprised if there weren't tacit No.10 backing for this sort of thing - one MP sounding off won't stop the policy, but it might generate goodwill for the individual MP & keep Labour seats.
PS Who are the seven Iain? Name and shame 'em!
Absolutely spot on Iain. How can a Health Minister defend a Cabinet member campaigning against the Government's own health policy.
ReplyDeleteEither they think the electorate are stupid and could perhaps use the old line that its all down to 18 years of Tory rule (havent heard that for a while) or they have completely lost their grip on reality.
In fact its exactly the same as when I was campaigning on Post Office closures the first time around. Lots of MPs signed petitions to save post offices yet most of the Labour MPs voted for the policy (Urban Reinvention) which led to their closure. In an era when what MPs say and do is more and more on the record this is really a daft thing to do
ReplyDeletePerhaps he could set up a meeting with himself to lobby on the issue?
ReplyDeleteThey, the Labour 7, are too adicted to their ministerial salaries. Its only when the gravy supply is threatened by lossing their seats that any action results. They are a disgrace.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of him either, until you posted this. There again, I don't know everything. Beg to differ on him being the Hypocrite of the Year. My vote on this issue goes to the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer of Thoroton (more titles than Idi Amin). As the Minister responsible for Justice, Rights and Democracy. Where are they?
ReplyDeleteEighteen years of Tory rule was bad. I did not think it could get any worse. The country is going down hill and Tony is on holiday. Tragedy...
dynamite, very good idea, if i was in the opposition party where he is MP i would have a petition to be presented to Ivan Lewis about the Health cuts going. then i'd get a photo call outside his constituency office asking him to sign a petition to be presented to himself calling for whatever, lots of fun in local press.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't matter. A few high ranking Nazis stayed with Hitler until the end, but the vast majority deserted him and left him to his fate in the bunker, where he commanded non existent regiments to fight on non-existent fronts with insufficient resources.
ReplyDeleteFor those who left a sinking ship there was nothing but ignominy and obscurity. For those who stayed it was certain death.
Ms Blears and co have bottled at the last, and have suddenly appealed to the people for clemency.
As one high profile criminal goes to the gallows, a few more of lesser stature make one last attempt to salvage their reputations and their miserable jobs.
I think I now despise them more than I despise their leader - which is saying something.
I have always believed that thin majorities make for highly responsive MPs................it is amazing how party becomes less important when majorities are thin........and elections are uncertain as to outcome
ReplyDeleteperhaps the opposition could table an amendment stating opposition to the closure of the hospitals in those constituencies and we could see if they vote for their constituencies or their government?
ReplyDeleteIvan's seat isn't that marginal. If he loses it there will probably be a conservative govnt. Its the other Bury MP who will be toast come the general election.
ReplyDeleteHe looks like the offspring of peter kay and lembit opik , just look.
ReplyDeleteMy MP as well (how embarrasing), well with a bit of luck he'll be gone soon.
ReplyDeleteI suspect that we'll start to see a lot more of this. People distancing themselves from the dying days of Blair's political career and trying to coddle up to either Gordon Brown or their local constituents to make up for years of neglect.
ReplyDeletePersonally I reckon this is the first signs of Labour MPs pretending to be 'in touch' with their local constituents to try and save their seat at the next election, having completely screwed them over since 1997. Sorry lads - too little, too late.
Well, well done Iain for highlighting this pathetically crass manouverist slimeballing by NL MPs. Yet again, this site leads the pack!
ReplyDeleteNothing new here. This sort of self-serving behaviour from our "esteemed" laughably determined to keep hold of their jobs and perks "parliamentarians" has been going on for donkeys years. Read HP Sauce in Private Eye for regular updates. I recall many similar ones from Tory MPs in past Tory governments. An absolute classic was Tory MPs living near Sizewell campaigning against the nuclear power station there whilst loyally voting for it in the house! Tee hee. Business as usual. We're just the poor mugs who pay for these b*s*ar*d*.
ReplyDeleteEighteen years of Tory rule was bad. I did not think it could get any worse. The country is going down hill and Tony is on holiday. Tragedy...
ReplyDeleteI hate to push a point , but despite all that "tory sleaze" I cant recal a single example of a Tory MP beating an old lady to death with an axe.
Maybe I am wrong jailhouse lawyer? (+:
Oh come on you Tories! Please do get a grip! Can't you lot understand anything?
ReplyDeleteIve and Haze are not protesting at the policy of concentrating services, they simply have a different opinion about where the services should be concentrated. The later being as we all know a matter for officials not Ministers (!). And some of these decisions being rather marginal and so worth challenging. If these and others start protesting the policy rather than the specific local decision then you might have a case. But at the moment it is all hollow vessels booming loudly.
On the question of regional government vs health delegations I think you are again mistaken. Not in the same mould at all. I think in fact the autonomous Trusts and SHAs is a Tory idea isn't it? Where as the regional agenda (forgetting Heseltine) was 'ours' albeit terribly managed.
Snagged up with this "choice agenda" which NL have borrowed or stolen from Tories and for that matter Liberal economists and localists.
But this process and the so called 'postcode lottery' on treatments (an obvious corrollary of delegating budgets locally) and across in education too we have 'choice' being pushed rather than quality and equality.
All this is at Tory/Liberal door in terms of political 'thought' behind it. You should be proud of yourselves you daft wotsits. As a, whisper it, socialist, myself I think it's a barmy horlicks.
And as Adele pointed out Ivan Lewis' seat is not particularly marginal. David Chaytor's next door is far more so. Though if the Lab>Lib protests return and the BNP shove off things will be a lot better than the calculators predict. Not to mention a good showing from UKIP vs the Cameron huggy woolly cuddly NT guff.
Best w
Chris P
BTW What is the Tory policy on these hospitals? Pray do tell us?
New Labour: "being all things to all men"
ReplyDeleteAlso called "triangulation" by the sophisticates in the soft-left media.
Only a recession will wake-up the majority of people up to this utter bollocks.
ps I protest about the statements i have made above.
Blair is in a bind. He can't sack anyone, because so many talented people either regard him, are regarded by him, or both, as "impossible". So serving Ministers can do as they like.
ReplyDeleteteri says "Off to play golf."
ReplyDeleteSo? This is interesting or charismatic or something?
Would "off to play baseball" resonate with you, Teri? How about if you informed posters on this site that you were "off to play badminton"? Or "off to play cricket"? "Off to do tatting"? Or "off to play rounders"? Would you think that you were of special interest?
Teri, no one on the face of this planet cares that you are "off to play golf" and I will tell you why we all run and hide when we encounter a golf bore. They think we care. Their handicap: No. Their birdie or eagle or whatever: No.
Teri: Golf players are the most uncharismatic people on the blogosphere.
Actually, Verity, for your information - I don't even play golf and yet I have way less charisma than Teri. You don't have to be a golfer to be dull. Get your facts straight before blustering about like a loon.
ReplyDeleteSheesh.
Kind regards etc....
Oh, the Ivan Lewis thing - even just to look at him makes me a little bit sick in my mouth.
Something to watch: Can Gerry Robinson Fix the NHS?
ReplyDeleteNor does anyone care about the bores who talk about the people who play golf.
ReplyDeletepeter hitchins: You are wrong, you do love pushing a point. You can't recal? You can't spell you mean, try recall.
ReplyDeleteIm not an economist or a minister but could someone please explain how with an increasing population(imigration)an
ReplyDeleteageing population closing hospitals can make any sense at all? surely more are needed?.while england crumbles blairs off fiddling again what a shower
Verity,
ReplyDeleteNothing better to do? Chill out.
Verity
ReplyDeleteOne question, if people who play golf bore you so much, and you run and hide from such uncharasmatic people, does that mean you have the same regard for our host?
After all Mr dale himself has stated on quite a few times that he is off to play golf. Does this mean we won't be hearing from you on this particular blog again?
and yes I do realise that it was two questions.
With a track-record like this, he's obviously a likely write-in victor for NuLabor Leader
ReplyDelete