When Alan Johnson visits his “forgotten” constituents in Hull, I hope he grabs a mop and joins in the clean-up operation, that he shows some genuine concern by his actions, not just empty words.
An important lesson for him to learn is that he still represents his constituents, thousands who feel their suffering from the recent horrendous flooding has been ignored by government.
The newly appointed Health Secretary of State, who is MP for Hull West, is being shamed into visiting the city after council leader Carl Minns pleaded for government support:
“We need government help and we need government help now. We need to get the message out to the government to the people of this country how hard Hull has been affected.
“If this was anywhere else it would have been declared a national disaster and I think that Hull has been forgotten about.
“We need to get the message out to the government and to the people of this country how hard Hull has been affected.”
Even if Alan Johnson has been too busy to visit Hull, he should at least have picked up the phone and assured the council and his constituents that he was on the case.
He needs to remember that constituents have very good memories and will remember this during the next general election. Votes can never be taken for granted. Let’s hope he shows some humility during his visit.
And what about John Prescott, who represents Hull East? Has he given up on his constituents too in pursuit of a new career in Europe?
(Paul Thresh sent in this picture of a salvage yard in Adwick-le-Street, Doncaster to the BBC).
P.S. Norfolk wants its millions back for flood defence for East Anglia after the Environment Agency slashed its budget back this yearfrom £99m to £79m.
It will be very interesting to see what financial aid these deluged areas will be recieving from the EU and a test of our MPs’ mettle to see how hard they fight for it – if they bother to fight for it at all.
Devastating floods in central Europe resulted in a Solidarity fund set up by the European Commission to be used to restore vital infrastructure and equipment after natural disasters.
Here are some figures of funds given to various countries (in euros):
Germany – 444m
Austria – 134m
Czech Republic – 129m
France – 21m
It is worth noting that the Czech Republic wasn’t even a full member of the EU at the time of the award.
Italy, Spain, Estonia, Portugal and Austria have recieved money for repairs too.
Neither Carlisle, Boscastle, York nor anywhere else in our country has recieved anything from the Solidarity fund for flooding. This is because no politician, Minister, MEP, MP our councillor bothered to apply.
I am serious when I state that our country would be better off without politicians. While we’re at it get rid of the police too, then bands of ex services and martially trained men could have our towns cleared up in a thrice and unhindered by a legal and political establishment which so manifestly hates Britishness.
Appalling that he hasn’t been there, for however brief a visit. His constituents put him where he is.
What’s happened to your great blog Ellee? It looks like a dogs breakfast with all the lines through it.
As for Alan Johnson, I’m no great fan of him, however, as he’s new boss put yesterday at PMQ’s, he’s only been in his new job for 5 days, give him a chance?
Courtney, it was very mysterious, but is ok now.
This is an exceptionally traumatic time for those homes are flooded, a message of support with constructive advice would have been appreciated. Couldn’t his constituency office have considered this?
I have to confess I was confused when I started reading this post. My first thought was: poor man, he’s only just been released from captivity!
Okay I admit it: I am a non-political blogger of the highest measure.
lol Elle, gonna take more than a mop to mop up that car park.
Flood defences in East Anglia?
I thought it had been agreed to let it all go underwater.
Elle I want my place in Cambridge to become a des res seafront place with a view of the beach
Plus just think all the business those punts would make taxiing people to the superarket to do the weekly shopping – lol
Wow, a picture is better than a thousand words.
Not exactly knee-deep in Tory spokesmen either!
The problem seems to be that our elite metropolitan Nabobery is unaware of the world beyond the M25 or, if it is aware, does not fancy the idea of having to get on a train where you have to stand all the way, like many of us do every day just to pay the mortgage, in order to get there to cause a fuss.
No wonder the depth of our lack of esteem is matched only by the elite’s lofty view of itself as above all this sort of thing.
Why all the media coverage and government attention in Yorkshire and not Hull?
The cynic would say that Yorkshire is where many Labour seats are marginal, and Hull is where they are safe (?).
Do Labour take their constituents so much for granted that they don’t even have compassion in their time of need? It does seem rather bizarre – this is safe Labour territory.
The Hull MPs do take their seats for granted. I also think their silence is also political as the Liberal Democrats took control of Hull City Council on May 3. I am not a fan of Carl Minns, the leader of the council – in fact I stood against him for the Conservatives – but I do believe he is right in his latest statement. The three Labour MPs would love to blame him for the mess at the moment, conveniently forgetting it was Labour’s mismanagement of the city that was a large contributing factor in the mess we are in at the moment. I was told by the loss adjuster I will probably be out of my house for three to four months. I am lucky. I am staying with my girlfriend and her Mum, son and brother. I was offered a roof over my head immidiately. There are some who are having to move from hotel to hotel until something permanent can be found for them, but when you consider over 35,000 people are affected by these floods in Hull alone, finding rented accomodation is not going to be easy.
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