MP Danczuk lays into Council Leader Lambert

Rochdale Labour MP Simon Danczuk seriously criticised Rochdale Council Leader, Labour Councillor Colin Lambert for his response to the sex grooming scandal that has engulfed the council.

Speaking in Parliament he said: "...the reality is that, contrary to what the council leader had said, people were trying to share information with his local authority, clearly trying to make the point that these girls should be taken into social services care."

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/75318/mp-danczuk-lays-into-council-leader-lambert

An acrimonious dispute between these two men will not do anyone any good. To settle the matter they could both agree to start learning the banjo immediately. A duet/ banjo battle as a Christmas party entertainment should settle the matter.

The bad blood between them is long term.

Real personal animosity in local politics can be quite paralysing, one way and the other. If there really is such a long term animosity between leading figures in Rochdale politics, it is a problem. How it could be resolved is another problem. If one side or the other 'wins', that may not be a good thing. Sometimes when a council is judged to have failed, as with Rossendale a few years back, central government may appoint it's own executive to take over. Whether that is a good or bad thing is yet another question.

From the Devil and Bailiff O'Flynn:

And one was as bad as the other,
And both of them blacker than sin...

You guys voted them in....

cyfrifia wrote:Real personal animosity in local politics can be quite paralysing, one way and the other. If there really is such a long term animosity between leading figures in Rochdale politics, it is a problem. How it could be resolved is another problem. If one side or the other 'wins', that may not be a good thing. Sometimes when a council is judged to have failed, as with Rossendale a few years back, central government may appoint it's own executive to take over. Whether that is a good or bad thing is yet another question.

This town will never move on until these two Muppet's sort themselves out for the benefit of the borough rather than their own self importance

If they are worth anything to the town they will sort themselves out.

I would go so far as saying Rochdale will never ever on unless the majority of our Cllrs get along better instead of point scoring and nit picking. Just look at the goings on with Clrr Farooq and how his comments have been de-bunked. Goes bakc further than that. Such as the also de-bunked Arts Centre that was PROMISED to the people of Rochdale.

Then you wonder why voter apathy is running wild.

Jim Dobbin MP says

"There is a new political and administrative leadership team in place in the Council and Police, and with this the opportunity to start afresh."

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/22/letter-from-parliament/75189/letter-from-parliament-jim-dobbin-mp

Is that waffle, wishful thinking, or a real reality ?

cyfrifia wrote:Jim Dobbin MP says

"There is a new political and administrative leadership team in place in the Council and Police, and with this the opportunity to start afresh."

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/22/letter-from-parliament/75189/letter-from-parliament-jim-dobbin-mp

Is that twaddle, waffle, wishful thinking, or a real reality ?

Only time will tell.

Go on, have a guess.

cyfrifia wrote:Jim Dobbin MP says

"There is a new political and administrative leadership team in place in the Council and Police, and with this the opportunity to start afresh."

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/22/letter-from-parliament/75189/letter-from-parliament-jim-dobbin-mp

Is that waffle, wishful thinking, or a real reality ?

The Council CEO, Jim Taylor, started in May this year and the Police Chief Superintendent, Annette Anderson, started in March this year so its fair to say there is a new head of the council administrative team at the council and new leadership of the local police but political? I don't think December 2010 when Colin Lambert became Council Leader counts as new, in fact, many say he is well past his sell by date already.

Mr. Dobbin probably means well, but Rochdale needs things doing properly and thoroughly, there is a big mess to clear up, a lot of details to follow up, a lot of things that need doing now to high standard, and it needs to be seen to be done. Political spin that tries to put a positive gloss on things is not a good idea unless followed up with solid, visible and demonstrable actions and facts. No fudge for me thankyou.

'Simon Danczuk, Labour MP for Rochdale, has aimed yet more criticism at Rochdale's Labour council led by Colin Lambert. This time Mr Danczuk accuses the council of considering wasting millions of pounds on a ring road that he says will "threaten much needed investment and jobs".'

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/75352/mp-danczuk-accuses-council-of-threatening-investment-and-jobs

I do look upon the statement that this retail park has big names lined up based on the recent issues on Cllr Farooq statment on 'big names' lined up with a pinch of salt. Personally this retail park needs to be nearer to Rochdale Town, or more over, the big names for that location should have been shown the Town Centre location instead. Why are all the decent shops, I say decent, as Argos and Halfords are far better than the tat shops in our Town Centre based a good distance away. It would be far better to have all the shops in on location making for a better experience. Yes I know Wheatsheaf has an Argos but it would be better to have it all under one roof than two sites.

Its all well and good having new names at top of Drake Street but when the new Trams glide past with out being able to stop next to the site its pointless. But people will have to walk a fair distance from the Maclure Road Stop and even further from Smith Street ergo depriving much need foot fall to Central Retail Park. So I do agree with Simon on that point.

I resigned from the Labour Party last month, having asked at ward meetings for action on the state of the local party and its inaction especially on the sex grooming crimes and the Labour councillor promoted to Township chair. I have received a letter from the Labour Party HQ informing me of my ‘failed direct debit’. I await with interest a follow up letter asking the reasons for my departure to the Monster Raving Loony Party. If I do receive one, I’m not holding out much hope, I’ll refer them to this forum which along with RO seems to me to be the only open public space where our Towns short comings are discussed with depth and up to now no Party entrenchment.

I am sure that the majority of our elected councillors are honest, honourable and dedicated to our Town’s future but somewhere soon we must speak out at a public meeting about how we feel let down. Why not ask a journalist to chair a question time type meeting, Alan Beswick GMR for instance, to allow a non political, whoops a pig just flew past, citizens of Rochdale forum in the Town Hall.

Hinch wrote:Cllr Lambert also strikes me as being well past his sell-by date and of course there is one, if not two just waiting in the wings to make their move and both of them could run rings round him politically and intellectually.

If he lasts the next 18 months out I'll be very surprised.

Given that Counc Lambert is employed full time as the Parliamentary Secretary for Jim Dobbin MP, I'm astounded he's got the time or acumen for all his 'other' roles ...


12th June 2012 ‘Uncorrected’ Evidence Home Affairs Committee, extract

Councillor Lambert: ‘I should declare that although I am here as a councillor, I work full-time for Jim Dobbin, Member of Parliament.’


...'other' roles, such as some listed by RMBC

Committee appointments:
Cabinet (Chair)
Council
Employment Committee (Sub)
Heywood Township Committee
Heywood Township Delegated Sub Committee, Heywood Township Planning Sub Committee (Sub)

Appointments to outside bodies:
AGMA Health Commission
Association of Greater ManchesterAuthorities Executive
Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Greater Manchester Pension Fund Advisory Panel
Health and Well-being Partnership
Local Government Association General Assembly
Manchester Airport Group - Management Board (Sub)
Oldham and Rochdale Advisory Joint Committee
Rochdale Borough Local Public Service Board
Shadow Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel

Is this really the same man who claimed for an Internet connection on his own RMBC expenses?

Looking at Simon Danczuk's official website to try and work out the story of the political 'war' in Rochdale, it would be easier if his statements and comments were dated.
http://www.simondanczuk.com/9f4808f0-6a8d-5254-d15a-37da73462c68

What year does this refer to, is it recent? It seems to be quite a good website if you want to find out about Palestine.

Maybe he should also find out which County Rochdale is in!

It is in Greater Manchester Simon.

Simon Danczuk seems to be active in international affairs, and critical of the things that are wrong in Rochdale, all well and good, but, is he a typical politician, just using Rochdale as a 'seat' to further his own political ideas and ambitions? it might be time to have a look at the furniture, as the springs and stuffing are coming out of that 'seat'.

Greater Manchester no longer exists as an entity, therefore Rochdale continues to be part of Lancashire and I continue to be proudly Lancastrian.

And me - I'm a Rochdalian, a Lancastrian, an Englishman and British before admitting I'm also a citizen of the World - in that order. I live now in Wales but would never aspire to being Welsh or influenced by them or the country of Wales. - but I would support them in their bid to be proud of the fact - as is their right.
But not the language which I know costs us far too much in revenue to be worth the outlay for as much as they strive to resurrect it nationally they are fighting a losing battle as 80% of those living in Wales couldn't care less and would rather spend the money on other things. But of course they will never be asked (like the EU) their opinion on that one. How's that for stirring the hornets nest -??