The new Shadow Minister for Care and Older people.

[Papaumau]

Thanks to Old Timer for directing me towards this new shadow minister as now we have a champion right at the heart of British political life that SHOULD be able - in the future - to act directly on our behalf.

Here are her contact details for anybody that wants to congratulate her on her new "shadow" post or that wants to contact her for any other related interests or needs.

I have already e-mailed her at her parliamentary office address and I will report on her here and on my own website about how she responds to my initial overtures.

Liz Kendal, The Shadow Secretary for Care and Older People.

Party: Labour.

Constituency: Leicester West.

Official contact address:  liz.kendall.mp@parliament.uk

[Dottie1943]

Papa,

I have made this a sticky and that way it will remain at the top of the page so that all can see it, well done

[granny bee]

From past experience of writing to 'shadow' ministers responses are generally obtuse and justifying that they have no powers for action, funny how when they were in power little action happened to the benefit of pensioners - anyway good luck with contacting her!!

[Papaumau]

Thanks Dottie, that is also a good idea !

Grannie Bee.....

Of course you are right that MPs that are just in "shadow" posts will easily complain that they have no power, but actually, in opposition, they DO have quite a bit of what is now euphemistically-called "pester power" as in opposition they can regularly nip the heads of their opposite numbers, who are sitting in the front benches in The Commons.

I am sure that if Liz Kendal wants to keep her ideas and her arguments for the needs of the British pensioners in the public eye, she will be in a very good position to do so.

I am sure that if the Tory-led government do not have any plans to help us in our plight that Ms Kendal will take every opportunity to remind them about this terrible state of affairs. ( At least I hope so ).

I watch government TV regularly and I will be looking forward to watching Liz Kendal doing the job she has been given to do and if she does not do what we expect her to do in her new shadow-position, I for one will be quick to remind her, ( nicely ), of her duty to us.

This is a very responsible job that she has been given and even in opposition I think that she can - if she so chooses - be very effective as a conscience-jogger in The House.

PS.... I have mentioned in my e-mail to her that we here in the Pensioners Forum and in my own website welcome her to her new post and hope that she can find the time to come and talk to us. ( I guess we shall soon see if she can find the time to do so - or not ).

[Dottie1943]

Letter sent to Ms Kendall

Lets see how quickly I get a response from her!

Correct e-mail address is liz.kendall.mp@parliament.uk

Kendall with a double LL Papa

[Papaumau]

Oooops sorry folks for missing out the "L" in Liz Kendall's name.

As I can no-longer edit my own threadstart  posting, could you, Dottie, please correct it for me as that wrong address may attract too many people who want to contact her that might not see your later correction. Thanks !

( Now I am going to have to re-write my own letter to her too ).

How stoopid am I  ?

[avalonmpk2]

Hi Papa, glad to see you're on form! on That's socialism for you; it brainwashes and addles the brain; should have written whilst they were in office. Compliments of the season . The latter sentence is serious

[Papaumau]

Hi Avalonmpk2.

In my case I think it was a just an age-related thing. I try hard to get it right but every now and again I make a boo boo !

I don't think in my case that it has anything to do with being a lefty as I know that all political dogma can be dangerous to clear thinking.

I guess that in my case the framework that I work inside  - while it is definitely left-of-centre - helps me to keep on the straight and narrow and ensures that I stop thinking about myself for too long.

I think that we should all work towards that as selfish and greedy thinking causes much more damage than a bit of lefty rhetoric does.

Anyway.. It is great that people like you and me can agree to disagree and yet still be able to get our point across to each other. That - if I am not mistaken - is what good debate is all about.

Compliments of the season to you too mate !   

[avalonmpk2]

Cheers Papa, always a pleasure to hear from you, would be interested to hear how you square the fortunes made by the Kinnocks and Blairs of this world. When I was apprenticed three-quarters of a century ago, they were referred to as Champagne Socialists and believe me there was not a single member of the print unions who were incensed by them. I'll make a prediction that Balls and the Millibands of this world will continue the ignoble tradition!

[Papaumau]

All human beings are open to that kind of powerful temptation and even their political philosophies do not protect them from those very human traits.

Sadly many of us get dragged down by simple jealously as we see these so-called men-of-the-people finish up as rich as croesus as a result of their carrying out of their services to their party.

I suppose it is really hard to refuse such riches when it is being thrust upon them and through all levels of political life I have never seen even one person who had the courage to refuse such emoluments.

I guess that it doesn't matter how strong our principles are as eventually we all have our price.   

[avalonmpk2]

Yes Papa but we do not  do it on the pretext of helping others a man who makes his own fortune is a friend of humanity a man who puts his hand in your purse in an enemy from an old Korean proverb!

[Oldtimer]

With some of our poiticians The Old British Proverb seems to be
"Do unto others before they do it to you"LOL

[avalonmpk2]

O/T: politics is a dirty business

[caminito]

That's why John Major & Edwina Currie got in the bath together 

[Oldtimer]

I wander if she EGGED him on?