Reviewed
by: Jonah, Warrington
As
a constituent of Warrington North, I find my Labour MP Helen Jones
to be representative in some areas, for example regarding International
Development, and she seems to be against the privatisation of
our essential public services. However, her support for the Iraq
War and the Government's serious attacks on our civil liberties
is a betrayal by a supposedly Labour MP. She has also made no
attempt to hold the Government accountable for it's actions.
These
are the facts about Helen Jones and how she has actually represented
Warrington North, (with some opinion).
HELEN
JONES:
Background:
Biography
(Source: The Guardian)
Interests
(Source: TheyWorkForYou.com)
Parliamentary
Votes:
Summary
of Votes (Source: The Guardian)
All
Votes (Source: Publicwhip.org.uk)
Helen
Jones's voting record is generally poor, following the New Labour
Whip 97.8% of the time. Her positive voting record is noted by
her abstentions rather than actual votes but she has rebelled
occasionally and voted progressively.
Her
positive voting record concerns the creeping privatisation of
essential public services. She voted
against the creation of Foundation Hospitals on 19/11/03 and abstained
from the vote on Tuition Fees on 27/01/04. This is what
I would expect from my Labour MP.
However, Helen
Jones voted to support the illegal invasion of Iraq on
26/02/03 and 18/03/03. Which I would not have expected
if my Labour MP was truly representative.
With
regard to civil liberties her record is also poor. She
voted for 'Anti-Terrorism' legislation giving the government the
right to detain foreigners without trial on 21/11/01. She also
voted in favour of 'Control Orders' on 28/02/05, which
means the end of many civil liberties, in addition to detention
without trial, we now potentially don't have the right to freedom
of association or freedom of speech, this without being told what
you are supposed to have done and having no right to defend yourself
or question any charges. On a positive note she did abstain
from the vote on ID Cards on 20/12/04.
Parliamentary Questions & Debate:
Recent
Debates & Written Questions (Source: TheyWorkForYou.com)
Helen Jones
has asked many parliamentary questions with regard to services
in Warrington and it is good to see she takes an active interest
in her constituency. However with regard to one of the most pressing
issues of the day, Iraq, she has shown no interest. She hasn't
asked a single question in an attempt to hold the Government to
account for it's actions, this is very disappointing.
She
has however, partaken in some good debate and asked some good
questions in the commons with regard to International Development:
"To
ask the Secretary of State for International Development what
progress has been made with the review of Government policy on
aid conditionality." (10/02/2005)
To
the Chancellor, "...Can he report any progress on urging
the US Government to increase their contribution to development
aid and to recognise that to make the world a safer place, there
must be a war on poverty as well as a war on terrorism."
(23/01/2003)
To
the Secretary of State for International Development,"What
recent discussions she has had on improving access to primary
education in developing countries?...Only 2% of aid budget goes
on education. Will my right hon. friend therefore give a commitment
that she will try to persuade the World Bank to address that financing
gap in education?...Will she do all she can to encourage our international
partners to give greater debt relief to those countries that have
proper education plans in place?" (17/04/2002)
Helen Jones voted against Foundation Hospitals and abstained on
the Tuition Fees vote but why hasn't she partaken in any debate
to attempt to hold the Government to account or make plain her
opposition to them? She has been very quiet all together in criticising
Blair and the Government, this isn't representative of Warrington
at all.
Early
Day Motions Signed:
Early
Day Motions (Source: edm.ais.co.uk)
Helen
Jones has signed a few progressive Early Day Motions which reflect
the views of her electorate.
Here
is an interesting example, although it makes a good point, after
8 years of 'Labour' Government why does practice such as this
still exist?:
EDM
673 House of Commons Cleaners - That this House recognise's the
invaluable contribution made by House of Commons cleaners towards
ensuring the smooth running of this House; is dismayed with the
poor pay and working conditions of the cleaners who are paid a
miserly £4.85 per hour with only 12 days paid holiday per
annum, statutory sick pay only and no company pension; find these
employment terms and conditions shameful and totally unacceptable
in 21st century Britain...and urges the House authorities and
the contractors that employ the cleaners to accept their claim
of £6.70 per hour, 20 days paid holiday, company sick pay
and a company pension to ensure they receive a fair deal.
Another
good example is:
EDM
2 Make Poverty History in 2005 Campaign - Calling for action aimed
at trade justice, dropping the debt and providing more and better
aid to make poverty history in 2005.
And
on a personal note:
EDM
349 Boddington's Brewery - That this House supports the continuing
campaign by workers and trade unions at Boddington's Brewery to
keep brewing Boddington's beer at this historic building; and
further supports the application made by 'Campaign Group to Save
the Cream' for protection of this authentic local and geographically
defined product.
However,
there are many progressive Early Day Motions which Helen Jones
did not sign, use the EDM link above to explore. Personally I'm
disappointed Helen Jones did not sign the following, (although
not surprised considering it would not be popular with her New
Labour bosses and their corporate backers):
EDM
362 Tax Avoidance - Call for clamp down on artificial tax avoidance
schemes including offshore tax avoidance loop holes that enable
millionaires and big business to avoid valid UK tax.
To
conclude, looking at the facts, i.e. Helen Jones's voting record,
parliamentary questions and EDMs signed. I conclude that her performance
as my MP has been poor. Her support for international development
and voting against foundation hospitals is good. However, the
rest of her voting record is poor, supporting the Iraq War and
severe attacks on our civil liberties is a disgrace. Additionally,
although she voted against foundation hospitals and abstained
on the tuition fees vote, she has been silent in her criticism
of Blair and his Thatcherite policies and has completely failed
to hold the Government to account for it's actions.
If
Helen Jones is your MP contact her regarding issues which affect
you and your community. Follow the links above and explore what
Helen Jones has done in your name.
Contact
Details:
Contact
Details (Source: The Guardian)
Indymedia
Article:
Article
posted to UK, Liverpool & Manchester IMCs (20/03/05)
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