Book Review
“Could We Have Stopped Margaret Thatcher?” by Frank Goulding
ISBN: 1904959628
Paperback 244 pages
Published by Paul Mould Publishing
Before I review this book please allow me to take issue with the title. If you are expecting an in-depth analysis of a complex plan to defeat Thatcher you will be disappointed. The question itself is only raised on the final page of the book and the discussion around the question runs to only 35 words!
Frank Goulding’s conlusion? Apparently he believes that Thatcher could have been stopped but isn’t sure whether she should have been. Hardly surprising for a man who started out as a Tory member and ended up as a Lib Dem (via the Lincoln Independent Labour Party and the SDP) but unlikely to endear him to this particular reader.
The title is probably something of an afterthought; possibly an attempt to improve sales. If that is the case it worked 100% with me. I couldn’t resist investigating further once I’d seen the title and, despite my earlier comments, I’m glad I did. The book might not provide the in-depth analysis I’d expected but it is an entertaining account of one man’s journey through local and national politics. It also provides a behind-the-scenes view of events on our doorstep when Lincoln became the focus of the political spotlight.
Those who were around at the time will enjoy reliving, amongst other things, the infamous 1973 by-election victory by Labour defector Dick Taverne and the revenge of Labour candidate Margaret Jackson (soon to become Margaret Beckett) in the second General Election of 1974. Those who are too young to remember the early 1970s will find “Could We Have Stopped Margaret Thatcher” an entertaining insight into a time when the political scene appeared to be changing forever.
Stop press: The book is available from the Nottinghamshire Library Service. Contact your local library for details!!
So the story has hit the media with a bang today! See below for some links to the stories. It was good to see David Smeeton from Unite being interviewed on East Midlands Today (you can see the clip on the BBC website). David is the local rep and has been trying to get people to take this matter seriously for some time now.
At the moment we really need to fight to change the minds of Alstom and their contractors. We certainly can’t believe them when they say they are trying to recruit local workers; the evidence that Unite holds clearly shows Alstom and their contractors to be economical with the truth at the very least.
If our local MP Patrick Mercer is not still embarrassed by the ease with which he was duped by his friends in big business he should now stand up and fight for the people of his constituency – before it is too late!!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/7685894.stm
http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=240583
http://www.fenlandcitizen.co.uk/latest-east-midlands-news/Overseas-workers-spark-power-station.4621926.jp
I’ve been hearing some pretty scary things about the local Lib Dems in the Newark parliamentary constituency. For some months now there have been rumours of splits and factions locally with the historic power base in Southwell doing everything they can to silence supporters in Newark.
Now it emerges that the Lib Dem candidate, Pauline Jenkins, was forced on the local party who weren’t allowed to nominate anyone to stand against her, let alone hold an election. If these rumours are true (and I have no reason to doubt them) it demonstrates yet another triumph for the Southwell Lib Dem Mafia over there supposed colleagues in Newark as Pauline Jenkins is definitely part of the Southwell crowd.
What can the Newark Lib Dems do to fight back? Last week they elected a new chairman in Declan Logue who is also chairman of Farndon Parish Council. I hope that Mr Logue has the stomach for a fight because it looks as if he will need to be strong if he is going to return some element of democracy to the Lib Dems in this constituency!
It appears that the fears raised by the Unite Union and Newark Labour Party over the recruitment of foreign construction workers at the new Staythorpe Power Station are more than justified. Word reaches me that there will be few or no jobs for local workers and that the vast majority of positions will be filled by overseas labour. The story first broke in September when the local Labour Party and the union contacted the Newark Advertiser with their fears (see http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/template/temp0.asp?id=81bbca6d-cbb4-102b-8b1e-16c8ad082291 for the original story).
The apparent complacency of local MP Patrick Mercer in being assured that construction jobs would be awarded locally was obviously misplaced. It doesn’t surprise me in the least that Mr Mercer chose to listen to and believe only the opinions of big business whilst ignoring the concerns of the unions and local workers. His lack of commitment to his constituents is more evident every day and is something that local people are picking up on when I talk to them. In contrast, the local Labour Party candidate, Dr Ian Campbell was always sceptical about RWE and Alstom’s assurances that local workers would be protected. Not for the first time Dr Campbell has been proved correct.
I need to make one final comment on this situation. Please don’t think that I am opposed to overseas workers gaining employment in this country (no bigots jumping on this bandwagon please). On the contrary I am a firm believer that we should uphold European Law and promote easy migration of workers throughout the EU. What really concerns me is that unscrupulous employers can try to take advantage of overseas workers by paying them less than the going rate for the job. This has already happened elsewhere in the country on similar projects run by RWE and Alstom. We need to ensure that it doesn’t also happen at Staythorpe. If the fight for jobs for local workers has been lost we need to fight for the rights of those who are employed at Staythorpe wherever they originate from. I wonder if Mr Mercer has the stomach for this fight? I know that Dr Campbell does!
So it appears that the rumour I heard is true and a story has now appeared in the Newark Advertiser at http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/template/temp0.asp?id=611df4b7-e755-102b-ac79-977377fc8cc5. Remember that you read about it here first!!!
I like to give credit where it’s due and it’s good to see that Patrick Mercer has taken a positive step to help the villagers by writing to Post Office Ltd expressing his concerns. Mr Mercer’s positive action makes the stance of County Councillor Sue Saddington all the more disappointing. Instead of engaging in positive action Mrs Saddington has instead chosen to try to score party political points by attempting to pin the blame on the Government. She has also made the “helpful” suggestion that her constituents start a petition to protest about the closure which she will kindly present to the next Nottinghamshire County Council meeting on October 23rd.
My suggestion to Mrs Saddington is that she expends some of her own energy and helps to get the campaign off the ground. After all there are County Council elections next year and, after such an ineffectual term of office, she might need all the votes she can get!
I hear a rumour that Farndon Post Office on Main Street is to close completely from 1st December 2008!
This is not one of the Post Office’s planned closures as it was decided that Farndon Post Office should remain open. Instead it appears that the owners of the Farndon Post Office & Stores have made this decision on commercial grounds alone. Their decision to close the Post Office completely comes hard on the heels of their previous decision to open only in the morning.
I have no doubt that the owners have good reasons for making this decision but it doesn’t change the fact that a village the size of Farndon needs and deserves a full Post Office service; one that opens all day at least four days a week.
I urge the residents of Farndon to contact their local council representatives (see http://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/pp/gold/viewGold.asp?ID=2810 for full details of Parish, District and County Councillors) and get them to act immediately to stop this closure. If you don’t act now you may lose your Post Office for ever!
