DR BOB SPINK MP
WE'LL KEEP YOU APPRAISED OF BOB'S ACTIVITIES HERE:
Frank Field, Labour’s most respected MP contrasts Bob Spink’s foresight and work in Parliament with Conservative opportunism. Last year Bob was the only Tory to vote against the whip to stop the removal of the 10% tax rate to protect the poor. Now all Tories are being whipped to follow Bob’s policy. But the Tories refuse to reverse the change if they get power, so why all their synthetic fuss now?
Bob says: “It is time Cameron dropped the spin and opportunism and started listening to people.”
House of Commons Monday 28 April 2008 [Mr. Speaker in the Chair]
Mr. Frank Field (Birkenhead) (Lab): The public have learned something that they did not know before today. It is that no party proposes the reintroduction of the 10p tax rate. The debate is about the way in which we compensate those on low incomes who have lost out through the abolition of the 10p rate. The second issue that we have to decide tonight is whether we accept the line that the Conservative Opposition are following in their amendments, which is that they are greatly concerned about the circumstances of our poorest constituents. Again, it does not help very much that when we debated last year’s Budget… only one Conservative Member supported the lead amendment. Since then he has been expelled from the Conservative party—he is the hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink). There is great rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents. There are 192 Tories repenting tonight, so clearly there will be a great big party up there at the results of this conversion.
29 Apr 2008
Bob Spink (Castle Point) (UKIP): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I seek your advice. Column 111 of yesterday’s Official Report shows the deeply respected right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) complimenting my work in the House, and inadvertently mentioning that I was ‘expelled’ from the Conservative party. As those on the Tory Front Bench know very well, and as the letters, e-mail and record show, I resigned from the Conservative party. A day later, the Tory Whip was withdrawn. How can I ensure that the record is corrected? We have enough spin in this place.
Mr. Speaker: That is now on the record.
Yet more Tory Opportunism:
Defence
The Secretary of State was asked — Iraq
Bob Spink (Castle Point) (UKIP): what recent assessment has he made of levels of morale of British troops in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.
The Minister for the Armed Forces (Mr. Bob Ainsworth): Ministers visit Iraq on a regular basis. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State visited most recently and was encouraged by the good spirits and professionalism of our troops. Equally, two of the Chiefs of Staff have been in theatre recently and similarly report that morale among our forces is good and that we are working effectively alongside our coalition partners and the Iraqi security forces in Basra.
Bob Spink: I welcome the Government’s policy of holding an inquiry after troops are withdrawn from theatre. An inquiry while they are still in action would put them in more danger and damage their morale. Will he always put the safety of our troops uppermost and resist opportunistic attempts to turn our troops into a political football?
Mr. Ainsworth: I agree with the hon. Gentleman. When we discussed the matter a few weeks ago it was clear that people wanted an inquiry for purely party political purposes and that there was no precedent for holding such an inquiry while our troops were still in theatre and in danger. That is why we rejected the call for an inquiry at this time.
Bob Spink says:
“Unlike many MPs, I remain totally true to my election promises and my principles. I hope to force the Tories to do a U-Turn on their changed policy of support for the EU Constitution if they ever win power; I hope to force them to promise to get rid of it if they form the next Government.”