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5:00pm Monday 5th July 2010 in
THE Government has been accused of abandoning the campaign to stop the fluoridation of Hampshire water supplies.
High profile Tories had pledged before the election to step in to ensure the controversial scheme is not imposed in the face of public opposition.
But they have now admitted they have no plans to change the law on how the chemical is introduced.
Anti-fluoride campaigners say they fear some Conservatives may have been using the subject purely to win votes in hotly-contested Hampshire seats.
The setback comes after Tory New Forest East MP Julian Lewis, who has consistently campaigned against fluoridation, asked for confirmation that promises from then shadow health ministers will go ahead.
Almost 200,000 homes in parts of Southampton, Eastleigh, Totton, Netley and Rownhams are to have fluoridated tap water, under a scheme approved by South Central Strategic Health Authority last year.
But during a public consultation, in which 10,000 people gave their views, 72 per cent of those from the affected area said they opposed the plans.
In January, the now health secretary Andrew Lansley told the Daily Echo he believed the SHA’s consultation, which is now the subject of a High Court legal challenge, was “not real”.
And Prime Minister David Cameron told this paper: “I have always taken the view that this is something that should be decided locally and I don’t believe in compulsory fluoridation of water.”
But responding to Dr Lewis’ question in Parliament, leader of the House Sir George Young said there are “no plans at this stage” to change the law surrounding fluoride being added to water supplies.
He said: “I would mislead my honourable friend if I said we were planning to do anything in the short term to change the legislative framework in which the decisions are made.”
Hampshire Against Fluoridation chairman Stephen Peckham said he had been “disappointed” by the coalition’s lack of action.
He said: “You question whether people have been using the entire fluoridation campaign to garner votes – were they just saying it for that purpose?
“We were looking for a more positive response.
“Before the election the shadow minister was very clear that whilst it would not be one of their priorities, it was definitely something that they would look at.
“I think we would expect to see some movement, and that the department should be looking at this.”
Dr Lewis also said he was disappointed, but added that he has continued to press Mr Lansley to take action.
He said: “I shall be reminding the secretary of state for health of the excellent pledge from his former spokesman that it’s vital the people would have to agree before any decision is taken.
“I expect that to be upheld, regardless of the outcome of the judicial review.
“I think there’s a loophole in the law that needs to be closed. I hope that what we’re doing in Southampton will, ultimately, lead to the closure of that loophole that allows unelected and undemocratic organisations like strategic health authorities to say they’ve taken account that everyone disagrees with them, but they’re going to carry on regardless.”
Comments(23)
Block41row0sfc
says...
12:45pm Mon 5 Jul 10
Lone Ranger
says...
12:54pm Mon 5 Jul 10
goard
says...
1:04pm Mon 5 Jul 10
StEmmosfire
says...
1:18pm Mon 5 Jul 10
Lone Ranger wrote:Who do you reckon should be in charge of our country Mr Ranger? Who will make all the right decisions?
Absolutely priceless and you voters fell for the oldest trick in the book. . I cant think that this shower with their yellow chums will keep one single promise. . You fell for their desperation to have some power and now, just like the Lib Dem supporters you have been sold down the river by the biggest Con merchants in the business....The Con-servatives
Lone Ranger
says...
1:20pm Mon 5 Jul 10
StEmmosfire wrote:Nice of you to ask.
Lone Ranger wrote:Who do you reckon should be in charge of our country Mr Ranger? Who will make all the right decisions?
Absolutely priceless and you voters fell for the oldest trick in the book. . I cant think that this shower with their yellow chums will keep one single promise. . You fell for their desperation to have some power and now, just like the Lib Dem supporters you have been sold down the river by the biggest Con merchants in the business....The Con-servatives
southy
says...
1:24pm Mon 5 Jul 10
Lone Ranger wrote:i am not surprise, that they are back peddling on there promises, they also said there be no 20% vat that did not last long has a promise, they also said that we could have the right to sack your mp or councillor dont think this will ever come about now after the good start that they got ie noakes.
Absolutely priceless and you voters fell for the oldest trick in the book.
.
I cant think that this shower with their yellow chums will keep one single promise.
.
You fell for their desperation to have some power and now, just like the Lib Dem supporters you have been sold down the river by the biggest Con merchants in the business....The Con-servatives
Block41row0sfc
says...
2:09pm Mon 5 Jul 10
StEmmosfire wrote:Ask your mum
Lone Ranger wrote:Who do you reckon should be in charge of our country Mr Ranger? Who will make all the right decisions?
Absolutely priceless and you voters fell for the oldest trick in the book. . I cant think that this shower with their yellow chums will keep one single promise. . You fell for their desperation to have some power and now, just like the Lib Dem supporters you have been sold down the river by the biggest Con merchants in the business....The Con-servatives
My View from the Hill
says...
2:41pm Mon 5 Jul 10
Paramjit Bahia
says...
3:14pm Mon 5 Jul 10
RadicalEmu
says...
3:32pm Mon 5 Jul 10
jwillie6
says...
4:16pm Mon 5 Jul 10
mooky9
says...
4:19pm Mon 5 Jul 10
My View from the Hill wrote:What planet do you live on...? They never promised to stop flouride they commented on it when it was raised but no promises were made. and as for your no truth, no family values, no integrity... Hello pot this is kettle calling. Labour were drowning in sleaze, more interested in empire building then anything else. Conservatives far more pro family - or have you forgotten the 10p decision your "sage" Gordon Brown made!? they have sold this country down the river then left it for others to sort out, you can spin this anyway you want but the fact remains we have to get a grip of things now before the country goes to pot - and labour as it is now couldn't do it, too many knives in eachothers backs.
Well well well the Tories backtracking on promises made before an election, there's a surprise. I wonder what their yellow friend Mr Huhne will make of that, mind you he is probably to busy trying to sort out his shame of a marriage to worry about it. Conned by the Conservative and Condemned by the Liberals, great start to the coalition. No increase on VAT, No fluoride in the water, No sleaze, how about no truth, no honesty, no family values, no integrity, no hope for us ordinary members of the public. You reap what you sow.
sph205
says...
4:25pm Mon 5 Jul 10
RadicalEmu
says...
4:33pm Mon 5 Jul 10
mooky9 wrote:Er.., actually, privatisation started with the Tories, so they _literally_ sold the country down the river...
My View from the Hill wrote:What planet do you live on...? They never promised to stop flouride they commented on it when it was raised but no promises were made. and as for your no truth, no family values, no integrity... Hello pot this is kettle calling. Labour were drowning in sleaze, more interested in empire building then anything else. Conservatives far more pro family - or have you forgotten the 10p decision your "sage" Gordon Brown made!? they have sold this country down the river then left it for others to sort out, you can spin this anyway you want but the fact remains we have to get a grip of things now before the country goes to pot - and labour as it is now couldn't do it, too many knives in eachothers backs.
Well well well the Tories backtracking on promises made before an election, there's a surprise. I wonder what their yellow friend Mr Huhne will make of that, mind you he is probably to busy trying to sort out his shame of a marriage to worry about it. Conned by the Conservative and Condemned by the Liberals, great start to the coalition. No increase on VAT, No fluoride in the water, No sleaze, how about no truth, no honesty, no family values, no integrity, no hope for us ordinary members of the public. You reap what you sow.
chapelsaint
says...
5:11pm Mon 5 Jul 10
RadicalEmu wrote:Can't grin-all my teeth have fallen out!
"Dental fluorosis occurs because of the excessive intake of fluoride either through fluoride in the water supply, naturally occurring or added to it; or through other sources." . Just grin and bear it...
bernard grant
says...
5:26pm Mon 5 Jul 10
My View from the Hill
says...
6:57pm Mon 5 Jul 10
mooky9 wrote:I refer you to Mr Huhne who said, I would do everything in my power to stop fluoridation in the water of the people of of Eastleigh should I get elected.
My View from the Hill wrote:What planet do you live on...? They never promised to stop flouride they commented on it when it was raised but no promises were made. and as for your no truth, no family values, no integrity... Hello pot this is kettle calling. Labour were drowning in sleaze, more interested in empire building then anything else. Conservatives far more pro family - or have you forgotten the 10p decision your "sage" Gordon Brown made!? they have sold this country down the river then left it for others to sort out, you can spin this anyway you want but the fact remains we have to get a grip of things now before the country goes to pot - and labour as it is now couldn't do it, too many knives in eachothers backs.
Well well well the Tories backtracking on promises made before an election, there's a surprise. I wonder what their yellow friend Mr Huhne will make of that, mind you he is probably to busy trying to sort out his shame of a marriage to worry about it. Conned by the Conservative and Condemned by the Liberals, great start to the coalition. No increase on VAT, No fluoride in the water, No sleaze, how about no truth, no honesty, no family values, no integrity, no hope for us ordinary members of the public. You reap what you sow.
thesaint
says...
7:10pm Mon 5 Jul 10
mooky9
says...
9:12pm Mon 5 Jul 10
My View from the Hill wrote:Southampton! And for the record I am against flouridisation completley. We can both quote stories about the respective parties all day long - expenses for example a certain home secretary claiming for ****, a deputy Labour leader who has been fired twice and is one of the biggest criminals in westminster... but I digress. I think they are all as much of a con as each other, what i don't agree with is blaming all this on the current lot when it's clear that all of them have royally screwed us over. Everyone on here seems to be pro labour and it's all the tories/libs fault when it's not.
mooky9 wrote:I refer you to Mr Huhne who said, I would do everything in my power to stop fluoridation in the water of the people of of Eastleigh should I get elected. As for no truth, The Tories said before the election we will not increase VAT to 20% I do believe the Con Dems are doing that. The family man Chris Huhne, who sent out leaflets before the election showing photo's of his wedding day, also photo's of his children, only to reveal that he is in a long term relationship with another women, whilst still married. Is that good family values? What about Caroline Noakes, I suppose sleeping with someone else whilst still married and living with her husband show wonderful morales and family values. How much money were the Tories and Lib Dem MP's coining in compared to Labour MP's. Duck houses in Gosport, I do believe that MP was a Tory, even Nick Clegg had to pay back over claimed expenses. By the way, I did not state that I was a Gordon Brown supporter, nor did I say he was my sage. Just today Tory councillor saying the government will not stop the funding to re-build or renovate 5 schools in Southampton, shame he did not tell Michael Cove that, that has just cost people in Southampton and Hampshire their jobs or the chance of jobs. And you have the cheek to ask me what planet I live on, where are you living?My View from the Hill wrote: Well well well the Tories backtracking on promises made before an election, there's a surprise. I wonder what their yellow friend Mr Huhne will make of that, mind you he is probably to busy trying to sort out his shame of a marriage to worry about it. Conned by the Conservative and Condemned by the Liberals, great start to the coalition. No increase on VAT, No fluoride in the water, No sleaze, how about no truth, no honesty, no family values, no integrity, no hope for us ordinary members of the public. You reap what you sow.What planet do you live on...? They never promised to stop flouride they commented on it when it was raised but no promises were made. and as for your no truth, no family values, no integrity... Hello pot this is kettle calling. Labour were drowning in sleaze, more interested in empire building then anything else. Conservatives far more pro family - or have you forgotten the 10p decision your "sage" Gordon Brown made!? they have sold this country down the river then left it for others to sort out, you can spin this anyway you want but the fact remains we have to get a grip of things now before the country goes to pot - and labour as it is now couldn't do it, too many knives in eachothers backs.
JimSchultz
says...
9:37pm Mon 5 Jul 10
JimSchultz
says...
9:38pm Mon 5 Jul 10
Polygonia
says...
10:01am Tue 6 Jul 10
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St.DaveH says...
12:34pm Mon 5 Jul 10