Conservative New Forest MP Julian Lewis expresses anger at fluoride silence (From Daily Echo)
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Conservative New Forest MP Julian Lewis expresses anger at fluoride silence
2:40pm Thursday 22nd July 2010 in
-
- By Jon Reeve » Education Reporter
ANOTHER Tory Hampshire MP has attacked his own party for failing to deliver its promises to change the law on fluoridation.
Julian Lewis, pictured, is furious after senior Conservatives have refused to comment on the scheme, and backed away from election pledges to look at the rules surrounding how the chemical is introduced to water.
The New Forest East MP has accused health ministers of “unethically” attempting to hide behind the very laws they criticised before winning power.
And he is demanding an urgent answer on whether his party still believes communities should not be fluoridated against their will.
The move comes just days after the new Tory MP for Romsey and Southampton North, Caroline Nokes, sent a letter to Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, saying she was “very let down” by the failure to give people a referendum on fluoridation.
Dr Lewis’ own attack has come in a letter to Anne Milton, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health, who is responsible for fluoride policy.
He is upset with a response from her to a request he made, asking the Department of Health for assurances it was still intending to give the public the final say over fluoridation schemes.
She refused to comment on the Hampshire scheme because of a judicial review that has been lodged into the way the decision was made.
More than 10,000 people gave their views during the consultation on plans to add the chemical to tap water delivered to almost 200,000 homes in parts of Southampton, Eastleigh, Totton, Netley and Rownhams.
Despite almost three-quarters of responses objecting, South Central Strategic Health Authority (SHA) approved the plans.
Before the election, Mr Lansley and Tory leader David Cameron voiced concerns over the SHA’s consultation and questioned if the scheme should be going ahead in the face of public opposition.
“Health ministers appear to be trying to shelter behind the very legislation in the very manner we objected to in opposition,” Dr Lewis said.
“This is an unethical position to take and I trust that you do not intend seriously to take it.”
Dr Lewis said he wants an answer “without further delay” over whether the Government stands by the principle that communities should not have fluoridation imposed on them when there is clear opposition.
Comments(9)
Linesman
says...
3:41pm Thu 22 Jul 10
Well, there's a surprise.
When have they ever kept their promises?
Mental Micky
says...
3:48pm Thu 22 Jul 10
southy wrote:You were telling everyone to vote liberal before the election - now you've forgotten that your wish came true because they they are also in government. Make your mind up or stick to your story.
and the collapse of the tory government has began
southy
says...
3:53pm Thu 22 Jul 10
Mental Micky wrote:mm i am a true socialist voting liberal was for totton only, they had the only chance of removing a tory mp.
southy wrote:You were telling everyone to vote liberal before the election - now you've forgotten that your wish came true because they they are also in government. Make your mind up or stick to your story.
and the collapse of the tory government has began
but if i was lewis i would leave the tory party and join ukip.
Lone Ranger
says...
4:13pm Thu 22 Jul 10
.
Well let me tell you that they feel like 65% of the Country and it has nothing to do with fluoride.
.
Wont be too long now before it all falls apart as the stitiching is already coming undone. Massive flaws and errors in their choice of cabinet.
.
Gove........useless at basic school detail.
.
Cleg on PMQ.
.
Osborne as chancellor....nothin
g adds up and the worlds fear of the UK not only in deeper double dip recession but worse.
.
Duncan Smith........back down on retirement at 70.
.
Lansley........Death Tax.
.
Hague.....just useless since the Ashcroft sage.
.
Cable on Student tax.
.
The list goes on. Now had they been in Government for a few years then ok ........but on 8-9 weeks........God help us ................
.
Hope i didnt go off the subject !!
Nod
says...
5:13pm Thu 22 Jul 10
Lone Ranger wrote:they're doing a much better job than the last joke of a Government.
So Julian Lewis is furious is he and Nokes feels let down.
.
Well let me tell you that they feel like 65% of the Country and it has nothing to do with fluoride.
.
Wont be too long now before it all falls apart as the stitiching is already coming undone. Massive flaws and errors in their choice of cabinet.
.
Gove........useless at basic school detail.
.
Cleg on PMQ.
.
Osborne as chancellor....nothin
g adds up and the worlds fear of the UK not only in deeper double dip recession but worse.
.
Duncan Smith........back down on retirement at 70.
.
Lansley........Death Tax.
.
Hague.....just useless since the Ashcroft sage.
.
Cable on Student tax.
.
The list goes on. Now had they been in Government for a few years then ok ........but on 8-9 weeks........God help us ................
.
Hope i didnt go off the subject !!
Lone Ranger
says...
5:21pm Thu 22 Jul 10
Nod wrote:Talking of joke.......i posted it...
Lone Ranger wrote:they're doing a much better job than the last joke of a Government.
So Julian Lewis is furious is he and Nokes feels let down.
.
Well let me tell you that they feel like 65% of the Country and it has nothing to do with fluoride.
.
Wont be too long now before it all falls apart as the stitiching is already coming undone. Massive flaws and errors in their choice of cabinet.
.
Gove........useless at basic school detail.
.
Cleg on PMQ.
.
Osborne as chancellor....nothin
g adds up and the worlds fear of the UK not only in deeper double dip recession but worse.
.
Duncan Smith........back down on retirement at 70.
.
Lansley........Death Tax.
.
Hague.....just useless since the Ashcroft sage.
.
Cable on Student tax.
.
The list goes on. Now had they been in Government for a few years then ok ........but on 8-9 weeks........God help us ................
.
Hope i didnt go off the subject !!
Jammy Donut
says...
6:36pm Thu 22 Jul 10
Pity she took no notice of the electorate being "very let down" by her extra marital antics with the toy boy. If there is a referendum, perhaps
her continuation as an MP could be added to the ballot paper.
Andy Locks Heath
says...
8:46am Fri 23 Jul 10
Lone Ranger wrote:Impressive list LR but I suspect the devil is in the detail. I suspect Cameron Osborne and Clegg had been told that if they didn't cut the defecit quickly Britain would lose its triple A credit rating and that would have been catastrophic, hence the accelerated austerity. Double Dip is becoming a silly meaningless phrase invented by the Economist but now bandied by people who aren't sure what it actually is. I'd go easy on Duncan Smith though - he did tons of good work on pensions - he's a bit like Frank Field - and he wouldn't do what he's done if the country could afford more. As for Gove - he learned that you can't expect a Civil Servant to compile an accurate list with only 5 days notice but it is the policy behind it that is important. I spoke to a friend who works in the schools construction sector who felt that many of the approved projects were unnecessarily expensive and grandiose - but I'm sure the list will be given a few more shakes yet before it's final.
So Julian Lewis is furious is he and Nokes feels let down.
.
Well let me tell you that they feel like 65% of the Country and it has nothing to do with fluoride.
.
Wont be too long now before it all falls apart as the stitiching is already coming undone. Massive flaws and errors in their choice of cabinet.
.
Gove........useless at basic school detail.
.
Cleg on PMQ.
.
Osborne as chancellor....nothin
g adds up and the worlds fear of the UK not only in deeper double dip recession but worse.
.
Duncan Smith........back down on retirement at 70.
.
Lansley........Death Tax.
.
Hague.....just useless since the Ashcroft sage.
.
Cable on Student tax.
.
The list goes on. Now had they been in Government for a few years then ok ........but on 8-9 weeks........God help us ................
.
Hope i didnt go off the subject !!
Back on to fluoride - I don't care whether we do or don't, but what a relief that those weird american obsessives haven't put in an apprearance for once.
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southy says...
3:30pm Thu 22 Jul 10