Most New Labour politicians cannnot resist the urge to jump aboard the next available

bandwagon and see where it takes them.

This page will seek to record all the various minor causes which our MP espouses and

campaigns for, the timings of which neatly coincide with public outcrys and demands for

action, as well as cheesy publicity stunt

Caution over Passes

Burnley Express, Letters Page, 5th April, 2007

RE. the free off-peak bus passes for over-60s and disabled people. In December 2006, Kitty Ussher said: "I whole heartedly welcome the new Bill which will make the old boundaries irrelevant and allow pensioners and disabled people free off-peak travel, if they wanted they could even travel to Cornwall."

However, anyone thinking of making a lengthy journey using their free bus pass should be aware that these passes are for local services only and cannot be used on National Express buses. This means a journey to Cornwall will require several changes en route and given the speed of local buses this will probably mean the journey will take more than one day. This is hardly the picture Kitty painted when she made the above statement.

MR TERENCE ROBINSON Briercliffe Road, Burnley
 

Delight over new Direct Rail Link

Burnley Express, 7th December, 2007

'This is fantastic news.....' She goes on: 'It's to a longer timescale and we are not certain of

the outcome or indeed how many improvements would be funded at this stage...'.     

It doesn't seem quite so fantastic now, Kitty.

Kitty's thoughts on Christmas                                                                                                                                                                    Burnley Express, 14th December, 2007

 'Christmas is about being with the people most dearest to us and spreading good will and happiness to others'.         

Jesus might have something to do with it,  too.                                                                                                                               

Just a Whiff of Hypocrisy

Lancashire Telegraph, 23rd January, 2008

'But after becoming aware of a number of horror stories about pilgrims being cheated

out of flights, accommodation and visa deals, Burnley MP Kitty Ussher has issued a

warning to would-be travelers.

Mrs Ussher said: "Before handing over any money people should check companies are

properly registered and check their agent is ATOL (Air Travel Organiser Licence) accredited."'

We're sure that the town's Muslims have sufficient wit to book their Hajj flights without help from

Mrs Ussher. This woman really will say anything to get her name in the paper.

Toadying

Lancashire Telegraph, 8th November, 2007

Burnley's Kitty Ussher said: "I am really delighted that the measures in the Queen's

Speech are addressing the concerns of Britain and in particular the people of Burnley.

"We have listened to the British people and are responding by supporting hard-working

families and helping break down barriers to opportunity that prevent people from

realising their full potential."

Rent-a-quote

Propaganda

Letter to the Burnley Express, 7th September, 2007

I RECENTLY received a leaflet through my letterbox headed "News From Kitty Ussher MP", hospital update,

patients first, not politics.

Reading through the leaflet I began to realise our MP was now speaking in the same terms as the directors

of the Hospital Trust. She now appears to be supporting the decisions being taken by the Trust to run down

the services being provided by our hospital for the residents of Burnley and surrounding areas.

On the front she comments on six achievements her campaign has secured but she fails to mention the

following:

The transfer of the blue light emergency service to Blackburn. Is she now happy that some of her

constituents could now have their lives put at risk following the transfer of this facility?

The strengthening of the maternity unit is welcome, but nothing more than a town our size deserves.

But what about the closures of the children's ward, the path lab, the urology facility, the reduced intensive

care and high dependency units, the threat to the fracture clinic and others yet to be disclosed.

The increase in the number of ambulances coupled with a free shuttle bus will not compensate for this

disgraceful attack on our most vital of services.

Turning to the reverse of this self-promoting leaflet, Mrs Ussher tells us she organised a town centre march

in December 2005. I attended that march but my understanding was that it was a non-political people's

march organised by Coun. Gordon Birtwistle, with the help of the Express. I understand she did organise

something with the unions but due to lack of response joined the people's march and then tried to steal

the limelight.

The battlebus trip to London came from a discussion I was having with a friend of mine over a cup of tea.

We mentioned it to Gordon Birtwistle who, with the support of the Express and Burnley and Pendle

Transport who provided the bus and two drivers free of charge, organised the trip.

Mrs Ussher arranged the meeting with Patricia Hewitt who absolved herself of all responsibility and passed

the issue to Lancashire County Council who rejected our wishes to keep services in Burnley. Our town

let down once again by our elected representatives in London and at County Hall.

We need the services at present provided at our hospital to be retained and improved not diluted. We need

an MP who is committed to fight for this, not one who capitulates when she is given her "dream job"

working with the billionaire bankers in the City of London. We need an MP whose first priority is her

constituents, not her own political career.

GWEN TAPPIN Moorland Road, Burnley

Burnley Express 7/9/07

Sticking Rockets

House of Commons, 23rd May 2007

'In the 1980s, my predecessor brought Minister after Minister to view Burnley's derelict housing

problems, but it took the election of a Labour Government before we finally got the housing

market renewal programme that was so desperately needed. However, the Liberal Democrat-Tory

administration on Burnley council is moving too slowly in administering that scheme. Last year,

it did not even spend the money that we allocated it under that programme. Before my right

hon. Friend leaves office, will

he stick a rocket under the local authority and local agencies so that my constituents get the

regenerated communities that they need and deserve?'

More toadying. Another opportunity wasted to call the government to account. Another potshot

at the non-Labour council.

Wrong question

Letter to the Burnley Express, 27th April, 2007

LAST Wednesday at Prime Minister's questions in the House of Commons, Burnley MP Kitty

Ussher asked a typically sycophantic question on the lines of, did the Prime Minister agree with

her that treatment in Burnley hospitals was getting better.

If the honourable lady had more concern for the wellbeing of her constituents and less for her

own advancement in the Labour party, the question to ask would have been, "does the PM agree

that it is disgraceful that Burnley's A&E department is being moved 20 miles to Blackburn with

 the consequence that patients will wait longer for treatment?"

MR KEITH WISEMAN, Bury

Cold comfort here

Letter to the Burnley Express, 27th April, 2007

LOCAL MP makes PM look like a right numpty!

In response to a question from Kitty Ussher MP at Prime Minister's questions, Tony Blair

trumpets the fact that there has been improved rates of people being seen quickly in

A&E. That's not much comfort to the people of Burnley who will soon have to travel

to overstretched Blackburn to receive emergency treatment.

MR MARK HANNAH Colne Road, Burnley

Same Old Tricks

Westminster Week, Burnley Express, 1st December, 2006

Regarding the looming local government pensions crisis:

'It wasn't our council that got us into this mess but the councils- mainly Tory it has

to be said- in the south that did not make adequate provision...the other frustration

is that the people negotiating on behalf of the councils [is]...the Local Government

Association which again has a Tory chair. Many people think they are creating a

crisis over this issue in an attempt to create some electoral advantage for themselves'.

Kitty, your lot have been in power nearly ten years. If the Tories mishandled it so

badly, why didn't your crew do something about it back in 1997?

SUPPORTING THE CLARETS

Report to Constituents: Autumn 2006

'Kitty and her family are season-ticket holders at Turf Moor and they go to as many Saturday

home games as they can'.

-Complete with Kitty draped in Burnley FC scarf and holding up a Burnley shirt.

Isn't it amazing how winning an election can suddenly make you the Clarets' most dedicated fan?

Time Well Spent

Westminster Week, Burnley Express, 28th April, 2006

Regarding Labour's recent 'Dave the Chameleon' advert:

'The soundtrack to the ad...was Boy George's 1980's classic Karma Chameleon which I'm

trying to get Labour MPs to sing at David Cameron during Prime Minister's Questions, but for

some reason they just look at me oddly when I suggest this to them'.

That's because some Labour MPs who are older and wiser than Kitty appreciate that they get paid

sixty grand to represent their constituents, not play silly games.

Tessa Jowell Toadying

Speech, House of Commons, Monday 6th March, 2006

'I thank my right hon. Friend for that extremely helpful response. As she continues to lead her

Department into the future with her characteristic vigour, will she undertake to involve BBC staff

and trade unions in the development of the White Paper and the charter renewal process?'

Desperately seeking to support a Labour minister in trouble, Kitty inserts as much toadying

into her speech as possible (emphasis ours).

Dentist Wide Open To All

Burnley Express, 20th January, 2005

"I've today rung NHS Direct myself to go on the list to be allocated a place with one of the

new NHS dentists when they are available."

-Complete with photograph of Mrs Ussher having her teeth examined.

Town's MP Supports Round-the Clock Drinking

Burnley Express, 25th November, 2005 

Regarding the new 24-hour licensing laws:

'I believe the vast majority of drinkers and licensees in Burnley and Padiham welcome the

new legislation...'

Well they would, wouldn't they?

Voice Your Opposition to Plans

 November 2005

BURNLEY'S MP wants to hear from doctors and consultants about how the possible closures

[of the proposed A&E] could impact on patients' lives.
"I would really like to speak to any doctors or consultants, especially those who are connected

with A and E and intensive care, to find out their views about the clinical impact."

What does she think they are going to say? Even if the proposals don't result in their redundancy,

 surely it is blindingly obvious that medical staff will oppose the relocating of an A&E twelve miles

further down the motorway.

Or maybe Kitty's soliciting of their views is really just to make her look like she's actually doing

something.

Kitty Ussher's Westminster Week

Burnley Express, 4th November, 2005

Regarding the Government's anti-terrorism law that seeks to hold suspects for 90 days

without charge:

'But some Labour MPs in particular are worried that the measures are too harsh, so the

Government will reconsider its proposals and try to come back in the next few weeks

with something more acceptable.'

Labour MPs in PARTICULAR? It's actually only a minority of Labour MPs who rebelled.

The Bill's principal opponents have been the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. But

no, according to Kitty, it's LABOUR MPs who are seeking to preserve our liberties. Classic.

Just Political Opportunism

Letter to the Burnley Express, 4th November, 2005

- YOUR story on Labour's support for the campaign to keep open Burnley General Hospital's

Intensive Care and Accident and Emergency services is a disgraceful example of political

opportunism of the worst kind.
We have a Labour government, three Labour MEPs, a Labour county council, a Labour

borough council, a Labour MP and a hospital under threat.
I don't want to hear about former Labour MPs and council members fighting to save these

services when it is their policies causing the closures in the first place!

Residents Won the Day

Ussher Welcomes Extra Trains Bid

Burnley and Pendle Citizen, 22nd Sept, 2005

Regarding the upgrading of a railway line which involves services between Blackburn and

Burnley increasing, and the possibility of a direct link to Manchester Airport, Kitty Ussher said:

'I am all in favour of this. Better rail links are vital to Burnley's economy. They are the future.'

Profound.

MP Warns on TV Cricket Switch

Burnley and Pendle Citizen, 15th Sept, 2005

'Burnley may never produce another Test Cricketer like James Anderson because the sport's

bosses have sold live England coverage to Sky, according to the town's MP Kitty Ussher. Now

she is urging the chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board...to reconsider his decision

...The Labour backbencher asked him to return the sport to free TV channels where most people

can view it'.

Not only is our Kitty a keen and loyal Burnley FC fan, she is now passionate about cricket-

and just in time for England to win the Ashes.  

Letter to the Burnley Express

14 October, 2005

 - WE read with some disbelief in the Express, that Kitty Ussher, our newly-elected MP, had finally

sorted out the problem of the derelict shops in Calderbrook Avenue.
Mrs Ussher assured us that, due to her intervention, the problem we had failed to solve during the

last three years is now a problem of the past as the shops are to be demolished in the New Year.
Mrs Ussher neglected to mention that the problem had already been solved a few months previously by

the hard work of town hall staff, Mrs K. Hanlon, of Calderbrook Avenue, and the unremitting drive of

Couns Bullas, Birtwistle and Horrocks.
The Parklands Residents' Association, whose dozens of meetings maintained a steady pressure on the

council to get that eyesore removed, also played a large part. However, Mrs Ussher, who spotted an opportunity

for self-aggrandisement, has seen no reason to mention any of this already completed hard work, preferring

instead to claim sole responsibility.
COUNS P. HORROCKS AND C. BULLAS

Burnley Express, 21 October, 2005

'I asked a question to find out what the government is doing to clamp down on postal vote fraud. The

answer is that we are changing the law to make it illegal to falsely apply for a postal vote with a

maximum penalty of two years in prison'.

Isn't it already illegal to falsely apply for a postal vote?