Dawn Fyfe - Voice of Dissent

Published 25 Aug 2010 10:00

I WATCHED Celebrity Masterchef with rage last week as Christine Hamilton, the wife of an ex-Tory MP, cooked a wonderful rogan josh with herbs, sauces and fresh meat for the boys of Harrow private school in London.

The irony of a Tory being involved in providing such healthy food for children who already have access to the best money can buy, while our children are subject to a miniscule amount per school dinner, as highlighted by Jamie Oliver, was not lost.

Meanwhile one of their own, Anne Milton, yet another Tory Minister, states that there is no evidence that milk improves children’s health and wanted to stop free milk at school as part of the cuts.

Interesting when the head of Harrow, alongside all international advisors on children’s health, emphasises the importance of fresh healthy food to increase children’s ability at school.

Not that only the Tories are guilty of this short-term memory problem.

Just this year the Labour branch of West Dunbartonshire suggested cutting free milk as part of the local cuts.

Can you believe that?

I remember demonstations against the Tories, which included Labour Party card holders, where protestors were shouting ‘Maggie Thatcher, milk snatcher’.

How quickly our children’s health becomes dispensable.

Now we hear that free transport for school children is being considered for cuts.

West Dunbartonshire Council is reviewing its free transport policy.

It is essential that this service continues, in fact it should be extended.

To expect parents to pay for their children to attend compulsory school education is outrageous, particularly at times when families are under such financial stress.

Choosing between feeding, your kids or sending them to school to prevent further fines is not an acceptable situation.

In one Scottish local authority, they have even stopped a lollipop service on one of its main roads, assessing that it is too risky for someone to work there.

Too dangerous for adults but not for children, it seems.

But I witter on as if politicians actually care about our children.

If there was ever evidence of both politicians’ disregard for children and the heartlessness of Tory policy, it has to be the home secretary Theresa May’s refusal to help Precious Mhango.

It is difficult to think of a time when Government has been so closed-minded and uncompassionate.

This is a child at risk of mutilation if she is returned to Malawi, an issue that Scotland has addressed through legislation and has some of the strictest laws against transporting a child for this abuse.

Maybe someone should charge the MPs who created the heartless immigration laws in this country and those who promote it.

By refusing to intervene in Precious’ deportation those who have the power should be seen as contributing.

Precious is one of our children too.

Scottish people should have the right to say we want her to stay here with her mum.

If we cannot protect our own children, who can we protect?

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This article appeared in Clydebank Post 25 Aug 10

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