BREAKING NEWS - Dr Ian Gibson deselected by Labour

BBC Look East are reporting that Dr Ian Gibson, the Labour MP for Norwich North has been deselected by Labour after appearing before the Labour star chamber to answer question about allegations made in the Daily Telegraph.

Many in his constituency will, like me, feel that Ian Gibson has been singled out by the Labour Party because he is a maverick and rebel prepared to criticise this god awful government when they are wrong whilst other more loyal MPs who have flipped their second homes and "played the system" remorselessly are allowed to get away with their crimes with no punishment or even questioning from the Labour Party.

On the ground in Norwich North

In the wake of the allegations against Ian Gibson, Labour MP for Norwich North, I thought it would be interesting to share with you comments that I have heard from constituents of Dr Gibson since the news became public.

I work in the heart of Dr Gibson's constituency and live on the edge of it and many of my work colleagues form part of his core electorate, and the reaction from them was akin to being let down by a trusted friend. Ian Gibson has been able to position himself in recent years not just as a Labour MP, but also as the anti establishment champion of local people and it is those people who felt that Labour had let them down buy Ian Gibson hadn't who feel most upset.

"I vote for him because he seemed like one of us and not one of them", said one colleague.

"Of all the MPs I never expected him to do this", said another.

But summing it all up for me was one colleague who said "I don't like Labour but I would have voted for him, but not now".

If you had asked me a week ago if I thought Ian Gibson would be named by The Telegraph, I would have said it was highly unlikely. Sadly, and I mean this genuinely as a Lib Dem and constituent of his, I feel what has happened is a great shame. Ian Gibson is that rare thing, an MP who does a good job of nursing his constituency who transcends political bias and draws his support from people who are actually bitterly opposed to the political party they represent.

Should he go ? Probably yes. Is it a shame ? Yes, I think it is.

Norfolk MPs with nothing to hide print additional costs allowances online

Four Norfolk MPs who clearly feel they have nothing to hide regarding their expenses have decided to print their additional costs allowances details for the last four years on their websites today.

You can find the details at http://www.normanlamb.org.uk , http://www.richardbacon.org.uk , http://www.iangibsonmp.org.uk and http://www.charlesclarke.org.uk .

One Lib Dem MP is worth one and a half Labour MPs

There was a nice little story in the Eastern Daily Press yesterday which highlighted how much more people think of Lib Dem MPs than Labour ones.

A charity function that the journalist attended had as auction items tea on the terrace with three different MPs. Norwich South MP Charles Clarke's offer raised a respectable £100. Regular Labour rebel Ian Gibson (Norwich North) saw his offer of tea on the House of Commons terrace raise £120, but Norman Lamb, Lib Dem MP for North Norfolk saw his similar invitation receive the highest bid of the lot, raising £170 for charity.

As the EDP commented, it seems Norman lamb is a provider of "darn good tea".

Labour MP follows Lib Dem PPC in signing petition denouncing shortage of housing

Shelter have installed a "Wall of shame" in Norwich. The have asked members of the public to sign their wall of shame in order to support their criticism of the government's policy on housing.

The charity is calling on the Government to fund and extra 20,000 social homes on top of existing plans to sort out this crisis. They have built a wall outside the Forum in Norwich, and are asking people to add their name to a brick to help get the Government’s attention.

Interestingly, following Lib Dem candidate for Norwich South, Simon Wright, signing a brick on the wall (pictured), Ian Gibson, Labour MP for Norwich North also later added his name to the protest.

Firstly, well done to Ian Gibson, not unknown for criticising his own government. I know Norwich people appreciate his virtues a an MP who stands up for Norwich, even if he does prop up a Labour regime no one likes. But well done to Simon Wright who appears to have led on this.

I guess there is no danger of government lackey and MP Charles Clarke signing the petition ? No, thought not.

More like April "Taking the Piss" Day

The Eastern Daily Press reported yesterday on their website that Dr Ian Gibson, Labour MP for Norwich North, is urging Charles Clarke, Labour MP for Norwich South to stand for the Labour Leadership.

This would be funny were it not for the fact that it is well known, and I have heard this from Labour Councillors, Lib Dems, journalists and two Norfolk MP's that Ian Gibson and Charles Clarke cannot and do not get on at all. Indeed, mutual loathing might be a more appropriate description of their relationship, so I am led to believe.

Any news of this kind, assuming that it is not an April fool prank has to be seen therefore as Ian Gibson taking the piss out of Clarke in a big way.

"Too poor to prosecute them", say Norfolk police

Norfolk police have written to a victim of crime saying that no further action will be taken against the perpetrators, who were caught as a result of CCTV evidence, because they were "unemployed foreign nationals with no income"

This is hardly a statement likely to engender confidence in the legal system or likely to create racial harmony. People are under the misapprehension that the legal system is biased against the law abiding majority, and this sort of police statement plays straight in to the hands of those who want to stir up racial hatred.

I'm pleased to see Dr Ian Gibson, Labour MP for Norwich North has taken the issue up and hope Norfolk Police change their policies as a result.

Read the story HERE .