April 5 2013.

The announcement that Norman Baker is joining the upcoming Seaford Town march protesting about the cuts at Eastbourne District General Hospital has certainly lubricated the Haven News mailbox. Not all e-mails are suitable for publication though... 
 

MEMORY MAIN?
Is Rod Main's memory so short that he has forgotton Mr Baker's U-turn on student fees?

Paul Franklin

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PARTY ZOMBIE?
I'm sort of surpised by this reaction... and yet not.

I'm not in politics just to follow a party line. I suspect Norman isn't part of a coalition government just to blindly follow everything the majority party says. If he feels that what is happening is wrong, why shouldn't he be allowed to protest about it?

When I come to vote, it will be for somebody who follows their conscience, not somebody who is being a party zombie.

Cllr. Rod Main

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BACK AT NACH
In response to the TWO FACED post below:

Except these cuts won't have been made by Norman's government department, and would probably be far worse if his party wasn't reining in the Tories.

The cuts at Eastbourne District General Hostpital won't even be made by central government, but by the Tory led county council.

Before people criticize Norman for supposedly being two faced, they should make sure that they understand what a coalition government is, and also the simple maths that 300 odd MPs is more than 50 odd MPs.

Being in coalition means compromise, and if you are a member of the junior partner in this coalition, it means accepting some things you might not agree with to get some of your policies implemented.

Cuts would be a lot worse without Norman's party being in government.

Alex 

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NACH BACK
Andy Wallis raises a salient and reasonable point there.

Although the Westland scandal was in 1986, (over a quarter of a century ago), the principle behind it is still relevant today.

To précis; it ended up with Michael Hestletine resigning from the cabinet.

Now there is an idea!!

Nach
Newhaven

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SQUARE THE CIRCLE
Norman Baker may well be a member of the cabinet, but he is Under Secretary for the Department for Transport, so unless they are going to fit wheels under the hospital this is not his main remit.

Whereas there is the ethos of corporate responsibility within the cabinet, there have been many incidents recently where individual cabinet members have disagreed with government policy. Michael Heseltine and Westland springs to mind.

Lets see how he squares the circle

Andy Wallis
Newhaven 

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TWO-FACED
May I point out that Norman Baker is part of the coalition government and as a cabinet member he has been in possession of the fact that this was due to be sold for some time now.

I would be ashamed to be so two-faced as to be part of selling it, and at the same time marching at protest of decisions that I have been part of.

Showboating? And that's being polite!

Nach
Newhaven

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