Where is John Leech?

Citizens of the hotly contested Manchester Withington constituency have begun a campaign to expose Liberal Democrat MP John Leech, claiming he has consistently failed to represent his constituents, and failed to take a stand on issues affecting the constituency.

Most notably, John Leech’s failure to stand up and take a position on the much-debated Transport Innovation Fund Proposals has resulted in anger from residents. These proposals will be put to referendum in December and, if passed, will involve a wide-ranging shake up of Manchester’s transport system. The investment will result in changes from cycle provisions to fast-transit bus routes to tramline extensions to a peak-time congestion charge. Lucy Powell, Labour’s PPC for Manchester Withington, favours the proposals, claiming that the benefits to Manchester Withington alone are enormous and that to vote no would put the biggest ever investment in Manchester’s transport system in jeopardy.

Despite the fact that the outcomes of the referendum would hugely affect the residents of his constituency, and that these proposals have been on the table for over a year, it would appear that Liberal Democrat MP John Leech has done his very best to avoid the subject. Despite the extensive and lengthy debate around the issue, residents claim Mr Leech has left it to the final few weeks before the vote to make a decision. At a recent debate on the Congestion Charge he refused to debate, yet still turned up and failed to vote when the audience was asked their opinions on the proposals.

Beyond the transport proposals, Mr Leech has caused further anger. In a recently created facebook group, whose membership is growing fast, creators cite Leech’s failure to attend the House of Commons debate where the Government re-awarded the Post Office Card Account to the Royal Mail. His absence was highlighted by neighbouring MP Sir Gerald Kaufman when, in questioning the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions he said, ‘May I thank him on behalf of the 8,000 of my constituents who are Post Office card account holders—and on behalf of the 6,000 constituents in the constituency of Manchester, Withington, whose Member of Parliament is once again absent from discussion of these matters?’ The group also claims that Mr Leech distributed leaflets on the Climate Change Bill yet did not attend votes on the bill on 9th June 2008 and again on Tuesday 28th October.

These issues of the utmost importance require the attention of a dedicated Member of Parliament. On one of the biggest issues facing Manchester in recent years, the Liberal Democrat MP for Manchester Withington has been notably absent. On other issues too from climate change to the Post Office, John Leech has been missing from public debate and from representing his constituents. These constituents are beginning to fight back. To join the facebook group click here