TWO weeks ago I was contacted by the Reporter for comments regarding the expenses of MP Shahid Malik.
When I received the May 22 edition of the paper I was shocked to read page after page of what appeared to be an attack on Mr Malik. None of the comments I made were published. Why?
Perhaps it was because my comments were too positive, or maybe t
he paper didn't have enough space left to include them and they would have been printed the following week – wrong they didn't appear.
The editor's note on last week's letters' page said: "Our selection of letters last week merely reflected what we had received - had we been sent positive letters at the time we would have published them."
So that is what I did wrong. I should not have given my comments over the phone as requested, I should have sent them in writing.
I was not the only one who was contacted by phone who gave positive comments regarding our MP surprise, surprise, their comments were not published either.
Mr Malik has worked hard for the town. He has supported the Chamber of Trade, Dewsbury Market Traders' Association, Dewsbury Means Business, his stakeholders group and many small community groups who would not have had a voice had it not been for his help. He has also helped raise thousands of pound for charities and raise expectations of many young people by taking them on visits to the House of Commons.
Since becoming our MP Mr Malik has had to contend with the terrorist bombers and the Karen Matthews scandal to name but two, but he has never lost his passion or enthusiasm for Dewsbury. He has talked the town up at every opportunity both locally and nationally, he should be applauded, not condemned.
He insists his expenses are all open and above board and he has acted within the rules. I for one believe him. He has always come across as an honest man with integrity. He is not being investigated for his expenses, but to see if his arrangement with his landlord breaches the conflict of interest rules.
Mr Malik has done more for Dewsbury than his predecessors ever did.He deserves better treatment from the residents of Dewsbury than this. As for the Reporter I am appalled at the way it did not balance out the positive aspects with the negative ones.
TRISH MAKEPEACE
President of the Chamber of Trade and chairman of Dewsbury Market Traders' Association.
Editor's note: All comments we sought were printed in full online as we stated in the Reporter on Friday May 22. Throughout the coverage of this issue, which is about MPs' allowance claims and NOT the MP's work in the town, the Reporter has reflected readers' views on both sides.
