Ruddock fails over Surrey Canal Road station

This is a letter I sent to the South London Press about the story of Labour MP Joan Ruddock appearing in photo shoots about Surrey Canal Road station being excluded from the London Overground expansion, despite failing to convince her government of the need for the station.

The station was a part of plans for the expansion, and would have provided fantastic transport in the New Cross and Deptford areas but has been shelved by the Labour government.

Dear editor,
 
I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that Joan Ruddock's campaign for a Surrey Canal Road station on the East London line is an admission of failure (Fighting for East London Line station, 31st March).
 
She is campaigning over a poor decision her government made, it was Geoff Hoon who chose to ignore people in New Cross and Deptford.
 
We are talking about an MP who has mindlessly voted for the Labour government on almost every issue: against an investigation into the Iraq war, for the appalling anti-terror laws and for top-up fees.
 
If, despite this huge support, she cannot get a proper transport connection for people in her constituency, she has surely failed as an MP.
 
Regards,
 
Michael.

Michael Rutherford
4th April 2009