Government Chief Whip praises Doncaster's changing face

17 July 2006

The Government Chief Whip, Jacqui Smith, welcomed the success of Robin Hood Airport, on her visit to Doncaster this week.

Speaking to Labour supporters in Doncaster, Ms Smith said: "Robin Hood Airport passing one million passengers in just over one year has defied its critics.

"From a site that might have become a prison under a Tory Government, we can all see now that the future of Doncaster was changed, the day that Caroline Flint and her parliamentary colleagues persuaded the Government sold that site for aviation.

Ms Smith, who opened a Sure Start in Conisbrough in 2002, said: "Doncaster is changing so fast I hardly recognise it from a few years ago. I now leave the railway station and walk into a new transport interchange where, if I'm visiting Caroline Flint I catch a bus to Sprotbrough which passes over a rebuilt North Bridge from which I can see the St Georges Bridge and a new Doncaster College Hub.

"It seems to me that a Labour Government, good Labour MPs and a Labour Mayor have really given Doncaster something to shout about. This Borough is really going places."

Said Don Valley Labour Party Chair Roni Chapman: "It was tremendous to meet Jacqui, who even as one of the youngest members of the Cabinet has achieved so much. As a Health Minister, she opened Doncaster's first Sure Start and introduced digital hearing aids and as a schools Minister she approved some of the huge increases in education funding here in Doncaster. So it was great to have her back to show her what a difference the Government is making."