No apology from Labour for insulted widow and daughter
The following is reproduced with acknowledgements to the Hounslow Chronicle, in which it appeared yesterday:"Brentford & Isleworth's MP was embroiled in the first political row of her new term this week after it was revealed she sent an Isleworth cancer victim a letter of advice three years after he died."Ann Keen's office has blamed the blunder on an administrative error, saying they were not told that Richard Dyke had lost his battle with illness."Shelley Worth said her mother, Jean, was 'heartbroken' when a letter addressed to her dead father arrived at her mother's Naseby Close home a few weeks ago."The letter, dated April 4, explained that in the run-up to the election the family's case would be handled by one of Mrs. Keen's colleagues."Mrs. Worth and her sister, Frances Morgan, had written a letter on behalf of their dying father in 2002, pleading for the MP to help move him up waiting lists for an operation which would extend his life."Mrs. Keen's office this week insisted replies had been sent to the family and health professionals contacted about the case."But the daughters claim they never received any letters from Mrs. Keen."Mr. Dyke, a former London taxi driver, died aged 70 in July 2002 - months after Mrs. Keen was first approached for help."After receiving the letter last month Ms. Worth fired a furious reply to Mrs. Keen."'The reason my father has not written to you personally is that he has been dead for the past three years,' she wrote."'You can imagine, I'm sure, the sickening amount of distress your letter has caused my elderly mother.'"Speaking to the Chronicle this week, Ms. Worth, of Twickenham Road, Isleworth, said the episode had resulted in much heartache for her mum."'She was absolutely heartbroken when she opened the letter,' she said. 'My sister and I were furious.'"Mrs. Keen's office said the MP had received no formal complaint from the family."Has anybody spotted what is missing from Mrs. Keen's office's self-justifying and dismissive response?That's it - a word - "sorry". Try it my friends - S-O-R-R-Y - it isn't that difficult!Is it really too much to ask after all the anguish which this poor family has been subjected to?
Phil Andrews ● 7281d4 Comments