The Servant of the People

This book describes the 18 years during which Den Dover had the privilege to serve the people of Chorley, in Lancashire, as their Member of Parliament. He entered Parliament in 1979 when Margaret Thatcher became the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and left in 1997 when Tony Blair won a massive victory for New Labour.Where the author has omitted to mention certain happenings, it has been in an effort to focus the minds of readers on the important matters – not to obscure what really happened. Indeed, Den’s main aim has been to allow readers to make up their own minds on the very important principles, procedures and proceedings described.Underpinning everything else is the overwhelming requirement for elected representatives of the people to act in the best interests of all their constituents. They should never seek to benefit, financially or otherwise, from being granted the greatest honour in life, namely to work on behalf of their constituents.At all times, elected representatives must listen to the needs of the people they represent and deal with their problems to the best of their abilities.

Den Dover never knew his father until the end of the wars in Europe and Burma. He lived halfway between Liverpool and Manchester under the bombers’ airpaths. American soldiers and airmen were the heroes of his childhood years. Churchill was his hero and the saviour of Britain. Den resolved that he would follow Churchill by dedicating his life to caring and providing for the people by becoming a Member of Parliament.