The Guinness Guide And Barnsley

EDM number 1341 in 1994-95, proposed by Michael Clapham on 03/07/1995.

That this House expresses deep disappointment with the arbitrary guide published by Guinness Publishing on 3rd July which described Barnsley as the worst town in Britain; regrets the failure of the guide's authors to understand the distorting impact of colliery closures on statistics for a local economy formerly based on the considerable skills of local coalminers; is dismayed that Guinness Publishing has been so irresponsible as to commission such a trivial description of the quality of life without any consideration of its impact on the life-chances of local people when the local economy is in a state of transition; is astonished by the inability of certain parts of the media to overcome negative stereotypes and to question the outdated portrayal of Barnsley; is perplexed that Guinness Publishing have neglected the many advantages of relocating business in Barnsley; and wishes the people of Barnsley every success in their efforts to regenerate the local economy in the face of metropolitan prejudice.

This motion has been signed by a total of 50 MPs.