Daily Mirror, 15 August 2003
"The Scurra" column
Politicians are notorious for wanting to be all things to all men, but Lib Dem MP Brian Cotter takes things further than most.
Labour's Andy Burnham filed an early day motion calling for the fluoridation of water, which highlighted the "assoc- iation between child poverty and child tooth decay" and called for the govern- ment "to give communities the power to choose water fluoridation by allowing an amendment obliging water companies to fluoridate supplies where a clear maj- ority want it". Cotter signed up.
Then Conservative MP John Butterfill filed EDM 1258, arguing that "the addition of medicines to public water supplies is a breach of fundamental human rights". His motion goes on to reject "any proposals to amend legislation to permit the addition of fluoride to public water supplies." Cotter signed on the dotted line.
Cotter, the MP for Weston-Super-Mare, was unavailable to speak to The Scurra yesterday.
But Burnham said: "Typical LibDems, having it both ways."
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Jane Jones Campaign Director National Pure Water Association www.npwa.freeserve.co.uk