The juxtaposition of the huge surge in unemployment with the latest revelations of parliamentary sleaze concentrate the mind no end.
According to one of my well-informed sources, David Cameron’s greatest fear about this continuing crisis is that a credible group of people will come forward and form some sort of party that will contest the next election on the basis of campaigning for one term only, to clear out the current sleaze, institute wholesale parliamentary reform, and then leave the field.
A party with a name like Reform (old school?) or Sweep Out (anarchic?). Might gain traction.
But the truth is that however bankrupt they believe their governing institutions to be, what will be uppermost in the mind of the electors will be their own financial and economic position. With a predicted three to four million jobless by this time next year, the pain will be intensifying.
At the same time, Britain is likely by then to have at least 10,000 men and women tied up in Pakistan and Afghanistan, maybe more, as the position there continues to spiral out of control. Five more of “our boys” were killed there this week alone.
This will be a horrid backdrop against which we shall be asked to re-elect many of the Tories and Labourites who have been embroiled in the current scandal.
The greatest service might be for an independent inventory of which MPs are clean and which are not. There are some very, very clean, and some decidedly not. The problem will reside with those who are merely a bit murky. It may at least be an election in which the individual candidate transcends the party.
In the meantime, stand by for the bit of the parliament for which there has never been an election: the House of Lords. Yes, I’m not going to leave this one alone. Should we not at least consider stopping any more appointments to the Lords until it is sorted out?
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It could be argued that’s already happened – there’s a party called the Libertarian Party UK that’s getting going…
…an alternative strategy would be a movement to convince people to vote for the party who came SECOND in their constituency last time out – in other words voting AGAINST anyone who’s an MP at the moment.
Personally, it’s like a throwback to the early to mid-1990s – suddenly politics are interesting again
As you mention the mid 1990’s I’ve pasted below a copy of the 1995 Pocket Guide to New Labour – produced by them. The ‘NB’ at the end of section 5 remains highly relevant.
The 1995 pocket guide – to New Labour
1. Introduction
Every year up to the run up to the election the pocket policy guide will provide an ‘at a glance’ guide for Labour activists on Labour’s policy set within the context of Labour’s key campaign themes and target audiences. This will be produced as part of a selection of briefing materials in a variety of mediums.
2. Background
The pocket policy guide has proved to be a popular and easy to use guide to Labour’s policy. In the run up to the general election it is intended to produce an annual guide linked to current elections. The production this year has been commissioned by the DIPC and NEC.
Whilst the pocket policy guide has proved to be a successful and popular tool with Labour’s activitists there is always room for improvement and feedback on previous publications and current publications is positively encouraged.
3. Focusing in on success
The purpose of the pocket policy guide is to act as a tool for winning the next election. This means that whereas each year up to the next general election the guide will be published with local elections in mind, it will constantly have to bear in mind the key themes Labour is using with the general election in mind.
Policy officers and others involved in the preparation of the pocket policy guide and other briefing material should constantly refer to the key themes. This year the key themes that must be reiterated or to which key points should constantly refer to are outlined below.
4. This year’s key themes
This year’s key themes are:
A) positive Labour
New Labour, New Britain
Labour needs to be portrayed as the party of competence with policies for democratic economic and social renewal
key message – you’d be better off with Labour
key words – partnership, fairness, renewal, fairness against privilege, regeneration, innovation
Local issues – stress best practice, high quality, efficient services,
value for money
B) attack Tory weaknesses
Key theme – The Tories are out of touch, You’re worse off under the Tories
messages – rich getter richer, growing social divide, boardroom excesses, privatisation, negative equity, not trusted
key words- insecurity, waste, unaccountable
local issues – council tax – pay more for less, unaccountable quangos, social decay, community breakdown,
5. Contents
The pocket policy guide will consist of three key sections: i) pocket guide to New Labour’s ideas ii) Labour’s target audiences iii) back-up information section – information back-up systems eg. policy officers, front bench spokespeople, local information gathering etc.
Each policy area defined below will have the following:
* five key points – described below
You have thirty seconds to say something about Labour’s policies – you want to say three (and at the very most five key points) that Labour would want to say unprompted. This may be a mixture of Labour’s positives and Tory negatives. For instance, where we have a lot to say about Tory neglect but little about Labour’s policies we would generally emphasise Tory negatives.
* one key quote (Tory negative or Labour positive) that shows how out of touch the Tories are – a quote that you vould like every local newsletter to use again and again in your policy area
* three defense lines in question and answer format
imagine the doorsteps attacks or questions that you may get and the three most likely key attacks used by the opposition (primarily Tories, but obviously in Scotland and Wales and other areas of policy Liberal Democrats) to attack Labour’s policies and defend them with succint wording.
NB In certain instances a policy area may be one in which Labour would want to say as little as possible unprompted in this situation flexibility can be used between having only or two key points and shifting the emphasis an to the most likely questions to be asked.
A model is attached at Appendix A.
6. Word limit – ideally we want to ensure that one subject can go on one page. Remember too much material is simply forgotten and we want to give people the kernal of the attack. So the word limit is between 250
- 400 words (flexible) – but nearer the lower end preferably.
7. Target audience
In addition there will be sections for a range of target audiences. For each policy area think of one to three key points you might want to make to your audience if you knew that the audience was going to be composed of your target audience. In some cases none will be relevant. These may be general policy points eg. women – Labour believes in being touch on crime, tough on the causes of crime. Whilst this is not an explicitly targeted message to women, we know it is popular with many women who have deep concerns about crime.
well-done jon keep kicking arse no Iplayer is allowed outside UK NOT EVEN DOCUMENATRIES AUNTIE STRIKES AGAIN
i’m seriously looking at what the Jury Team has to offer before making my mind up about the next election!!! Things can only get better!!! lets hope
how about these mps get some kind of punishment too as now they are talking as if they are doing us a favour by giving the money back, if we would have done these kind of action the organization we are working in would have taken action against us by saking us or depromoting the rank but what is happening with the bankers and these mps ..
just how bad can Westminster politics be if the BNP are able to claim moral authority!
i’ve heard people (not just 1 or 2 skinhead nutters) say they’ll vote BNP on June 4th to teach the big parties a lesson.
UKIP finishing third and a BNP MEP may makes politics interesting but i doubt it’ll be better.
Our so called ‘Leaders’ are on an 11 month holiday. – Perhaps on their annual leave of one month, could come and live like the rest of us, They can then return to their houses of power with some perspective of what they are there to represent – ie: not themselves.
.
I’ve commented elsewhere that I don’t have a problem with DC as leader. He’s sold me, particularly after yesterdays performance.
My problem with the Tories is what’s gone on before, particularly during the Thatcher era. Had just about got over that though and was looking positively at Tory policies, then I hear of Tory MP’s claiming off the Taxpayer to have their moat cleaned. It’s a good job I see it as ludicrous and laughable, but the Tory party really has got to sort out all the legacy issues. Major effort still needed on that point I think…!
As for the House of Lords. I think the second chamber is an important part of the democracy, but I’m not entirely sure the right people are in it at the moment.
I’m not sure that a fully elected 2nd chamber is right answer either. The electorate should only elect one chamber or we’ll just have two identical houses with large Labour majorities and bad laws will be rubber-stamped….
The way forward might be to allow people with OBE’s and MBE’s, i.e. some history of good public service, to sit in the second chamber if they want to. Not just the Lords and peers who have lucked into a title. Let’s put some ordinary people who have done good things for the community in the second chamber.
A lollipop lady sat in the House of Lords would be a really good safeguard against stupid legislation…!
Ray , I think is raising, some strong views about our Parliamentary process..I think your comments reflect the ‘good theory’…but recent events to date…I think demonstrates that the onlookers are the idealists and the MPs and the ‘class and patronage ridden peers’ sitting within the Lords are divorced from currentsociety.
Ask Sir Bob or Bono or our recently elevated Baroness Purdy..champion of the Gurkha’s cause……would they sit within the Lords …No…it moves to slowly and has no modern relevance..Peter
I think the expenses will dominate the headlines in various ways and damage all parties. Labour as they are the ruling party, the Tories as Cameron has been trying to get rid of the posh bloke image then we all hear about moats etc and the Libs as they would have been the choice is they had been above reproach. I just wonder why the police arent all over this as tax fraud is tax fraud no matter who commits it.
Jon,
We’ve corresponded on numerous occasions, And I’m often accused (not by you) of being a hot head, but regarding the filth that is the “ruling classes” of this pathetic little country then I have been wholly vindicated with my sentiment: IT’S LIKE THE LAST DAYS OF ROME!
ps: Kris got it bang on when he said to Iain Dale (lunchtime 12th June) about the “aristocracy who feel they were born to rule”
If Brown had any real sense, he’d have called an election immediately the scale of public anger was apparent, to head off the possibility of any “New Broom” party getting organised in time.
He might even have won had he expressed himself appropriately – the british public are surprisingly forgiving.
Sadly for him and a large section of the current professional political class, that moment’s now past.
Now you’ve named that which Cameron and others surely fear, it’s too late.
As always, the innocent will get caught up with the guilty and we will lose good MPs as well as bad in the eventual electoral bloodbath.
What a legacy for New Labour – the complete disintegration of the political ‘elite’ and the bringing of global capitalism to its knees.
I sometimes wonder if it was planned that way.
Will someone please explain to me why we are in Afghanistan in the first place? Please don’t tell me a devastated tribal society armed with some Kalashnikovs can seriously threaten anyone else’s national security let alone the most powerful country in the world. As for Pakistan it has now been destabilised by American imperialism and CIA ‘black ops’ but that doesn’t mean we need to get involved. Let’s get real let’s elect some real leaders and let’s get out of all foreign countries. Let’s wake up en masse and create our own future not the one the ‘Power Elite’ are imposing on us.
Are you trying to say your a little englander mate? If so vote for the little englander party, ukip or even bnp.
I think the reason we are in Afghanistan is because there is a lot more money to be made out there than in the UK at the moment, as we are broke.
Which of course is a terrible shame when it turns out that our “Enemies” are actually our MP’s in westminster.
Personally i can’t remember the last, or the first time an Afghani caused me any serious cause for concern. But our politicians must be really gratefull that our brave soldiers are out there killing these evil peasants, Which as we all know is a very tough job especially when you don’t have the right equipment to do it due to the lack of funding for it. I mean we all need our moats cleaning before we can even consider buying a new APC! and horsesh!t doesn’t come cheap either.
But i think what probably makes them happiest of all is that if you don’t have the tanks to kill the Afghani’s then its unlikely you will wake up tommorrow and find them parked outside the gates of westminster.
Thanks.
Pleased to hear you are not going to let the House of Lords alone, Jon. Not that I for one minute thought you would.
Keep up the good work – we’re all behind you. At least I am!
Agreed…..keep the spotlight ready…
I could agree with you about the Lords Jon but some of the other crisis points affecting our day to day lives seem to make the politicians sleaze pretty small potatoes in the grand scheme of things. Whats happening with the taliban in Pakistan and Afganistan is to me far more important than a few quid.
Yes and most of the country to i think.
In view of the furore about MP’s expenses I’d like to point out during June 2008 I attempted to post a petition on the Downing Street web-site which stated;
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to provide an unqualified assurance that all current & previous members of the Houses of Commons & Lords serving from 2001 until the present day have fully met their obligations in respect of payment of all personal taxation including any in respect of limited companies or limited liability partnerships. In the event that such an unqualified assurance cannot be given, we require HM Inspector of Taxes to commence immediate investigations into the tax affairs of all members of the
Houses of Commons & Lords.
I felt this was within the remit of the First Lord of the Treasury (Prime Minister), but the petition was rejected by Downing Street. Events in recent days make me question the reasons for its rejection.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised because on 20th February 1998, I wrote to the Committee on Standards in Public Life raising the issue of patronage and rewards. Co-incidentally, the website link to my submission was removed at the time of the police investigation into cash for honours. How strange… maybe there’s a culture of ‘covering up’ to be broken?
In view of the recent revelations about expenses I’ve concluded the only way to cleanse the House of Commons is; (1) Not to re-elect any of the current members from any party, (2) elect independents only – current parties are tainted, (3) limit members to a maximum of 2 terms of office, (4) one salary only with fully receipted expenses in line with Civil Service rules, (5) No jobs outside Parliament, (6) Parliamentary watchdogs to be fully independent of Parliament. The Police should be investigating current members and prosecute those where the evidence suggests fraud has been committed.
Of course, rather than wait for a General Election, all the current members could resign now and seek re-election. The innocent would have nothing to fear.
First of all, I am pleased that you still have the Lords in your ’sights’! The most annoying aspects of this whole debacle besides the ‘lining of personal purses’ are the ‘rules’ excuses, the tax evasion and the failure to realise that they as MPs are meant to serve the people who elect them, not steal from them. A final thought; we can’t win in Afghanistan or Pakistan!
Amid the rush of MPs to wear what Anne Widdicombe so wittily described as the hairiest hair shirt, many of them have again shown they really don’t get it.
Most fair minded people would accept that an MP needs a base in London and that it needs furnishing. And it seems fair that should be at the taxpayers’ expense.
They would even accept that any such accommodation should be fitted out with things like a kitchen and a TV – we can’t expect them to be up to the minute if they can’t watch C4 news!
What is unacceptable is that so many of them feel they should have the best of everything. Jon Snow’s tie looks just as colourful on a TV costing £299 as it does on one costing £999. You don’t need a trouser press – an old fashioned iron will do the job. And the decorating doesn’t have to be done by a designer, even if she is a friend’s daughter.
On another tack, as someone who cares about the standard of debate and knowledge in our ruling classes, I wonder, Jon, if you could find out how much MPs have spent on books from their allowance as against TVs and other ‘vital’ items.
Hello,
I’m from Thailand,where there’s a lot of corruption in politics. OK-this matter of MPs’ expenses isn’t corruption exactly but the cure is the same-you can’t rely upon finding people who won’t abuse the system-the only way is to alter the system so it can’t be abused. It’s so simple I’m surprised that you and the other political pundits haven’t proposed it!
What? Don’t have a system of expenses! The politicians feel that it’s a ‘legitimate’ way of increasing their salaries. If needed,when removing the allowances you can increase their salaries accordingly-then it’s their money(taxed-another problem fixed) to spend how they want. No more admin/oversight costs-no more angst about what can/cannot be claimed-no more washing of British dirty linen in public.
Yes,it’s disappointing that the elected public servants can’t lead by example but that’s human nature-give people a chance to ‘fiddle’ something and most will take it. My goodness,even Mr. Snow has perhaps exaggerated something on his Channel 4 expenses too!
Let’s regrettably accept that MPs are gullible and,at least in this respect,remove the 2nd home allowance or whatever it’s called and replace it by an increased salary. End of at least that particular problem.
I’m sure there are plenty of others which will be newsworthy.
Tks for yr time.
Corruption cannot be viewed on a sliding scale of acceptability. Nor can you develop a foolproof system that mitigates for the inate criminal proclivaties of the human condition as you suggest.
True democratic accountability, has a systemised values based ideology that demands high levels of integrity, and conversley exposes any attempted or actual acts of corruption to public scrutiny and subsequent civil society ( or criminal) sanction.
The understandable public outrage at the expenses claims by MP’s, is an important part of the democratic process and will help to formulate civil societies response to these revelations, as well as underscore for the future the hightened value of integrity and accountability in public office and leadership generally.
I welcome the belated recognition that the some of the expenses highlighted in the Press over the last few days do not meet the “wholly, exclusively and necessarily” requirement. However, I am not sure that paying back expenses over-claimed clears the “crime”. If it turned out that an employee in any other walk of life had overclaimed expenses, the employer would need to report the “loan” to HM Revenue & Customs and the employee would be taxed on the benefit-in-kind on having an interest free loan.
Speaking of tax, I was a bit bemused at Ms Hazel Blears’ statement last night that she was going to voluntarily send a cheque for capital gains to HM Revenue & Customs. If you just sent a unsolicted cheque to the tax office, they will just credit it to your tax account and repay it in due couse. However, if you are going to disclose a previously unrecorded tax liability, or the tax authorities have indicated that they will be looking to investigate the position, you would be well advised to pay tax upfront in an attempt to reduce any penalties and interest. Of course, in either event, it is hardly an un-selfish act; as the former means you will get the money back and in the latter, you have to pay the tax!
It appears that whatever the reason for paying the tax, the very act of doing so means the she has breached the Ministerial code and Mr Gordon Brown should report the matter for investigation.
What a mess!
I’ve never heard so much blameless claptrap from some of you dudes. Surely to goodness there’s more important stuff going on in the world than this expences malarkey. We need our politicians whether we like it or not but to pillory them relentlessly will mean in future we’ll end up with the bleedin monkey’s! Get real!
I still think we ought to be remembering the sleazy bankers and other capitalists whose perks make the MPs misdemeanours look very minor. The Guardian today reminds us that there are those that continue to benefit from homes worth millions and private jets even after retirement! And don’t say “Ah, but the MPs are spending public money”. Where do you think the profits of the private companies come from? Yes, us of course. They profit by exploiting the minions who work for them by not paying them enough and also by selling their goods and services for too high a price.
Your question to Teresa May yesterday about the single mother caught for benefit fraud was the best encapsulation of this affair I have heard. Even though she didn’t answer perhaps you could try the same tack against any other politicians you have on. An answer would be illuminating.
WANNA KICK MORE ARSE A considerable amount of land & I meen a very considerable amount of land donated to build a new schoolincluding space for four football pitchesis now a private estate
does that seem right to you? somthing smells
I enjoy your sharp wit and accurate assesments of the world we live in.Pity we can’t have a prime minister with such qualities.
The house Of Lords is really a trough for the fattened Pigs to keep their snouts active.
The trouble for decent ordinary people who chance to go abroad or, have dealings with other countries, is that the reputation of the British corrupt fat-cat politicians and Bankers, rubs off on them, as all Brits are tarred with the same brush!
The whole British governing system, as well as the corrupt laws that favour the rich, need complete change.
I’m British (white in case prejudistic scum ask) and I’m totally ashamed to be so, BECAUSE OF OTHER PEOPLE.
Unemployment, What’s that?
Now would that happen to be were people lose their jobs then realize they don’t end up on the ‘unemployment’ count, not entitled to any help with housing, food, clothes, dental needs, prescriptions, etc, etc…..
The system has been so manipulated with rules that deny help, that the ‘unemployment’ statistic is false and, is designed to appeal to the scum who resent helping people in society (usually the rich or well off).
The House Of Lords should be abolished.
you are right, please collet more voice to to punish these criminals. if we as common people do these kind of action we are labeled as fraud and get punishment but these mps and bankers are gttting away with their action.. we ahve to be more active.
My problem is not so much that MPs have been playing the system, so much as they set it up, and have both ignored warnings of the dangers inherent in such a system, and scuppered repeated attempts to devise something better. Their lack of wisdom and prescience is what really bothers me, since they are our legislators, for whom a large measure of both qualities is required.
Finally, there is such a thing as selling yourself cheap, and there are plenty of examples on display in the petty claims made by our legislators who, evidently, are prepared to sign a disclaimer on submitting a claim to the effect that all of the items are truly, really relevant to the pursuit of their duties as an MP. If some are prepared to sell themselves for a KitKat, how do they behave when lobbyists come calling?
Of course Brown should not call any election, as this expense saga has gone too far!! and why do certain media like to upset the two party voting ahead of the EU election on June 5th ! Lord Tebbitt comments re boycotting the two party, suggest there is a hidden bigger agenda about ! and maybe the two paryy system is on its last legs !
As for pending Wars ! prepare for Pakistan through the Summer to destabilsize as it appears like a steady set up show to watch! As for Israel Foreign Sec Avigdor Lieberman, and the PM netty , we have a problem there too! as to have a former Russian now the important power broker ! gosh games are about??!!
you are so right and it is a carefull orchestrated set up by selctive media to play with the result of the pending EU election
I thought they were the bleedin monkeys.
I think you should try having one or two less glasses of vino boyo
The phrase ‘political vacuum’ comes to mind ………voters…are presented with stark personal fallout fom the global economic hit.
Looking beyond our supposed secure borders we, that’s the tax payers, are writing cheques to the EU, NATO, the sterile United Nations and the flawed military activity in Afghanistan, Iraq and now Pakistan…..effectively a failed state, a state with nuclear arms..
The voter is presented with a ’snowblitz’ of issues and will perhaps return to that political quote ‘The Economy Stupid’..
I suspect that angered tax payers may say enough’s enough and demand fundamental change in the poltical system…..for so long dominated and shaped by those twin elements ‘class and patronage’ that continue to form the DNA of British society. Peter
John – next time you’re speaking to the Rt Hon Hazel Blears, you might like to quote a few lines from her 2004 publication “The Politics of Decency” http://www.hazelblears.co.uk/images/uploads/100004/3f5f18b5-f942-3494-a548-b7dec7728d77.pdf
I don’t know about Jon Snow quoting this publication… but I will BE. I’m writing to the PIG Blears enclosing some recent Steve Bell “…If” cartoons of her – the quotes will come in handy. I’ll be sending a copy, for the record, to my MP as well.
BLEARS-PIG-TROUGH-BLEARS-PIG-TROUGH-BLEARS-PIG-TROUGH-BLEARS-PIG-TROUGH
The expenses issue seems dominant as one would expect, but it may go away by the time of the election.
I suspect that the key will be how each leader deals with his own dungheap. So far Cameron wins as having the most grit, but he must follow through. Nobody has been sacked, which I for one find truly amazing.
On the economy, watch for coincidentally better economic data to emerge shortly before the election to allow Brown to attempt to pretend he solved the problem. You didn’t think the data were objective, did you?
We are in Afghanistan because that is where our current enemies are based. They wish to destroy us with any means, so we have to fight them there as well as here.
The Lords has ceased to be of any use as a sinecure for political failures and the biggest reward system for political donations. Remove it, create an elected house of 99, one third of whom are elected every two years for a term of six. No candidates allowed from the Commons. All candidates to demonstrate having worked in the real world for twenty years.
you’ve missed off Ann Keen and her hubby from your list, who were outed last year as both claiming for the same property, whilst living in west london, will they resign now as well
I have heard several comments from politicians and their friends about the need for an ‘Independent Review’ or an ‘independent’ oversight of their expenses. Just what does ‘independent’ mean in this context, seeing that most of these review bodies seem to consist mainly of MPs? They’re still haven’t got the message and are still trying to wheedle they’re way out of the scandal and carry on as usual. To quote a well-known parliamentarian, “In the name of God, go!”
Are there any MP’s who have opened up about the expenses culture in parliment?
I can understand (if not forgive) MP’s just buying into a system of behavior that’s corrupt.
So far all I’ve heard is “Sorry” and “I’ll pay it back” and “Looking back it was an error of judgement”.
I want to hear from MP’s who were aware of the culture, saw it as wrong and chose not to take part in it.
Can someone please restore my faith in our elected officials?
I would like to suggest we scrap the lot, start a new government with a cabinet made up of people with a proven track record for integrity (could be a bit tricky at present) and make Vince Cable prime minister.
If someone on benefits claimed £16,000 they weren’t entitled to, what do we think would happen to them? What would be the likelihood of ‘a jury’ accepting that it was a genuine mistake? Near zero I would say.
Some of these MPs have claimed more in frivolous expenses than the total income that some people have to live on for an entire year.
I believe any MP found claiming in a fraudulent way, should be remove from their seat, end off (why wait until next election to get rid) and charged. In addition, I think we really need to have fixed terms.
And has for an independent review, just how independent will the people carrying out the review be? Many organisations, consultants and so on have a connection with the political classes.
Maybe we should consider having a proper democracy in which we don’t have representatives (as they are clearly not representing my views), like the Swiss direct democracy?
Lets not kid ourselves, these MPs never expected that these claims would ever be made public. I’m a civil servant and if I’d behaved like some of these so called “Honourable” MPs I’d face criminal charges of theft or fraud! Bring on a General Election and give us a chance to cleanse ourselves of this disgusting parliament and restore some dignity to the Mother Parliament. I won’t be voting for any of the major parties at the Euro elections this time. Get rid of them!
I was very annoyed at the position taken by the cabinet minister a few minutes ago!
I cannot understand how Gordon Brown’s statement earlier today ties in with Hazel Blears still being a Minister of State and/or not being reported for breaching the Ministerial code. As I have said before, I am not exactly sure what the position is regarding Hazel Blears’ “tax” cheque and this puzzlement is shared by others in the tax profession, but no answers are forthcoming.
I assume Gordon Brown’s statement will also apply to Government ministers who take legal action to stop details of their expenses appearing in the media. Of course, if you have nothing to hide……….
The police will need to be involved, if expenses are claimed after they should be cancelled. An error of omission is the same as one of commission?
Too many MPs seem to be saying, on the one hand, that the system is wrong and needs to be changed, and on the other, that their claims are justifiable because they were within the rules. If an MP cannot judge for him or herself what is morally correct, they have no right to sit in parliament and make laws.
Maybe what we need is a mass movement of voters – millions of us – saying to the leaders of political parties : “Either you immediately expel any member who has made unacceptable claims, or we will never again vote for anyone connected with your party – in June or in the future. We will vote you off the face of the earth.”
In this current situation, why can our Queen not disband parliment and call an election. is it not within here powers?
David – Hello!
Great suggestion! I have already written to the Queen to ask her to dissolve Parliament. See comments in: Life is still life in House of Lords
It is a little worrying. The MPs are truly a reflection of society. The greed they show is prevalent in society in general. I would hope that this would spur a sea of change away from this insane fixation with money and back onto the important things: building a decent society where every member is respected and respects.
Indeed Parliament should be reformed such that society plays a more integral part in the laws it imposes on itself.
Unbelievable! Which bit of ‘public servants’ don’t this lot get? Oh that’s right, if the rules (that MP’s wrote and admit are wrong) say you can line your own pockets then that’s ok! What astounds me is that these people seem to be under the impression that they somehow have a right to MY money! Does it not smack of complete greed that the £65k your average MP gets is not enough?!! Of course if you’ve spent the last decade or more cozying up to the banking world by letting them get away with untold fianacial wizardry, then obviously there is going to come a time when ‘what the hell, time we got some ourselves’ is the attitude. The only problem is that it’s the average taxpayer on the street that picks up the bill…. and their children and most likely their children after that! NOT GOOD ENOUGH! Not by a long stretch. Full accountability NOW! Justice must be thoroughly and swiftly served as soon as practically possible. It is high time that there was a general election before things get any worse than they already are. I am absolutely disgusted by the shameful exploits of our completely discredited political ‘elite’ in both their handling of our country and their own financial dealings. It’s high time the British peoiple exercised the ‘democracy’ that we have fought/are fighting wars to uphold.
Will C4 start to look into the operations of the fees office soon? What is the truth behind all those MPs saying “I only did what I was told, guv?”. And associated to that, what is the story regarding senior civil servants expenses claims? Were they quietly encouraging abuse/misuse/cavalier drawdown of MPs expenses because their own expenses system might be somewhat dodgy?
And lastly, who on earth is governing us,and what decisions are being made whilst everyone in parliament is bound up in this high profile murk?
Dear Jon Snow,
I thought the comment of the Director of Demos tonight on Channel 4 News that we now have broken institutions was apposite for the current shambles, as was his analogy to the conduct of the City and the bankers in the financial crisis.
However these have been a long time maturing. I read in 1980 a comment by Professor Fred Hirsch in the book The Political Economy of Inflation. (Fred Hirsch and John Goldthorpe:Martin Robertson London) that Inflation had an Ideological Underlay which he presented as a loss of Trust. Trust he argued is a public good which in economic terms acts to restrain the parties in society. That loss of trust has pervaded all our institutions and has issued forth as a technicistic ideology of management – mgt is about skills not values – in a context of the pre-occupations with money, private property and de-regulation (or self-regulation if you wish) the themes which pervade the City.
What seems to me to have happened is that the ethic of service which previously co-existed with indivivdualism has been swamped by a much harsher version of competititve individualism in which the hard collective work of building and maintaining institutions has been devalued.
The trend started with Thatcherism’s attack on collective institutions after the 1983 election and has now come home to roost. Thatcherism placed self-interest before common morality. New Labour could pull off her trick as long as the conditions of the long boom from 1993 onwards held.
The collapse of the boom and the broken dreams which now crowd in – yes folks God never intended the middle classes to get really rich unless they are baby boomers – so people may have to return to restraint as a virtue.
It may take a generation to unlearn the bad habits but it could be useful as restraint will pay off in the battles over climate change.
what strikes me about all this is that there is such a high level of anger and disgust coupled with a general feeling of resignation and impotencey. We are all highly indignant but dont really know what to do about it. We need someone to galvanise us and lead us into revolution
Hi David….your comment raises a number of questions.
Let’s call Allowances just that.. Allowances.there appears to have been no accounting for money….the last time I obeyed rules was at school (or did I )
The Tax payers money should have been properly accounted for. No, it was not…but why? because the Commons appears to be a self policing Palace.
I’m not sure but perhaps someone can advise that the commons is in fact one of her Majesty’s Palaces …..the legality of entry by police or indeed as you enquire the process by which parliament is dissolved or prorolled is probably hidden within our unwritten constitution…probably means unwritten rules..!
Can Jon approach David Starkey to enlighten us??
Peter
Would it not be possible to get the views and opinions of some of our servicemen and women who are currently overseas? Or perhaps some of the injured and invalid who have returned?
I mean how can a politician now look a soldier in the eye, who has been fighting overseas to uphold our so called “Values”
The Journo Party: Jon Snow as Leader and Prime Minister, Jeremy Paxman as Deputy Leader, Faisal Islam as Chancellor of the Exchequer, Orla Guerin as Foreign Secretary, John Pilger as Home Secretary…I would vote for that.
Hi Jon, after reading lots of the comments passed on MPs and Lords, I think its time to reflect on what I think could make fair comment, which is, old quotes and cliche, lets start with the quote by Sir Walter Scott.
Oh what a tangled web we weave, when we practice to deceive.
I think this is applicable to most of the duplicitous MPs in our employ, so lets have more, or maybe some new home made ones
I’d love to see Jon Snow grilling the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police about the action his force is taking in response to the revelations about the expenses of Members of the Houses of Commons & Lords.
As far as I can see: (1) the Police do not need a formal complaint from a member of the public in order to start an investigation, (2) there appears to be evidence of fraudulent behaviour emerging, (3) the Police cannot just set aside the law. There’s a piece of case law – Regina vs Blackburn – that established this principle. The Police must act, now, or they may find themselves the subject of litigation.
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