Thursday, June 18, 2009

They still don't get it.

Today, the controversial decision by the Daily Telegraph to publish a copy of the claims made by MPs on the taxpayers for allowances and expenses became totally justified. The official publication of MP's expenses and allowances has shown that there has been zilch commitment to openness and transparency. Today, the poor regard in which our MPs are held, and the disrespect which the current Parliament is held was made a whole lot worse. People who care about our democracy, weep in despair. Please, please, bring forward a general election to bring some blessed relief to the pain and devastation that is being inflicted on our democracy.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Seconded

Anonymous said...

Why do they keep saying 'redacted' and not what it truly is.... censored!

"US Correspondent" said...

Second your second.

"US Correspondent" born in Wales said...

YYEEEHAAWW! ... Or other word(s) to that effect...

Today's Telegraph has, in essence, published the redacted bits of Cabinet member's expenses...

"It's a farce a minute c/o Gordon Brown's bumbling government".

"Four/three/two/one/no wheels on my Cabinet, but I (Gordon Brown) am still in-situ c/o Labour MPs who want another year on the gravy train before being summarily kicked out of office ..." Oh, let's not forget Mandy - promised Foreign Secretary (a much coveted 'spot'/cherry) ... pity that Gee Bee didn't have enough spit left in him to price out the limpet incumbent still in charge at the Foreign Office...

Minus wheels on my Wagon, but I'm running on Complex numbers/J-notation so don't figure on me (Gee Bee) quitting any time soon even though it’s in the best interests of my country to do so...

Pete Roberts said...

Its a shame you are perpetuating the myth that all MPs opted for this level of redaction.

Many, across all parties, have already published on-line in full and others have gone with the minimum as per the Fees office rules. Some wanted more shown but they were refused

Sure there are some rotten apples who stink worse than the meat I opened last night but to tar all with the same brush as your post infers at times is unfortunate in the extreme.

As for an election now sure there are many reasons why we need one but on the expenses matter I would far wait a couple of months and ensure that come the election we know who all the rotten apples are so we can make sure all of them get the boot.

Glyn Davies said...

Pete - Sorry if my comments on the 'expenses' issue come across as branding all MPs the same. They are not. Most are innocent of any wrongdoing - and even some of the claims which have been criticised seem acceptable to me. But none of this makes any difference. The people's perception of the current Parliament is that it is rotten to the core - and it has lost all credibility and authority, which will not be recovered. Nothing will change until the people have had their say in a general election, which in my opinion should be called today. Our Prime Minister (and many others as well) believe that the current Parliament has a duty to sort out the mess first. Wrong. The people do not trust this Parliament to sort anything out, and want to do it themselves.