Blogs are reporting tonight that a third Conservative MP is to stand down from the House of Commons at the next election. This time its Sir Peter Viggers, and its reportedly at the direct request of David Cameron. Its being reported that Sir Peter claimed lots of money for his garden, including for a 'floating duck island'. And there are other big stories, including reports that Geoff Hoon and James Parnell have not paid CGT, (which is not liable on a second home if its 'flipped' into a main home). Entirely legal, but Gordon Brown described this practice as 'totally unacceptable' when referring to Hazel Blears having done it. The tax authorities saying that there was no tax to pay is completely irrelevant. And my good friend, Bill Wiggin is reported to have queries to answer. All this on top of yesterday's removal of the Speaker. Its carnage out there.
There was an interesting discussion on Newsnight tonight about whether a General Election could be held to give the people a say. It was clear that the Labour spokesman did not want an early election. He kept maintaining that all these allegation had to be cleared up first. He seemed to believe that the present Parliament should clear up the mess before the people are consulted. Personally, I think this would be madness. The problem is that they still don't get it. They still don't realise just how mad the people are. They want their say - now. What needs to happen is that all receipts should be made public tomorrow. Why on earth not. What difference would it make? The Telegraph can keep this going for days - picking two or three off each day. Once receipts are published, constituency associations would need a week to decide whether to reselect, or deselect. Another two weeks would be needed to select another candidate - if needed. And a General Election the last week in June. No-one is pretending that this is anything but desperately rushed stuff. But we cannot let things drift on until October. Our democracy is at stake.
17 comments:
Three down, 644 to go...........?
Looks like your good friend Bill Wiggin made a genuine error so hell be alright
Glyn,
You're quite right. This cleanup should be left to local constituencies only they can take an holistic view of the MP's probity. Parliamentary scrutiny would take too long, be too superficial and most imporrtantly would not reinstate the trust which this lot have so recklessly destroyed.
It is no exaggeration to say that our cherished democracy depends on this matter needs being drawn to a speedy conclusion.
Roll on the election!!
Alan - Reports suggest it could be over 50 though.
Anon - I thought his explanation was very credible as well. Bill is a friend of mine and I hope he will remain an MP for many years to come.
JB - The point at issue is what degree of urgency will be shown. Without a General Election, I fear that things will be allowed to drift on until next year, and all the time the people of the UK will look upon their Parliament with contempt.
Bill Wiggins joins the two Labour MPs who the police will investigate.He claimed thousands on a mortgage he didn't have.
Glyn great minds think alike. I have blogged on this, without the same eloquence I am sorry. Things have gone to far now and the public just will not accept the same tarnished government re-writing their own rules. There has to be a fresh parliament to overhaul the system.
Changes are long overdue in Westminster but my own concern for a snap general election is that we re-elect the same MP's due to the fact many constituency parties of the big four parties Labour, Conservative, Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru just won’t have time to get new candidates in place that quickly, so it would defeat the objective of the exercise getting rid of the rotten MP's an shaking up the system.
This government has lost all credibility, and now we have a climb down and U-term over the case of the Gurkhas, where GB (the British PM) has been forced to accept the will of Parliament and of the people following the highly successful campaign of Peter Carroll and Joanna Lumley. I have a feeling that the Liberals will do rather well out of this (as well as the Tories).
Ben Brogan in the Telgraph is probably right when he argues that which Party Leader handles this whole issue correctly in the eyes of the voters will win the reward at the next election. At the moment Cameron is having a better war than Gordon Brown. The problem for the Labour Party is that the police imvestigations will soon start and be in the background in the run up to a General Election. Americans,howver, often argue that opportunity can develop out of a crisis. I would like to think that the Labour Party could use this crisis as an opportunity to do something really radical in the next year and its manifesto to reshape British politics.I'm sure that any party, for example , that argues for a reduction in the number of MPs will win support. Unfortunately at the moment the Labour party looks very tired after 12 years in office. It seems to have runout of steam and reminds me of Disraeli's famous quote in 1874 about Gladstone's reforming government resembling extinct volcanoes. I received both the Labour and Tory European mnaifestoes through the door today. The Tories I'm sad to say were streets ahead of the Labour manifesto in its professional presentation. Labour's looked as if it had been put together by someone who just could not be bothered. Some one needs to give my party a good shaking. At the moment we seem to be in the same position as a football club who knows by Christmas that they are going to be relegated. In those circumstances there is only one strategy in my opinion. Throw caution to the wind and start thinking outside the box.
... and while all this expense stuff is going on Iran is busy developing the infra-structure and know-how to build a nuke, and the Welsh economy is going down the toilet.
Christopher Wood
Well, I guess this story is getting somewhat less 'air-time' that it deserves.
But the Telegraph has a story on Standard & Poor's (S&P) who, according to the Telegraph, have announced that it had put Britain's AAA rating onto "outlook negative".
Wow - what a non-surprise ... but the implications for UK PLC are VAST and deeply troubling.
I fail to see how Brown can continue under this political climate. It is making it difficult for him to tackle the credit crunch, which he himself created. A general election now is the best way forward. Labour will of course take a beating but does Brown and the Labour leadership really think that holding out for a few more months of painstaking failure will do anything to make that situation any better?
....which makes it all the more logical and desirable to disband the UK and give each nation the tools and the freedom of responsibility to manage its own affairs. After all we are controlled by the EU to the tune of 75% and yet we persist with an extravagant and archaic constitution which has no relevance to actual conditions in the present age.
VM - I know Bill well and I just do not believe that he would knowingly claim money that was not due to him. I believe (without knowing) that he has made a stupid clerical error, which should not be a hanging offence - but we will have to wait and see.
Christopher and Che - I do agree
Change of Personel - If local associations do not act quickly to establish the credentials of candidates (MPs) there will be independent candidates that will decide for them. The people are not going to put up with a discredited MP, who is approved on the nod.
Alan - I think its impossible to say. One mistake and everything is up in the air again. Its such tumultuous times.
Jeff - David Cameron is proposing a 10% reduction in number of MPs. Perhaps Labour should up the stakes to 20%. No chance. I just do not think that Gordon Brown does radical
Crisp packet - You are right. A really startling development and there's no credible Government, and no credible Parliament to deal with it.
Gavin - I'm not sure that anyone can be certain what would happen in an early General Election.
Alan - Well, you will be pleased to know that I, and others believe that if there is no early General Election, anything could happen.
“Place your bets, place your bets” – which MP is going next?
Today's Telegraph doesn't look too good for your mate Bill Wiggins. As the former Mayor of New York,Fiorella La Guardia would put it "When I make a mistake ,it's a beaut." In the case of Bill Wiggins it was 23 beauts. To fill in one form incorrectly could be described as an error. To carry out the same act 23 times and then argue that it is mistake is taking the p*** in my book.
Jeff - I really don't know what the position is. It will be considered by our Scrutiny Committee which will judge whether it is a stupid clerical error or something that warrents action.
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