MPs' pettiness over expenses doesn't help
Peter Hoskin 5:52pm
Thanks to the High Court, we’ll be seeing full details of MPs’ expenses in October. That’s a good thing. But, as Three Line Whip is reporting, some MPs are still waging personal campaigns against the decision.
The culprit this time is the Tory MP Julian Lewis. In response to the High Court judgment that the addresses of MPs’ second homes should be released, he’s demanding that the home addresses of the judges presiding over the case also be made public. The reason? None, beyond sheer pettiness. And that’s not something that becomes our parliamentary representatives.
Thankfully, Jack Straw’s declining to release the addresses. But this is exactly the kind of thing that Cameron needs to clamp down on if the Tories are to become the anti-trough party. Alright, Lewis’ demands can’t be equated with expenses fiddling. But, nevertheless, they fuel the idea that politicians loathe the transparency they owe the public.
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Chuck Unsworth
June 11th, 2008 6:10pm Report this commentOf course the main reason for Judges' addresses not being made public is that they are having to deal with criminals every day - and some may have a grudge to bear.
Come to think of it, how very similar to the House of Commons...
Mark
June 11th, 2008 6:37pm Report this commentJulian Lewis should be taken to one side and told to shut up. First of all, the voters are sick of MPs on the fiddle and the last thing either the Tories or Parliament as an institution needs is this sort of pathetic behaviour.
Second, judges do not get allowances on top of their pay for second homes. Their private residences are just that: private. Also, judges preside over criminal trials. They risk unwelcome visits from ex-cons and their friends.
John Page
June 11th, 2008 7:11pm Report this commentIsn't this old news about JL? Didn't he put down a motion some time ago?
Praguetory
June 11th, 2008 7:15pm Report this commentMy local MP Lynne Jones is supporting this. Absolutely bloody-minded stuff.
Verity
June 11th, 2008 7:18pm Report this commentAre these people really that stupid that they don't understand how they sicken the electorate with their greed for taxpayer money to fund their lifestyles?
John Page
June 11th, 2008 7:19pm Report this commentIsn't this old news about JL? Didn't he put down a motion some time ago?
John
June 11th, 2008 8:05pm Report this commentJohn, isn't your second post old news? Didn't you post one some time ago? ;-)
Praguetory, tell your MP you'll vote the other way next time!
Chris
June 11th, 2008 8:17pm Report this commentHe seems to me to be making a perfectly valid point about security, which may, who knows, concentrate a few judicial minds (using the term in its loosest sense.) Why don't you publish your home address here, Peter, if it's nothing to you that any nutter can know it? Not holding my breath...
Praguetory
June 12th, 2008 12:20am Report this commentPraguetory, tell your MP you'll vote the other way next time!
a) She isn't standing again
b) I move seats due to boundary changes
c) She is Labour and I have never voted for any non-Tory candidate
Otherwise, I take your point.
John
June 12th, 2008 11:14am Report this comment-She is Labour and I have never voted for any non-Tory candidate
Well, they are not to know that, are they? ;-)
Julian Lewis
June 20th, 2008 6:51pm Report this commentAnyone willing to consider the argument I actually set out is invited to examine it at: http://www.julianlewis.net/speech_detail.php?id=138
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