It could be worse, you know: not every MP is a Moran
16 May 2009
Britain’s most popular political leader has been involved in a dodgy property deal with a fraudster.
Britain’s most popular political leader has been involved in a dodgy property deal with a fraudster. On the same day that the politician bought his new home for £165,000 under the asking price, a regular campaign contributor purchased (via his wife) the adjacent plot of land from the same seller for the listed price of £350,000. The donor, a property developer who had a significant amount of business with the government, had been alerted by the politician to the availability of the land and to his intention to buy the house next door. The two men had even walked through the property together. Six months later, the politician was sold a slice of this land for £61,000. The politician was Barack Obama, the property developer Tony Rezko, who has now been convicted of fraud, money laundering and corrupt solicitation.
If Obama was a British politician in the current climate, this case would end his career. The worst possible interpretation would be read into what had happened. The public would not listen to Obama’s protestations that while his actions were ‘boneheaded’, they were not corrupt. The media would splash on how Obama had admitted that he could not have afforded to pay the asking price for the house. They would dismiss out of hand the idea that the seller had not treated the two sales as one.
But this was America and the perception was that Obama was a good guy. Here, the perception is that all MPs are crooks. Every MP who is implicated in this expenses scandal is being treated as if they are guilty. So, David Cameron is ordering shadow Cabinet members to pay back those claims that have been queried, regardless of whether they are justified or not.
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Andrew
May 14th, 2009 7:40am Report this commentThe author of the piece writes "... The reason MPs are perceived to be so corrupt now is that Parliament created a system of expenses and allowances that the public does not think of as legitimate....".
I beg to differ. From what I can see the system was not the issue. It was the venality of the MPs who sought to use the system for personal enrichment which was the root of the problem.
Had the system been operated by people of good character seeking to behave honourably, none of this would be happening.
The plea that various individuals thought they were "within the rules" as they were being allowed to get away with it by a lax administration just won't wash.
Whatever system is put in place following this rumpus will struggle to cover all eventualities fairly if some MPs continue to seek to exploit it to their greatest personal advantage.
The issue is the quality of the people - not the tightness of the rules.
john problem
May 14th, 2009 8:40am Report this commentSurely, there is also the perception in the streets that our MPs don't actually do anything useful. There are very few debates in the House - in fact, it should probably be run on a time-share basis with the private sector and make a bit of money to offset the £850,000 per head that MPs cost us. Most of the 'legislation' is flawed and nobody has the feeling that government is there for the benefit of the working citizen.
Best thing to do for we citizens is to demand that we have no parliament for a few months - like Belgium - and see how it goes. Didn't hurt Belgium. A pound to a penny it would be uplifting for our great nation. We could make it longer. Imagine! No government until the next Olympics. All our problems would sort themselves out without the dead hand of our leaders screwing them up further. People would become prosperous and happy again. Millions would be saved on MPs' salaries and allowances and could be spent on better things (anything would be better, when you think about it). We wouldn't have to listen to their ghastly speeches about feeling our pain. Nor marvel at their next pay and allowances increase, while the rest of us shop at Lidl. Everybody would benefit. Let us start a new party - 'Say No to Politicians!'
John Graham
May 14th, 2009 1:07pm Report this comment"But restoring trust will also require a willingness on behalf of the public to remember that not every MP is a Ms Moran."
I'm willing to believe that there are some MPs who will emerge from this expenses fiasco with their integrity intact, but who are they? We need to know the names of the good guys/gals, not just the names of those who have abused the system or "made mistakes".
Wily Trout
May 14th, 2009 3:42pm Report this commentWould someone provide a list of MPs who haven't made fraudulent claims?
Chris Whittington
May 14th, 2009 7:20pm Report this comment"90% of politicians give the remaining 10% a bad name." Henry Kissinger
james harries
May 16th, 2009 12:15am Report this comment"Being an MP is not a nine to five job."
Given the lack of scrutiny, the low level of debate, the rubber stamping of Brussels orders, the incompetent and frequently self contradictory regulations (including safety), indeed not.
More a part time job, really.
Mark Adrian Solomon
May 16th, 2009 12:29am Report this commentThis only goes to confirm how lax the US press has been about ensuring that Obama's dodgy connections and dealings came to light before the election. Much of what he did before stank of corruption.
For all that UK MPs complain about the expenses they need to incur to do their job and that the salary compares poorly to other fields, it is still true that whenever any vacancies arise there is never any shortage of candidates!
John Thomas
May 19th, 2009 4:54pm Report this commentTo take up Mark Adrian Solomon (and other peoples') point about Obama: the mainstream media preferred not to investigate his erstwhile doings, rather, to portray him as a saint (or, 'The One', the new messiah), and such as Sarah Palin as bad and creepy. Well, he was the choice (of these so-called "liberals"). But we will all pay the price ...
Mary
May 25th, 2009 10:29pm Report this commentThe U.S mainstream media has a lot to answer for in my opinion. They have had a love affair with Barack Obama to the point of worshipping him....or at least giving him the adulation afforded a super-star. In this climate, the real news has been suppressed and the masses have been indoctrinated into believing this man is the Messiah. When will people wake up!!!
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