Tuesday 4th June

Most people seem relatively unconcerned about the scandal of MPs and Lords taking payments from private companies and organizations simply to ask a few questions in the house.  But in a way it is far more important than the expenses scandal, that still rumbles on.  The proposed register of lobbyists will do nothing at all; it is just wallpapering over the cracks. The answer is blatantly obvious.

If one is an MP, then one should be solely an MP, and it should be illegal to receive payments from any other source.  MPs (mostly Tory) will argue that we need more businessmen in Parliament, but the reality is that it is almost impossible to be objective if one is receiving payments from an interested body.  Of course MPs should still be able to write books or publish diaries, but I am not sure if being a paid journalist is really a good thing unless the MP in question has complete freedom of opinion, including criticizing the very paper they are writing for.

We have to have MPs who are decently paid, and whose sole interest is scrutinizing Government and representing their constituents.  Any MP found breaking these simple rules should be made to resign with loss of any pension and a bi-election would result.  Draconian? Yes, but it needs to be.

As for the Lords.  Please please somebody rid me of this anachronism.  We need an Upper Chamber, with more stability.  It must be elected, but regionally and on PR, and with maybe a third or a quarter standing for re-election every year, so that it is constantly changing with public opinion, but on a rolling basis.  It must not be a job for life, or a home for retired politicians.  As for Bishops and Hereditary Peers…..F…off. This is the Twenty-First Century.

Also, by the way, both MPs and Lords (or whatever you want to call them) must be expected to attend a minimum number of days at Westminster or have their pay docked.  In no other job can you just turn up when you feel like it.  Come on Labour, pick up the baton and run with it.  Make some real changes so that at last Parliament more represents the electorate, and there is some real honesty and accountability.