There was a sad example of poor quality journalism in the London Evening Standard yesterday. Written by Craig Woodhouse the headline is ‘Skiving’ MPs want another holiday’. There are a lot of things you can say about MP’s! not least about the failure to have a proper expenses system and some appalling examples of abuse. The one thing you cannot say is that the majority of them do not work long and difficult hours. You may even want to challenge the work they do but in my long experience the vast majority of MP’s work too long and have to answer to many different interest groups, not least constituents. The inadequacy of Craig’s report is that it assumes that when the House is not sitting the MP’s all go on holiday. They don’t. The vast majority (of all Party’s) work in their constituencies and on policy matters. Craig even complains that they went to their Party conferences! Is Craig going to ban this!!?
It is fashionable after the expenses scandal to bash MP’s. It is also fashionable to bash bankers. It is also fashionable to bash journalists following the hacking scandal.
Think about this. Our democratic society needs cement to hold it together. Part of that has been our commitment to democracy and the rule of law. Part of it has been a free press. Part of it has been stable banks and finance. All of them have been trashed recently and with good reason. BUT if we carry that too far we put our freedoms at risk. The dictator always puts democrats and journalists in prison or up against the wall before any other groups.
So just think about this Craig. Push the attempt to rubbish our system too far and you might end up sharing a cell with me! Hell has no worse punishment!!!
What you can say is that the majority committed fraud, and even now carry on breaking the rules.
The expenses form is clear. The expenses where wholly and necessary for their work. Even one who paid back money (and lots haven’t) committed fraud.
The code of conduct is even more clear. MPs shall not give the appearance of a personal benefit.
Not a single one of the 52% who paid back cash, has paid a penny in interest. An interest free loan for thousands? Sign me up here, particularly if there is an option I never have to pay it back. If there is benefit, then someone has to lose? Yep its the mugs who aren’t in Westminster who are now even farther in hock with debts.
So what are you doing to strengthen democracy?
We still have the unelected making decisions on the law and ruling us. Make a start, resign.
If you want democracy, instead of the Lords let the public decide on laws.
Lord Soley,I agree with your underlying sentiment but your timing is lousy; give it another ten years.
I thought hell hath no fury like a woman scorned…
I don’t think really that he needs to attempt to rubbish the system too far, it is already a broken and troubled system in need of revamping. The problem is that it is too costly to revamp and so we are stuck with more of the same.
If you invest in changing it, people will be angry about the perceived waste of money and if you leave it as is, people will be angry about the perceived waste of money.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Well, now that we have triumphed in Libya, and are looking for the billion or more pounds it cost us to be returned forthwith, as repayment for our splendid mercenary tactics, perhaps it will be spent on those who have paid for it. The suffering tax payer of this country.
Now wouldn’t that be a turn around for us all?
To the winners the spoils. Da Da!
Bad governance is bad – both for good journalism and for egalitarianly-mature democracy.
If Clive will pick up old newspapers on the underground then he has only got himself to blame!
Bash ’em all, retired to an isolated hut in the Rockies/Pyrenees for a hermitage!
“Push the attempt to rubbish our system too far and you might end up sharing a cell with me! Hell has no worse punishment!!!”
Is it a good idea LS to tempt the public with the combined idea of locking up politicians and journalists! The idea could only be more popular if you threw in lawyers as a buy two get one free offer 🙂
Throwing lawyers – could be a new sport.
May I suggest adding call centre ops, especially those cold calling on behalf of no win, no fee, PPI – what’s the word I’m searching for – scammers?
It depends on the definition of bad journalism?
Bad journalism is not connected to criminality. Journalism is one thing, hacking or criminality another. The two may meet, but, one is not of the other. Likewise misinformation. A lie is a lie, it is not journalism.
Bad journalism is an enigma. As, some may define the Sun as being covered by ‘bad journalism.’ Those who read it will disagree, they won’t bother with another style of reporting, of say, the Telegraph. Therefore, can the Sun be considered a ‘bad’ report? Or the Telegraph superior? It cannot, because the reader of one, will never be the reader of the other.
The content of a newspaper is selected on its ability to draw the punter in. It is not based on good or bad representation of the owners or editor ethos or on either style of presentation. It is based on what the reader wants in style and format.
Likewise with radio and TV journalism. Who will watch this? Who will listen? How can I draw them in?
I’d be glad if MPs had a 300+ day a year holiday. Less time for them to interfere with our lives. And maybe they’d have time for some real life work experience too.
It’s not nice when the papers write about a particular group of people and call out the majority for the acts of a few, is it? Where have I heard that before? oh yeh I remember, benefit theives and scroungers. I don’t doubt that the press has been spoon fed these stories for a while. Now the boot is on the other foot for once.
People bash MP’s for a reason. Take Prime Minister’s question time for instance. There is so much petty arguing that goes on and one person trying to get the better over another with questions and replies that the point of it all disappears and gets forgotton. People don’t want to hear about what happened when the labour government was in power, we want to hear what the Conservatives are going to do about the situation now, in a constructive way. It doesn’t look good blaming everything on labour on one hand and then on another blaming it on the Euro zone when your own policies are called into question.
I’d like to see less lords altogether. I’d like to see the experts that these lords hire for their expertise, in the house of lords instead of the lords who hire them. We would save a lot of money I’m sure!
It looks like Lord Blagger will be joining me in my cell – if he is not off skiing on a Swiss mountain with journalist friends! You are just plain wrong about ‘most’ MP’s committng fraud. If you care about democracy and don’t like the presnert set up DO something about it – don’t just whinge. Democracy allows you to act.
Lady Tizzy I can’t wait ten years – I might have snuffed it by then! And go easy on call centres – my son and daughter worked in one not that long ago and they didn’t like it but it was a job!! (I hope their call didn’t upset you!
Gareth. You hit the nail on the head – I did pick up the newspaper on the tube. Is there newspapers anonymous group where I can get treatment?!
I notice you failed to mention the propaganda that has been coming from the media and government for a number of years now against the sick/disabled on welfare?