I have previously written about the long summer recesses. The Times today has an editorial arguing the case for Parliament’s deliberations to be spread more evenly over the year. As it notes, MPs are not on holiday for the period of the recess, but nonetheless the recess means that government goes on with no parliamentary…
The Parliamentary Standards Bill was put together in haste in an attempt to address public anger over parliamentarians’ use of expenses. It seeks to set up an independent agency to administer MPs’ pay and allowances, and establishes a commissioner to conduct investigations. The problem with the Bill is that it does not get to the…
Clearly, the issue of expenses is one that is attracting widespread media attention and is having some remarkable resonance with the public. This is not one of those issues that is confined to the Westminster world. The focus is primarily on the Commons in respect of expenses, though not exclusively so. There is clearly a case…
I received yesterday a copy of the survey of public attitudes towards conduct in public life carried out by BMRB Social Research for the Committee on Standards in Public Life. The survey, conducted earlier this year, covers the media as well as politicians. Its findings on the media tend to reinforce the points made in my…
