Anyone for Reform?

Is there anyone out there still unsure that reform of our democratic system is necessary?  Take a look at the ‘Dissolution Honours List,’ compiled by the Prime Minister at the end of a Parliament. Party Leaders nominate retiring MPs for positions in the House of Lords. There they will join ex-Speaker Martin who used all his powers to try to suppress the expenses scandal. They will also enjoy extremely lax expenses rules – far more so than the old Commons ones.

And who are the ‘glitterati’ that are among those expected to grace the ermine? According to the Mail on Sunday, “Mr Brown is expected to reward Labour MPs Sion Simon and Jeff Ennis. Ex-Minister Mr Simon stood down in Birmingham Erdington - allowing Harriet Harman’s husband Jack Dromey to find a safe seat. In 2006 Mr Simon was forced to apologise after featuring in a spoof of the Tory leader’s WebCameron site in which he masqueraded as ‘Dave’ and invited people to sleep with his wife.

Mr Ennis’s surprise resignation in Barnsley has paved the way for former No10 spin doctor Michael Dugher to enter the Commons.”

So here we have political nonentities being rewarded so that the party’s elite will get safe seats. This is the way the political class keeps control. Safe seats are really bad for democracy.

“Mr Cameron will also run into criticism over plans to include Mr Ancram and Mr Gummer, despite their expenses scandals. Former Conservative Party chairman Mr Ancram was forced to repay more than £6,000 in second-home expenses. He claimed £98 to service his swimming pool boiler, £159 for repairs to a tractor and £72 for servicing a boiler in a cottage attached to his second home. Ex-Cabinet Minister Mr Gummer had to return nearly £30,000 - including £612 for repairing a lawnmower.

Sir Michael Spicer, outgoing chairman of the Tories’ 1922 backbench committee, is also thought to be off to the Lords despite an expenses record which included claiming for a ‘helipad’. He said it was a ‘family joke’.” (ibid).

Cameron’s claims about reform are 99% bullshit. He sounds sincere and is quick to condemn government inaction but his deeds are revealing. In addition to the above he has blocked much needed reform in the Commons.

John Prescott is set to receive a peerage along with Ex-Home Secretary John Reid, the former hard-drinking, hard-smoking Scot who was Tony Blair’s feared bruiser through most of the New Labour reign. This is the man who successfully used his powers to block an investigation into his bullying activities in his constituency. John Prescott will abandon his reputation as a class warrior because apparently his wife Pauline fancies being ‘Lady Pauline.’ What role models and what ideals.

Let us hope that these representatives of the ‘Rotten Parliament’ do not get to enjoy their unearned privileges for too long.