Cast your minds back to the toxic dump that was the expenses scandal. Remember Tory Toff Anthony Steen and his outrageous expenses claims who then compounded his sins by claiming that the great unwashed were simply ‘jealous.’ Local worthies in his Totnes safe seat were very concerned at a possible backlash so set up an almost unique method of selecting their replacement candidate. By using a postal voting system not limited to party members they opened up the selection process to all voters in the constituency. A popular GP, Sarah Wollaston, emerged as the clear favourite and duly went on to win the seat.
So far so hunky. For the Tories a toxic MP had been dumped for a popular local GP. It deflected attention from the Expenses Scandal and allowed them to ‘move on.’ Scroll forward many months and all is not well in Toryshire.
The GP understandably has a point of view about slimy Lansley’s unmanifesto’d plans for the NHS. She claims to be broadly in favour but has some key practical issues which she feels need addressing. She was approached by the Tory Whips to serve on the Committee stage of the controversial health and social care bill. It was made clear to her she could only get on the committee if she agreed to keep quiet and support the government. She did not agree and is therefore not on the committee. What an insight into how our so-called democracy works. This is not new. Labour did it too. Committees packed with placemen and yes-men do not produce good legislation. A close analysis of the ranks of junior ministers shows just how much harm the system of patronage does.
There are rumblings from among the new crop of MPs that things have got to change. They certainly have.
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