We're looking for a Mumsnetter to represent us at a 'News Comment Special' about MPs' expenses

[GeraldineMumsnet]

Editorial Intelligence in association with Sky News are inviting a Mumsnetter to attend a panel and group discussion, which will be podcast.

Here's a pdf of the invite so you can see the date/location/panel etc (which includes Helena Kennedy, Norman Baker and Derek Wyatt).

Please throw your names/nominations into the hat. We'd want whoever goes to blog or twitter, or something suitably modern, about the proceedings. It's next Wed, so it needs to be decided fairly swiftly.

See now this makes me feel angry and insulted. All I want is a bit of a holiday for my children and this....er....person gets this.

Apologies for Yahoo news link - hardly top notch reporting but it does the job fro this post.

uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20090517/tuk-mp-faces-loan-interest-claim-probe-6323e80.html

I think that MPs still haven't caught on about how deep the electorate feels about this. I get rather sanguine but others don't, and rightly so.

Tony Benn was on breakfast tv and radio last week trying to explain how the sense of "trust" has been broken, and henceforth ANY elected member in our democracy will be viewed with suspicion. As he says, it is the task of the Constituency Parties to chose to not re-select anyone who has behaved in a less than glorious manner.

Trouble is, they all might have to go, and then who would make the laws, apart from me?

This new story about continuing to claim mortgage interest when not entitled makes it even clearer that the Commons' Fees Office is massivley at fault in the permissions and advice it gave MPs. It was very actively colluding in the abuse of the system.

And I suppose that the Speaker bears ultimate responsibility for the conduct of that office?

Ah, right artichokes. That is extremelt interesting, and makes perfect sense. So all of this 'I was following the advice gave to me by the fees office...' is disingenuous to say the least (now we have egregious and disingenuous on the one thread. Do we get points for theat).

In that case, poor junior staff, hung out to dry. And I hope this committee of MPs is held to account.

This G2 article speaks of the journo who worked to expose the situation, lenin.

Artichokes, Heather Roberts seems to have Andrew Walker down as one of the villains of the saga - somebody who believes in MPs' absolute right to play the system, and who worked hard to prevent the public finding out. Is this who you're talking about when you talk about 'he man who has done most to stop the no receipts culture and to try to make MPs aware that this culture cannot continue'? Cos that's not how his quotes in the HR article make him sound.

Would be interested to see the debate if you can find the link!

ah, x-posts - will have a look.

Heather Brooke, sorry, not Roberts

Seriously, artichokes, it seems to be that you should get this gig! Why does working in Westminster prevent you doing it?

Fair enough, artichokes. Wouldn't want to get you in trouble.

Are there any public sources for the Andrew-Walker-is-a-good-egg line?

PDub - I have worked out how to paste!. This is a horrible DM article, full of homophobia as per. However the quotes from "insiders" show AW tried to warn the Speaker and was bullied and told to shut-up or lose his job. I am not sure there will be much else in the public domain about him.

That's very interesting, thank you!

I do despise this 'servant of the House' stuff - but I had no idea that Walker had privately raised concerns about the expenses.

Ok, so PW looks like you're our gal again! I'll drop you a line to talk through how we'll do it but guess it will be a talk thread in advance and a MN blog follow up as per last time?
Thanks so much for doing, I'm trying to get someone to pick the kids up so I can come along with you - think it will be fascinating.

Oh great, thanks!

Yes, doubt it would be possible to blog from the actual thing - but will try to get Twitter on my phone (unless you want to do that bit?)

Thanks very much to those who nominated me.

Are you OK artichokes? Blink twice for 'yes'...

Congrats PW.