MPs' expenses: things for policywonk to say if she gets the chance

[policywonk]

So I'm off tomorrow afternoon to this panel discussion thing: here are the details

I'll go through the old thread tonight but post any more stuff here. Y'know, if you want to.

I'm SO OVER MPs' expenses.

[policywonk]

Is this all a bit too much like an A-Level politics seminar? [1989, Oxford and Cambridge Board, 'C', appeal comprehensively rejected]

It's an interesting debate Mollie. Why wouldn't you want one?

[policywonk]

Good point re. Lords payment. I think HK is particularly incensed by peers selling themselves to lobbyists - she reckons it's endemic.

[artichokes]

Hi Policy, this is all v interesting and good on you for getting two questions in. Sorry to disappear off the last thread but "blink-blink", all is well save my paranoia. I was going to suggest meeting you afterwards and taking you for a celebratory drink in one of our many bars but paranoia (& childcare probe) prevailed - sorry!

[ronshar]

O&C 'B' here. No appeal because I was amazed. So was my teacher.

I have to say I am not quite sure exactly how a written constitution would work here. So much of our life is "unwritten" IYSWIM.
Would more independant MP's be a good thing. I would like to think so, however it could have the effect of making the decision making process even more difficult.
I am loving this now. It has re awakened my love of politics.

[policywonk]

hi artichokes - shame, that would have been fun! I tried to break into the Portcullis House central atrium bit but my crappy photocopied drone-level pass would not get me in.

I think more independent MPs would be brilliant. Would really love it if the next GE saw a big influx - enough for them to form a little caucus of their own and start throwing their weight around.

[artichokes]

The canteen in that Atrium is well worth breaking into - especially on jerk pork day. Prezza loves the jerk pork and is a sight to behold when eating it (btw it was childcare probs not a childcare probe, the latter sounds painful).

[BigGitDad]

Wasn't Labour and Tony Blair elected on a mandate of reforming the House of Lords? In my opinion he bottled it and that is part of the trouble we have now. Our legislature is so large it is ridiculous.
I am not so sure we will see much of a change afterall this. British politics always seems to be a fudge and I feel this will be fudged too. There really needs to be a truly independant panel looking into this affair. Independant assessors to assess whether mp's have claims in appropriately and so on and what they should be allowed to claim for in future If the MP's choose their own assessors etc how can we expect impartiality?
I think in the upcoming euro elections the polling will be dire and UKIP will have a lot of supprt within that turn out.

[policywonk]

I did wonder about the probe

Are you going to have to get that post deleted?

Prezza pork-chomping saliva-spray-shock!

[policywonk]

BGD, Helena Kennedy agrees with you re. Labour bottling constitutional reform agenda. To be fair, the Tories have not been helpful either - but let's face it, Labour could have got it through if it had wanted to.

She also agrees (as did the Tory on the panel) about reducing the number of MPs - but there's a big BUT with this one. One of the few things that the electorate like about our system is the availability of their MP through regular constituency surgeries. If you reduce the MPs and make each constituency correspondingly larger, it's going to be much more difficult for MPs to perform this role. Kennedy and the Tory (Jonathan Isaby from ConservativeHome.net) both pointed out that to compensate for this, you'd need to give a lot more power - and, crucially, MONEY - to local councils.

I think independent assessment is what's going to be happening from now on - can't see anyone accepting anything else at the moment.

[policywonk]

(artichokes, I'm going to come in to Westminster in the next session to start watching Select Committees for my blog so maybe we'll get the chance then?)

[ilovemydogandMrObama]

Yes, I understand who in the HOC objected to the FOI being implemented as far as MPs expenses.

But who was defending the requests in court as it got to Judicial Review stage...

[ronshar]

I really really do not want that image in my head any more. I am still a little shaken by seeing Prezza eating at his favourite Chinese.

Artichoke can you tell me what you do or would you rather stay a bit shady.

Are the majority of the Lords honest and competant or are they all a bit wanting?

[policywonk]

Oh tish ILove, now you ask...

Shall I try emailing the Normster to ask?

[ilovemydogandMrObama]

[policywonk]

ILove... the answer 'the Speaker's office' doesn't do it for you, I suppose?

[policywonk]

I remember reading John Stalker's book back in the 80s about his thwarted inquiry into the shoot-to-kill policy and thinking he was the bee's knees. Now he sells patio awnings with his dog. What's that about?

[policywonk]

They did say someone was about to resign Len but the name didn't ring any bells.

[policywonk]

Jonathan Isaby of ConservativeHome wants: a recall mechanism (such as that which resulted in Arnie being elected Governor of California - think this is an interesting idea); more power to local councils; open primaries so that public has a greater say in choosing candidates (I guess this would require US-style registering of voters as party supporters?); abolition of the communications allowance (politics geeks will know this is a contested one because of 'Ashcroft money'); in the future, when dust has settled, higher salaries for MPs - comparable to, for example, GPs (who earn about £150,000 apparently!!) and headteachers (how much do they earn?)

[policywonk]

Good question Len, I dunno the answer. I guess they carry on getting paid until they actually resign their seats.

[policywonk]

Steen, that was it.