They Blog For You

  It’s 18 months since David Taylor died.  The grief and shock at his wholly unexpected heart attack was accompanied by the regret at the sadness of his final months. David, the retiring MP for North West Leiscestershire, was unfairly dragged into the maelstrom of the Commons Expenses scandal in spite of his [...]

It’s difficult to get excited about the AV referendum.   It will probably be won not because of the merits of the AV system, not even because most people necessarily understand what it means, but because by 5 May the Tories, who are campaigning hard for a ‘no’ vote, will be very unpopular.   However, [...]

  Former pal and MP Gordon Prentice reports from Canada:  "Michael Thompson, an inventive councillor in Toronto, has claimed $300 expenses to cover the cost of a pastor  “blessing his workplace” at City Hall. His office is blessed at the start of every new Council term. Even Westminster’s most ingenious and resourceful [...]

  The Guardian listed me as one of the only four MPs who are opposed to the UN decision on the 'no-fly zone.' They have been misinformed. I have made no comment either way, publicly or privately. I feel conflicted about the decision but on balance I am in favour. This is [...]

Since the General Election the political debate has understandably focused on the economy. But on May 5th we will all be voting about whether to change the voting system to the Alternative Vote, a proposal that I believe would massively reduce the accountability of members of [...]

The new Tory dream has sunk into a nightmare. Hapless Cameron is picking up the deflated remains of his `Big Society''s big flop. All MPs, except a few uber-loyal Cameronians, openly mock the big nothing. The LibDems are in open contempt. Right-wing Tories are resigned and braced for embarrassment. Savagely cut [...]

 A year ago a malign beast invaded MPs territory. It has little sight or hearing and communicates in incomprehensible jargon and Hieroglyphics. IPSA was taught that all MPs would steal their grannies last pennies given half a chance. IPSA's task was to confuse all, trust no-one, disbelieve everything.  A simple five part [...]

The revolving door hit Brussels today. As I have been nagging for Britain on this for the past three years I was invited to the hearing in the International Press Centre today.  The most curious recent British cases are the happy one of Gordon Brown  giving £250,000 to charity - all of [...]

First it was British MPs and their expenses. Then US diplomats and their wikileaks. Now perhaps it'll be Middle East tyrants and their lack of legitimacy. All around, we can see how digital technology brings hyper accountability. By CD, memory stick, twitter and email, digital technology breaks [...]

Total number of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan = 350   Too little or too much freedom for journalists? One of parliament's undiscovered treasures, Ian Liddell Granger MP challenged conventional wisdom in the Council of Europe today. Journalists in Hungary are being denied their freedoms dearly wrested from the communists in 1990. Denial of [...]

"The disillusionment of British voters with politicians has many causes; expenses scandals, economic pressures and the failures of the last Labour government" writes William Hague in today's Telegraph. "But high on the list of such causes" he continues "is the sheer undemocratic arrogance with which a European treaty of [...]

The Oldham East by-election, which Labour looks like winning with the LibDems transfixed by tuition fees, VAT rise, resentment at changeling Clegg, and the worst LD poll ratings is modern times, is beginning to focus minds on a real Labour revival. Related posts on this blog:A progressive coalition within reach? This [...]

It was just a year ago that Parliament was bereaved by news of the untimely death of  one of its best-loved members. More than 100 MPs stood in the snow outside the village church of Heather to hear heartfelt tributes to David Taylor. The tiny church was full an hour [...]

The government has said that if over 100,000 people sign a petition, it could lead to a debate in Parliament.  Good.  Instead of having to hope that someone in the Westminster village shares your concerns, you now have a formal mechanism to get them to respond to issues [...]

             This week has seen important changes of moods within and between the parties at Westminster. A Labour party asleep when it came to the job of opposition has woken up to campaign against the Cable plan for Higher Educaiton. It has united them for a few days and given [...]

                In 2007-8 I started to draw attention to the need for the public sector to do more for less. I pointed out that spending was rising too quickly and not always being well spent.               The costs of running my Parliamentary office and my expenses cost the taxpayer £105,917 in [...]

                In 2007-8 I started to draw attention to the need for the public sector to do more for less. I pointed out that spending was rising too quickly and not always being well spent.               The costs of running my Parliamentary office and my expenses cost the taxpayer £105,917 in [...]

Yesterday was a day to savour. To increase the confidence of children learning Welsh as a second language, I was drafted in to Malpas Court School. My job was to answer the questions they had prepared. The children were great. They responded to my attempt at immersion Welsh that [...]

The Times ('not worth a pound') worked themselves into a lather today about (not again) MPs expenses. It's a non-story. Many MPs had claims rejected. One was a claim for an office shredder - an essential for an MPs office where there is a legal obligation to shred mail. Hard to [...]

I WAS not present at Monday’s meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) but had I been, I would have voiced my concerns about the way Phil Woolas has been treated. Now, before you go off on one and start accusing me of condoning racism, don’t bother because I’m not. But [...]