http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12157768
Labour MP Eric Illsley has pleaded guilty in court today to charges of false accounting over claims of a second home.
Yet he has not resigned as an MP.
Yes it's true that he can still retain his seat in Parliament if he now receives a custodial sentence of less than a year. But given the fact that he has been found guilty of misusing tax-payers' money and can now be said to have betrayed the trust of his own constituents, there is no way, in my opinion that he can remain an MP.
Labour leader Ed Miliband and Prime Minister David Cameron have, quite rightly, called for him to resign gracefully.
Following the conviction and jailing last week of fellow Labour MP David Chaytor over the expenses scandal, this is another black day for the reputation of Parliament.
Mr Illsley's reputation, like Mr Chaytor's, is now in ruins. And there are further trials of other MPs to come.
Nobody found guilty of such serious offences can expect to remain in public office.
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
Monday, 3 January 2011
Miliband Springs To Life In Attack On VAT Rise
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12106168
After what has been described by many commentators as a lacklustre start to his leadership of the Labour Party and an overall mediocre performance at Prime Minister's Questions, Ed Miliband confounded his critics today by launching a blistering attack on the huge hike in VAT that comes into force today.
VAT is now rising from 17.5 to 20%, a move that is going to hit everyone extremely hard.
Mr Miliband used a speech during a visit to Oldham East and Saddleworth - where a Parliamentary by-election is taking place on 13 January - to press home the consequences of such a rise in the tax.
He spoke effectively and eloquently claiming that the increase will cost families an extra £7.50 a week, and far from being a necessary measure to bring down the huge budget deficit, that it will actually impede growth in the economy and hit jobs.
Mr Miliband needs to maintain this high profile from now until the next election if he is to return Labour to government in the shortest possible time.
After what has been described by many commentators as a lacklustre start to his leadership of the Labour Party and an overall mediocre performance at Prime Minister's Questions, Ed Miliband confounded his critics today by launching a blistering attack on the huge hike in VAT that comes into force today.
VAT is now rising from 17.5 to 20%, a move that is going to hit everyone extremely hard.
Mr Miliband used a speech during a visit to Oldham East and Saddleworth - where a Parliamentary by-election is taking place on 13 January - to press home the consequences of such a rise in the tax.
He spoke effectively and eloquently claiming that the increase will cost families an extra £7.50 a week, and far from being a necessary measure to bring down the huge budget deficit, that it will actually impede growth in the economy and hit jobs.
Mr Miliband needs to maintain this high profile from now until the next election if he is to return Labour to government in the shortest possible time.
Cable Comments Highlights Splits In Coalition
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12045792
Any doubts amongst Liberal Democrats over their position in the Coalition were blown into the public arena today by the publicizing of Vince Cable's recorded remarks that he could be pushed into walking out on the government.
Can we really now take this nonsense of a Coalition seriously now that a senior member of the Cabinet has voiced such disatisfaction with his position?
With a massive rise in VAT to come in the New Year, not to mention all the cuts in public spending, the already shaky position of the junior partners in this Coalition can only become more and more untenable as these sure-to-be extremely unpopular policies start to bit and hit the pockets of ordinary people.
Any doubts amongst Liberal Democrats over their position in the Coalition were blown into the public arena today by the publicizing of Vince Cable's recorded remarks that he could be pushed into walking out on the government.
Can we really now take this nonsense of a Coalition seriously now that a senior member of the Cabinet has voiced such disatisfaction with his position?
With a massive rise in VAT to come in the New Year, not to mention all the cuts in public spending, the already shaky position of the junior partners in this Coalition can only become more and more untenable as these sure-to-be extremely unpopular policies start to bit and hit the pockets of ordinary people.
Sunday, 19 December 2010
Tory MP Nigel Evans Reveals He Is Gay
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12031978
Nigel Evans, Conservative MP for Ribble Valley and deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, has revealed that he is gay.
He is the 22nd MP to come out of the closet.
It has always been harder for Conservative politicians than those from other parties to admit openly that they are homosexual, given the Tories' continual promoting of traditional family values.
However, in 2010, times and attitudes have changed.
We now live in an age where couples are able to have their relationships recognised in law by entering into a Civil Partnership. Being gay is no big deal.
Mr Evans is to be applauded for helping to continue the Tories' march into the twenty-first century.
Nigel Evans, Conservative MP for Ribble Valley and deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, has revealed that he is gay.
He is the 22nd MP to come out of the closet.
It has always been harder for Conservative politicians than those from other parties to admit openly that they are homosexual, given the Tories' continual promoting of traditional family values.
However, in 2010, times and attitudes have changed.
We now live in an age where couples are able to have their relationships recognised in law by entering into a Civil Partnership. Being gay is no big deal.
Mr Evans is to be applauded for helping to continue the Tories' march into the twenty-first century.
Cameron Invites Unions To Number 10
http://www.talktalk.co.uk/news/pa/uknews/2010/12/20/prime-minister-to-meet-union-bosses.html
David Cameron is to have a formal meeting with Union leaders in Downing Street, it has been announced.
The last time such a meeting between a Tory PM and Union bosses took place was in 1985 when the then-TUC general secretary Norman Willis, met Margaret Thatcher.
The two sides will meet amid growing concern about impending job losses and spending cuts in the public sector.
However, with the Tories so intent on reducing the budget deficit by cutting spending at such a fast pace, it is difficult to see what the Unions will gain from meeting with Mr Cameron.
I don't see how they will be able to change the government's mind on pursuing this course of action.
David Cameron is to have a formal meeting with Union leaders in Downing Street, it has been announced.
The last time such a meeting between a Tory PM and Union bosses took place was in 1985 when the then-TUC general secretary Norman Willis, met Margaret Thatcher.
The two sides will meet amid growing concern about impending job losses and spending cuts in the public sector.
However, with the Tories so intent on reducing the budget deficit by cutting spending at such a fast pace, it is difficult to see what the Unions will gain from meeting with Mr Cameron.
I don't see how they will be able to change the government's mind on pursuing this course of action.
Coalition In Disarray Over Tuition Fees
As expected, the Coalition succeeded in getting its highly controversial increase in tuition fees through Parliament.
However, this was only possible with the Conservatives' junior partners being split three ways on this issue, with most voting in favour but a significant number - including former leaders Charles Kennedy and Menzies Campbell - opposing the new legislation and others abstaining as is their right under the Coalition agreement.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has admitted that it was a mistake to come out so against a rise in tuition fees during the 2010 election campaign. But this has come too late to repair his damaged reputation.
Nobody willl trust a word he says again and the Lib Dems will no doubt take a real battering in next year's local elections.
However, this was only possible with the Conservatives' junior partners being split three ways on this issue, with most voting in favour but a significant number - including former leaders Charles Kennedy and Menzies Campbell - opposing the new legislation and others abstaining as is their right under the Coalition agreement.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has admitted that it was a mistake to come out so against a rise in tuition fees during the 2010 election campaign. But this has come too late to repair his damaged reputation.
Nobody willl trust a word he says again and the Lib Dems will no doubt take a real battering in next year's local elections.
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
Ed Miliband Exploits Coalition Disunity Over Tuition Fees at PMQs
http://www.labourlist.org/pmqs-liveblog-december-8th?utm_source=taomail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=109929+PMQs+verdict%3A+Ed+proves+himself+-+again+%2F+Re-organising+society+Tory+style+%2F+A+government+loss+of+real+significance+%28LL503%29&tmtid=109929-10130-10130-162-12-590-57452
Ed Miliband was back to his best at PMQs this week after a lacklustre performance last week.
He set out to exploit the splits amongst the Liberal Democrats over the now- explosive issue of increasing student tuition fees.
And he succeeded.
The Prime Minister's woeful swipe at Mr Miliband that he was like a 'student politician' saw the Labour leader seize his chance to hit below the belt. He replied with the jibe that the PM 'hangs out with people who wreck restaurants' - a reference to the Bullingdon Club.
David Cameron was clearly rattled.
The Coalition faces its biggest test yet, with the Liberal Democrats split three ways on the issue. Some, including the Party leader, Nick Clegg will vote in favour and, following key meetings today, it now looks as if all Liberal Democrat ministers will follow suit.
Others will abstain as is their right set out in the Coalition agreement.
But we have already seen many high profile Lib Dem figures, including former leaders Charles Kennedy and Menzies Campbell, say they will vote against the proposals.
And the disquiet is also evident on the Conservative benches, with senior Tories, like former Party Leadership candidate David Davis, also declaring his intention to vote against the controversial policy.
To make matters worse, Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude has been quoted as branding the policy a 'shambles'.
So what now for the Coailition?
It seems likely that they will win the crucial Commons vote on Thursday as the rebellion amongst disaffected MPs from both parties is clearly not enough to overturn the new proposals.
But what is absolutely obvious is that the furore created by this issue has done enormous damage to the Liberal Democrats, who campaigned so passionately against any rise in tuition fees during the general election.
I wonder whether the splits in the Party that have now appeared can be repaired during the life time of this Parliament.
Ed Miliband was back to his best at PMQs this week after a lacklustre performance last week.
He set out to exploit the splits amongst the Liberal Democrats over the now- explosive issue of increasing student tuition fees.
And he succeeded.
The Prime Minister's woeful swipe at Mr Miliband that he was like a 'student politician' saw the Labour leader seize his chance to hit below the belt. He replied with the jibe that the PM 'hangs out with people who wreck restaurants' - a reference to the Bullingdon Club.
David Cameron was clearly rattled.
The Coalition faces its biggest test yet, with the Liberal Democrats split three ways on the issue. Some, including the Party leader, Nick Clegg will vote in favour and, following key meetings today, it now looks as if all Liberal Democrat ministers will follow suit.
Others will abstain as is their right set out in the Coalition agreement.
But we have already seen many high profile Lib Dem figures, including former leaders Charles Kennedy and Menzies Campbell, say they will vote against the proposals.
And the disquiet is also evident on the Conservative benches, with senior Tories, like former Party Leadership candidate David Davis, also declaring his intention to vote against the controversial policy.
To make matters worse, Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude has been quoted as branding the policy a 'shambles'.
So what now for the Coailition?
It seems likely that they will win the crucial Commons vote on Thursday as the rebellion amongst disaffected MPs from both parties is clearly not enough to overturn the new proposals.
But what is absolutely obvious is that the furore created by this issue has done enormous damage to the Liberal Democrats, who campaigned so passionately against any rise in tuition fees during the general election.
I wonder whether the splits in the Party that have now appeared can be repaired during the life time of this Parliament.
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