Actually I suppose we could entertain ourselves by speculating on who the seven wise men* will be on the Speaker's panel which will be set up to investigate the Damian Green affair. I was told by a Lib Dem that Ming Campbell is a dead cert because (a) it will have to include at least one Lib Dem, (b) all the members will be Privy Councillors, and (c) the Lib Dems only have three PCs in the Commons. (The others being Charles Kennedy and Alan Beith. This 'fact' might be wrong. But that's what I was told. Actually I've just looked it up. It is wrong. Malcolm Bruce and Nick Clegg are also PCs. Possibly more, I only got as far as the 'Cs'. That's what comes from relying on a Lib Dem for info).
Other suggestions so far: Michael Howard? David Blunkett? Gerald Kaufman? John Reid ruled himself out on Wednesday. David Davis????
*Obviously I mean 'men' in a non gender specific way. One of the downsides of quotas is that sometimes you end up having to do things you don't want to do, in order to preserve the gender balance. I suspect someone like Hilary Armstrong will find herself unable to refuse the Speaker's call. This is not disimilar to the situation where there are only three women at the constituency AGM, and you all end up having to be delegates to the local government committee even if it's your idea of hell, in the interests of the CLP not discriminating against you by appointing a man instead. Even though in this particular instance you'd be more than happy to be discriminated against. I have never quite managed to resolve this conundrum. Most resort to the 'agreeing to do it but not turning up for any meetings' option.
17 comments:
What is your take on the Matthews' lifestyle choices Kerry?
You STILL haven't replied to the question:
"Are you more loyal to the People or the Party?"
RR The party effectively 'employ' her, and make it possible for her to earn a salary. They select, or de-select her as the choice of parliamantary candidate, people only get a say in a general election and these are typically national events. So the answer to your question, reluctant as any MP might be to come clean is obvious. Now if we had a primary system whereby we got to choose the candidate you might see the whips losing much of their power and debates actually meaning something again.
The Lib Dems are boycotting the committee.
This is due to the Government's plan to ensure that Labour dominates the seven-member committee, as well as the Harmanator trying to delay it for (possibly) months until the police investigation completes.
Any comments, Kerry?
Has someone hacked your blog or is the welcome message deliberate?
I'm being filmed by the BBC at this precise moment for a piece on MPs blogging! It's quite unnerving typing away while having a camera two feet from your face...
S.a.o. tyranny:
That's precisely why whips should be abolished. It makes Poleticians go against any principles they may have left. In any case, they should be representing US, not a Party.
Kerry: Since you are not going to reply to my question, ASK YOURSELF who you should be more loyal to.
since it's been decided that labour MP's will be the majority of the group, and the lib dems are probably going to boycott it, what's the point? It'll be a whitewash anyway.
OT but why Kerry are you, Tom H, Tom W and that clown Byrne so silent about the EU court's decsion on holding on to innocent people's DNA. Why is your government not acting on the ruling right now (it is pretty clear after all).
You lot usually praise evertyhing about the EU .. is it not soconvenient now? or does the ripper home sec have that much influence over you?
Shirking from Home: I refuse to blog about something if someone else tells me I have to... Which raises something of a dilemma because I did actually want to say something about the Shannon Matthews case.
Bristol Dave: thanks for actuaslly commenting on the post. Sounds to me that Lib Dems are pulling their usual stunt here - freeing themselves up to criticise from the sidelines, without being willing to shoulder any of the responsibility. It's a very convenient stance to take. The Speaker is damned if he does, damned if he doesn't regarding the compostion of the committee reflecting party size in the Commons. How else would you decide?
Others: My Blog = My Rules!
"Has someone hacked your blog or is the welcome message deliberate?"
I thought my readers would appreciate it.
Which raises something of a dilemma because I did actually want to say something about the Shannon Matthews case.
Then say it! I for one would be fascinated to hear what you have to say on the subject - particularly referencing the fact that it lead to the underclass who view benefits as a lifestyle choice rather than a safety net brought to national media attention.
Sounds to me that Lib Dems are pulling their usual stunt here - freeing themselves up to criticise from the sidelines, without being willing to shoulder any of the responsibility. It's a very convenient stance to take.
Sounds to me that Labour are pulling their usual stunt here - attempting to make something look "independent" when in fact it couldn't be further from it, in order to whitewash what is at best an embarassing mistake and at worst an absolute disgrace. It's also a very convenient stance to take.
Bristol Dave - I just can't bring myself to blog on an issue when someone has told me to. It's the anti-authoritarian in me. (I almost used a smiley emoticon then, but just couldn't bring myself to do that either. In fact typing one, for the first time ever in my life, made me feel a little queasy).
However... you may get your wish. I might well be working it all up into a speech for next Monday (15th) or Thursday (18th). I know what I want to say, I just have to decide whether it's worth sitting in the Chamber for six hours waiting to be called to say it, when I could be engaging in charming conversations with my dear readers instead.
What a surprise - there will be a Labour majority in the committee. Job done. Speaker cleared.
Nice boss who dumps his staff in the shit. On TV. NICE man, Martin. A disgrace. Unlike the previous holder of the position, given the post by the Conservatives, who understand the importance of the Parliamentary constitution.
Kerry,
Your loyalty as an MP is to Parliament, not the Government. It is not clear to me that you or any of your colleagues understand that.
Anyway, off topic, I hear the BofE are dusting off the printing presses. Zimbabwe, here we come.
Kerry said...
Shirking from Home: I refuse to blog about something if someone else tells me I have to... Which raises something of a dilemma because I did actually want to say something about the Shannon Matthews case
Well, no-one's stopping you. Personally, as someone who has worked hard and saved for a pension, and whose other savings are now being, in effect, taxed, by what will prove to be totally useless interest rate cuts, deeply offensive that families can live on welfare, have smart TVs and run cars on the back of my hard work.
Indeed, there was a story a few days back on the BBC site about a woman in Glasgow, aged 43, who had never done a day's work in here life, and neither had her two sons. They were barred from JSA, but still managed to scrounge enough benefits to live OK.
How can you call yourself an "anti-authoritarian" when you work for the most authoritarian government in my 57 years, at least, and probably longer.
That's a REALLY bad joke :-(
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