Thursday 15 October 2009

No parliamentary pass for fascists

For the past few days we've been trying to get a bit of business through at the end of the day entitled "Access to Parliament (United Kingdom Members of the European Parliament)". It amends the current law which allows all MEPs parliamentary passes, on the grounds of 'growing pressure on parliamentary facilities' (according to the explanatory memo) and the absence of similar arrangements for other elected representatives, e.g. members of the devolved assemblies.

Of course this would have the entirely desirable side-effect of preventing Nick Griffin from strutting his stuff through the corridors of Westminster at will.

This type of business goes through on the nod, unless someone shouts 'object', in which case it gets deferred to the next day. Christopher Chope, the Conservative MP, has been making a special point of coming into the Chamber each night, just to shout 'object'. It's really about time he explained why.

6 comments:

Dick Puddlecote said...

Perhaps because he believes that if the electorate vote in huge numbers for a representative in the superior EU assembly, their view should be respected, however objectionable. That used to be the way democracy worked, anyway.

The devolved assemblies are a different matter as they are subservient by comparison.

Just a thought.

Anonymous said...

Would this bill also apply to Mandelson, because as far as I'm aware, he hasn't been elected anywhere, by anyone

Anonymous said...

O.K. then Kerry Reply put us at ease with the amendments to your bill. Or do New Labour not do that anymore, with the public at large?

Unknown said...

So kerry are you going to answer Dick Puddlecote's question.. we'r waiting

Remember Remember said...

Ah, so now you want to extend your powers by barring people from OUR HoP!
If you don't like freedom of speech, how about you resign instead and join an even more private club?

Anonymous said...

Every time you try to inflict your authoritarian, exclusive idea of what is acceptable in politics on us mere members of the public, we see the people you victimise in a more and more sympathetic light. You seem to underestimate the British admiration for the underdog.

It's losing you votes. Really!