Program your own mind - A non-partisan UK political blog

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Lee Griffin About Lee: Former students' union president and intermitent blogger since the turn of the century, who's aim is to promote objective thinking and a break from partisan politics when discussing the issues of the day. Contact him.

What is this "openness" you talk of?

Fri 4th Jul 2008

Woman with open arms
Source

A couple of days ago a speech that MP and Minister David Lammy made to the Fabian society was published on Liberal Conspiracy. The speech was largely devoid of content and was little more than a rallying speech about how amazing American politics is compared to UK politics in engaging people...apparently. What it did try and touch on, however, was parliament and government and how perhaps both can be more open to sources outside the Westminster Village.

What a shock and a shame it is to hear today then that in a vote on expenses made yesterday, parliament made it fairly clear that such an idea is very far from the minds of politicians. Expenses and perks of the job first, fair and representative politics second (if even that high) it seems!

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Touches on: Post, Disgusting traits, Clandestine, Selfishness, Undermining, Salaries, Parliament, MPs, David Lammy, Jacqui Smith, MP Expenses, Public engagement

MPs find another way to line their pockets away from prying eyes

Tue 27th May 2008

Money
Source

News is coming out that one potential route to "overcome" the issue of MP expenses and the outcry over what they spend their money on is to...well...properly hide their actions from us so we can't outcry any more!

However this isn't the worst of it, as they are saying they'd like to do this by giving every MP £23k "for their second home", in a move that would both mean that receipts and accounts would seemingly not have to be kept for what they are spending our taxes on, but also meaning some MPs will receive more money every year than they usually spend on their housing needs, effectively wasting even more of our money on what looks amazingly like a pay rise.

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Touches on: Post, Clandestine, Hypocrisy, Selfishness, Politics, Economic issues, Salaries, Taxes, Parliament, MPs, MP Expenses, Waste, Scandal

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Latest Politalks:

So what the hell is going on, Labour are slumping in the polls and yet those most naturally in their shadow able to take their place (the Lib Dems) are failing to capitalise in the polls. And even though the Tories are enjoying high times so much they must think it's the 80's all over again (in more ways than one) they have failed to deliver one serious or credible attack against the government that would show them to be the true heir's to the throne. So to speak. Anyway, on with this weeks Politalks. NSFW as usual, transcript can be found if you go through to read more!