Tory-free fairness

Room for change
Britain’s tallest MP has circulated all MPs with a tall order.

Daniel Kawczynski is usually obsessed with regurgitating the press releases of the farmers unions begging for more taxpayers’ cash to ladle into the direction of farmers. Now he on to a new tack.

He asked whether we as MPs do not regard the first past the post electoral system as the fairest way to elect MPs The assumption is that no system could possibly be better that the one that elected splendid people like us.

I reminded him that in the General Election of 1997 and 2001 more that 20% of Welsh voters voted Tory. The result was not a single Tory elected in our 40 MPs. Fair, Daniel?

Come trample
Are MPs becoming less territorial?

I recall with a shudder bitter denunciations 20 years ago of those MPs who ventured into other MPs territories to speak without advanced notice. One Welsh MP was reported to assert his constituency limits by cocking his leg up and marking the boundaries with his individual scent. Serious woe was dumped on the heads on any MPs who trespassed.

The Assembly Ministers generally still respect the tradition but Westminster Ministers are negligent. This weekend, the whole of Plaid’s AMs descended on my constituency for their conference. Good choice. But, I don’t recall any courtesy letters.

It does not matter. I am not territorial. All politicians are free to trample over my constituency any time they wish. Stop the notes and save the planet.

Skoda power
Must be a slow news weekend. The Argus report on my blog story on how I closed down the M4 on Friday was the best-read story on their news site.

Amazingly there were two non-malicious comments. Thanks. But, Sarah from Cwmbran marvelled that I have had the tyre and wheel changed when with MP’s expenses I could go out ‘ and buy a new Jaguar.’

You have been reading too many lurid stories Sarah. For the record the car is a splendid Skoda that I bought in 2001 and it has 130,000 miles on the clock. I hope to keep it for few more years yet

Someone else objected that I was not travelling by train. There are no trains at 5.00 am in the morning' But half of my journeys are by rail.

Yesterday evening, I had a very enjoyable meal with a group of friends to celebrate a family birthday. Proof that this expenses feeding frenzy may be  getting out of hand was the first optimistic bill that I was asked to sign. It was for £16,642.24.  Some mistake with decimal points (I hope).

Comments

[valleylad]

20% may have voted tory, how many didn't vote?

I'd like to see "none of the above" on the ballot - if that wins none of the candidates who have stood can stand in that constituency again.

The elephant in the room that most MPs refuse to acknowledge is that the majority of the population view Liberal/Nu-lab/tory with total contempt.

Until we can have a national holiday to celebrate the milk snatcher's death (I'm still waiting to say rejoice rejoice), Blair has been jailed for war crimes and the liberals have explained in what regard Alton was a liberal, none of them will get my votes.

Up till now I've either voted Plaid or spoilt my paper.