Martyr me!

Malice rampant

Another bid for martyrdom today from the irritating Kate Hoey.  She lusts after victimhood and vengeance. Her life is shaped by her sacking after a brief period as a useless Sports Minister.

Her Labour roots are superficial and the only party she has backed with passion and knowledge is that of the Orangemen. Her current political mission is to incite her own expulsion from the Labour Party. No opportunity to vote against the Government is missed – even on subjects on which she has no strong views. Her presence is a regular embarrassment to other Labour MPs challenging Government policies.

Hilariously today she has accepted Boris Johnson’s stunt invitation to prop up his campaign – as an adviser of the Olympic Games-the bid for which she opposed. The announcement is timed with characteristic malice for maximum effect for Thursday’s mayoral vote.

She is in the pay of the Tory Daily Telegraph and the Countryside Alliance to the tune of £5,000 and £15,000 plus. The Countryside Alliance campaigns in key marginal seats against Labour MPs. On the referendum issue she backed another organization that targeted vulnerable Labour MPs.

There is reluctance in Labour circles to give her the satisfaction of martyrdom. She dreams of the attention. Think of the pained media interviews when she will present herself as the spurned heroine. She will damn the party that made her as intolerant. She will contrive a persona as the principled independent MP. If she was consistent and principled she would resign from the party that she clearly loathes.

Candidate Brian Paddick generously described Kate as ‘Bonkers’ ....why so mealy mouthed? Harriet Harman was woeful on London TV claiming that Hoey was supporting Livingstone while simultaneously stabbing him in the back. It’s a difficult call for Labour. Will more harm be done by kicking her out or by letting her linger on as a festering sore?

Who knows?

Elder abuse

Today an impressive group of experts deliberated on what may be the country's worse example of drug abuse.

Up to 105,000 people with dementia are given the anti-psychotic drugs inappropriately, according to expert predictions in the new All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Dementia report, 'Always a Last Resort'.

Although there is thin evidence that drugs work they are still a first resort for dealing with challenging behaviour in people with dementia, such as aggression or agitation. But there is massive evidence that neuroleptics cause devastating side effects of misery and confusion, doubling risk of death and costing us over £60 million a year.

I gave a whoop of joy when I read this report. The campaign is not new. I put down EDM is 2000 in 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995 and 1994. One in 1998 read:-

"That this House is shocked by the evidence from the Alzheimers Disease Society and Age Concern on the dangers of the over-medication of the elderly; is alarmed by reports that up to one in five admissions to hospital of the elderly are caused by the misuse of medicines and by investigations in England and Scotland that found 54 per cent. and 88 per cent of prescriptions of powerful neuroleptic drugs to elderly residents in homes were not needed, so were "wrongly prescribed". The early-day motion calls for an improvement in care services, and calls on the Government to replicate the reviews nationally"

I attended today’s two hour meeting and backed the report. Its recommendations are familiar.

'Always a Last Resort' identifies five vital steps to reduce antipsychotic use and reveals there is currently no audit or regulation of the issue. It urges the Government to use its new National Dementia Strategy to address the problem and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to conduct a thorough review.

The ninth commandment of the Back Bencher's 10 commandments says, "Neglect the rich, the obsessed and the articulate, and seek out the silent voices". There are no voices quieter than those of people who are in residential homes for the elderly. 

Treasured view

The view from my office window has greatly improved

Since 1997 I have stared at the grime stained looming façade of the Treasury. It been cleaned-up and a new pavement has been constructed with low colonnades. It’s very attractive but the bus stops have been moved.

They were so convenient for me and thousands of others who work in parliament. Thanks for the makeover. Now bring the bus-stops back.

Comments

[Tonypandy Andy]

Relax, dude. Give Kate a break. You got Shaun Woodward... what have you got to complain about ?

[Chris Gale]

Hi Paul

I believe strongly the party should kick this awful woman out forthwith. The vast, decent majority who oppose the barbaric bloodsports she represents would be supportive and it is insulting to Labour supporters and members that she is allowed to remain.
To do what she has done 2 days before the election is disgraceful. We should get shot of her pronto.
Not only that but she should be considered a security risk, given the insider knowledge of party strategy that Labour MPs have ahead of a general election.

[Paul Flynn]

Glad to see you are keeping the pressure up, Chris.
Hate to give her what she craves.

[Tony]

Hello Paul,

well I think I hear another foot being shot this morning.
I 've just checked the Treasury charges for the changes in Car Tax - and guess what ? My car tax will rise by 52% next April .. from £170 to £260 ...
Its in the Times this morning .. impecable timing and yet another tax increase.
If I thought it might go to green/renewable energy projects I might just swallow this but I doubt it
The cost of runing my car is escalating.. and then GB goes on Five Live this morning and announces he is trying to help families .. what , with another tax increase ?

[paulflynn]

What car are you driving Tony?

Everyone is in favour of green taxes - until they have to be paid. The new rates should lead to less pollution and improve the quality of the air we breathe. I just came into my office by bus and I will return to Newport by train tonight. I am struggling to reduce my carbon footprint. I drive a 7 year old Skoda car.

[valleylad]

If we taxed vehicles on carbon emitted rather
than "potential carbon emitted per km" I'd be
in favour. As it is, seems like a gimmick.

If you want people to make greener choices, they need an incentive to choose. If we want to reduce co2 emissions or reduce miles driven, an annual charge is likely to have zero effect, as it does not favour keeping a vehicle well serviced, or using it less for example.

Abolish VED, and simply increase fuel duty.
Obviously I'm dreaming again :)

[Tony]

My car is a Celica Paul - 185mg so nowhere near the worst - its serviced to meet the emissions restrictions and so on ..(4 years old)

On the issue of Green Taxes, the proportion of the tax take taken by green taxes has actually declined in the last ten years

.. and we come back to my point that IF the tax was used for renewables then I might swallow it - but your article on renewables shows that we are paying lip service to this and we are going nuclear

I guess thats the main problem I have - the deal in 97 seemed to me to be that 'yes you will pay more tax but services will get better' (I have to queue outside my GP surgery at 7:45 to get a same day appointment for example)

But yesterday I got about a £20 increase in take home pay - to arrive home to find that the monthly payment for my electricity has gone up by .... £20..

[Paul Flynn]

Yes, I am alarmed about renewables and we must keep the pressure on. That's no excuse for opposing a courageous policy to reduce pollution from emissions.

Your GP service is nothing to do with cash. they and the rest of NHS have had shedloads of the stuff. The Tories have said they will let them work fewer hours!

[Tapestry]

The one woman who could save the Labour Party.......

[paulflynn]

What sort of party would it be? A foxhunting party?