Greengate quality probe

Greengate will be probed. Not by a committee packed with the Speaker’s chosen stooges but by two Select Committees. The Public Administration Committee will probe the ‘leaks and whistle blowing in Whitehall’. The Home Affairs Committee will investigate Police aspects.

 

We decided to start our investigation this morning. Chairman Tony Wright, Gordon Prentice and I voted with the LibDems yesterday and described as ‘Labour rebels’ even though there was no whip. We did not get our immediate inquiry decisions yesterday. But today’s is better.

 

Our inquiry will be swift, public and detailed. Only one in 8 years have our cross party committee disagreed on any report. We work through reasoned argument and consensus. We will be asking Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell on Thursday why his department called in the Metropolitan Police to investigate a series of leaks from the Home Office.

 

Yesterday’s debate showed parliament at its party political worse. The Tories and LibDems promulgated a new creed of the infallibility of the Speaker. They chided Labour for ‘disrespect’ in questioning the Speaker’s preposterous plan to be investigated by seven of his cronies. On the Labour side, some defended the indefensible.

 

The Select Committees are the proper vehicles for reaching rational conclusions that give full weight to all the issues raised.

Jargon busting

PASC also decided to probe ‘Bad language’.

These are the vile verbal atrocities that clog parliamentary communications. The meaning of documents and speeches are impenetrable because they are littered with jargon, management speak and acronyms.

Why do we put with it?  Sometimes for fear of appearing ignorant in not recognising the latest buzz word. ‘Contestability’ is a recent new horror that is an alternative to competition. The new word spreads like a virus infecting understanding.

 

A splendid document of simplifying language has been produced by the Newport Office of the Charity Commission. It translates pompous, words-overstuffed expression into clear English. I hope to persuade its local author to promote his work as an example of commendable clarity.

 

No doubt PASC will appear to be insufferably superior when we pontificating on the need for good language. Some might even find examples in our reports – or, even, our blogs.

 

Suggestions are welcome.

Post - magic

Nostalgia was stirred by today’s death of story-teller Oliver Postgate.

My favourites that I enjoyed sharing with my children were Olaf the Lofty. He was the court inventor and friend to Noggin the Nog. Although Olaf's inventions are invariably ingenious, so they are also invariably unreliable, often with dramatic results.  Indeed, many of Noggin's adventures occur as a direct result of Olaf's grapples with science.

Postgate played a leading role in the anti-nuclear movement and he had strong political views. The worlds he created were vivid, surreal and ruled by eccentric but decent moral codes. If even managed to insert political messages into the seductive tales.

Oliver Postgate enriched the imaginations and lives of millions.

Comments

[Graham Marlowe]

Sorry for some reason this got posted in the Spin Strangled thread even though my computer said it was being posted here:

Perhaps not jargon, but how about an end to:

"Nothing's ruled in, and nothing's ruled out"

"We are where we are"

"Best practice" (does anyone really advocate SWORST ;practice -thougfh we often get it)

"Making a difference": Originally used by the Blair Babes when they forgot their script, but now taken up by everyone in public life.

and perhaps Osborne could now drop the "fixing the roof while the sun shines" soundbite which I have heard at least a dozen times now on radio

[Paul Flynn]

Thanks very much Graham. These are great examples of verbal junk. I am looking forward to this inquiry.