Warm support

 Rarely have I felt so apprehensive about a public meeting.

Having been in the business for a lifetime, I rarely worry about making the odd speech.  Tonight was different. Answering well founded anger would be fine. But the prospect of facing the unreason and venom of recent TV audiences was daunting. I had invited Newport West voters in a newspaper advert to question me on parliamentary expenses. My full expenses details were circulated at the meeting including the unpublished claims for 2008-09. The meeting room was full. But the response was universally warm and support. My political oppenents either failed to turn up or stayed silent. No sign of the sneering local bloggers who were elsewhere hiding behind their obscentities.

 I circulated this list of parliamentary reforms. The debate was thoughtful, inspiring and practical. There was none of  hysteria or malice that inflame much public opinion. There is great regret at the damage done to our democratic system.No wonder I believe I have the best constituents of any MP.

Parliamentary reforms

The old parliamentary ‘Gentlemen’s Club is finished. The replacement of the present Speaker was an essential first step in instituting reforms. Generally party leaders are proposing changes that will assist their own parties.

Expenses: Sir Christopher Kelly’s Committee will report on expenses in the autumn. Sir Christopher is accountable to the Public Administration Committee (PASC) I am a member of PASC I will give evidence and press for immediate implementation of root and branch reforms. There has been outrage because many millionaire MPs, of all parties, have been milking parliamentary allowances for items unconnected with parliamentary duties. Payments in future should match individual MPs’ needs or be incorporated at a reduced rate into salaries.

Lobbying: PASC has demanded full transparency for lobbying organisations. The present arrangements allow influence to be bought. It is potentially corrupting – or worse. We are pressing for mandatory disclosures. Not all parties agree.

Double Jobbing: An MP’s job is a full time one. Those who take outside jobs should have their moonlighting hours declared and parliamentary pay adjusted to reflect outside incomes. Former ministers and top civil servants should be barred from taking jobs in those areas in which they served.

Pensions: MPs pensions are based on final salaries. Many other occupational pensions are declining in value. MPs should not be seen to have a pension system that is more favourable than those outside of parliament.

Comments

[Tony]

Very true Paul - but in terms of a European issue the lack of the referendum does seem to be a big one - at least for me
If politicians being accoutable is what is causing the fuss at the moment then perhaps this is one question that needs to be answered
Why no referendum on a big part of the political future of the UK? Or can't we be trusted ?

[Paul Flynn]

I hope you feel better Tony after your lie-down. The reality of politics in the European parliament is that we need more Labour / Socialist MPs. A vote for the LibDems is likely to allow a second Tory a seat. That will mean two MEPs who do not even live in Wales.

[Tony]

If the reforms happen and Parliament again becomes a legislating and scrutinising body then that will be excellent.
I am concerned about mob rule and these reforms being rushed by party leaders in hair shirt mode but I think thats an inevitable result of the head of steam that built up over this
What does feel right is that if fraud has been committed then that person is prosecuted and the timing of that should not be at their discretion.
MP's who have committed fraud should not be able to wait until the next election - they need to go now (just like any other person caught doing that )

As far as the European elections are concerned I could not vote for a party that decides on a person based on their skin/creed/nationality

..equally I find it tough to vote for Labour after the referendum choice on the Lisbon treaty was denied ..

..but we need to be engaged with Europe so not UKIP either
..oops , Lib Dem as a vote , I'm off to lie down as that would be a first ..

[HuwOS]

Kay Tie speak
"blind tribal loyalty" = not wholeheartedly supporting Kay Tie
"bitter old trot"* = not agreeing with KayTie

* while many might assume it would mean having views to the left of KayTie in financial matters (ie centre right or extreme centre, not sure what left wing views would get you called, almost afraid to find out), and indeed it is often first used in that context,
once it has been used it is repeated even when the topic being discussed has no relationship to political alignment.

From its frequent use it seems it is also deployed when KayTie just wants to let off a bit of steam whether disagreeing with a point of view or not (like the F word in some circles).

[Paul Flynn]

Not to the Labour Party Patrick. I have you down as a 'Green'. You should have some MEPs next week.

[patrick]

Kay - Tie
Who am i showing blind tribal loyalty to?

[Paul Flynn]

Diolch yn fawr Ceri am eich geiriau caredig dros ben.

[Kay Tie]

You think the quality of legislation is high? You think there is a good standard of scrutiny of bills? You think the Government is held to account by members?

If only the British people showed such blind tribal loyalty as you.. then we'd be living in a totalitarian state.

[patrick]

Kay-Tie

"If an MPs job is truly fulltime then it's high time that they actually did a proper job."

If only all the British people were as hard working and honest as you!

[ceri jones]

"I had invited Newport West voters to question me on parliamentary expenses. The meeting room was full. But the response was universally warm and supportive."

Nid wyf yn synnu dim. Rydych yn ddyn o egwyddorion cadarn a gonest iawn. Gwahanol fydd y croeso i eraill nad oes ganddynt eich ymroddiad a'ch crebwyll

[Kay Tie]

"An MP’s job is a fulltime one."

There's not a lot of evidence that they are spending the time scrutinising legislation. The quality of bills passed is just awful. If an MPs job is truly fulltime then it's high time that they actually did a proper job..