Total of British Soldiers killed in Afghanistan = 398
Mark Adams is the self-appointed apologist for the sins of lobbyists. He writes on his blog that:
When the Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee held its first oral evidence session recently, Paul Flynn suggested that the recent “controversies” over lobbyists suggested that there was a “crisis of democracy”.
Come off it. If you want to see a crisis of democracy, try going to Syria, Bahrain, Egypt, or even to Russia or Greece. The silly claims to undercover journalists by some lobbyists is just not on the scale. Sadly more of our political masters now seem to agree that the right to lobby should be shackled and the freedoms of the press restricted.
However an increasing number of politicians now see the chance to muzzle their opponents and their critics, claiming it is in the name of reining in the “excesses” of the press or of lobbyists. We should all be very careful of this. If we are not, we will indeed have a real “crisis of democracy”.
I have replied on his blog:
You have missed the point, Mark. There is a splendid book titled HOW TO BE AN MP. It suggests the crisis of democracy caused by the expenses scandal will last at least a decade. Cameron correctly said that the next parliamentary scandal would be lobbying. Now he has gone soft on that after being mugged by lobbyists.
The countries you mention cannot have crises of democracy until they first build credible democracies. There can be no persuasive defence of the excesses of the Murdoch Press. Bravo to the courageous individuals who have taken them on. The Murdoch Empire will strike back. Lobbyists, bad MPs and crap journalists are united in conspiracies to deceive the gullible. They have been allowed to rampage unfettered for too long.
ALL must be curbed.
Lobbying is fine. Everyone has the right to lobby, or basically gripe to their MP or the relevant Minister about something. What should be the case is that all lobbying is carried out with complete transparency so that anyone can see what anyone, or any corporation, is lobbying about and for.
Although there could be an exception for national defence (what's left of it) issues I suppose. Discretion to be used, wisely one would hope.
Posted by: Ed | February 15, 2012 at 12:09 AM
Lobbyist Lionel Zetter's evidence to Select Committee failed to mention that he is working for a group that promotes the interests of the oppressive regime in Azerbaijan that abuses and imprisons its political opponents.
Posted by: Paul Flynn | February 15, 2012 at 07:26 AM
I agree that everyone has the right to lobby their MP or relevant minister, but perhaps the trouble comes when we start giving corporations the rights of human beings. Corporations, compared to people, act without conscience or remorse in the pursuit of their aims. Time and time again they are caught engaging in criminal, immoral or negligent behavior. If they could be compared to a human, it would be a high-functioning sociopath.
Posted by: DG | February 15, 2012 at 09:09 AM
Funeral details Joan Todd
Joan's funeral will be at St Basil's Church Bassaleg
Friday 24th February
11.45 a.m.
Posted by: Paul Flynn | February 15, 2012 at 05:56 PM