Reward for Vaz

River view

Keith Vaz has hisreward.

The note from Chief Whip Geoff Hoon that was stolen from Vaz’s office talked of a 'reward' for his services in voting for 42 days. Keith denies that he wants a knighthood but he may have just been favoured.

The late Gwyneth Dunwoody occupied a vast office with great views over the River Thames. It is in the former Scotland Yard building now known as Norman Shaw North. Only two MPs have had these offices since the police decamped – the other one was Michael Foot when he was party Leader.

Keith has inherited the wide open spaces of this plush office. The system for the allocation of offices is based on patronage. Party loyalists and former ministers are top of all lists. Rebels do not figure. In spite of the fact that Disability Discrimination Act 1995 covers the Palace of Westminster disability is also not a consideration.

The person is charge of this rotten allocation system is, surprise, surprise, Chief Whip Geoff Hoon.

Wasted lives

About 30 years ago I was astonished with an accident figure.

 I had just been appointed Chairman of Gwent Transport Committee and I was told that there were more fatal accidents on one relatively quiet country road than on all the other roads in Gwent put together. The road is from Newport to Usk and it was then the route to the Cwrt Bleddyn night club that was a magnet for young people.

A series of horrific accidents has destroyed dozens of young lives. They all occurred on Saturdays, involved young male drivers and alcohol. Nothing has changed. The tragedies continue.
Pendle MP Gordon Prentice led a splendid debate in Westminster Hall this morning. It was sparked by a campaign in his local newspaper. The editor said that he was sickened with his likely Monday task of writing about the weekend’s carnage.

The general level of accidents is at an all time low but the destruction of young lives continues. Radical measures are necessary to restrict the freedom of young drivers. The three biggest drops in road deaths have resulted from brave political decisions. Public opinion had to be faced down to introduce the breathaliser, compulsory seat-belts and motor cycle helmets.

We need a bold political lead. We had that from Gordon Prentice this morning. But the response from Government was flaccid and wooly. They are timid of accusations of playing nanny.
Government will continue to consult and vacillate. What a shame. ‘Nanny’ could save lives.

Llongyfarchiadau

David T C Davies was back in the Commons today after his Monday absence.
It is congratulation time as his third baby arrived last week. ‘Are you breeding your future majority?’ I asked ‘No’, he said’ they will all probably grow up to be sellers of the Socialist Worker.’

How perceptive.

Cornering druggies

Great news from the USA.

America has declared war on drugs, an industry that is bleeding the nation dry. Presidential contenders Barack Obama and John McCain have drugs at the top of the agenda and the stock prices of the drug merchants are crumbling.

Big Pharma have spent $billions on lobbyists to mug the Congress and the Senate into servile compliance to their greedy demands.   Americans spend about £140 billion annually on medicine, compared with £11 billion in the UK. On average, for the same drug, an American pays twice that paid in the UK.

The NHS negotiates with the pharma giants and gets better value for drugs. Barack Obama is best placed to challenge the Pharmas because he is free of lobbyist influence. According to polls, healthcare costs are a bigger issue than Iraq for most Americans, hardly surprising given that it affects a greater number.

The Pharma bosses must be trembling with fear. Perhaps they need a tablet or two.

Comments

[paulflynn]

Thanks Greg. The Canadian scheme was the one that Gordon Prentice is pressing. The minister said the results are not good. We'll see.

[paulflynn]

Thanks Jon. You are correct, bijou and distant. It was Robin Cook's office in 96 but standards have improved since then.
The conditions in MPs offices were nightmarish in 1987. There were seven MPs in the first office I share.

[Jon Worth]

While I suspect that rebel Flynn has a small office somewhere... :-( Quite frankly the whole working atmosphere in those buildings strikes me as quite scary. I hope at least that your office is somewhere that's easily accessible.

[greg]

Interesting about the Caerleon-Usk Road. I also seem to remember a fairly recent multiple fatality on the Caerleon Road as it bends around the Usk

I don't know if agree about radical measures being needed when it comes to boy racers: those sensible Canadians use graduated licensing, which amongst other things stops boy racers being out and about with passengers after dark. Widely accepted and totally reasonable!

http://www.caamanitoba.com/web/else/traffic-novice.html

Regards

Greg