The blog gets it

There will no more new posts to the blog until May 7th because of electoral law.

“This website was established while I was a Member of Parliament. 

As Parliament has been dissolved there are no Members of 
Parliament until after the election on 6th May 2010”. 

The MP blog is comatosed.  Long live the candidate blog! http://www.paulflynn1.typepad.com/

"Paul Flynn is one of the best writers I know-not just 'a good writer for an MP' but a very good writer. Full stop, His love of wordcraft  comes across powerfully, beautifully and movingly.' The Unusual Suspect' is an unashamed celebration of politics packed with fantastic anecdotes" -Tom Harris MP  The House Magazine 12/04 2010

Comments

[Traffic School Online California]

While this subject can be very touchy for most people. Thanks for stopping by and sharing some great information with phenomenal clarity in your writing and looking forward for your upcoming updates.

[DG]

I'm not worried about Gordon Brown, I doubt he'll be around long after the election, and even if he is, he's unlikely to have a large enough majority to push through anything too horrendous unless the Conservatives help out.

It's the thought of Cameron and his army of Mrs Birlings that's keeping me awake at night.

[Kay Tie]

"I think I'd rather stick with our Paul, knowing he's not afraid to buck the party line and will engage in debate with his constituents, than risk Newport West being turned over to a party parrot, no matter what colour its feathers are."

That's true. But at the same time Paul still shares many of the beliefs of the Party he's pro ID cards, pro indefinite retention of DNA, all the authoritarian tendencies of Labour. He won't be willing or inclined to stop Gordon Brown.

[DG]

Completely understand your feelings there Tony, I had a devil of job squaring it with myself too. In the end, though, I think I'd rather stick with our Paul, knowing he's not afraid to buck the party line and will engage in debate with his constituents, than risk Newport West being turned over to a party parrot, no matter what colour its feathers are.

[Tony]

Civil servants are also in a state of 'purdah' where contact with external groups/bodies has to be stopped lest there is any data/opinions might influence the election. Sounds as if this is a bit similar and not to suggest that because Paul is currently MP he should be considered the default candidate. Much as I think he is good MP, untainted by the scandel of expenses and with a lot of views a can support I have to say that voting for him is a tough one when it lets Brown back in .. still undecided

[Alwyn ap Huw]

That's interesting because Glyn Davies' blog address has remained as

http://glyndaviesam.blogspot.com/

Despite the fact that he lost his Assembly seat 3 years ago and as far as I know nobody has ever complained, it has just been accepted that that is his URL - now if he continued to use AM in his blog title that would entirely different.

[Ad]

Well best of luck Paul. I hope you get re-elected. I would certainly vote for you if I was a constituent.

[Kay Tie]

"Does someone know why electoral law apparently prevents Paul from ongoing contact with his constituents and others through his blog?"

He's not allowed to call himself an MP, not since today.

John Redwood on his blog (which is at johnredwood.com) wrote this:

http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2010/04/09/this-site-and-the-election/

And included:

"I cease to be an MP, as Parliament is being dissolved and all MPs lose office. Any references to my past as an MP that remain in older stories on this site are there for archival purposes and do not purport to suggest I am still an MP. "

[HuwOS]

Okay, well I know Paul will not be tempted to risk being on the wrong side of the law on this.

I know I was quite looking forward to updates on his re-election campaign and his take on the issues that arose during it, both locally, nationally and internationally.

Perhaps a warning to future electronically and electorally engaged politicians to not put the title MP where it cannot be removed, such as in your blogs principle domain name and have an MP including domain that points to it while you are in office and doesn't while you are not.

[Paul Flynn]

Huw, it's because the blog and website have the appendage 'MP'. After today, I am not an MP. I could set up a new site but that was not worthwhile in the past two elections. The blog will stay live without contributions from me.

[HuwOS]

Does someone know why electoral law apparently prevents Paul from ongoing contact with his constituents and others through his blog?