The recall of parliament was worthwhile in order to let parliament ventilate the shock, fear and anger of the nations.
Why were there no riots in Wales and Scotland? One possible explanation is the lack of ghetto-isation of ethnic groups. This is useful in London where the Turks and Kurds protected themselves. But it is a potential danger in other areas which the greed and hysteria of rioters spreads like wildfire. It is a relief that the rioters included people of all ethnic backgrounds so the blame cannot be concentrated on already stigmatised groups.
In some contributions in the Commons today the hysteria of the streets spread to the hysteria of the knee-jerk solutions of MPs. There were some spooky silences. No mention of the overuse of CCTV cameras. I wonder why. All will settle down in the fullness of time when good sense will return.
How to be an MP
The original 1997 edition of my book on the Commons included 34 roles for MPs. I’ve ditching a few that are no longer fashionable and adding a few new ones. Some are serious: some less so. Always welcome are suggestion for new roles and parliamentary gems that I may have overlooked. What aws your favourite qusetions, heckle, speechs in the past 14 years? All contributions used will be acknowledged. The book must be complete in four weeks time in order to be published in January/February.
Witch Doctor
Providing wildly alternative medical advice is a courageous role for those insensitive to gasps of incredulity and eyes rolled towards the ceiling. One has offered a litany of weird remedies. They include homeopathic borax to protect animals from foot and mouth. He is also an impassioned advocate of dowsing, kinesiology and crystal therapy – on the fragile scientific basis that ‘Crystals create a radio signal..so they are likely to contribute to health and well being.’ His latest enthusiasm is iridology. This is a ‘newer science involving looking into eyes to discover medical problems’ In the past he has advocated the use of flowers to cure fatal illnesses. The same member repaid £755 he had spent on astrology software even though IPSA remarkably told him he did not have to. But they declined to pay a £125 build for a seminar on honouring ‘the male and female essence.’ He adds to the rich variety of parliamentary eccentricity.
Robot
Those whose cerebral processes were still still-born or have become atrophied can shine as robots. Whips and frontbench experts provide carefully composed briefings on all debates or statements.
Robots are anointed with ersatz expertise by the received wisdom of others. All that is demanded is the ability to memorise (or sometimes just read) a hand-me-down question. In some quiet days whole speeches are provided. Fame can come from a slavish repetition of the words of the wise and witty.
There are hazards in straying from the prepared scripts into the alien quagmires of original thought. Thinking and originality is dangerous is talents are purely robotic. Care is necessary to avoid repeating a question already asked by a fellow robot supplied with the identical script.
Tributes to the fallen
Strong evidence has been sent to me suggesting that I was, inadvertently, mis-led by a Government minister of the changed route for the fallen. The reasons given for diverting the corteges onto side roads appear to be untrue. I have written to the minister asking for an explanation. I strongly suspect that the Government are following the example of the American Government in trying to suppress the tragic truth of this unnecessary war.
The original EDM said: We call on the Government to agree with
the request of the people of the Brize Norton
area to allow them to honour the fallen in a similar manner
to the tributes made by the people of
Wootton Bassett; regrets that Hon Members are no longer
permitted to read the names of the
fallen in the House and that on two occasions the reading
of the names by the Prime Minister
were moved from Prime Minister Question day; believes
it is the wish of the bereaved and the
rest of nation to recognise fully and publicly the sacrifices
of our armed services in order
that the true cost of war is never forgotten and that
Hon Members are reminded of the full
consequences of our decisions.
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