All this stuff about MPs' expenses is fascinating. To say the least.
Nothing in this post should be considered as a defence of anything we have read in the media in the past week or so, but I do have several disconnected observations.
I find it difficult to understand how someone can have 'forgotten' they have paid off their mortgage. For me, and for people I know or read, any mortgage-related transaction is noteworthy. It seems to be fairly well demonstrated that working long hours and being deprived of sleep does affect one's memory and judgement. All ethics apart, it doesn't exactly fill me with confidence that our political representatives are so mentally impaired that they are unable to remember paying off their mortgages or unable to judge the implications of potentially fraudulent claims. And I doubt that such mental impairment is confined to politics. Throughout the world of work, 'leaders' are working stupid hours; how clear are their judgements?
I didn't like my reaction when I read of David Cameron's wisteria clearing. "That's only £600" I thought. In my defence, it is small and sort-of almost understandable in contrast to multiple flippings etc. I am ashamed because I know that in reality it is a lot of money - bearing in mind I work part-time, so although my grossed-up salary FTE is well above average, £600 represents just about what I have left each month after all the Direct Debits (but we are a two income household and I'm playing fast-and-loose, and shortsightedly using my house equity). But it does illustrate how easy it is to lose sight of the real value of money.
I have been active in politics for quarter of a century; this has not been a great way to celebrate my silver anniversary in the Labour Party. Despite studying Politics at University, despite being trained and paid to be sceptical, and despite 8 years serving as a politician, I remain an optimist with a benign view of human nature. Whether my self-awareness of my naivety is proof of an absence of naivety, I don't really know. I have always known that there are people who go into politics solely for personal gain, that it is common for people who start-off as idealistic to become jaundiced, but I do believe that most people are merely venal. But I am being shaken out of my innocent rose-tinted innocence by this unfolding saga of greed.
Two things annoyed me at the Classical Brits (well, more than two, but let's concentrate on the MPs' expenses issue).
David Mellor (ex-MP) appeared to present the Critics Award. He made a speech about how the critics had assembled for a long liquid lunch, and he made some quip about expense claims. Understandable and verging on the almost humorous. Except I found it very smug. The inference I took was that as it's now many years since he was an MP, he of course is above all this. Possibly, as an ex-MP for Putney, which I suppose counts as Inner London, he was never entitled to the Second Home Scam. But 12 years on, his expense claims, submitted long before Freedom of Information, are free from scrutiny. I got annoyed with some news headline yesterday which said "The most corrupt Parliament ever?" To which I reply, "I doubt it. We just don't know and can't possibly tell. The difference is there is growing transparency. Not enough, but more than there has been previously"
I was asked by my neighbour Langrabbie whether I had encountered Iain Dale. I didn't, but I did spot his companion. She was high on Jimmy's list of 'women who ruin nice figures and nice dresses with poor posture'. Turns out this was Nadine Dorries MP , who, as it happens, is today entwined in the exes issue. More interesting to me was that she was at a dining table at the record industry annual shebang. I may be making a big mistake and in fact she is a madly fanatic José Carreras fan and so felt compelled to buy an arena/dining ticket in the Albert Hall for his Lifetime Achievement Award. If so, I apologise profusely.
More likely, she was a guest of some or other record company, getting free dinner and wine, and a concert which some of us paid up to £65 a ticket for. So what, you might say. All I can say is, the next time there is a Parliamentary vote on matters relating to, for example, copyright on recordings, I believe that Nadine Dorries, and anyone else who accepted the freebies, should excuse themselves from the vote; otherwise it would be a prima facie case of corruption actually more serious than dodgy home claims - Iain Dale's blog says
I am afraid I now have to bow out until later this evening as I am going to the Classic FM Brit Awards (sic) in my role as "escort" to female Conservative MPs (note the plural)
I just use this as an example. I feel angry at the memories of my time on the council, when we were over-cautious. For example, Licensing Committee did a night-time tour of nightclubs. The head of Licensing, Trevor, reminded us not to accept drinks.
In one place (Caesars) we were offered a drink. Everyone declined but me. Because I was parched I requested a glass of water. Trevor's face changed very quickly from exasperation/annoyance to relief and amusement. I am sure some people would read this and sneer.
But the point is, no one could then accuse me or my fellow committee members of accepting inducements. Imagine the hilarity if a newspaper tried to run "Councillor Gert solicited and accepted a half-pint glass of tapwater from Streatham's leading nightclub owner". Surrey Cricket Club tried to treat us to a slap-up reception; our Chief Whip reminded us that there was a major planning application pending for The Oval.
All I can say is, irrespective of how you feel about the main parties, do go out and vote for anything but the British National Party. If nothing else, make the European elections, and Local if you have them, a vote against the BNP. Ultimately, hatred of ethnic minorities (and gays, and women) will continue when we've all forgotten the MPs' expenses scandal. Hopefully, this is something on which the activists, members and supporters of all mainstream parties and decent citizens can unite.
