Deception, lies and what appears to be one last chance to get some benefits from their time in Parliament, but it's led to the suspension of three high profile MP's. It has been touted as the next big bout of sleaze to hit the political sphere, but weeks from the general election and with the expenses scandal still fresh in the mind, this has added weight. Not just that, the Dispatches documentary which has exposed these leeches on society, has also exposed some other truths which go much deeper into the heart of Westminster.
I'll start then with Margaret Moran, an MP who was embroiled deeply in the expenses scandal. As a result of the 'stress' she endured throughout, she has been unable to hold her constituency surgeries, nor meet with any of her constituents. She looked pretty healthy on the tv though at a secretly filmed meeting in which she thought she could be in line for thousands of pounds a day. The documentary makers even phoned her constituency office who confirmed she was too ill to hold any constituency meetings. Thankfully, this disgusting, plague on our political system has now been suspended from the parliamentary labour party, but as it stands, she'll still get her golden goodbye of over fifty grand when she leaves parliament in the next few weeks. The injustice is just too great to even try and write without using offensive language.
If that wasn't bad enough, how about what former transport secretary Stephen Byers was saying. He claimed to have successfully acted on behalf of Tesco and National Express in getting policy changed. Complete fabrications as it turns out, or as the rest of us call it, lies.
So here's the first of two major problems here. I've highlighted two disgraced MP's who have been caught well and truly lying. How can any of this current crop of members of parliament, and the non-elected Lord's for that matter, be trusted. How many more have been going to meetings with legitimate lobbying organisations and spouting tripe in order to line their own pockets. On the flip-side, how many have actually managed to swing policy in favour of companies that have been keeping their wallets comfortably stuffed with dosh?
All we hear from those that are caught red-handed, is that "I acted within the rules". Yes, fair enough, but that doesn't answer for the intent. Clearly there was an irrefutable desire to break the rules in order to earn money, and in my book, that makes them equally guilty. Intent to commit a crime would get anyone else a date with a magistrate, why should it be any different for rules in Parliament?
The second of the two big issues is that of unelected folk running government departments. I've highlighted this on several occasions in recent times, but this latest scandal brings it to the fore. Two departments highlighted as being 'bought' in exchange for policy changes in the Stephen Byers case are headed by Lords. The department for transport is led by Lord Adonis, and the department for business is headed by Lord Mandleson. Neither of these chaps are answerable to the elected house, the Commons. So for me to get a question to them on this matter through my MP would prove unsuccessful. It makes the whole political process of government untenable, and should be something that becomes outlawed in British politics.
As a footnote to this whole sorry saga, those MP's caught up in this latest disgusting episode should be stripped of their golden goodbye payments and also their MP's pensions. Furthermore, they should be banned for life from any further involvement in politics.
No wonder there is no appetite to vote in this country.