Bob Piper has been a Labour Councillor for the Abbey
Ward in Sandwell, West Midlands, for 10 years. He is a lifelong supporter of Aston Villa Football Club and a follower of Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
The views expressed here are mine in a personal capacity, not those of the Labour Party, Sandwell MBC, Aston Villa or Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Get it! Mine... just mine!
Promoted by Bob Piper of 115 Barclay Rd, B67 5JZ on behalf of the Labour Party, care of 39 Victoria Street London, SW1H 0HA . Hosted (printed) by Swaithe Internet Solutions who are not responsible for any of the contents of these posts.
Please note however, that The Labour Party is not responsible for the content of this website or individual posts as, unless specifically stated, I am writing solely in a personal and individual capacity.
Promoted by Bob Piper of 115 Barclay Rd, B67 5JZ on behalf of the Labour Party, care of 39 Victoria Street London, SW1H 0HA . Hosted (printed) by Swaithe Internet Solutions who are not responsible for any of the contents of these posts.
Please note however, that The Labour Party is not responsible for the content of this website or individual posts as, unless specifically stated, I am writing solely in a personal and individual capacity.
This from the man who stood up in the House of Commons on Thursday and said:
"The House will comprehend the impact that this matter has on me personally and also on my family. I have let them down very badly indeed, and no judgment from any quarter could be more harsh than that which I apply to myself."
The sad thing is, in talking to what you may generally describe as non-political friends today, that Conway's behaviour has damaged politicians of all parties. OK, on the Labour side we have poked fun with some glee at those sanctimonious Tories who were so delighted by the embarrassment that Hain and Harman caused to us, and I suspect over the next couple of weeks or so the Tories have got some work to do to right the damage inflicted by Derek Conway. Equally, though, it has to be said, that when Blair, Campbell, Mandelson, etc. were pouring scorn on the Tories for being sleazy, they can hardly complain when their own chips are pissed on when they are exposed as less than squeaky clean themselves.
However, the vast majority of people I have come into contact with through being involved in politics don't give a damn about the money, and many have slaved away for hours on end in local government, way before anyone decided 'allowances' should be paid. Then there are the thousands of party members behind us who not only do not get paid a penny, but make financial and time sacrifices on behalf of their parties and the candidates.
When they knock on doors in the coming months, the charge of 'snouts in the trough' and 'you're all the same' will hurt them all the more as a result of the events revealed over the last week. So, Derek Conway... that is what you have done wrong. Please go quietly, and if the Mail on Sunday or any other media vultures come hovering over your rotting corpse, play dead, and you had better hope the consequences for yourself are only limited to the loss of your political career.
I'm not sure Bob. I hope I'm not alone in thinking that I'd care less about all this financial chicanery if I thought that Westminster politicians were doing a better job in general. I think if the public thought more that MPs *earned* all this cash, there'd be less contempt.
The Tory MPs deserves the scorn because they've taken all this money and have been one of the most piss-poor oppositions ever. Labour MPs took the money and, well, how long have you got?
Can't agree, Justin. I wouldn't be any happier if I thought my MP was doing a good job whilst stealing tax payers money. I would still want him or her sacked. If my bus driver is pocketing the fares would I think, well, he was a bloody good driver? I think not.
In the specific case of Conway, Bob, I think you're right. With the generality of MPs - assuming they're not all like Conway - I think there's a case for saying, 'OK, we're paying you all this money, show us in ways we can understand what we're getting for it and that you're earning it'. It's a battle for hearts and minds, as it were.
Ahh, now I agree with that 100%, particularly as all 3 parties are now so bloody bland and similar, everyone of them a pale shadow of Owen's SDP, that threatening to vote them out is hardly a meaningful threat. The bit I took issue with was your comment about caring less about the financial chicanery... which I suspect you didn't really mean.
He should have gone very quietly after making his decision to leave and writing to the media about what happened. Throwing his toys out of the pram is very undignified as his opportunity for saving his career has long past.
February 3, 2008 9:54 AM | permalink
I'm not sure Bob. I hope I'm not alone in thinking that I'd care less about all this financial chicanery if I thought that Westminster politicians were doing a better job in general. I think if the public thought more that MPs *earned* all this cash, there'd be less contempt.
The Tory MPs deserves the scorn because they've taken all this money and have been one of the most piss-poor oppositions ever. Labour MPs took the money and, well, how long have you got?