Honey didn’t make it, Political Vacuum, Expense scandal, Cross party dithering…. pathetic.

Back from Silverstone, having had a wonderful few days, to the sad news that Honey our 6 yr old Labrador had died. We are all devastated and whilst I was whooping it up at Silverstone my wife, my rock and my best friend Sue was having to go through the trauma of making Honey as comfortable as possible knowing that she was slipping away. Thank you Sue – you are a true Angel. So Barty’s without his pal – here’s a pic – Honey is on the right.

Honey and Barty

But we can’t look back – look forward and plenty to look forward to – Lisa our daughter is Gala Queen and whilst we are subdued this week the excitement of fulfilling this prestigious role will mount. Sunshine and summer holidays are just around the corner. Things can only get better.

So Back to Politics and a busy week canvassing in Bowden, Stow and Melrose this week, pressing the flesh, getting the face about and preparing for that Election, the one Mr Brown doesn’t want.

I sent a Tweet yesterday on the back of a cracking article in the Times

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/rachel_sylvester/article6557730.ece

It mirrors the exact sentiment that I have found on the doorstep tonight. Everyone’s crying out for change except the MP’s. Is the expense scandal simply going to be swept under the carpet? So every candidate for speaker had an expenses or home flipping issue in which they had purposely tried to dodge capital gains tax or slip through personal, non political expenses. So much for a fresh start.

David Cameron came out guns blazing a few weeks ago, promising the world, promising to pay the money back, promising to come down hard on MP’s who had dodged the tax, bent the rules, feathered the nest. Had you or I decided to fiddle the VAT, send in less PAYE / Nat ins contributions than was actually due or commit fraud within our own business then we’ have the police, the vat man, the tax man and every tom, dick and harry round to cart us off to jail. I might just hang onto to my VAT chq for a while longer this time and see what happens – Alistair Darling should not be holding the office of Chancellor with an expenses record as he has.

So Cameron fired into the team upsetting a lot it appears as he forces MP’s to repay – excellent article below from the Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jun/25/conservative-mps-expenses-david-cameron

When on earth is Brown going to tackle this immoral issue? He’s back in the bunker wondering what to do next? David Cameron has taken a strong lead on this issue, my disappointment with the remainder in the elected house is that they appear to be dithering again. The public will not let this rest until we see a prosecution in the same way that you or I would face. Mr Speaker – it’s down to you – swift and decisive.

Benedict Brogan wrote in the Telegraph yesterday:
“A parliament of professional politicians, think tank dwellers and Westminster hanger ons must produce ministers from the same class, free of any relevant experience, be it the law, banking, business, health, farming, the military or even the circus.”

I’ll put my hand up – I’m not from the political vacuum, internal politics, cross party bun fights, towing the party line – these irrelevant issues do not fill my every waking thought, nor does dancing to the tune of whips and bullies.

Common sense, a fair and decent society, a respect for each other and a freedom to speak openly about Immigration, religion, Great Britain and a freedom to make a pound or two without being hammered at every twist and turn by the tax man – These are the important issues – quite frankly the whole MPs expenses scandal has been pathetic and we should fire the lot of them. ( But we’ll loose some amazing talent !! A cry from a Labour supporter to me – my response Talent ! – I’d rather have Simon Cowell running the country !)

We have to ensure that we elect balanced, down to earth, family, business driven, outward looking individuals to the Parliament – if we don’t and if we scare them all off Parliament will be left a sterilized place peopled by those too rich to care or too poor to complain and no one in between.

~ by Chris Walker on June 18, 2009.