Here we go again

[Wynonie Harris]

Originally Posted by Guinness

Wonder if our local MP would like to jump to the defence of one of his own? The member for Halifax, one Linda Riordan, who likes to think she is a hard left socialist

In addition to her wage, she employs her partner at £42500 (paid by the taxpayer). She rents out her London home to another MP for £1560 (paid by the taxpayer) whilst paying the mortgage on said property of £500 (paid by her). She herself rents another property in London for £1473 (paid by the taxpayer)

For this she has spoken in parliament a grand total of 23 times, well below average for an MP and been pretty much below average at everything else related to her job, according to the highly regarded theyworkforyou website.

Interesting to note though, that she has never voted on having a more transparent parliament.....I wonder why

Ah yes, but it's not "the easy gravy train that many believe it to be" according to Ken.

[DaveinGermany]

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

Ah yes, but it's not "the easy gravy train that many believe it to be" according to Ken.

Happen we're standing on the wrong platform Wynn.

[Ken Moss]

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

Ah yes, but it's not "the easy gravy train that many believe it to be" according to Ken.

There are always going to be differences between how hard MPs work, just as the are with Councillors (indeed those of any profession) but personally speaking, although I had no complaints about Greg Pope, I am more than happy with how much harder Graham Jones works for our borough.

Call me parochial but that's all I really care about in our local MP.

[Guinness]

Originally Posted by Ken Moss

There are always going to be differences between how hard MPs work, just as the are with Councillors (indeed those of any profession) but personally speaking, although I had no complaints about Greg Pope, I am more than happy with how much harder Graham Jones works for our borough.

Call me parochial but that's all I really care about in our local MP.

To be fair, I think our MP does work harder than many other MP's even if he does sometimes ask daft questions in the house like:

'has Rupert Murdoch ever used the word sky in your presence?' or 'how much does the hay cost for the Household Cavalry horses?'

Still doesn't explain why he hasn't gone on here or twitter condemning the rent scam MP's, he was very quick to tweet about Osbornes fare dodging attempt but went very quiet when it was pointed out in the press that Labour MP's were at it too.

I refer to my original post 'double standards'!

[Ken Moss]

Originally Posted by Guinness

To be fair, I think our MP does work harder than many other MP's even if he does sometimes ask daft questions in the house like:

'has Rupert Murdoch ever used the word sky in your presence?' or 'how much does the hay cost for the Household Cavalry horses?'

Still doesn't explain why he hasn't gone on here or twitter condemning the rent scam MP's, he was very quick to tweet about Osbornes fare dodging attempt but went very quiet when it was pointed out in the press that Labour MP's were at it too.

I refer to my original post 'double standards'!

In fairness, I've asked what may look on the face of it to be petty questions at Council but they usually all boil down to the same thing - money. Are those in charge running things in a way which is best for the taxpayer or simply for themselves? It doesn't matter what side of the fence you sit, if it's crooked then it's crooked. I feel sure that Graham would say the same, he isn't the party-blinded bigot that some people choose to believe.

The whole Sky/Newscorp thing did not sit well with me and all and neither did the Virgin Trains debacle either, particularly since public opinion was so firmly against both. George Osborne has come under particular scrutiny because he's the Chancellor, for goodness sake.

Public office demands that you are beyond reproach. Those who forget this are liable to be found out....

[Wynonie Harris]

Originally Posted by Guinness

Still doesn't explain why he hasn't gone on here or twitter condemning the rent scam MP's, he was very quick to tweet about Osbornes fare dodging attempt but went very quiet when it was pointed out in the press that Labour MP's were at it too.

I refer to my original post 'double standards'!

Exactly what I keep going on about. It's this sort of cheap political point scoring which engenders the contempt we feel for politicians.

I would also like to know why he uses his time commenting on the affairs of a football club which isn't even in his constituency.

[Wynonie Harris]

Originally Posted by Ken Moss

The whole Sky/Newscorp thing did not sit well with me and all and neither did the Virgin Trains debacle either, particularly since public opinion was so firmly against both. George Osborne has come under particular scrutiny because he's the Chancellor, for goodness sake.

Come off it, Ken, do you seriously think that if the Shadow Chancellor had done the same thing, Graham would've been commenting on it? As far as I'm aware, he's said nowt about expenses abuses by Labour politicians but is quick to comment about a Tory. Doubtless, if it was a Tory MP it'd be the other way round. It's sad that you genuinely can't see just how the electorate can see right through this sort of cheap point scoring.

[Ken Moss]

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

Come off it, Ken, do you seriously think that if the Shadow Chancellor had done the same thing, Graham would've been commenting on it? As far as I'm aware, he's said nowt about expenses abuses by Labour politicians but is quick to comment about a Tory. Doubtless, if it was a Tory MP it'd be the other way round. It's sad that you genuinely can't see just how the electorate can see right through this sort of cheap point scoring.

It isn't so much that I can't see it, it's more that I choose not to get bogged down in it. I'm going through a similar argument at the moment with our Rishton blog with one activist moaning that it is Labour only. This is not true, it just so happens that the four Rishton representatives are all Labour. The public made that choice, not us.

However, my comeback to the activist is that the blog is rarely political because people quickly weary of political point scoring, even from those who they vote for.

[Guinness]

Originally Posted by Ken Moss

people quickly weary of political point scoring.

Hehe...I refer the honourable gentleman to the last comment and link he provided in post 11 of this thread

[Wynonie Harris]

Originally Posted by Ken Moss

It isn't so much that I can't see it, it's more that I choose not to get bogged down in it. I'm going through a similar argument at the moment with our Rishton blog with one activist moaning that it is Labour only. This is not true, it just so happens that the four Rishton representatives are all Labour. The public made that choice, not us.

However, my comeback to the activist is that the blog is rarely political because people quickly weary of political point scoring, even from those who they vote for.

You really have got into the professional politician's knack of not answering questions, haven't you? Anything but breathe the slightest criticism of Graham or indeed any Labour politician.

Graham Jones has criticised Osborne for the train incident the other day but, as far as I'm aware, has not made any comment on Labour politicians' expenses abuses. Was he right or wrong to do this? A simple yes or no will do.

[Ken Moss]

Originally Posted by Guinness

Hehe...I refer the honourable gentleman to the last comment and link he provided in post 11 of this thread

Ha! However, as long-term Accywebbers will testify that is one of my more balanced posts regarding that particular area of local government.

My energies are better focused these days now that the target of my criticisms is gone.

[Ken Moss]

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

You really have got into the professional politician's knack of not answering questions, haven't you? Anything but breathe the slightest criticism of Graham or indeed any Labour politician.

Graham Jones has criticised Osborne for the train incident the other day but, as far as I'm aware, has not made any comment on Labour politicians' expenses abuses. Was he right or wrong to do this? A simple yes or no will do.

I can't really comment on something I don't know about but I'm not going to criticise him for having a pop at the Chancellor. However, you're wrong about me and Labour politicians - if it's wrong, it's wrong. I certainly won't leap to the defence of anyone simply because they happen to be wearing the same badge.

As I said earlier (post #11 I believe....), the expenses scandal cost members of all colours badly and good riddance to all of those on the fiddle.

Including Labour.

That do you?

[DaveinGermany]

Originally Posted by Ken Moss

if it's wrong, it's wrong. I certainly won't leap to the defence of anyone simply because they happen to be wearing the same badge.

And you're certainly not condemning them either, as your comment was if it's wrong, it's wrong, surely condemnation should also follow regardless of party/colours.

[Wynonie Harris]

Originally Posted by Ken Moss

I can't really comment on something I don't know about but I'm not going to criticise him for having a pop at the Chancellor. However, you're wrong about me and Labour politicians - if it's wrong, it's wrong. I certainly won't leap to the defence of anyone simply because they happen to be wearing the same badge.

As I said earlier (post #11 I believe....), the expenses scandal cost members of all colours badly and good riddance to all of those on the fiddle.

Including Labour.

That do you?

Er, no. I'm not asking you to criticise Graham for having a pop at the Chancellor. I'm asking you was he wrong to have a pop at the Chancellor, but, as far as I'm aware, not to criticise Labour politicians for their money grubbing tactics which seem to be against the spirit of the expenses system which are still occurring in this present Parliament. And don't give me the old politicians' stand by of "I can't comment on what I don't know about"...it's easy enough to find out in a matter of minutes, thanks to the wonders of the internet. Sadly, I don't think we're ever going to get a straight answer from you.

[Barrie Yates]

Originally Posted by Ken Moss

, he isn't the party-blinded bigot that some people choose to believe.

If that is so why did he meekly follow the party line on the referendum vote?
Did he change his mind of his own free will or did he take into account that his political would have been severely damaged by going against Milliband - in other words "Screw the people that elected me, better for my wallet if I follow my leaders instructions.