Parliament needs to reflect the people it represents.

[Gordon Booth]

You're getting it all wrong!

Parliament does reflect the people it represents. MP's and Lords are people aren't they?

Our modern Parliament exists to represent and look after the needs of its people. Think what a massive task- ensuring reasonable salaries, superb pensions, subsidised meals and drinks, expenses for everything from a duck house to a full renovation of a very necessary town house(for which Parliament pays the mortgage interest so it can be sold at a massive profit having cost the owner nothing).
It's there to help its people get directorships, consultancies, big fees for half hour speeches(plus free food and booze).
Etc. Etc. Etc.

People complain about zero hours contracts but some of Parliaments people work zero hours(or close to it), you don't hear them complain!

Parliament has to reflect and look after the needs of its 650 MPs and 783 Lords- that's a hell of a job. It really doesn't leave much time for it to worry about the other 66 million of us.

I think it does a really good job! Well, it does if your one of its people.
Otherwise- tough!

[Margaret Pilkington]

Yes, Gordon.....it really only represents those who are in parliament.
It represents their desires and aims really well......but have I got this all wrong?
Isn't it the constituents that these people are employed by(not the political parties)?
Don't we pay them heartily for a job they do, with not our best interest in mind, but theirs?
After all, you never see politicians leave parliament destitute.....they leave far richer than when they went in....And they(likeTB) get richer still as a result of contacts they have made whilst in our employ, and deals they have been fortunate enough to be able to cut for themselves.
Nice work if you can get it!

[Margaret Pilkington]

As you can no doubt tell, I am somewhat jaded with the whole shebang.
Nevertheless, I await someone door stepping me so that I can ask some very pertinent questions.

[Eric]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

How can this be so Eric...the politicians do not listen to the electorate.

Those things which have worried the electorate for a long time have not been addressed by any of the parties.(porous borders,the EU, foreign aid, the economy,the crisis in the NHS, the corrupt banking system, tax avoidance etc)
Have any of the representatives been knocking on my door.....No, they have not. We are expected to be placated by stage managed TV debates, which make the leader of the parties seem like celebrities, or X factor contestants.
I do not give a flying fig for the personality of those in the debate. It isn't a personality contest....what I really want to know is, has the person asking me to vote for their party got the cojones to take decisive action where action is needed?
Can they be relied upon to listen to the wishes of those who put them in to power?
Will they tackle the thorny issue of child abuse that seems to be at the heart of Westminster(even if it is historic _ there needs to be transparency).
Can I trust what I am being told...or are they all going to be like TB and take the patrician view that they know what is best?(and they will do that regardless of what the electorate think)

That's not what I meant ... you are talking about how politicians follow the wishes of those who electe them ... the statement "Parliament ... represents" doesn't seem to have much to do with that.

[accyman]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

I await someone door stepping me so that I can ask some very pertinent questions.

i also await the doorsteppers

iv got a sign saying no cold callers and want to see if it is effective

im pretty sure it not only covers people peddaling crap but also people shovelling it

had them at my womans house and they will say almost anything to make you think they are worth voting for but as shown in recent times what is said before an election is quickly forgotten or dismissed after an election

[Michael1954]

One politician I have a lot of respect for is Andy Burnham for his help to the families of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Originally Posted by Eric

That's not what I meant ... you are talking about how politicians follow the wishes of those who electe them ... the statement "Parliament ... represents" doesn't seem to have much to do with that.

That quote about what Parliament represents was taken from the election leaflet sent out by Graham Jones......and I agree that parliament in the current state reflects nothing about the electorate.......so it seemed to be ironic that our local sitting MP was trying to bamboozle us into thinking that WE were at the heart of his aims.....his only desire is to progress up the Labour Party ladder and do whatever his party bids him to do.
I thought he was better than that....but we all know that you live and learn.I won't be voting for him again this time around.

[Barrie Yates]

Originally Posted by Michael1954

One politician I have a lot of respect for is Andy Burnham for his help to the families of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster.

How long ago was it? What action did Labour take under Blair & Brown?

[Michael1954]

Originally Posted by Barrie Yates

How long ago was it? What action did Labour take under Blair & Brown?

You know how long ago it was, and I'm not talking about Blair, Brown or the Labour Party, but Andy Burnham, whose support was appreciated by the families of the Hillsborough disaster.

[Accyexplorer]

I never have nor ever will vote,their just puppets controlled by multi national corps.
Those who do vote are not only harming themselves but everyone else too.
I urge you all not to vote

[Michael1954]

Originally Posted by Accyexplorer

I never have nor ever will vote,their just puppets controlled by multi national corps.
Those who do vote are not only harming themselves but everyone else too.
I urge you all not to vote

Ooh, that's a strong statement! Well I will be voting, but I am concerned that I will be harming everyone else. In what way?

[Accyexplorer]

Originally Posted by Michael1954

I am concerned that I will be harming everyone else. In what way?

By introducing their policies which in turn effect everyone.Voting to keep these puppets in power (whichever party you vote for) changes next to nothing (same BS different face).
There’s nothing wrong with being ignorant about how the elite control politics, or with forming your political beliefs thorough irrational thought processes......so long as you don’t vote

[Michael1954]

Originally Posted by Accyexplorer

By introducing their policies which in turn effect everyone.Voting to keep these puppets in power (whichever party you vote for) changes next to nothing (same BS different face).
There’s nothing wrong with being ignorant about how the elite control politics, or with forming your political beliefs thorough irrational thought processes......so long as you don’t vote

Gosh, thanks for that. Being ignorant and having irrational thought processes, I clearly need to seek professional help from a psychiatrist.

[cashman]

Originally Posted by Michael1954

Gosh, thanks for that. Being ignorant and having irrational thought processes, I clearly need to seek professional help from a psychiatrist.

It must be correct cos accyex knows everything, let me know the rates the psychiatrist charges.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Accyexplorer

By introducing their policies which in turn effect everyone.Voting to keep these puppets in power (whichever party you vote for) changes next to nothing (same BS different face).
There’s nothing wrong with being ignorant about how the elite control politics, or with forming your political beliefs thorough irrational thought processes......so long as you don’t vote

Instead of posting rubbish why not explain how you are going to change anything at all by not voting?