Friday, June 19, 2009
A Guardian opportunity to annotate Those Claims and avoid the oboe-player joke
Having glanced through several entries from MPs of all parties I would say such annotation is very much needed, and that is assuming everything is completely above board. Especially needed where the inept blacking out simply leaves us with no clue as to what the claim was for.
So what about it for our MPs? After all if we had a proper publication of proper accounts there would be notes to various items putting them into context - standard accounting practice.
The masking out really is a stupid nuisance. The effect is rather like the story of the music reviewer who wrote of one orchestral performance
'The Oboe player spent the whole evening gazing at his navel'
The sub-editors objected, saying it was a crude line please change it.
So the reviewer did and it was printed as:
'The oboe player spent the whole evening gazing at his *****'
Not quite the effect intended.
Labels: Parliamentary Expenses, secrecy
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Have you had your letter from Gordon yet?
If Labour are indeed sending out an individual letter (post paid not FREEPOST) to every elector in the
Anyway G Brown says sorry for the unacceptable expenses mess 'on behalf of all parties'. He also says Labour HAVE suspended MPs who are suspected of wrongdoing. The news this last week has come thick and fast and I have to say what I heard is that some Labour MPs have decided to stand down and that the Labour disciplinary panel is reviewing some nominations for others. But no whip removals for example.
So is this an indication that actual forced suspensions are about to be announced, or does it mean that I have been too busy delivering leaflets to notice the details in the news? The way the letter reads makes the Labour reaction one of the more vigorous responses to events. Could this possibly be intended to influence how people vote in the coming week?
It might be helpful for the reputation of politics in general if the claim is accurate. Can someone check out the facts?
Rest of letter is on credit crunch issues and immigration. Have a look when it comes.
But where did they find the money?
Labels: Gordon Brown, Parliamentary Expenses
