Daily Archives: May 24, 2009

May 24 2009

325 MPs to be swept away at next election

From The Sunday Times

May 24, 2009

 Could we be looking at the same in local elections for council?

Andrew MacKay

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Andrew MacKay announced he would step down as a Tory MP yesterday after an ultimatum from David Cameron

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Jonathan Oliver and Isabel Oakeshott

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AT least half of the House of Commons’ 646 MPs will be swept away at the general election, as voters take revenge on the political classes for the expenses scandal.

The departure of 325 members of parliament as a result of forced resignations, retirement and defeat at the polls would represent the biggest clear-out of parliament since 1945.

As many as 30 will be forced to resign directly because of the expenses scandal, while whips expect more than 200 to quit because they are unable to cope with continued public anger. Up to 90 MPs will be voted out in the election.

Research conducted by The Sunday Times and Professor Colin Rallings, director of the elections centre at Plymouth University, suggests that about 170 Labour MPs will not defend their seats while 55 Conservatives are also expected to retire.

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Dozens more MPs from all parties are likely to lose their seats as voters kick out incumbents, accused of profiting from their allowances.

Rallings said: “If, as the current polls suggest, the Conservatives were to win the general election with an overall majority of 80 seats, it is likely that fully half of MPs in the new House of Commons will be new, a product both of incumbents being defeated and MPs retiring. It would be without parallel since 1945.”

The disclosure comes as Gordon Brown, desperate to retake the political initiative, examines radical constitutional reforms including the introduction of four-year, fixed-term parliaments.

Supporters of the plan say that removing the power of a future prime minister to determine the date of the general election would create a fairer system. However, it would tie the hands of the Conservatives, should they win the election.

Brown is facing growing pressure from senior Labour figures to resolve uncertainty about the date of the general election. David Cameron, the Conservative leader, has called for an autumn election.

Charles Clarke, the former home secretary, said: “It would be best now for Gordon Brown to set the election day as the first Thursday in May 2010 and stick to that date.”

Andrew MacKay, Cameron’s former chief political adviser, yesterday became the biggest casualty of the expenses scandal when he announced he would step down at the next election, following an ultimatum from the Conservative leader. He said: “I believe I could be a distraction at a time when he is working to get elected as prime minister.”

The brother of his wife, the MP Julie Kirkbride, sometimes lived rent-free in their taxpayer-funded Bromsgrove home.

Ian McCartney, the former Labour party chairman, also announced his retirement in the wake of the scandal. McCartney, the MP for Makerfield, has paid back £15,000 of expenses after buying at the taxpayers’ expense an 18-piece dinner set, champagne flutes and wine glasses, a £700 dining table and chairs and sofas worth £1,328. McCartney, who has had heart surgery, said he was going because of health problems.

MacKay’s departure means six MPs have already been directly forced out by the expenses scandal. More resignations are likely this week as the Labour and Conservative “star chambers” meet to discuss the most serious abuses.

McCartney’s retirement brings to 38 the total number of Labour MPs who have announced their decision to go, for a range of reasons.

Senior whips believe the number could rise to 170 – half the parliamentary party. “We think that one out of every two MPs will ultimately decide to go,” said a whip. “Those likely to leave are split evenly between marginals and safe seats: 170 sounds like a huge figure and it is, but that reflects the level of despair in the party.”

Whips believe that there will be a flurry of resignations after the Whitsun recess, when MPs consult their frustrated families and angry constituents.

A total of 20 safe Tory seats will definitely become vacant at the next election, including those of grandees who have resigned after being accused of expenses abuses. Party whips estimate that a further 35 MPs, mainly over the age of 60, will shortly announce their retirement.

The Liberal Democrats expect about five departures and a similar number of MPs from minor parties will retire.

Rallings estimates that on current polling trends a further 60 MPs will leave parliament as a result of being defeated at the polls. He also estimates that a further 30 MPs will go as a result of “churn” – seats changing hands between the Lib Dems, nationalists and main parties. This takes the total number of MPs leaving the Commons to 325. That figure would rise further if Cameron’s majority proves to be larger than 80 or if independent antisleaze candidates such as Esther Rantzen, the television presenter, are elected to parliament.

In the 1997 Labour landslide election, just under 250 MPs left parliament through retirement or defeat at the polls. In the 1945 Labour landslide, half of the MPs returned to parliament were new. However, this was exceptional because of the second world war.

Harriet Harman, Labour’s deputy leader, and Jack Straw, the justice secretary, are drawing up sweeping reforms to modernise parliament in the wake of the expenses row.

A spokesman said they would “certainly” consider axing prime ministerial control over election timing.

By mole45
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May 24 2009

Justice for Georges whats your view

_45612983_march_bbc226,  Funny thing on  becoming a councillor. I did some case work outside of my area two months after being elected. I was reported by Labour councillors. A backed off for a while stuck to my own patch and then i was told that i represent Salford since then if any one ask’s for help i give it . St Georges to me was a school not in my ward but it was a school that had a passionate Headmaster and passionate children concerned over it’s future. I hated school in general, this was something different i had to see why was this school so special. When the BSF came in it was obvious there would be problems. Not every one would get what they wanted, i still see problems. Do i want the best for the pupils in Swinton South what a silly question in a real world i want the best for all the residents in Swinton South.not just schools But unlike some Labour members in Swinton south who just like to seek political capital we will not get every thing. I think this ward is one of the best in Salford and i will fight to get what ever i can for it, i visit  both Junior schools and senior, and yes we have some of the Best pupils, vibrant young men and women with some of the best teachers ,my own wife works in one local school she loves what she does. last week my son was out in one of our local schools taking assembly.Four days ago we were meeting youth workers to see what we could get for our children, three days ago disscusing the site of a new community center and training facilities for our youth. So New Labour don’t try playing politics with young people it will not wash with me or the people of Swinton.Of course i support St Georges but thats just a name i support the people because like some of our great university buildings many years old it’s not the buildings it’s the people with a passion to teach and a will to pass on that passion to our children.

 

By mole45
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May 24 2009

From Cllr Warmishams Blog volume 7

This week has been unbelievable with the amount of media calls, disallusioned members of the public & party members

Honest statement John it’s a bloody shame it as to get like this and we all get tarred with the same brush.

 

By mole45
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May 24 2009

Salfords Roads who’s to blame.

Well lets look at the facts.

Question one. Who runs the council?

Question two. Who sets the budgets?

Question Three who sets the priorities?

Guess the answer Yes.

Thought you might…6a00d8341d417153ef011168650544970c

By mole45
0
May 24 2009

Post Office bank plan gaining support from growing number of MPs

Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com in Communities , Bill Payments
Friday 22nd May 2009 – 2:59pm

Post Office bank plan gaining support from growing number of MPsPost Office bank plan gaining support from growing number of MPs

Calls for a bank to be set up at the Post Office is gaining growing support from MPs, with more than 200 signing a Commons motion backing the idea, it was disclosed today.

The early day motion (EDM) calling for a state-backed bank to be established in the Post Office has won the support of 128 Labour MPs, 50 Liberal Democrats and politicians from a number of other parties.

The motion is now in the top 10 of current EDMs before Parliament.

Billy Hayes, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union, said: “Popular support in the Commons for a Post Bank is fantastic news. The need has never been greater to support local communities and businesses and provide trusted banking services. Establishing a Post Bank now would be a good move politically and financially for the Government.”

John Wright, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “It’s great to see MPs recognise that Post Offices play an essential role at the heart of our communities.

“Small businesses have told us that they would like to see banking services redirected through the Post Office and as many as two in five said they would bank with a Post Bank.

“We hope the Government recognises the high level of support from almost two thirds of all MPs for the establishment of a Post Bank, particularly from within its own party.”

Dot Gibson of the National Pensioners Convention said: “It’s good to see that at least a third of MPs recognise the value of having a decent post office network that can offer secure banking facilities to local communities across the country. Now it’s time the Government supported the idea as well.”

Paul Reuter, national officer of Unite, said: “There is clearly an appetite for a banking network that would reverse the trend of exclusion of local communities and improve services to small businesses, whilst at the same time supporting and maintaining the post office network.

“The Post Bank – at the People’s Post Office – offers an opportunity for social inclusion, security and innovation in the banking sector which Government must endorse.”


Richard Bates, head of community services at Consumer Focus, said: “Consumers are disillusioned with high street banks and, as a trusted brand, post offices are ideally placed to offer a ‘neighbourhood bank’ antidote. But to offer a genuine alternative, they must first address issues with long queues and inconvenient opening hours.”

The Post Office announced today that Helen Weir had “reluctantly” decided to step down as a non-executive director of the Royal Mail in July to avoid any suggestion of a conflict of interest with her role as group executive director retail at the Lloyds Banking Group.

Royal Mail chairman Donald Brydon said: “Helen is an excellent non-executive director, contributing greatly to the Board and Royal Mail over the past three and a half years, and has been a very effective chair of our audit committee.”

The decision was taken in view of the Post Office’s plans to expand its presence in the financial services market, and in particular to launch a current account, said a statement.

 




By mole45
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May 24 2009

Can we allow the death of the free press in Salford.

Salford Star love it or hate it raised many serious issues,The Local Advertiser a paper with it’s finger on the pulse of local life both starved of finance. Can you blame the council? many do one senior evening news reporter told me he had spoken to a top Labour member who said just that. True or false thats up to you to decide, my feelings, i think you know. I think to often things get passed the public that need raising, But there’s very little you can do without the free press.

By mole45
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May 24 2009

Has political correctness gone mad? How much care should be taken by police over language?

Has political correctness gone mad?          Comment i think it’s gone bloody crackers but who is to blame? ask your old mate Tony  and New Labour.

Home Office minister John Denham has been criticised by the police for using the phrase “nitty gritty” because of race relations rules.

Mr Denham used the phrase during a debate at the Police Federation conference in Bournemouth.

He was told that police officers could face disciplinary charges for saying “nitty gritty” because it dates from the slavery era.

Some rank-and-file officers say the rules about language have become “a minefield” and have made them inhibited in doing their job.

By mole45
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