Onwards and upwards....moving on from MPs and constitutional crisis

Over the last couple of weeks, I've been rather focused on the issues surrounding the MPs abuse of privileges in the House of Commons and the conduct of Speaker Martin.

I suspect I bored many of my regular readers a little bit (possibly a lot), by banging on about Speaker Martin (a very important issue for me)... for which I apologise... but I'm afraid the whole issue, not least MPs expenses abuses, has quite incensed me.

With the resignation of the Speaker yesterday and the reforms that have been announced, I'm glad to say I am feeling a little calmer today... but I can't promise I will not return to these issues as there is still much to do and to be said in this regard, particularly on my strong belief that the electorate must be given the opportunity to have our say on these issues.

On these, not least is the opportunity we have with the forthcoming European Elections, where I hope you will be supporting the Liberal Democrats lists in your constituencies... especially those of you in Gibraltar (and the South West Region of the UK of course) who I hope will join me in support of our very own Gibraltarian candidate, Jonathan Stagnetto.

Other News to Focus On

Whilst all this has been going on, a number of other news has caught my attention and normally, I would have commented on with a blog post... but I haven't, because my energies and my eyesight, which sadly seems to have taken a turn for the worst recently (could be due to the rise in blood pressure... just kidding), has only allowed me to concentrate on the most important issue... and that was the brink of a possible constitutional crisis that the issue of MPs expenses brought us to, in the House of Commons. Thankfully... I think we have seen the worse on this, at least for now.

Amongst the other items of news that have caught my eye, which have concerned me (by no means the only ones) are these:

Gibraltar's Sovereign Territorial Waters

Firstly, the apparent escalation of incidents concerning Gibraltar's sovereign territorial waters where one more incident was reported this week.

This is worrying and I very much hope Spain can be 'encouraged' by the UK's Foreign Office and of course the Gibraltar authorities, to reign in whatever agenda they are now manipulating, before these incidents become more serious and someone is hurt through some 'trigger-happy' blunder. So far, all concerned have been able to show restraint... but I can see how these could easily go awry. Let's hope this can be resolved soon... before someone is hurt and we are having to deal with a much more serious 'international incident'!

Action Require on Child Porn Laws in Gibraltar

This issue touches on issues which I have been concerned about for a very long time... and not just in the context of Gibraltar.

But in the context of Gibraltar, the remarkably anachronistic legislation that exists in Gibraltar, as my colleague Brian Reyes writes about in his blog, Action on child porn laws…finally « Letters From Gibraltar is long overdue for reform, as he rightly points out.

"A few days ago I wrote about a glaring gap in Gibraltar’s legislation. Possession of child pornography, it appeared, was not a crime on the Rock. It wasn’t me who said this, but the judge."

In this, I also very much agree with John Baw, a fellow Gibraltar blogger, who said the resulting sentence in this case, was "Nothing short of outrageous" (WildOx Blog!

Age of Consent Bill in Gibraltar

Not before time, a Bill to equalise the age of consent for homosexuals and heterosexuals, by setting this at 16, the age that already applies for heterosexuals and lesbians, was heard in the Gibraltar Parliament.

Daniel Feetham, the Minister for Justice, took the unusual step of bringing a motion asking for leave to introduce a Private Members’ Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Offences Act.

There is overwhelming international legal and local constitutional pressure to implement equalisation although the issue is untested in the local courts.

The Equality Rights Group GGR welcomed the Bill:

"After nine years of GGR raising the public debate on sexual minorities in Gibraltar, we are pleased to see that Parliament has finally considered the question of age of consent inequality currently in force."

I was pleased to see the Bill has been passed to proceed to a formal reading of a Bill in Parliament.

As GGR Chairman Felix Alvarez said:

"Whilst Government has failed to introduce the debate as a public Bill on what, after all, is a public issue and instead, preferred to rely on one of its own members in a purely private capacity, it has, nonetheless passed the motion to proceed on the formal reading of a Bill to equalise the legislation. This, in effect, falls short of Government’s legal requirement to comply with what is unarguably an international law obligation and not, as they have argued, a mere question of ‘conscience'."

As Brian Reyes concluded when referring to the 'Child Porn' case, "Time for the legislators to get moving on this…swiftly, methinks", there's much to be done to bring legislation in these and other matters concerning human rights and anti-discrimination in Gibraltar, to international and European law standards!

On a Lighter Note...

I was very interested to see this article, in the Telegraph, about the fact that Bright women are brilliant in bed.

This is something that perhaps many men take a little while in finding out for themselves. Personally, I found this out quite early in life and as a consequence, feel very blessed in how my early realisation of this simple and logical fact has much enhanced my... errr lifetime.

On a similar note... speaking of 'bright women' and how attractive that may be... any investor out there looking for some good ideas, might well do a lot worse than to listen to Peter Daily's report on the BBC World Service - Business - Does the crisis need a feminine touch? The ideas and investment opportunity offered by this investment company run by a couple of Icelandic ladies... who offer the slightly extreme proposition that men got us into this current economic mess, maybe women can get us out of it... sounds very interesting to me!

I hope to focus more on all these and no doubt, other issues that will arise, in the foreseeable future.... energy and eyes notwithstanding.

So Speaker Martin resigns.. now we need to go after proper reform

In a rather short curt speech, completely lacking in any apology, explanation or leadership and sadly rather true to form, undignified and ungraceful, the House of Commons speaker Michael Martin announced his resignation this afternoon.

Speaker Martin said he will be stepping down on Sunday the 21st June.

It is right that he should go. Having called for his resignation consistenly for the last couple of weeks now... and I gave my reason in a post early this week, I take no satisfaction from his resignation. It is always sad to see someone losing his job and blotting an otherwise distinguished career.

Speaker Martin got it badly wrong over the MPs abuse of expenses fiasco. Under his stewardship, the House of Commons has been brought into disrepute. His departments have approved claims for expenses from MPs, that quite clearly breached the guidelines and even in some cases, may well prove to have colluded in fraud. Furthermore, his department, the 'Fees Office' misguided MPs about their false claims, claims that according to The Green Book (A Guide to Members Allowances), should never have been accepted never mind passed for payment!

Footnote on Scapegoat Excuses and Bigotry

Speaker Martin is NO scapegoat. He is just the first of many that have to take responsibility (other than the MPs who have already had to stand down from various party positions) and must go... culpable for their own actions, in this whole disgraceful fiasco!

I keep hearing many people, particularly from Scotland, saying how honest Speaker Martin is and that he is a good 'Christian' etc. Well this is as may be... but what has this got to do with anything? Sectarianism and bigotry may still be important and an issue in Glasgow... but this has nothing whatever to do with why Speaker Martin had to go... NOR should it! Certainly not as far as I'm concerned and neither have I heard any other critic from any source, justify any reason as to why he had to go as being due to his religion!

Dissolving Parliament should be the next step

The 'Kelly Review' which is currently looking into reforming MPs expenses will not be reporting back to the House for a long time. At the very earliest, some expect it to be sometime in the early Autumn. Sources close to the committee say it is "unrealistic" to think could report back any earlier and its chairman, Sir Christopher Kelly, quite rightly, should not be rushed and he says he will not be "boxed in".

Therefore, in my humble opinion, in the first instance, I believe dissolving Parliament and calling for a General Election, should be the next step in trying to bring back some semblance of confidence in Parliament and the House of Commons. The Electorate would then have the opportunity to de-select wrongdoing MPs and be canvassed and persuaded to back whoever Constituents feel they can put their trust in for the future.

I fear however, that it will be a very long time before the Electorate can regain its trust in our most valued and important of institutions for our democracy!

Do you agree?

Should Parliament be dissolved and a General Election be called now?
	Yes
	No
	Don't know
pollcode.com free polls

Four reasons why Speaker Martin should go now

I just watched the House of Commons Speaker Michael Martin make his statement to the House over the fiasco and crisis with MPs' expenses.

The moment had quite historic overtones and one could feel a palpable tension across the whole House with some honourable MPs clearly very angry, reflecting the mood in the country at large.

Mr Martin told a packed chamber that he was "profoundly sorry" for his failure to prevent abuses of the allowances system, which is all very well and right that he should do, but he failed to respond to repeated demands by MPs to give a date for his departure or indeed to either discuss his future or give the House the opportunity to debate the 'motion of no confidence' against him.

The Speaker scolded some members who interrupted his address to challenge his position. He refused to discuss his own future and stopped the House from doing so too.

As I have been arguing over the last week, Speaker Martin must go. He should go for the following reasons:

• For being instrumental in stopping reform of expenses over the last 3 years at least.


• For his disgraceful treatement of at least two MPs in a statement on MPs expenses last week, when he was clearly NOT non-partisan... as the Speaker should always be and for completely misreading the public mood on the issue.


• For being responsible ultimately for the Department of Resources, otherwise known as the 'Fees Office'... who are, to my mind, responsible for this whole fiasco, jointly with all the MPs who have abused their expenses claims... but who were guided or should one say misguided by this office... and who had their false claims for expenses approved, (some which are bound to be proved as fraudulent).


• Lastly, for allowing the House of Commons system to bring the whole structure, MPs and the administration of the House, to fall into disrepute in this sad and disgracefull manner!

Tell your MP

I think it is important that our MPs have absolutely no doubt how we, the electorate feel about these very important issues. In this light, I have emailed my MP Bob Blizzard (MP for Waveney) urging him to support the motion of no confidence against Speaker Martin. If you agree with my argument here, and feel that Speaker Martin should go as soon as possible, I would suggest you do the same as me and let your own MP know!

Cameron calls for dissolution of Parliament

Meanwhile, at a press conference opening the Conservative campaign in the forthcoming European elections, David Cameron, the Opposition leader called for the immediate dissolution of Parliament and for a General Election to be held, "to let the public help solve the political crisis caused by the row over MPs' expenses".

David Cameron said the scale of the problems facing Britain, including the recession, the debt crisis and the expenses scandal, all suggested a vote was needed sooner rather than later.... and I think the country at large, agrees. I certainly do!

Do you agree?

House of Commons Speaker Michael Martin: Should he resign?
	Yes
	No
	Don't know
pollcode.com free polls

Speaker Martin to make expenses statement to the House of Commons tomorrow

Commons Speaker Michael Martin will make a statement to MPs tomorrow amid rapidly mounting calls for him to quit over his handling of the MPs' expenses crisis.

Tonight, The Independent is reporting his spokeswoman as saying "the statement will be focused on how to resolve the problem of allowances as swiftly as possible".

The House of Commons Speaker's intervention will come as a 'motion of no confidence' is tabled against him by a cross-party group of MPs and after Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg joined calls for him to resign.

The spokeswoman would not be drawn on whether Mr Martin would tackle his own position in the statement, amid reports he was set to announce he would step down before the next General Election.

As the latest group of MPs targeted by leaked claim revelations sought to defend their demands on taxpayers' cash, Mr Clegg said Mr Martin had dragged his feet in reforming the system.

A brave and bold call by Nick Clegg... and well done to him!

I have emailed my MP and urged him to back the motion of no confidence. If you are as disgusted as I am with Speaker Martin and agree with Nick Clegg and others, I would suggest you do the same!

Read more...

Oh and you might want to see The Speaker's Reply to Nick Clegg - Ye're deid man!

Guardian says Commons Speaker Martin to go before election

Nicholas Watt, the chief political correspondent for the Guardian is reporting tonight that Michael Martin, the Speaker of the House of Commons, will be standing down as by the next general election, after senior Labour figures warned his position was becoming 'not tenable'.

As MPs prepare to table a 'motion of no confidence' against him next week, friends of Martin say he is making plans for his resignation and wants to go on his own terms.

Some of us however, argue that there's no reason for him to wait... and should go now!

Who is responsible for approving MPs abusive expenses claims?

Amidst all this MPs abuse of privileges and expenses fiasco... one thing I cannot understand is... how did they get away with these abuses?

Over the last few days the Daily Telegraph has, quite rightly, exposed an amazing plethora of systemic abuse of expenses by many MPs. This has understandably caused a great deal of anger up and down the country, delivered a massive blow to voters' confidence in our political system and brought our Houses of Parliament into disrepute, all unprecedented, certainly in my lifetime.

The Telegraph and the media's focus, has up to now, largely been on individual MPs and the political parties reactions and handling of these events. However, what I cannot understand, and what I believe is a far more important question is... why were these MPs allowed to transgress the system in this way?

If, as we are led to believe (and the facts seem pretty clear) that many MPs have indeed broken the rules, (some even possibly having committed fraud) as stated in The Green Book (A Guide to Members Allowances), why were they allowed to do so?

The majority of MPs that have been 'fingered' by the Telegraph's exposes, have consistently said they believe their expense claim was 'within the rules'. Many are even alleging that they sought guidance before or during the process of their expense claim. If MPs put expenses claims in for approval, and these expenses have subsequently been seen to have broken the rules or been an abuse of privilege of the expenses system... who approved this? Who is ultimately responsible for this fiasco?

Whilst I think all MPs who have been shown to have abused the expenses system should take personal responsibility... and many are doing so... I think by far more important is for the system that allowed this to happen to also take responsibility. I am amazed that, as far as I can see, no one in the media is focusing on this much more important point... in any significant manner. All the peripheral debate surrounding this fiasco talks about how the system was developed, how we got to be here... how reform of the system has been too slow (no doubt about that) and how to put the system right as a matter of urgency... and of course, this is absolutely right that this should be done.

But... WHO is responsible for having approved the expenses of these MPs who are now having to apologise, resign... and even (rightly) facing the possibility of criminal charges brought against them... WHO approved these expenses??

As far as I can see, the Members Estimate Committee, which has the same membership as the House of Commons Commission considers matters relating to MPs’ pay and allowances on behalf of the House of Commons.

More directly concerned in this instance however, is The Committee on Members' Allowances. The role of the Committee on Members' Allowances is to advise the Members Estimate Committee on the exercise of its functions (which relate to charges on the Members Estimate).

The Committee advises the Speaker, the Members Estimate Committee and the Leader of the House on the potential development of the arrangements for Members’ allowances.

The Committee was nominated on 9 February 2009, and has eight members. Rt Hon Don Touhig MP was elected Chairman on 10 February 2009.

General information and the rules governing Members’ Salaries, Allowances and Pensions is published on the Parliament website. This includes the ‘Green Book’, which is the guide to Members' allowances, and 'Practice Notes', which provide more detailed information.

The work of actually approving and supervising MPs claims and expenses is carried out by The Department of Resources, which I believe is more commonly known as the 'Fees Office', is responsible to the Committee on Members' Allowances.

In my opinion, everyone involved in these committees and in the Department of Resources, the 'Fees Office', should seriously be considering their position. I also have to go back to my contention the other day, when I said the Speaker of the House of Commons should resign.

The Speaker of the House of Commons, Michael Martin, is ultimately responsible for these House Committees and for the department that has been supervising and approving these expenses claims and has been guiding (in may cases allegedly misguiding) MPs on their expenses claims.

In the light of the fiasco the abuse by MPs over their expenses has caused and for the gross inefficiency shown by the departments under his responsibility, I have to reiterate, to my mind, Speaker Martin has NO recourse... he too should take personal responsibilty for these shortcomngs... and has to go... he has to resign forthwith!

Do you agree?

House of Commons Speaker Michael Martin: Should he resign?
	Yes
	No
	Don't know
pollcode.com free polls

There's nothing British about the BNP

Acknowledging the huge public anger there is currently about MPs abuse of the expenses system and the massive loss of confidence in the political system that the electorate has suffered... many are warning that this could turn voters to the smaller parties, especially the BNP.

This is very worrying and voters must hear the truth about the BNP before it's too late!

There is nothing British about suggesting to a black child who was born in Britain and loves this country that he's not welcome here, writes Tim Montgomerie in today's Telegraph.

"

'Nothing British' is a campaign against the politics of discrimination, segregation and racial supremacy started by Tim Montgomerie and James Bethell.

House of Commons Speaker Michael Martin: Should he resign?

House of Commons Speaker Michael Martin: Should he resign?

House of Commons Speaker Michael Martin: Should he resign?
	Yes
	No
	Don't know
pollcode.com free polls

MPs' expenses: Vote of 'no confidence' tabled on Speaker Martin

Following my rant yesterday about my disgust with House of Commons Speaker Michael Martin, I am pleased to see support is growing for a 'no confidence' motion against him.

I'm glad some Backbenchers agree with me and have now drafted a Commons motion calling for the Speaker to step down for approving the allowances system that MPs have exploited with questionable claims, damaging parliament's authority.

Douglas Carswell, the Tory MP behind the campaign, said he was confident of securing cross-party support and believed that the 'dishonourable' Mr Martin could be removed before the next election.

Good riddance... the sooner the better!

I have emailed my MP and urged him to back the motion. I would suggest you do the same!

On MP's Expenses

I just heard Tony McNulty pathetically sidestepping some, surprisingly very polite, questioning by Kay Burley on SKY News.

McNulty, who is the employment minister, is today being urged to consider repaying money to the parliamentary authorities as pressure grows for an investigation into the way he claimed £60,000 in allowances on the constituency home where his parents live.

His arrogance in the interview, still insisting that he was entitled to make these claims and that it was within the rules... is just enough to drive me to apoplexy!

He's not alone of course. I watched Douglas Hogg and others... making the same claims. They just don't get it!

The question is not whether their abusive claims were within the rules... the question is and should have been in their minds when they considered making these claims... is it right? The answer... in the vast majority of cases is an emphatic NO! No it was not right for them to make claims for expenses that go far beyond what the MPs expenses system was originally set up to deal with.... a system which in principle, I have no problem with. But I do have a very BIG problem with the way they have abused it.

I've got an even bigger problem with the way they are now going around trying to defend the indefensible... apologising, hypocritically banging on saying they agree the system is wrong and that it should be put right as a matter of urgency.

The fact IS... that in the vast majority of cases that has been exposed by the Daily Telegraph... and bloody good for them... these expenses should NEVER have been claimed for in the first place!!

But... they did make the claims... and now the they are responsible, individually... and whether they pay these back or not... (of course they should)... the electorate will be holding them responsible. That is for sure... and rest assured, this post is NOT a partisan party whip!

House of Commons Speaker Martin should resign

I am absolutely incensed and disgusted with Speaker Michael Martin, over his statement to the House of Commons this afternoon!

With a startling disregard for how strong feelings are running in the country over the spectacular and systemic abuse of expenses by MPs, exposed over the last few days by the Daily Telegraph, the Speaker proceeded to castigate the media and MPs (the very few) who have had the gall to criticise the Westminster Parliament's MP's expenses system!

With outstanding disregard for what clearly is worrying and incensing the public, the Speaker instead, bleated on about 'disregard for important data' being passed to the media! What world is this idiot living in??

The abuse of priveleges by MPs, that is now in the public domain, thanks to the information that has been given to the Daily Telegraph by I don't care whom... to my mind, is not just abuse of expenses, (within the rules according to many MPs)... but in many instances, it is tantamount to... if not actually, criminal offences and fraud!

I gather that Speaker Martin has also called in the Police to investigate the leak to the Telegraph! Shades of the Greengate-Galleygate affair again? Quite frankly, it seems to me the only 'interest' the Speaker is interested in or serving is politicians’ personal interests in protecting themselves from embarrassment. The police should certainly not be abused in this way again. Their resources are much better employed investigating the abuses by the MPs!

I am disgusted by the increasing list of MPs who actually have the gall to come onto our TV screens, and excuse their abuse by saying "oh well, but it's within the rules"!! What a load of bollocks!

I am reminded of the days after the second world war... and during the Nuremberg Trials... where an endless procession of Nazis, claimed they were "only obeying orders". They may have been 'obeying orders' but the question always was... was it right?

I make no apology for this comparison. The claims by MPs... that their flagrant abuse of the Parliamentary system of expenses, is within the rules... is actually just NOT so! Not only have they become morally defunct... they also seem to have lost all sense of right and wrong... and of simple literacy!

The rules as stated in the The Green Book - A Guide to Members Allowances, the principles governing Members allowances are as follows:

Members of Parliament are provided with financial support in the form of allowances to enable them to work effectively in Parliament and in their constituencies.

Parliamentary allowances are designed to ensure that Members are reimbursed for costs properly incurred in the performance of their duties.

Many of the expenses that have been disclosed that MPs have claimed for, defy these simple guidelines... and really makes our eyes boggle!

It's all very well for the Prime Minister, the leader of the Conservative opposition and many MP's to now come out and apologise... and say the system is wrong (as Speaker Martin also did today) and is now being put right. What a nerve! It's the least these tossers can do frankly! Of course it needs to be put right. It should never have been allowed to develop in the way it did... as many other honourable MPs such as the Liberal Democrat Norman Baker, who has long campaigned for greater transparency on MPs' expenses, has been saying for years. Today, in his statement in Parliament, Speaker Martin instead of congratulating Mr Baker for his steadfastness and honesty, criticised him, calling him "another member who is keen to say to the press what the press wants to hear"!

I'll tell Speaker Martin what I want to hear... I want to hear his resignation!

Speaker Martin is ultimately responsible for the Committee on Members’ Allowances, who oversees and guides Members in all the claims which they make. The Department of Resources, also under Speaker Martin's responsibility, has the task of administering the rules, of ensuring compliance with them and of giving help and advice to Members. These systems should have protected the taxpayer and the voting electorate from MPs abuse of privileges. It clearly has not... and the Speaker of the House, Michael Martin, is responsible as are these departments under him. They passed these abusive claims and allowed these abuses to go on without restraint!

Speaker Martin along with the heads of the department and the whole of the Committee on Members’ Allowances should do the honourable thing... and resign... en masse!!

They and the MPs abusing the system, have brought our once proud Parliament into disrepute, not only in the eyes of the Electorate but also in the eyes of the World! Disgraceful!

Those MPs who HAVE transgressed the rules should be investigated and prosecuted if evidence of fraud or criminal wrongdoing is proven. They should be prosecuted and of course made to resign from Parliament.... as they are no longer 'the right honourables'... and they are certainly not fit to represent anyone in Parliament!

The rumbles, hardly surprisingly following Speaker Martins statement to the House this afternoon, are already starting.

Douglas Carswell MP is, as I write, preparing a 'Motion of no confidence in the Speaker'. He too believes, "Enough is enough":

"I've drafted the text of a motion for the Speaker to quit, and to be replaced by a new Speaker with a mandate to clean up the Commons. I'm consulting the Commons Table Office for advice on it.

I'm also starting to canvass for support for it from colleagues."

The latest news is that the House of Commons 'Table Office' has just approved some text for a suitable motion!

I have emailed my MP and urged him to back the motion. If you are as disgusted as I am with Speaker Martin, I would suggest you do the same!