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Is there an unwritten understanding to play down expenses issue?

Michael Crick | 17:27 UK time, Tuesday, 20 April 2010

I observed in Luton South nearly two weeks ago how little candidates there were making of the expenses issue, even though the retiring MP Margaret Moran was disgraced over her expense claims.

And it seems to be the same picture where I have been this afternoon, in East Lothian, where the Labour MP Ann Moffat was sacked recently by the local Labour Party, partly over her high expense claims. Certainly neither the Lib Dems in East Lothian, nor the Conservatives, are making much of the issue on their leaflets.

As for the SNP, I can't say. We haven't managed to meet their candidate yet, or any of his campaign team.

Candidates say they don't need to stress the expenses issue in seats like this because voters are familiar with the situation locally. I am sceptical about this.

I think the omission may reflect an unwritten understanding amongst the political class to play the issue down, and a feeling perhaps that it only increases public disillusionment and disgust with politicians of all parties.

Comments

  • Comment number 1.


    Tory arrogance is about to blow up in their faces.

    ''p.s.'' it says on the leaflet just put through my door

    '' The lib Dems can not win this seat''

    Oh dear.

    I am sorry to inform the Tory party that we live in a democracy and if enough people vote for the Lib dems, I am afraid they can indeed 'win this seat'.

    It is an old failing of the aristocracy not to understand that people dont like being told what they can and can not do or win. That is why democracy came about in the first place.

    Old habits die hard it seems :)





  • Comment number 2.

    It doesn't surprise me at all that the Westminster parties are avoiding this topic. What does surprise me is that the media has gone quiet on this topic. Hint, hint.

  • Comment number 3.

    I would be lovely is some public media organisation (say, perhaps the British Broadcasting Corporation) put together a nice handy list of the offenders for public consultation.

    (Whilst you're at it, you could list those ex-MPs who pushed through the Digital Britain Act on the days AFTER the election was called.)

    Just a thought.

  • Comment number 4.

    FEUDAL WESTMINSTER WILL PROTECT ITS CITADEL TO THE LAST.

    There is MUCH MORE hidden in the fetid dungeons of that place than came out with the allowances disclosures. Indeed, I would not be at all surprised to learn that we were 'thrown' the allowances, to prevent the full extent of Westminster skulduggery being exposed.

    Clegg would need his own personal Gandalf, to beat such archetypal evil, while dancing in its halls. And while the electorate still slumber under the spell that keeps them 'Living Within the Lie' (that Britain is a democracy and Westminster has a shred of honour) we are headed for the Cracks of Doom.

  • Comment number 5.

    'Is there an unwritten understanding to play down expenses issue?'

    Probably!

    Three ´óÏó´«Ã½ executives spend £12,000 on taxis

  • Comment number 6.

    I think you may be making too much of expenses as a reason for Ann Moffat's deselection. Her original selection before 2000 was controversial and the East Lothian CLP was already in 2002 making it clear she was not doing much to win over the doubters. They tried to deselect her in 2005. No doubt her expenses claims were used as one argument for a change of candidate in 2010 but I don't expect that she would have survived even if she had claimed nothing.

  • Comment number 7.

    1. At 7:06pm on 20 Apr 2010, Jericoa wrote:

    Tory arrogance is about to blow up in their faces.

    ''p.s.'' it says on the leaflet just put through my door

    '' The lib Dems can not win this seat''


    Well, in my marginal the LIb Dems seem to be saying the same thing, if about Labour.

    So not being Conservatives would appear to be their sole pitch, other than some stuff on bankers and funding.

    I wonder if Gordon would agree with Nick? Or vice versa?

    Hard to tell day to day..


  • Comment number 8.

    'FOR BEAUTY LIVES WITH KINDNESS' (#7)

    And desperation lives with need-driven ambition. We see it in Blair. The poor man can NEVER be great enough - rich enough - nor receive enough adulation. (He was the future once.) Brown likewise. So are they all - desperate men (even the 'woe-men').

    It does not take a genius to detect that they have a gnawing sense of LACK, that has to be filled, at any cost to honour, integrity and humanity. That is the common factor. That is the Westminster ethos. It is good for party-politics, and bad for all else.

    So what drives Young Nick? What drives Desperate Dave? Are these the sort of individuals who can self-inspect, and step down for the greater good, should such be the better course? Higher integrity hath no man . . .

    The RIGHT STUFF is not even thinking of leadership, speeches, power or wealth. Those comprised of the right stuff, are scattered throughout our society, living gentle, honourable lives of wisdom and integrity. They need to be awakened to OUR need of their services, and elected as INDEPENDENTS. But this can never be, while the Westminster Citadel protects its own, through the party system. So, first, we must

    DEFEAT ROSETTE POLITICS

  • Comment number 9.

    It's pretty clear that there is a "Don't mention the war" attitude from candidates towards the expenses scandal. And it's not surprising given that even those existing MPs who showed restraint and common sense in their use of tax-payers' money feel tarnished by their colleagues' collective behaviour. The introduction of at least 150 new faces to parliament will hopefully signal an opportunity to change the system en masse - but as we know there's nothing like a bit of power to corrupt those wide-eyed, well-meaning innocents that will make their way to Westminster on May 7th.

  • Comment number 10.

    HOW DOES THAT WORK THEN? (#9)

    The majority of candidates (and virtually all the electable ones) have been selected by a party, as 'fit for purpose'.
    But what purpose? Certainly not boat-rocking, iconoclasm, whistle-blowing, etc. They are chosen for subservience born of ambition, hence they take the whip and toe the line. This is why I attack Westminster en masse, rather than any individual party or leader.

  • Comment number 11.

    "I think the omission may reflect an unwritten understanding amongst the political class to play the issue down.."

    -Shame on them.

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