Generally Speaking

The front pages have been flooded with stories about MP's ludicrous expenses claims and the speaker has been forced out of parliament for the first time in 300 years. Welcome to UK democracy folks.

When I was first taught about politics and the political system I was told how an MP was representative of your local area, presented your ideas in the House of Commons, listened to your opinions and did what was best for you.

However, now that I have roamed this Earth for 20 years I have learned the real truth about MPs. Shady, slimey and sleazy.

These bungling fools have been spending the taxpayers money by claiming everything under the sun for their 'essential second home' in London:

• Bed sheets
  
• DVD players
• A massage chair
• A moat
• Mortgage interest payments

I'm not sure how constructing a moat helps represent the people of Sleaford and North Hykeham. In fact I highly suspect that the building of moats feature prominently in their political views and opinions.

The prime minister MUST call a general election immediately and allow the British people to hold these MPs to account. The Sun have (for a change) started a campaign which the leader of the opposition David Cameron has given his support to.

It is time for the people of Britian to have there say on this matter.

Catch Up 1

I realise I've fallen behind in terms of blogging on topics introduced in Chris Horrie's Tuesday lectures. Time to catch up...

So the lecture a couple of weeks ago concerned itself with the topic of political parties and the history of the party system in the UK. What started with the Torys and Whigs has resulted in well known parties such as:

• Conseratives


• Labour


• Liberal Democrats


• Green Party

There are also many other minor parties such as:

• Official Monster Raving Loony Party


• Revolutionary Communist Party of Great Britain


• Pensioners Party

And so on...

The political period I have been interested in since school is the Liberal welfare reforms between 1906-1914. This period essentially saw the birth of the modern 'welfare state' in the UK.

In short, the Liberals, under the chancellorship of David Lloyd George, issued a series of reforms to improve working and living conditions in the UK. They created the Children's Charter, introduced pensions for the elderly, set up Labour exchanges to help the unemployed find work, and created the National Insurance Act.

The reforms were paid for using Robin Hood tactics. Lloyd George named his Finance Bill 'the People's Budget' where he taxed the rich to benefit the poor, ill and working class.

Cartoon from Punch, 1908

Despite a number of limitations and problems with the reforms, I believe they really were a positively pioneering set of Acts aimed for the good of the country. A far cry from the greedy MPs claiming expenses for horse manure and swimming maintenance.