Martin Salter's Westminster Diary, June 4, 2009

Martin Salter MP • Published 4 Jun 2009 11:00 0 Comments

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FIRST of all can I say thank you to all those people who have been emailing or calling my office, urging me to reconsider my decision to stand down at the next election after 25 years in public life in Reading.

While I appreciate all the kind things that have been said, I"m afraid my mind is made up. I"m very much looking forward to the next chapter in my life and to using what skills and experience I"ve amassed to benefit the work of a national charity.

As the headlines over MPs" expenses continue, it is worth mentioning that the vast majority of MPs are untarnished by the disgraceful behaviour of a minority of our colleagues of all parties. I also have to say that some of the so-called 'revelations' are nothing short of preposterous.

The attacks on Dennis Skinner for making medical alterations to his flat on doctor"s orders after recovering from a triple heart bypass operation were particularly sickening. Dennis is one of the most principled politicians I have ever met and his low claims show him to have been extremely careful with public money.

Mind you, at the other end of the scale we have seen the revolting spectacle of the already loaded landed gentry enriching themselves at the taxpayers" expense with some quite outrageous claims to refurbish their third or fourth homes.

It is one of the great ironies, and I write this on the eve of the European elections, that a possible beneficiary of the current crisis could be parties like UKIP and the BNP.

The problem with the European elections is that insufficient people take them seriously and they provide a perfect opportunity to give the mainstream parties a good kicking.

However, 50% of employment in Britain is dependent on our trade with Europe and unfortunately extremist parties are not so much a joke but more a threat to our jobs and future prosperity.

This blog appeared in Reading Chronicle 04 Jun 09

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