Martin Salter's Westminster Diary, October 22, 2009

Martin Salter MP • Published 22 Oct 2009 07:00 0 Comments

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THERE are times when one of my favourite phrases, "gently undulating blobs of impotence", can fairly and aptly describe many of our politicians.

I'm thinking of those who smarm their way up the greasy pole, never rocking the boat, never challenging the party line and never doing anything to jeopardise their own careers.

On the other hand are those characters who take risks, who make the political weather and show leadership, courage and have the ability to inspire. These are the history makers and over the years the House of Commons has produced some shining examples.

Margaret Thatcher, for all that I loathed and despised about her and the damage she did to our society, was a conviction politician who shaped events around her. Winston Churchill, the great wartime leader; Aneurin Bevan, Welsh Labour firebrand and founder of the NHS; Tony Blair, Labour's most successful leader and the Prime Minister who took huge risks to conclude the Northern Ireland peace process.

All of these political giants have left their legacies and footprints in the House of Commons whose walls and corridors still display their images long after they have left the stage.

I agree with Rob Wilson that it is tragic to see this great institution brought into such disrepute by the actions of a minority of members and the incompetence of the party leaders who have collectively failed to rise to the challenge of restoring public trust in our politics.

The much reported Legg review was a pretty botched response and ignored some pretty blatant examples of industrial scale property speculation by the landed gentry, while penalising otherwise blameless MPs for having the temerity to pay their cleaners a living wage.

I hope Sir Christopher Kelly's forthcoming recommendations will be along the lines of the seven-point plan that I and my Reading East Labour colleague Anneliese Dodds published in May:

- SACK all Ministers and Shadow Ministers systematically enriching themselves at taxpayers' expense.

- DESELECT all MPs who blatantly break the rules or fail to put their affairs in order.

- END MPs moonlighting. No second jobs or company directorships.

- REMOVE Parliament's right to set levels of MPs' salaries and allowances.

- STOP MPs profiting personally from second home allowances.

- PAY only essential London accommodation allowances.

- PUBLISH all claims and receipts every three months.

I suspect the new rules will end second home allowance abuses but will do nothing about those of my colleagues who do not believe being an MP requires a full-time commitment for a full-time salary.

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