IT MUST BE NATIONAL HYPOCRISY WEEK!

You really can’t believe the brass neck of some politicians, no matter which side of the political divide they reside.

The hyperventilating over Nadine Dorries MP taking a month’s leave to appear on ‘I’m a Celebrity’ is in danger of sending some of the older backbenchers close to warranting medical treatment. In fact, Labour’s Chris Bryant went as far as suggesting a by-election for missing Parliament.

Nadine Dorries, who has now been suspended from the Conservative Party, defended her decision to go on the ITV show, insisting her involvement is a "publicity gift" and a chance to communicate with 16 million people. Strange then that Ms Dorries last year castigated the Speakers wife, Sally Berkow, saying, she’d degraded the Speaker's office" by taking part in Celebrity Big Brother!

However, despite her double standards, at least Ms Dorries can claim a well above average attendance record, having spoken in thirty debates in the Commons this year alone.

Contrast that with ex-Prime Minister Gordon Brown who, since the General Election, has made one speech in the Commons, and asked eight written parliamentary questions, made one appearance at a committee, and taken part in 27 out of 236 votes.  Maybe his constituents should ask themselves is he still worth the £65,738, plus expenses and the pension, we pay him?


Then there’s David Miliband, the current Labour leaders brother. Again a man who is rarely seen gracing the back benches. He was paid £70,000 for just three-and-a-half days spent working for VantagePoint CleanTech in California. This post with the American venture capitalists was just one in a in a series of lucrative part-time positions Mr Miliband has taken up since being beaten by his brother in the Labour
leadership contest. In fact, official figures show that he has accrued over £500,000 in private earnings and expenses opver the last year. I couldn't find out how much he'd demanded from Tameside council for speaking at the 'Annual Roy Oldham Dinner' but I'm sure someone will enlighten me?

This must be quite embarrassing for young Ed, who recently led a populist attack on ‘fat cat’ executives in a bid to turn round his flagging political standing.

 And last, but by no means least, we find Shadow Chancellor, Ed Balls who has called for another postponement of the Government's planned 3p rise in fuel tax. Despite the fact that it was he who introduced the fuel duty escalator in the first place! He introduced it apparently because he "takes global warming seriously"      

 

I’m beginning to think none of them could sleep straight in bed!