MORE POLITICAL HYPOCRACY - THIS TIME OVER ENERGY ADVICE

'SPOT THE BALLOON COMPETITION'

How can you tell when a politician is being hypocritical? Usually when he’s offering us ‘plebs’ advice.

Writing in the Reporter & Chronicle (Oct’24,2013) Local MP Jonathan Reynolds was prattling on about Labours newest hobby-horse, 'Energy Prices' in which he voiced his concerns over his constituents struggling with household budgets and expressed his views that these were being exasperated by the Big Six Energy Companies.

Speaking from his newly appointed position as the Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change, he criticised the Governments record whilst promising that if Labour ever returned to power (god forbid) they would introduce wide ranging reforms to cap bills.

Pity they didn’t do it during their 13years in power!  However, their energy and climate change policies did add (9%) to the final bills.

Last week, during PMQ's we were treated to a contrite Ed Miliband claiming that 60% of 'green taxes' were introduced under the Coalition! But as usual when one examines the political-speak, his definition of 'green taxes' are flawed. To get this figure Labour adds together the costs of the Energy Companies Obligation,(£47.00.) Carbon Price Floor, (£5.00) Warm Home Discount (£11.00) and Smart Metering (£3.00).

So it's maybe correct that these account for 60% of all the energy and climate change policies that make up the £112 price tag, although properly understood these measures aren't just taxes, and aren't all 'green'.

Now we have come to expect the usual warm weasel words from our senior politicians, but now we find that despite all the crocodile tears and hair-shirt hand-wringing, our local MP's are not particularly bothered about energy bills in their own households either, as it has now been revealed that they, have rendered themselves immune from the price hikes that are crippling us, as they have been claiming part of their energy bills on their already generous expenses.

So, whilst thousands of people will sit indoors shivering and many of our old people may possibly die this winter whilst wondering whether to eat or heat their cold homes, we can all take comfort in the fact that Tameside’s 3 Labour MPs will be keeping nice and warm in their taxpayer subsidised centrally heated homes.

•Jonathan Reynolds (Lab) – Stalybridge and Hyde claimed £439.81

•Andrew Gwynne (Lab) – Denton and Reddish claimed £305.23

•David Heyes (Lab) – Ashton under Lyne  claimed £257.85

There needs to be a dramatic change in the current political and financial order of things and only voting UKIP or a total revolution will change things. This week, as we approach the 5th November I'm betting that the vast majority of ordinary British people are wishing that Guy Fawkes would try again? Hopefully with a bit more success!