Comments on: Government loses vote in Commons by 21! http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/04/29/government-loses-vote-in-commons-by-21/ Incisive and topical campaigns and commentary on today's issues and tomorrow's problems Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:05:58 +0000 hourly 1 By: andy dan http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/04/29/government-loses-vote-in-commons-by-21/#comment-15267 andy dan Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:51:27 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3540#comment-15267 Gurkha = potential Tory voter, therefore let as few as possible in is the government's reasoning I suspect Gurkha = potential Tory voter, therefore let as few as possible in is the government’s reasoning I suspect

]]> By: Dr Nick Ashley http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/04/29/government-loses-vote-in-commons-by-21/#comment-15266 Dr Nick Ashley Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:05:37 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3540#comment-15266 I firmly believe that there is a soft spot in the hearts of most British people for the Gurkhas. They serve with distiction and are renowned for their bravery. This is evident from the VCs and other gallantry medals won by them. Having faced death on behalf of HMG, they get a reduced pension and not much else. Being given the right to reside here after military service and in their declining years is the decent thing to do and a fair reward for these brave soldiers. I admire those Labour MPs who voted for the decent thing against their party. At last a bit of spine showing. I firmly believe that there is a soft spot in the hearts of most British people for the Gurkhas. They serve with distiction and are renowned for their bravery. This is evident from the VCs and other gallantry medals won by them. Having faced death on behalf of HMG, they get a reduced pension and not much else. Being given the right to reside here after military service and in their declining years is the decent thing to do and a fair reward for these brave soldiers. I admire those Labour MPs who voted for the decent thing against their party. At last a bit of spine showing.

]]> By: Olly Garchy http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/04/29/government-loses-vote-in-commons-by-21/#comment-15265 Olly Garchy Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:01:34 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3540#comment-15265 Rik - 6.34 How they voted is listed here http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2009-04-29&number=104&display=allvotes If you also follow the "every eligible MP" link you can also see the ones who abstained. Rik – 6.34

How they voted is listed here
http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2009-04-29&number=104&display=allvotes

If you also follow the “every eligible MP” link you can also see the ones who abstained.

]]> By: Adrian Peirson http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/04/29/government-loses-vote-in-commons-by-21/#comment-15264 Adrian Peirson Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:39:35 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3540#comment-15264 Forgot, the reason for my post was that I was hoping to bring something to the attention of and maybe discuss things with my local MP but all I get in return is Govt Policy on the matter(s) Forgot, the reason for my post was that I was hoping to bring something to the attention of and maybe discuss things with my local MP but all I get in return is Govt Policy on the matter(s)

]]> By: Adrian Peirson http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/04/29/government-loses-vote-in-commons-by-21/#comment-15263 Adrian Peirson Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:37:24 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3540#comment-15263 Any chance we could have electronic voting so we can have a say in matters. I've written to 4 Mp's over the years, each time they have sent my letter to be answered by the specific dept in question, whether it was family or medecine. One one occaision I wrote to my female MP thinking that she may be interested in knowing details of the deaths caused by synthetic estrogens rather than being given Bioidentical Human Hormone which can be easily synthesised. Nope, I got a letter from the Dept of Health telling me how thoroughly all drugs are tested. Oh well I tried, Nothing gets in the way of Big Govt and Big Pharma Profits. Any chance we could have electronic voting so we can have a say in matters.
I’ve written to 4 Mp’s over the years, each time they have sent my letter to be answered by the specific dept in question, whether it was family or medecine.
One one occaision I wrote to my female MP thinking that she may be interested in knowing details of the deaths caused by synthetic estrogens rather than being given Bioidentical Human Hormone which can be easily synthesised.
Nope, I got a letter from the Dept of Health telling me how thoroughly all drugs are tested.

Oh well I tried, Nothing gets in the way of Big Govt and Big Pharma Profits.

]]> By: RayD http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/04/29/government-loses-vote-in-commons-by-21/#comment-15262 RayD Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:06:27 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3540#comment-15262 I don't believe "the British people voted for 356 Labour MPs". Returned, yes, but actually voted for would be more like 35.3% x 646 = 228 MPs. Labour has a staggering 128 more MPs than they have voters. When can we get rid of this damned third world First Past The Post system and get some democracy? I don’t believe “the British people voted for 356 Labour MPs”. Returned, yes, but actually voted for would be more like 35.3% x 646 = 228 MPs.

Labour has a staggering 128 more MPs than they have voters. When can we get rid of this damned third world First Past The Post system and get some democracy?

]]> By: Henry North London http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/04/29/government-loses-vote-in-commons-by-21/#comment-15261 Henry North London Thu, 30 Apr 2009 09:39:16 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3540#comment-15261 Over 32000 people have already signed on his own website for him to resign Sounds like a pretty good mandate already for him to have a vote of no confidence. Over 32000 people have already signed on his own website for him to resign Sounds like a pretty good mandate already for him to have a vote of no confidence.

]]> By: Brigham http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/04/29/government-loses-vote-in-commons-by-21/#comment-15260 Brigham Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:03:35 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3540#comment-15260 When I first subscribed to your blog, I referred to our PM as "the (pejorative adjective questioning his judgement!) Brown" which you "moderated" out. I think I have been proved right by him many, many, times! When I first subscribed to your blog, I referred to our PM as “the (pejorative adjective questioning his judgement!) Brown” which you “moderated” out. I think I have been proved right by him many, many, times!

]]> By: THE ESSEX BOYS http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/04/29/government-loses-vote-in-commons-by-21/#comment-15259 THE ESSEX BOYS Thu, 30 Apr 2009 07:59:43 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3540#comment-15259 Looking at it from here in Malta the Westminster news just keeps getting better! Tonight's vote may bring futher glad tidings. We have noted amongst the European guests here that Britain's woes and fall from grace are well-known which provides an eery 70's feeling. Amongst the UK guests, of all backgrounds, Gordon Brown is a figure of ridicule now. Even if Youtube didn't get many direct hits, it was so widely featured on Sky News that there's a game being played whereby a speaker disconnects his words from his facial expressions with the aim of confusing the others into not knowing what he means or whether he's telling the truth. Shades of Gordo? The Ghurkas misjudgement is an extension really and shows this PM cannot connect with genuine human opinion and emotion. We're also pleased to note that the hard-hitting Douglas Carswell has been appointed to the Public Accounts Committee so we expect more direct exposees and attacks on government waste. We suggested here a few weeks ago that the Conservatives appoint someone to monitor 'Labour Snouts in the trough' during the dog days of this government. (We suggested David Davis who has a record of 'getting his man'!). No doubt much time will be spent by Labour ministers and MPs in maximising their perks and feathering their future nests in the private sector. This must be watched carefully. Contacts awarded that tie the hands of the next government issued with an eye to a lucrative position next year for the ministers concerned. This is an area where we would like to see the current investigation into MPs pay and expenses introducing new rules. We see no reason why there should not be a LIFETIME BAN on ministers accepting such positions after being responsible for that area of expenditure. The criteria may be whether such a position would have been offered had the 'appointee' not held that particular position in government. Think Hewitt, Blunkett, Cunningham, Milburn, Ingram et al! Looking at it from here in Malta the Westminster news just keeps getting better! Tonight’s vote may bring futher glad tidings.

We have noted amongst the European guests here that Britain’s woes and fall from grace are well-known which provides an eery 70′s feeling.

Amongst the UK guests, of all backgrounds, Gordon Brown is a figure of ridicule now. Even if Youtube didn’t get many direct hits, it was so widely featured on Sky News that there’s a game being played whereby a speaker disconnects his words from his facial expressions with the aim of confusing the others into not knowing what he means or whether he’s telling the truth. Shades of Gordo?

The Ghurkas misjudgement is an extension really and shows this PM cannot connect with genuine human opinion and emotion.

We’re also pleased to note that the hard-hitting Douglas Carswell has been appointed to the Public Accounts Committee so we expect more direct exposees and attacks on government waste.
We suggested here a few weeks ago that the Conservatives appoint someone to monitor ‘Labour Snouts in the trough’ during the dog days of this government. (We suggested David Davis who has a record of ‘getting his man’!). No doubt much time will be spent by Labour ministers and MPs in maximising their perks and feathering their future nests in the private sector. This must be watched carefully. Contacts awarded that tie the hands of the next government issued with an eye to a lucrative position next year for the ministers concerned.
This is an area where we would like to see the current investigation into MPs pay and expenses introducing new rules. We see no reason why there should not be a LIFETIME BAN on ministers accepting such positions after being responsible for that area of expenditure.
The criteria may be whether such a position would have been offered had the ‘appointee’ not held that particular position in government. Think Hewitt, Blunkett, Cunningham, Milburn, Ingram et al!

]]> By: Jason http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/04/29/government-loses-vote-in-commons-by-21/#comment-15258 Jason Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:25:15 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3540#comment-15258 How is it that the commons gets a vote on this and not on critical planks of economic policy that will drag us down for decades to come - such as bank nationalisation and key issues over spending? It appears more thought has gone into moral issues regarding a few thousand gurkhas (whose claims are totally justified in my view) than for the same moral and economic issues that affect the total population not just now, but for decades to come. This vote represents victory for the gurkhas but equally a failure of the system to bring about justice for the British population as a whole. Not that justice for the population has ever been a concern for this government - they spend their time and our money destroying the fabric of our society and then spend more of our money to tell us things are under control - which is a gross perversion of fact. Not that a vote on such substantive and critical issues would have changed the course of events in anyway - but it would at least allow the public some accountability in knowing which MPs supported a lunatic policy and which didnt. Clearly its in the public interest to know such things...sadly its not in the interest of government. These things will need to change for democracy to be worth pursuing as a form of organising our society. Reply: We do get votes on the dreadful financial position - it is just that Labour MPs unite to win those. How is it that the commons gets a vote on this and not on critical planks of economic policy that will drag us down for decades to come – such as bank nationalisation and key issues over spending? It appears more thought has gone into moral issues regarding a few thousand gurkhas (whose claims are totally justified in my view) than for the same moral and economic issues that affect the total population not just now, but for decades to come. This vote represents victory for the gurkhas but equally a failure of the system to bring about justice for the British population as a whole. Not that justice for the population has ever been a concern for this government – they spend their time and our money destroying the fabric of our society and then spend more of our money to tell us things are under control – which is a gross perversion of fact. Not that a vote on such substantive and critical issues would have changed the course of events in anyway – but it would at least allow the public some accountability in knowing which MPs supported a lunatic policy and which didnt. Clearly its in the public interest to know such things…sadly its not in the interest of government. These things will need to change for democracy to be worth pursuing as a form of organising our society.

Reply: We do get votes on the dreadful financial position – it is just that Labour MPs unite to win those.

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