MPs For Sale

Late on Sunday night I spotted the headlines and over the following day the story grew. But as the MPs for sale story was based upon a TV programme had not yet aired, I really wanted to see the documentary first.

I am rather to cynical to expect that our Members of Parliament are putting the interests of the nation first, and not feathering their own nests, especially after the expenses debark. Nor did it surprise me that many of the MPs caught out are leaving parliament over their abuse of the expenses system.

However, it is three of the claimed influences that were claimed by the MPs that are really disturbing.

Case one; Stephen Byers, the former transport minister, claims that he helped National Express get out of a rail franchise that was loosing them money while retaining two others that were making them a profit. At the time this was going on, I nearly wrote about this, not least as it effects my local railway and transport links, but I was to busy getting delayed by poor rail services. Thus I did not have the time. My opinion was then that the company should have lost all their franchises, but they only lost the one that was not making them money. Further, this cost the taxpayers five hundred million pounds in revenue from fees. The fees that Nation Express had bid to run the most profitable line in the rail network.

Case Two; Again Stephen Byers, claims to have helped water down food labelling regulations, something that I have been arguing needed to change for the better for ages. But Stephen Byers claims that for Tesco, he helped reduce the impact upon the largest retailer in Britain regulations that would have given the consumer real and accurate information.

Now what is interesting about these claims made in the programme is that even before the programme was broadcast Stephen Byers was saying that he had lied. What an assertion to make! I don't know if he was telling lies in the film or is telling lies now, but in both cases the effect of decisions made was against the public interest.

The third example was another MP who claims to have helped water down environmental regulations regarding pollution for another company.

It is more than just lobbying that is going on here, as each claim to have been paid to alter policy and laws in the interests of their paymasters. If they were doing this just because it was what they genuinely thought was the right thing to do, then I would have no problem, but it is the admission that they have done this for money that makes it corruption. Even though all this is apparently within the rules of what MPs can do.

As worrying as that is, it is the fact that in a time when as a nation, as well as globally, we need to be more environmentally aware and our government has made various announcements regarding lowering the nations carbon emissions. I am left wondering if the vested interests have bought the influence that has delayed many of the actions that are needed.

Well as we seem to have the best government that money can buy, can I ask has anyone got the receipt? As it looks like we should be trying to get our money back.