Leak About Leak Shows Panic

Two Loos Prescott - Anna Racoon
Plato on Politician’s Expenses - Fraser Nelson
Gordon’s Cleaning Bill Doesn’t Add Up - Dizzy
Taxodus : City Now Highest Taxed- Financial Crimes
Sun’s ‘The Whip’ Slashed - Iain Dale
Operation Get Gordon - Quentin Letts
Gold Sales Lost Central Banks €40 Billion - FT
Gordon Should Be in Hospital - Simon Carr
Are Milburn and Clarke Gearing Up? - Dizzy
Jacqui’s Idiotic Banning of Michael Savage - Matthew Norman
Labour MPs Demolish ‘Optimistic’ Budget - Indy
Decent Labour Must Put Britain First - Simon Heffer
No Leak Investigation Over Smeargate - Sue Cameron

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2009

Leak About Leak Shows Panic

Real fear stalks the Parliament of Whores:

To all Members

I refer to the publication today of articles in The Daily Telegraphabout Members’ expenses apparently based on information held in confidence by the House service.

The advice which I have received is that there are reasonable grounds to believe a criminal offence may have been committed in relation to the way this information has been handled. Having informed Mr Speaker I have today made a report to the Metropolitan Police, asking them to consider the matter.

Recognising individual Members’ concerns, an inquiry line (020 7219 XXXX) has been set up which will be open during working hours and between 10 am and 2 pm on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th May. A senior member of staff will be on hand to assist Members.

If it would be more convenient, you can e-mail xxxxxxx@parliament.uk supplying contact details and a member of staff will get back to you as soon as possible.

Please note if you or your delegate call the inquiry line you will be required to provide proof of identity through the MP Verify identification system used by the Department of Resources.

Malcolm Jack

Clerk of the House and Chief Executive

Confirmation that the Speaker authorised the police investigation…

+++ Crooks Call Cops +++

MPs have called in the police to find the leaker who is responsible for getting the truth about the abuse of public funds by politicians into the public domain. How is that in the public interest?

UPDATE : Desperate Dan comments that if the police find the whistleblower they should give him a “CrimeStoppers” reward. A knighthood wouldn’t go amiss either.

Expenses Freedom of Information : Villains and Heroes

We know who the villains of this charade have been; the Speaker, the backbenchers of the parliamentary Labour and Conservative Parties.  Gordon Brown has nothing to be proud of, he constantly failed to push reform forward because he could not carry his backbenchers.  The YouTube debacle was his last minute desperate attempt to be seen as a reformer. Disastrous.

The shameful Members Estimate Committee, particularly Sir Stuart Bell, has done everything in its power to frustrate meaningful reform.  Clegg’s LibDems have been better, though they have their embarrassments too (yes, Guido means you Lord Rennard).  Cameron too has bitten the bullet even though he must know there are going to be a heck of a lot of revelations about his party.  The Conservative Chief Whip Patrick McLoughlin’s role has been very suspect and it is fair to say that Cameron’s stated position and the behaviour of his Chief Whip have often appeared incompatible.

So much for the villains, who are the heroes in this affair?  One heroine stands out.  Heather Brooke fought for years to get the details of MPs use of the public’s money into the public domain.  She fought the parliamentary authorities long and hard in the courts.  The deviousness of the parliamentary establishment can’t be overstated.  This is her victory.

She was aided and abetted by the press, particularly some of the tabloids, freedom of information campaigners, pressure groups like theTaxpayers’ Alliance and last but not least, bloggers. There is one more hero who should not be forgotten, the person who has blown a digital whistle on this whole charade.  It does not matter if the whistleblower has done it partly for money.  Mercenaries can sometimes fight heroically for freedom.

Strange Silence of the Opposition

Clegg and Cameron seem quiet today don’t they? The usual attack dogs seem strangely muzzled.  Chris Grayling isn’t growling.  Norman Baker isn’t barking into broadcaster’s microphones. Wonder why? Could it be because no matter what their party, they are all at it?