The righteous Mr Monbiot gives it to Blears right between the eyes.

[Kid_Eternity]

Still interested in why BK doesn't always like him...

 

[Badger Kitten]

...he goes on and on in his environmental articles and I glaze over. Whereas this one crackles.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

...he goes on and on in his environmental articles and I glaze over. Whereas this one crackles.

Heh I know what you mean. You read any of his books?

 

[Badger Kitten]

I got about halfway through Age of Consent.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

Heh I know what you mean. You read any of his books?

Captive State was one of the first political books I ever read - it's good shit I would say (though I've not read it for a while).

 

[Azrael]

In defence of Hazel - and other ministers, they have to vote with the Government or resign their posts, so the only "votes" to look at are the "free votes" if looking at voting record.

No excuse. Old-school politicos like Gladstone resigned on obscure points of principle. I have zero-respect for the power grubbing professional political class. as embodied by the likes of Ms Blears.

Mr Monbiot shouldn't allow himself to be goaded by shameless power-politicians. That po-faced rebuttal is painful to read; a few snarky remarks are all that are required. Stop being so earnest, man!

 

[Azrael]

The Whip system should immediately be dismantled, it is both immensely anti-democratic as well as immensely dangerous when you get bad policy, bad ministers (or both - as happened in 1940, and during the buildup to Iraq). If one looks at the Lords - where the Whips have hardly any power, by comparison - their decisions and amendments are nearly always much better, and the debates more well-informed.

MPs should not - indeed, must not - be subjected to any pressure from anyone but their electors or the law. They should vote according to their beliefs based on the facts and be judged accordingly come election-time. It is because they do not, and are not, that this country is in the mess that it is in.

Amen, amen, amen!

Any government that can't persuade its own party to support its policies without threats deserves to implode with extreme prejudice.