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They just don’t get it do they?

Fri May 15 04:49PM

Shahid Malik went on the offensive today prior to stepping down as Justice Minister, calling for an end to this "bloodfest". Presumably, judging by his bitter tone, he was pushed or at least told to jump.

"This bloodfest has got to stop...otherwise we will have no democracy left," he said. My views on the matter are quite the opposite. To me this is democracy in perfect working order. You, an MP, are alleged to have acted not in the best interests of the people for whom you are representing, the people have demanded action and as a result you have had to step down. What's undemocratic about that?

Perhaps you would like a "democracy" similar to Zimbabwe where you all live in palaces with your moats (don't worry, we'll pay for them to be cleaned) and we need a wheelbarrow full of notes to buy a loaf of bread?

Malik went on to say that he stuck "a million per cent by the rules". Technically that percentage doesn't actually exist but we'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he was saying he's done nothing wrong, or at least so say "the rules".

But that's irrelevant. We've heard MPs drag out the same tired old excuses this week, that it's the system's fault, that they inherited this culture, that they are being victimised.

They just don't get it do they? Whether the rules say they are right or wrong does not matter. What some of these MPs have been doing is morally wrong. It's no wonder we don't trust the government any longer if they can't make that distinction.

The position of an MP should be a brilliant privilege; they should be representing the country, driving us forward in the face of financial adversity. But what are some of them doing? They're actively taking money from us, as if we're their cash cow.

Well now they've been found out and they're scrambling big time. MPs are reacting two ways; there's the Ming Campbell way and the Margaret Beckett way.

The ‘Mings' are holding their hands up, paying the money back and removing themselves from the limelight quickly and quietly. If nothing else it's the sensible thing to do.

The Becketts, which is the category Shahid Malik falls into, are coming out fighting, saying they've done nothing wrong and not paying the money back unless ordered. Guaranteed these people will be the ones facing the brunt of the media's disapproval over coming weeks. This is most definitely the wrong side to be on.

Comments1201 - 1210 of 1418

What does it mean to be British? It means driving in your German car to an Irish pub, drinking Belgium larger, on the way back home you quickly stop at a Chinese massage place then pick up an Indian curry, come home sit on a Swedish sofa, watch an American film on a Japanese TV and in the morning you ask your Pakistani GP to give you a sick note which you give to your French employer. Indeed Britain is great!

From nadiem.sheikh on Sun May 17 12:16AM
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silver_canary1 I love it, you seem angry little raciest Islander

From nadiem.sheikh on Sun May 17 12:20AM
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comment 1318 is so true

From navy_blue_blip on Sun May 17 12:24AM
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nadiem.sheikh (post 1318) Whilst your words may be carefully chosen, you are just as hate filled and bigotted as any BNP supporter here.
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And you may find that is 'Belgian lager', rather than a country in Europe that has somehow become outsized; however, the idea of drinking the whole of Belgium does sort of appeal.
.
If Britain is Great and you don't like it, why don't you exercise your God given right?

From computacoach2004 on Sun May 17 12:31AM
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alwyntrinder, posting 1317
If you only smell a rat then perhaps your sense of smell isn't quite as good as it might be, Parliament has hundreds of rats, split into two different houses, many of them have been ripping of the public for years. Unfortunately many of these greedy people don't even realise that they have done anything wrong.

From avpix on Sun May 17 12:33AM
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Pity Guy Fawkes failed in his mission Paddy

From mickymodofirst on Sun May 17 12:40AM
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What is simply amazing to me is that these MP's have known about the Telegraph obtaining and planning to publish details of these expenses and yet are all coming up with the 'culture' excuse.
They have access to exactly the same info. Why are they not stepping up and coming clean prior to publication?
Are they that greedy, that they hope they will slip through the net.
Little wonder they tried to stop us getting access to this information.
Has anyone questioned Tony Blair on his profits made from his houses? I doubt it!
I also tend to agree with one other comment already on here, "How much bad news is being smoked over?"
Dr Theodore Kacznkski "Ship Of Fools" Speaks volumes on the current policies of this country. Link here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKh1mOeXfqE

From sleazer_1 on Sun May 17 12:47AM
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It's not surprising. They've had at least 4 years' notice, yet still claimed every last penny and couldn't figure out an excuse. The good news? They are probably running scared now, so slipping bad news under the net is the last of their concersn, lest it comes back to bite them even worse!

From computacoach2004 on Sun May 17 12:59AM
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So b i t e is now proscribed? Please Yahoo, sort out your censorship. Its making you all look like fools. I've seen someone say it's Ok since young children may be using the site. Well, what do you think you are doing other than pointing out what words are 'bad'. Kids will work out what combination of letters are edited out, and fast. Yet the system is so easy to fool; break the word up, add spaces, whatever you can swear here. Yet you cannot freely write 'cir@#$%stance' since it will get obliterated. Just because of 'c u m'. Get real.

From computacoach2004 on Sun May 17 01:12AM
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If you think THIS scandal is bad, you should read about the abuses going on in our government funded universities! Check out this site and you'll be shocked: http://www.sirpeterscott.com

From catface1962 on Sun May 17 01:48AM
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