Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#1
The Commons held a debate on the economy today but the Chancellor Alistair Darling did not attend.
Given the fast moving economic situation and the terrible state we are in, this is simply extraordinary behaviour. He is showing contempt for the Commons.
Here is a part of what George Osborne said:
""""We have not had a debate on the economy in government since December and the government have known about this debate for two weeks. When we suggested it, we were told there was no pressing international summit or unbreakable commitment that would require the Chancellor's absence. There is only one conclusion. The Chancellor is running away from the debate because he knows he is losing the debate. A confident Government, and a Prime Minister who meant what he said about restoring the primacy of Parliament, would have relished the chance for the Chancellor to appear before us today.""""
Pity, if he went to the Commons he might have thrown some light on things, under pressure, such as
The unemployment figures at 2m, the IMF once again pointing out that we are the worse hit country by the recession and are likely to be the last out it. The FSA playing nanny state and bringing restrictive rules that will further hit the housing market. Government initiatives meant to help businesses, a whole ream of them announced with a fanfare, simply not actioned.
Darling just hides away, Chancellor of a say anything but do nothing Government.
Sid Pollitt
#2
These damned if he does, damned if he doesnt type posts are getting a tad tiring. He was probably doing something rather than waffling on about stuff, and was probably thinking he would be facing the shadow chancellor [osborne]rather than the shadow shadow [clarke] one so didnt see the need. Did you see that a Lib Dem has complained that there's a Tory MP claiming to be the shadow minister of Cornwall even though there aint a minister?
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#3
Sid - what about accountability?
What about the basic rule of Parliamentary democracy, that Ministers are accountable to parliament?
It is the job of our elected members in the House to examine the executive. For a senior member of the Government to absent himself from the House and avoid Parliamentary scrutiny in the way Darling has, is showing pure contempt for democracy.
Do you not care about the democratic process? Surely that is something which is, or should be, a uniting factor whatever our political beliefs.
Cannot you find a better way to defend darling than that or, if you agree with me about Parliamentary accountability, why not say so.
Incidentally unemployment is now increasing at its fastest ever rate, under any Government, 138,800.
Sadly it has a long way to go yet.
Sid Pollitt
#4
I do care about democracy, I just dont see that he has to be accountable today and when he might be doing something else and when tomorrow or next week would do. You're just trying to make something out of nothing, if he'd been there it'd be a different gripe. I was at a conference last year and it was reported that there was a debate on housing I think that'd been forced by the Tories and when it took place there was no opposition MP in the house at all, whatsoever. How very dare they.
Why we're on it, who is the shadow minister of sound?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#5
i think that the commons is only useful as a venue for soundbites for politicians that want their constituents to think that they are doing something useful.
most of the work is done on committees and the important decisions are made in brussels.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#6
Im not sure of the rights and wrongs of Alastair Darling's non appearance yesterday but I would say this bit about him...he seems to have gathered and risen in stature somewhat over the past few weeks, particularly as he was the first member of the government to recognise that there might ba a need to say sorry for the mistakes made. He achieved this milestone in an interview in one of the major sunday papers. This minor milestone has now resulted in Gordon Brown making some apologies in recent days. Always good from a PR standpoint to appear to be human and contrite as it can lead to greater acceptance, rather than tough it out with the bunker mentality.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#7
always good to see a politician showing humility.
they make mistakes like everybody else, even with a phalanx of advisers.
always a winner with me when someone at the top apologises.