Blogger Notes

So still continuing on the total downfall of our political system (bring back Guy Fawkes to finish the job properly!) - I found it quite strange this week whilst watching the ousting of Michael Martin (Speaker of the House), that although he is being blamed for the expenses fiasco, he will still be collecting his pension pot worth up to £2million. Yes, there has been outcry from the MP's that he will still be rewarded for his dastardly work but I would imagine that very quickly the dust will blow over and the issue soon long forgotten.

If Michael Martin has been responsible in part for the nuclear bomb landing on our illustrious Parliament and we then look at former RBS chief, Sir Fred Goodwin, who was responsible in part for bringing down the banking system and the massive outlash there was about his pension plan are we going to see the same outrage from Parliament, especially our esteemed Labour ministers for the ex-speaker.

At one point, the Government were prepared to change the law to stop Fred Goodwin claiming his £650,000 a year pension. Harriet Harman had stated that, "The Prime Minister has asked him to forego it and obviously we want him to do that - that's the most straightforward and honourable way to do it." She also said the payment was a reward for failure. There is also in this case the involvement of Lord Myners, who was recruited a few days before the State rescue of the bank. The real story of how this deal was put together and how much Government involvement there was in it is still to be uncovered!

Therefore, both men are being paid and rewarded for failure. You cannot apply one set of values for one and not the other. Just because Fred Goodwin was not a member of the exclusive Houses of Parliament free for all club he has been portrayed as a greedy, money-grabbing scoundrel. Et tu Michael Martin? And the long, long list of freeloaders who frequent the Houses of Parliament?

Gordon Brown (sorry to keep swearing!), praised the Speaker for his professionalism after his resignation, Fred Goodwin was vilified. Who did the better job when they were at the height of their career?

And of course, Gordon Brown could take some advice from himself. Of Fred Goodwin he said

"When banks fail... the people who make the mistakes cannot and should not run off with entitlements and with additional discretionary payments." Now, let's replace 'banks' with 'Parliament'.

Where all of this will lead to - who knows - we are entering very uncharted territory within our political world, the maps are all in the process of being redrawn and the Captain and crew are lining up to walk the plank and the crocodiles are waiting expectantly. Can't wait for the next installment!!