Your 8 least favourite MPs

[me123]

1. Sinn Féin constituencies - show me how they're materially disadvantaged.

With a Sinn Fein MP, you have nobody to represent you for reserved decisions. This includes taxation, defence, immigration and security. Pretty important areas. Of course, they will have representation for the day-to-day issues affecting most people that are devolved (schools, health, transport etc). But by not electing a working MP, the voters in these constituencies have no say on these important reserved issues. They have no MP to lobby if they disagree with or are adversely affected by an issue.

That obviously doesn't affect most people - the vast majority of people never meet their MP. But your MP is your contact in parliament, and without one you cannot influence change or raise concerns in the devolved areas. And that deprives citizens of engagement in democracy (although I agree that very few people use these opportunities).

Besides, do you actually think that anywhere is better served by not having an active MP? I'm not talking about individual cases where the MP is useless (see the above lists), but in general do you actually think it's ever better not to have an MP than to have one?

2. Nobody gives a flying toss about Northern Ireland in parliament anyway. British policy is simply to implement the institutions within the Good Friday Agreement and to leave the rest "up to the Irish people". No criticism on this approach, just stating facts. Relevant local NI issues are rarely heard in parliament.

I agree that NI gets little say in Westminster, and it is a disgrace. I completely sympathise with those who want NI to leave the UK (although I abhor the methods of some), as I think they would get a better deal in a unified Ireland purely from a political perspective. (Although this is of course a decision for the people of Northern Ireland to make and my opinion is somewhat pointless and simplistic - I do not wish to get into that minefield!)

The fact that Westminster fails NI is not an excuse though - Westminster should work for Northern Ireland, and electing MPs who actually bother to turn up for work would maybe go some way to getting your voice heard. Westminster can be criticised for not doing enough for NI, but at the same time their MPs should be much more vociferous IMO.

4. Sinn Féin have achieved more through lobbying the government outside of parliamentary structures than they would have gained by sitting with the rest of them.

They would have achieved more still by doing both. They wouldn't have to agree with the process, but if you're elected to serve in it then participate. Alternatively, if you don't to turn up, don't waste your time running for election. They would still achieve all that they would outside parliament, but they also wouldn't be taking up a position that someone else can fill in a much more constructive manner.

It is the opinion of many in NI that Westminster is a total irrelevance, and that includes many loyalists. Parliament has no wish to understand, or get too involved with the province. The best quality candidates in NI parties are usually selected to stand for the Assembly rather than as an MP (with the exception of the new-look UUP perhaps).

See above. Westminster probably is an irrelevance in NI, but that should not be the case. Both Westminster and the MPs elected by NI should act

 

[AlterEgo]

Besides, do you actually think that anywhere is better served by not having an active MP? I'm not talking about individual cases where the MP is useless (see the above lists), but in general do you actually think it's ever better not to have an MP than to have one?

No. I wouldn't say that not having an MP is an advantage in any way - just that it's not a disadvantage.

I agree that NI gets little say in Westminster, and it is a disgrace. I completely sympathise with those who want NI to leave the UK (although I abhor the methods of some), as I think they would get a better deal in a unified Ireland purely from a political perspective. (Although this is of course a decision for the people of Northern Ireland to make and my opinion is somewhat pointless and simplistic - I do not wish to get into that minefield!)

Agreed, let's not discuss constitutional politics, as I suspect we both agree!

They would have achieved more still by doing both. They wouldn't have to agree with the process, but if you're elected to serve in it then participate. Alternatively, if you don't to turn up, don't waste your time running for election. They would still achieve all that they would outside parliament, but they also wouldn't be taking up a position that someone else can fill in a much more constructive manner.

Well, the Sinn Fein MPs aren't elected to serve in the parliament - quite the opposite, I maintain.

That said, the following opportunities:

1) Brexit
2) Social liberalisation of the ROI
3) Change of SF leadership pre-2020 (to individuals with no IRA links)

present a compelling case of SF to take their seats at the next election, bringing them utterly into the mainstream. I would not be surprised - and indeed would hope that this becomes a reality.

 

[Flamingo]

No. I wouldn't say that not having an MP is an advantage in any way - just that it's not a disadvantage.



Agreed, let's not discuss constitutional politics, as I suspect we both agree!



Well, the Sinn Fein MPs aren't elected to serve in the parliament - quite the opposite, I maintain.

That said, the following opportunities:

1) Brexit
2) Social liberalisation of the ROI
3) Change of SF leadership pre-2020 (to individuals with no IRA links)

present a compelling case of SF to take their seats at the next election, bringing them utterly into the mainstream. I would not be surprised - and indeed would hope that this becomes a reality.

The challenge then for the other parties is to match the funding available to Sinn Fein from tobacco smuggling, drug smuggling, fuel laundering, bank robbery, extortion, and all the other criminal activities that have a blind eye turned on them in the name of the Peace Process...

 

[AlterEgo]

The challenge then for the other parties is to match the funding available to Sinn Fein from tobacco smuggling, drug smuggling, fuel laundering, bank robbery, extortion, and all the other criminal activities that have a blind eye turned on them in the name of the Peace Process...

Quite.

(Don't worry though, the loyalist parties have their dirty work done by paramilitaries too, just less professional ones...)

 

[Flamingo]

Quite.

(Don't worry though, the loyalist parties have their dirty work done by paramilitaries too, just less professional ones...)

Yea, they are two sides of the same coin.

It's the hypocrisy that get up my nose most.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I'd avoided this thread because I knew what I'd find here. Thankfully that nonsense seems to have blown over...

As for the topic at hand, I'm not going to list Diane Abbott, she's not my favourite MP but I don't really get why she's quite so disliked. I could easily think of 80 that I hate more, let alone 8. Here goes, anyway:

1. Irritable Duncan Syndrome. Basically a Nazi, married into money. Tried to retain some credibility by resigning over policies he helped draft. He wasn't fooling anyone.
2. Andrea Leadsom. Wasn't on my radar until a couple of weeks ago, apparently she'd be more at home in the Tea Party.
3. Jeremy Hunt. Rhyming slang...
4. David Davis. Can't believe he's still an MP, can't believe some of my fellow Yorkshire folk keep voting him in.
5. David Cameron. The Pork Remembers...
6. Douglas Carswell. Needs no explanation.
7. John McDonnell. I like his politics, but the way he's conducted himself since the Brexit worries me- not to mention the bullying going on behind the scenes as part of the shady Momentum group.
8. Barry Sheerman. Was my local MP for the first 20 years of my life but as far as I'm aware has done nothing for the people of Huddersfield in over three decades of being the representative. Voted against the Hunting Act in the Blair years. Voted for the Welfare Reform Act, voted for the Iraq war.

Only 5 Tories, so no accusations of being partisan please!

 

[Busaholic]

I'd avoided this thread because I knew what I'd find here. Thankfully that nonsense seems to have blown over...

As for the topic at hand, I'm not going to list Diane Abbott, she's not my favourite MP but I don't really get why she's quite so disliked. I could easily think of 80 that I hate more, let alone 8. Here goes, anyway:

1. Irritable Duncan Syndrome. Basically a Nazi, married into money. Tried to retain some credibility by resigning over policies he helped draft. He wasn't fooling anyone.
2. Andrea Leadsom. Wasn't on my radar until a couple of weeks ago, apparently she'd be more at home in the Tea Party.
3. Jeremy Hunt. Rhyming slang...
4. David Davies. Can't believe he's still an MP, can't believe some of my fellow Yorkshire folk keep voting him in.
5. David Cameron. The Pork Remembers...
6. Douglas Carswell. Needs no explanation.
7. John McDonnell. I like his politics, but the way he's conducted himself since the Brexit worries me- not to mention the bullying going on behind the scenes as part of the shady Momentum group.
8. Barry Sheerman. Was my local MP for the first 20 years of my life but as far as I'm aware has done nothing for the people of Huddersfield in over three decades of being the representative. Voted against the Hunting Act in the Blair years. Voted for the Welfare Reform Act, voted for the Iraq war.

Only 5 Tories, so no accusations of being partisan please!

NOT being pedantic, just to point out that David Davis is a Yorkshire MP whereas David Davies is MP for Monmouth, I believe. When James Callaghan was PM he had a namesake backbench MP in the same party. There were also two Labour MPs named Ron Brown, but only one of them was accused of a break-in to steal his mistress's knickers.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

NOT being pedantic, just to point out that David Davis is a Yorkshire MP whereas David Davies is MP for Monmouth, I believe. When James Callaghan was PM he had a namesake backbench MP in the same party. There were also two Labour MPs named Ron Brown, but only one of them was accused of a break-in to steal his mistress's knickers.

Corrected. Thanks!

 

[Butts]

Kenneth Clarke, well past his sell by date.

Along with Dennis Skinner both elected in 1970 he is one of the most experienced MP's in the Commons and is in fact retiring and not standing for election in 2020.

The dishevelled suit, hush puppies, stuttering and cigar smoking hide qualities that would have made him an excellent leader of The Conservative Party and Prime Minister.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Surely Enoch Powell trumps Ken Livingstone?

Enoch Powell (along with Tony Benn) is one of the greatest Parliamenterians I have had the privelige to observe during my lifetime.

A brilliant mind he was forever castigated for the so called "rivers of blood" speech. If only he had stuck to the original latin text of that speech which his Virgil quotation would have been translated as "Like the Roman, I seem to see the River Tiber foaming with much blood"

Due to your precocious years you are probably not aware that the following day Trade Unionists were out marching in favour of the interpereted meaning of what he said. It was also the prevailing view of the majority of the public at the time. Politicians were frightened to raise the topic and it was easier to "banish the bogeyman" than face up to the reality of the situation.

He was the youngest Professor of Greek in the British Empire at Sydney University in the thirties. At the outbreak of war he returned to serve his country, enlisting as a private he ended the war as a Brigadier whilst in his early thirties.

Unlike a lot of todays "cardboard cutouts" he was a man to be respected who resigned from the Cabinet when his favoured candidate lost the leadership contest. ( as a matter of honour)

 

[Harbornite]

Along with Dennis Skinner both elected in 1970 he is one of the most experienced MP's in the Commons and is in fact retiring and not standing for election in 2020.

The dishevelled suit, hush puppies, stuttering and cigar smoking hide qualities that would have made him an excellent leader of The Conservative Party and Prime Minister.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Enoch Powell (along with Tony Benn) is one of the greatest Parliamenterians I have had the privelige to observe during my lifetime.

A brilliant mind he was forever castigated for the so called "rivers of blood" speech. If only he had stuck to the original latin text of that speech which his Virgil quotation would have been translated as "Like the Roman, I seem to see the River Tiber foaming with much blood"

Due to your precocious years you are probably not aware that the following day Trade Unionists were out marching in favour of the interpereted meaning of what he said. It was also the prevailing view of the majority of the public at the time. Politicians were frightened to raise the topic and it was easier to "banish the bogeyman" than face up to the reality of the situation.

He was the youngest Professor of Greek in the British Empire at Sydney University in the thirties. At the outbreak of war he returned to serve his country, enlisting as a private he ended the war as a Brigadier whilst in his early thirties.

Unlike a lot of todays "cardboard cutouts" he was a man to be respected who resigned from the Cabinet when his favoured candidate lost the leadership contest. ( as a matter of honour)

Were his claims true that some Asian immigrants living in his constituency (Wolverhampton) agreed with his sentiments?

 

[Butts]

Were his claims true that some Asian immigrants living in his constituency (Wolverhampton) agreed with his sentiments?

Quite possibly, but more importantly no one wanted to discuss immigration - sound familiar ?

In 1959 Powell made what was described by Denis Healey no less as "The greatest parliamentary speech I have ever heard" in connection with the treatment meeted out to mau mau rebels by colonial authorities.

I'm afraid "back on track" is way off the rails on this one