Dan questions Brown's judgement over Jacqui Smith

Sir

Just what does a New Labour minister have to do to get fired?

And will we ever again see a Cabinet Minister do the honourable thing and resign when their position becomes untenable?

The last few weeks have seen minister after minister exposed as playing fast and loose with their expense claims. While technically ‘within the rules’, ministers such as Tony McNulty and Jacqui Smith have shown spectacularly poor judgement and a complete disregard for ‘value for taxpayer’s money’ – and yet both remain in their jobs, defended by Gordon Brown.

New Labour once promised to be ‘whiter than white’ – a promise that would now look laughable if this issue wasn’t so important. Because at the end of the day, this issue is about trust and judgement. It is about integrity. It is about doing the right thing, regardless of the small print of the rules.

We all know why Brown hasn’t fired these two – it is because he is a weak and discredited Prime Minister who dare not upset the delicate power balance at the top of the Labour Party. He no longer has the authority within his own Party to take these decisions.

This makes it all the more disappointing that our local Labour MP, Mike O’Brien, has at times not supported greater transparency for MPs. He voted to change the rules to make MPs’ addresses secret, which will result in making it harder for constituents to hold MPs to account for what properties they claim taxpayers’ money to maintain. He has voted in the past against proposals to stop MPs from claiming for furniture and other household appliances (the so-called ‘John Lewis List’). And he has voted against the proposal that ‘outside professional teams’ should audit MPs Additional Costs Allowance (used to pay for ‘second homes’) – voting instead for an internal audit system.

If MPs are ever to regain the public trust, Gordon Brown needs to show some leadership now and stop supporting these discredited ministers.

And all MPs, including our local Labour MP Mike O’Brien, need to embrace greater transparency. The people of North Warwickshire & Bedworth deserve an MP who will vote at every opportunity in favour of full transparency. They do not appear to have one at present.

Dan Byles

Conservative Parliamentary Candidate

for North Warwickshire & Bedworth