Britain just got boyed

[deathscreamingsheep]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6667431.stm

To quickly summarise for those who don't know, Westminster MPs have just voted to create a bill to exempt Members of Parliament in both the Lords and the Commons from the Freedom of Information Act, supposedly to protect private letters from the constituencies to parliament.

Now, is it just me- or does this bill seriously worry other people as well. I mean, there has been outcry amongst political pundits and so forth, but many people essentially don't care.

Frankly though, the worst thing in the article I link above is what Gordon Brown has to say about this.

""Gordon has also spoken about the sovereignty of Parliament. If MPs have voted this measure through then that is a matter for them", his spokesman said."

I.E. He thinks MPS can basically do whatever they want.


Great.

[Pastorius]

That's pretty bad.

Just because MP's have the power to pass laws doesn't mean they should use it to cover their own behinds. This could open the door to a loooot of fraud and extortion, and it will be unpunishable because you any evidence gathered will be illegal.

[Blackichan]

V For Vendetta

[Surtr]

That's ****ed.

My god....

[gregulus]

V For Vendetta
comparing modern politics to fictionalized stories such as 1984 and V for Vendetta is such an original thing to do.

[Der Übermensch]

It's 1984!








oh...

[EinzingerIsGod]

Well that's terrible.

[Chrysostom]

Wow, unbelievable. Seriously. So much for open politics.

[GreyHam]

aye, ming "the merciless" cambell dropped me an email (were close personal friends...) about this on wednesday, wrote to my MP demanding her support in rejecting this blatant step back for democracy

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/diana_johnson/kingston_upon_hull_north

something tells me shes too busy bumming her party to care about her constituents

[deathscreamingsheep]

Yeah, your MP has been well and truly whipped mate.

Actually so has mine (Bromley), but there we go. Anyway, the Commons is being heavily criticised for this, thankfully by more than just the Lib Dems (however much respect I have for them). Also, I am hoping for the bill being delayed in the Lords, though I'm not optimistic.

[Dr Hooch]

Sickening.


If there was ever a hope in hell of my MP ever rebelling in a vote I might be tempted to write to him, but he doesn't give a monkeys (methinks he has his eyes on a future cabinet place or something because he never rebels ever)

[Linkinbassist]

Gordon brown stands against this measure.

what the hell is the TS going on about?

[GreyHam]

Gordon brown stands against this measure.

what the hell is the TS going on about?

Gordon Brown has rejected calls to block a controversial move by MPs to get out of freedom of information laws.

thats what the ts is on about....

[Dr Hooch]

If this gets through lords, my tears shall fall down like rain

[Surtr]

I can say that if this gets through Lords Imma' probably move back home to Canada.

It's pure mad really, that's what this is. I can't think of a reason they wouldn't pass the bill either.

[deathscreamingsheep]

Gordon brown stands against this measure.

what the hell is the TS going on about?

He might have sort of vaguely stated that he does, and he's said he wants an "open government", but he has already said that the government are adopting a stance of neutrality in regards to this.

[Woundweaver]

If there was ever a hope in hell of my MP ever rebelling in a vote I might be tempted to write to him, but he doesn't give a monkeys (methinks he has his eyes on a future cabinet place or something because he never rebels ever)

My MP is very similar to this, she's a real sucker for the whips (that sounded so much better in my head...) And just goes with anything her party goes for.

But lets face it, it's New Labour. Since when did what they say their going to do have ANYTHING to do with what they actually DO?

[GreyHam]

http://www.ourcampaign.org.uk/foi

i would strongly advise people in the UK to follow some of these steps...