Clegg chaos
Nick Clegg's first visit to the eastern region was a rather chaotic affair.
For a start, the Liberal Democrats forgot to tell us he was going to Northampton at all so there was a mad rush to get there.
Then the London press accompanying him missed their train...
It was ruled, therefore, that the visit could not start until they arrived - even though we were all assembled.
Consequently, missed the opportunity to appear on the lunchtime news and didn't have as much time as he wanted to meet local people.
He was visiting a holiday club on the Spencer Estate in Northampton, one of the most deprived areas in Britain.
Many of the parents he met were on low incomes - even those, and there were many, who had more than one job.
This was the ideal place for him to promote his policy that no-one earning less than £10,000 a year will have to pay any tax.
The cost will be met in part by his £2m so-called .
The Liberal Democrats believe this eye-catching policy will play well in areas like this and it seemed to go down well on the day.
But because time was short, most of the visit was taken up doing media interviews.
Outside, on the windy playground, a group of children played football in the forlorn hope the Liberal Democrat leader would join them. He didn't.
One hour after arriving, he was on his way back to London.
Even though it's not high on the Lib Dem's target list, Northampton may yet surprise everyone.
The party came third in both Northampton South and Northampton North last time round, but the two local MPs have been caught up in the expenses scandal, the boundary changes play in the Lib Dems' favour and they've recently done well on the local council.
It may well have benefitted Mr Clegg if he had stayed a little longer.
The Spencer Estate was built in the 1930s on land once owned by the .
One resident told me that after Diana Princess of Wales died, American tourists would turn up at Northampton station and ask to be taken to the Spencer Estate.
Taxi drivers would apparently delight in dropping them off in the middle of the run-down estate having, of course, pocketed a decent tip.
Welcome to the political blog for the East. I'm Deborah McGurran, the Ö÷²¥´óÐã's Political Editor for the region. From Lowestoft to Luton, this is the place for politics with an eastern twist.
Comment number 1.
At 15th Apr 2010, wishiwasntacynic wrote:Who do you vote for?
Politicians from all the main parties were tainted by the expenses saga, which in some cases amounted to fraud tax evasion and deception. The probable outcome, a handful of those caught in the trough facing prosecution, which the suits at Westminster may think will satisfy the general electorate.
It doesn't satisfy me - Too many were tempted by the status quo of don't vote yourself a pay rise, just bump up your take home pay by claiming questionable expenses, hardly honourable behaviour is it.
Because it is so dishonourable, I am deeply disappointed that more have not had the benefit of a microscopic forensic examination by the police and the CPS. WHY NOT - In any other walk of life they would be
I gather a significant amount "of expenses" have been paid back, is that not an admission of guilt
It speaks volumes just how many of them are not seeking re election this time, which part of the electorate has said that is an acceptable punishment.
I hope Martin Bell and one or two other like-minded citizens are elected to keep an eye on what happens in the next parliament, a renamed fees Office on its own is not credible.
The answer perhaps is to grasp a thorny nettle and have state funding for political parties providing the trade union levy is withdrawn and big business no longer donates to any party.
MPs pay perhaps should be linked to a comparable index. Most expenses claims could be eradicated by adopting the following
The sitting MP could be given office space in his local town hall an extension perhaps of the space allocated to local councillors
MPs within the M25 do not need a second home. All MPs given a Company Car, with a petrol allowance. Those MPs whose constituency is further away are given a rail card
Those even further away get an a air transport allowance
Finally the state buys a secure block of Flats close enough to Westminster for MPs to live in Monday to Thursday Free including Utility bills -Weekend and recess stays are charged for at commercial not subsidised rates
I don't think there would be much of a need for any other expenses claims if the above were adopted but that doesn't solve my problem now of, Who do you vote for
There are many other important issues to consider in this election but I can't get past my distaste of how the question of expenses has been marginalized almost forgotten.
Before one can vote one has to trust, at present I feel cynical
If I knew enough people and had the funds I would stand myself under the slogan
"IF YOU WANT A POLITICIAN - DON'T VOTE FOR ME"
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