http://www.kakabadse.com/2009/05/on-mp-expenses/ Top team consulting and training Fri, 11 Nov 2011 11:39:50 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 http://www.kakabadse.com/2009/05/on-mp-expenses/comment-page-1/#comment-98 Ian Richardson Tue, 12 May 2009 16:36:59 +0000 http://www.kakabadse.com/?p=280#comment-98 Although your piece addresses some of the managerial challenges and obstacles facing MP's, I think it overlooks a fundamental dilution of the political role of MP's within the party system set against a background of rising executive power. The legislative role of parliament has all but disappeared and with it any pretence of genuine political debate. In its place we find the banality of positions created by the party policy executive, endorsed by "central office" and policed by party whips. For those few civic-minded idealists who see politics as a means of changing things in society, the day-to-day demands of constituents and the mind-numbing constraints of party politics are surely enough to dissuade anyone with half an ounce of sense from ever getting involved in this nonsense. While I agree wholeheartedly with the transparency point, and the need to bring non-professionals into the political system (by the way, isn't that the point of elections?), I think its time for a more fundamental assessment of the role of MP's and legislature within our system of government. Although your piece addresses some of the managerial challenges and obstacles facing MP’s, I think it overlooks a fundamental dilution of the political role of MP’s within the party system set against a background of rising executive power. The legislative role of parliament has all but disappeared and with it any pretence of genuine political debate. In its place we find the banality of positions created by the party policy executive, endorsed by “central office” and policed by party whips. For those few civic-minded idealists who see politics as a means of changing things in society, the day-to-day demands of constituents and the mind-numbing constraints of party politics are surely enough to dissuade anyone with half an ounce of sense from ever getting involved in this nonsense. While I agree wholeheartedly with the transparency point, and the need to bring non-professionals into the political system (by the way, isn’t that the point of elections?), I think its time for a more fundamental assessment of the role of MP’s and legislature within our system of government.

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