Fixing our Broken Politics

Comment by T. Howard Firth on February 6, 2010 at 7:25 pm

…And now you aim to join the other two main parties in attacking Christian values and their beliefs – unbelievable!

Comment by Keith on February 6, 2010 at 7:36 pm

The latest twist regarding the MPs’ expenses scandal is appalling. Trying to claim Parliamentary Privilege to escape prosecution just highlights their total lack of integrity. Anyone, in any other walk of life, who submits a claim, even within the allowed parameters, that is shown to be fraudulent such as claiming for a non-existent mortgage of or overnight expenses when they are at home, would be prosecuted to the full force of the law, would have to repay the sum claimed, be dismissed from their job, be subject to a term of imprisonment AND lose ALL PENSION RIGHTS.
HOW DARE THEY CLAIM TO BE ABOVE THE LAW

Comment by Anthony Bright-Paul on February 6, 2010 at 7:37 pm

I feel for the MPs. Who is really to blame? Surely it is those who passed the expenses. One can hardly blame the MPs for taking advantgage of a lax system. Far more important is gettiing the climate Change nonsense out of the agenda. Climate is always changing, just as the weather changes from day to day. Wake up, David Cameron. Politicians cannot control the Jetsream, not the tectonic plates. The Earth has been much hotter and much colder in the past. It is absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with man-made carbon dioxide. The scince is there but not in the way the Warmists and Alarmists would have it. Avoid Lord Stern, I abjure you. Anthony Bright-Paul

Comment by Marcia Ross on February 6, 2010 at 7:37 pm

Please get away from the Tony image of the “mug” and sofa politics i.e. cushions and untidy bookcase. Dress as though you mean business and don’t look so casual.

Comment by Peter East on February 6, 2010 at 7:38 pm

I must agree that it seems like desperation by the Labour Party to do this at this time.

I think that this proposed change will cost a lot of money which should be used to pay some of the incredible amount of money the government has wasted in such things as the NHS computer system, paying the banks employees bonuses and can be used to provide proper equipment for our armed forces who are risking their lives.

Regards,

Peter East.

Comment by gerardus kohlinger on February 6, 2010 at 7:48 pm

A nobel initiatieve. However, lets get honesty first.
So far in the last year alone, we had all kind of promises from the Conservatieves, all of which are already broken.
Help for the poor and the disabled, as the leader of Essex County Council said, the poor don,t need road, we should get rid of them. As the Major of london said we need to make public transport accepteble for the people, and then he put the prices up such a way that the poor are better off by driving a car. We make parking for all Westminster Council said, then they introduced credit card and mobile phone only ticket machines, hence the poor and the disabled excluded. We keep the parking costs reasonble, RBK&C and Westminster hence they making now a fortune out of it. We look after the children and the old, then everywhere nurseries for children and day centres for the elderly are close to save money, in conservatieves Councils. The list is endless, hence the small margian between Labour and Conservatieves. After all it is better the devil you know.

Comment by popsy on February 6, 2010 at 8:01 pm

Paying back £1.1m is like the train robbers returning £100. This rotten parliament needs major surgery and i am not sure we have anyone to do it. Also it’s only the tip of the iceberg .

Comment by John Disley on February 6, 2010 at 8:04 pm

MPs expenses are not a priority now. You are losing strength in all the polls this weekend. Don’t for goodness’sake let us down now

Comment by Grant on February 6, 2010 at 8:08 pm

Its time to talk tough and dont back track David … say what you think and be a bit like Maggie – this country needs Thatcher policies again to get us out of this mess ! Osborne however needs to have some public speaking training and get some balls- the jury is out on him !

Comment by Simon O’Neill on February 6, 2010 at 8:19 pm

You get my vote mate irrespective of what you wear on your weekend!

Comment by Colin Ball on February 6, 2010 at 8:19 pm

The problem is not the minute details of how politics works in this country. The problem is that there are politicians in all parties who seem to care more about making money on the side and furthering their own careers than they do about this country.
The sums of money involved in the expenses scandal are meaningless. They are a drop in the ocean compared to the £100 billion that has been given away in incapacity benefit since 1997 or the national debt of nearly £800 billion. The fundamental problem and the reason I and everyone I know is so angry is that politicians have been stealing from their own country. They have been abusing their own country. I expect such behaviour from benefit fraudsters, criminals and the rest but once our leaders start doing this, what hope is there? This country has been formed by so much sacrifice and so much effort by countless people over the centuries and for such a long time has been one of the great nations. Yet politicians are stealing from it and abusing it.
Being an MP is a huge honour and it’s a position that many of us in Britain would love to have simply so we can make the country even better than it is today. We want to do this because this is our country, the country we all belong to and because we’ve all got a bit of self pride and competitive instinct. We want to be the best we can be and we want our country to be the best it can be.
David, please don’t get too hung up on changing the rules and regulations of parliament as it really doesn’t change people’s opinions of MP’s and will have little tangible impact. Few of us will truly understand what you’re doing and we’ll just suspect you’re trying to pull the wool over our eyes. Instead, make a real example of anyone in your party that you find is abusing their power and therefore abusing Britain. Give them a really good sorting out and people will respect you for it. Show that no individual is more important than the team. It’s the team that all 60 million of us are part of and right now, we need the manager to really lay down the law and start driving things forward. Only then will we be able to look at countries like Singapore, Germany and Sweden and really hold our heads high.

Comment by zalimbekir on February 6, 2010 at 8:24 pm

MPs expenses incident has been over exaggerated from the beginning. You went to fire with fuel rather than extinguisher.

At the end of the day the amount of money MPs spent is not a great deal. It is peanut money. What sort of benefit tax payers can gain from all these blames, frustrations, inquiries etc? Nothing.

What voters want from parliament; good quality of work and not to chase peanut money.

Gordon Brown sold tons of gold and made Britain lost billions of sterling. How about talking this rather than MPs £1 million over expenditure. There are plenty of topics like this to bring public attention.

You are not getting public support by digging this MPs expenses matter, on the contrary you actually gave image to voters that Conservative and Labour are the same.

Another matter is many of the work loads of parliaments passed to Brussels. MPs and Peers now have more time and less work. We also now have Supreme Court.
You can give more jobs to MPs and make them work more and earn more money.

We have got plenty of Ombudsmen. You now want to create another one. Ombudsman reduces the benefit of Democracy. They are non-elected people. My experiences with Ombudsman showed that they are overpaid, useless people. We can not change them too. They will be in their office until they retire. %90 of Britain does not know what the Ombudsman for. I do not even understand what does Ombudsman do. Ombudsman says; we do not change the decision maker’s decision we look at whether the decision maker followed correct procedure or not while reaching that decision! Blimey! After waiting 3 months, you receive a letter stating that the complaint which you made is not a one which Ombudsman deals with. It is quite annoying. You can take the Ombudsman’s decision to Court, if you can afford to waste money. Automatically you create yourself two legal battle ground. Ombudsman is nothing more than a joke really. There is nowhere to complain about Ombudsman too.

My suggestion is; either Ombudsman should be democratically elected or Ombudsman Job should be given to MPs. All the money which is currently paid to Ombudsman can go to MPs pocket. Jolly good. A democratically elected place to make a complaint.

Please Cameron do not create another very well paid job, prime location office with good pension for useless people.

Thanks

Comment by Barnesian on February 6, 2010 at 8:29 pm

I agree with what you say on select committees and control of the parliamentary timetable, but you shouldn’t be so dismissive of changes to how we vote for our MPs. At the moment, if we want to vote Conservative, we have to take whoever we’re given locally – who may be useless or even corrupt. I’d like more choice please. It is an important part of the changes that are needed. If you carry on in the same old way, you won’t solve the problem – which is choosing good MPs.

Comment by Jamie on February 6, 2010 at 8:33 pm

I am totally dismayed by the continuing expenses scandal. The latest from these politicians is that they are desperately trying to find a crafty way out within the law to save themselves! Its simply insulting. Regarding the new Brown proposal for voting, its further a desperate attempt to find someway to stay in power! I wish he could get on with things and just for once stop trying to put a spanner in the works on every possible occasion. I really cant wait to see the back of this useless government.

Comment by Ann Woodward on February 6, 2010 at 8:34 pm

David, why are you saying this now when you should have been hammering this message home long before now. Unfortunately, it is going to look like opprtunism.
I agree with some of the comments above about the Tony Blair look i.e the mug, casual look etc PLEASE, PLEASE STOP DOING THIS, TB is one of the most disliked people in the country along with Gordon Brown just concentrate on getting your own message across and stop the silly gaffes and mixed messages.
PLEASE start showing some backbone, I know you will make a good Prime Minister but start looking like you really want it and go after Brown. He is one of the most mendacious, vindictive, nasty politcians it has been my misfortune to see and remember he does not have a mandate from us and you need to keep hammering this point. The country wants to see the back of him – you are the only hope we have got.
GO FOR IT – THERE IS NOT MUCH TIME LEFT.

Comment by Liz M on February 6, 2010 at 8:41 pm

Can you SPEAK with conviction so the WHOLE COUNTRY will listen ( or only Conservatives with computers) I seem to remember the impression that TB and chums relied on vox pop and look where it got us!

Comment by J Eyton on February 6, 2010 at 8:43 pm

All mildly interesting.When though do we get to know IN DETAIL about the Conservative answer to our woeful economic situation.
Does anyone else out there get that sinking feeling that Mister Cameron and Mister Osborne may well be the Eton version of New Labour .All soundbites and no substance !!
I fear that both gentlemen are in imminent danger of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory because in truth no one seems to know what the Conservatives stand for any more and the electorate including myself are nervous about placing our financial future in the hands of such a lightweight inexperienced potential Chancellor.

Comment by neil on February 6, 2010 at 9:03 pm

For gods sake – don’t worry about MP’s expenses. It takes two minutes to sort out just say you are going to raise your basisc pay and that’s it. Instead concentrate on having backbone (as someone else said previously). Hold on to the belief that helping the family is right and the talk about PENSIONS !!! Labour have ruined any pension provision over the last 13 years why not talk about that – or is every one in the this country so SHORT SIGHTED !!! AGHHHHHH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by Alfred the OK on February 6, 2010 at 9:05 pm

Mr Cameron, fixing our broken politics is indeed a laudable aim. Honesty and transparency must be key to telling it like it is to the BRITISH public in the case of reserved matters – and to the ENGLISH public in the case of devolved matters.

So why, in your draft manifesto on health do you mention ‘Britain’ lots of times – yet not mention ‘England’ once? Because of devolution, your entire focus is the English NHS – and that’s all. Trying to give the spurious impression you somehow have responsibility for health right across Britain is totally not on.

The same could be said about your draft manifesto on English Education – Britain is mentioned lots of times – and England but once. Your remit on education covers England and only England.

70% of all business at Westminster is English specific. You should therefore by open and honest about what you can and cannot do for particular constituents within the UK. Health, education, culture, planning, transport, local government are all devolved – therefore manifesto information can only be relevant to England – and that should be clearly and unequivocally spelt out in every single section of your manifesto.

It is the open and honest thing to do….. (Mind you, if we were talking about truely fixing our broken politics, I would think that the reinstatement of an English Parliament without delay would be the open and honest thing to do… It cannot be right that England is the only country in Europe without a national legislature, can it?)..

BTW, I have asked CCO several times about this – they have yet to get back to me – and when (if) they do, will I get an open and honest reply?

Comment by Martyn Hedges on February 6, 2010 at 9:21 pm

My greatest fear right now is Labour are going to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat because you’re too worried about presentation and sounding like you can fix things without actually stating any substance -which is playing right into the hands of Brown’s team. He’s getting stronger, you’re looking and sounding weaker and less and less clear. Be brave…get passionate – shed the cloak of uncertainty and galvanise your best players to get on the front foot and take the battle this government that is killing our sceptred isle – we deserve better, fight for us because we need a champion but earn it and our respect in doing so!

Comment by john gwyn on February 6, 2010 at 9:24 pm

once again i beg you to get the tax system changed back to how it was before 1999 because its just strangling every small buisiness the way it is now , i know cause iv bin there all thye way and iv seen whats it done to the work equation . Yours john Gwyn .

Comment by Ron Gobell on February 6, 2010 at 9:34 pm

This current Parliament is beyond help, sack all MPs that have fiddled their expenses and all those that have “flipped” homes and got away with it. Then we can elect untainted MPs (a smaller number would be ideal) in the hope they will restore faith in UK Parliament. Dave, please focus on policies for other important issues Immigration, EU domination, the Economy and Crime don’t dance about on the edge you are losing credibility.

Comment by Jennifer Combe on February 6, 2010 at 9:58 pm

Agree partially with Peter East and deplore the waste of moneyon NHS computers that don’t work and identy cards. Since Doctors had a big pay rise it seems strange that they now have stopped working weekends. My father was a GP from1946 – 1972 and had to pay for a locum if he went on holiday.

Comment by Colin Webster on February 6, 2010 at 9:59 pm

David, I notice that a number of Conservative MPs have still not repaid the expenses they received ‘by mistake’. What are you doing about that?

Comment by Simon House on February 6, 2010 at 10:07 pm

Dear Sir,

The difficulty is that the four summonsed to court is not a fair representation of those who abused the system nor a fair representation of those asked to pay any money back. The Parliamentary Commissioner (Lyons) has no credibility in the public eye; Mr Kennedy, appointed by Brown and friend of Campbell, to oversee appeals and new rules for MPs has no credibility. No MP or leader of any party had the moral fortitude or leadership skills to stand up and say this is wrong and it must change. When embarrassed by news papers, the public was spun the theme by MPs that it was a minority and ‘we’ were acting in the rules. The MPs responsible to prevent the information getting into the public domain were not sanctioned in any way (despite it costng the tax payer thousands of pounds in litigation), rather one was promoted to the House of Lords, namely Martin. The leaders of each party have not sacked or imposed proper sanctions on anyone despite promises of party panels. Ms Kirkbride is thinking of changing her mind to stand for the Tory Party at the next election- why have you not sacked her? Why has Mr Brown not sacked or sanctioned MsSmith and Mr McNulty? The expenses they claimed deserved to be investigated by the police. Smith gave an insincere apology and was not ordered to pay any of the £100K back. As a Tory supporter, I find it incredulous that you have not taken any significant action against your MPs despite your rhetoric when the news first broke. Emotonal intelligence makes us the people we are and gives us the values and principles to base our decisions and conduct ourselves through life. None of the 643 MPs had the basic values to say this was wrong and no one exercised any leadership to do anything about it. In contrast much was said to mitigate and brush the issue aside. Now we are being asked to put this behind us and move on. The public wants action not hollow words. The time is up for MPs to make decisons about other MPs or employing friends of MPs (Kennedy) to preside over them. True independence is required to bring about change to a rotten parliament and rotten MPs who are unable or unwilling to chastise those who act improperly. As a former public sector worker, I could be disciplined for keeping quiet if I witnessed another committing a discipline offence- perhaps this standard ought to apply to MPs as well, considering MPs introduced this code on other public sector workers.

Comment by Bill Garnsey on February 6, 2010 at 10:07 pm

Please start to articulate what we want for the future. Change from the hopeless waste of Labour dependancy to an empowering and more responsible future.Growth in adding value rather than consuming the earth.

Comment by Derek Fulluck on February 6, 2010 at 10:21 pm

OK – more commonsense views David but …
Many of us realise, in differing degrees, that the UK is in a mess. We have been badly governed, impacted by decisions taken without mandate – massive over-borrowing, wasted expenditure, excessive immigration, even more powers ceded to European bureaucrats, easy benefits fuelling a non-working culture, dodgy banking favoured (over real innovation and value added, export-earning industry), PC nonsense … and more. As a result, many Brits feel that our living standards, laws, culture & safety are all under serious threat.
Broad vision, strategies and ideas are OK – to set the scene – but what are you actually going to do?
We need to see that there may be light at the end of the (very long) tunnel, if the majority pull together to a clear plan …
Tell us the gameplan – and stick to it.

Comment by Sheila Roberts on February 6, 2010 at 10:27 pm

Fix our broken society. Fix our broken politics. Please leave our Arch Bishop and Bishops alone – they do not need fixing. You seem to be acting like Blair/Brown – you are not God. Start supporting the British way of life and don’t apologise for the white/straight (normal) people like me. We want some honesty where there seems to be none. Homosexuals should not be allowed to adopt children. How dare you presume to speak for decent people with morals who do not believe that anything goes. I have always been a conservative voter – I had thought I would still vote for you until lately when you have forced me to change my mind.

Comment by Mrs A on February 6, 2010 at 10:28 pm

The average man on the street hear : bla bla bla, more promises, more of this, and none of that.
We do not want empty promises that says nothing! We want FACTS!

Remind us why You are the Leader, Mr. Cameron.

Comment by Brian on February 6, 2010 at 10:54 pm

It is not only politics that are broken, but society in general. There has been a steady trend since World War I to take away individual responsibility and replace it with the state. Be it welfare, morals, habits, health, behaviour the state must have its say and we are supoosed to obey. Is it surprising that we have become a walk on by society when we are heavily taxed to pay a vast bureaucracy on non-entities to perform the simple human actions that would otherwiase be second nature to us. I accept that in many fields reforms were due and necessary but the problem is always – how to stop the bandwagon from rolling? How do you call a halt to change when a fair balance has been reached?

So how do we – or you and whoever is in parliament in May – effect a change. Roll back the activities of the state and the recipients of the largesse and the countless officials who administer it will squeal and squeal loudly.

First you, and the next parliamentarians, will need to become respected and trusted. The erosion of this trust has been going on for a long while, it is not just the expense scandal but the arrogant disregard for the electorate and the betrayal of the values held dear by them that is at the heart of the matter.

The cure? A smaller government, fewer or preferably no career politicians – MPS should have other experiences to bring to the chamber not just ambition for power. Honesty is another element very much missing. Anyone who who can perform simple arithmetic, and there are a few around despite the falling education standards, can see that the debt has to be paid down and soon. Why should the next generations be crippled by the spendthrift habits of the current and recent ones and particulalrly the financial incontinence of the current government? There will be pain, but this should be borne by those who inflamed the disease, not those who follow.

But if you have ambitions in this direction you must first get elected and at the present this by no means a safe bet. You and your team must get your act together. Surely you have enough evidence now to confirm that Gordon Brown is a good contra-indicator? Everything he touches or proposes is or goes wrong. Stratagey is therefore simple – take the opposite view.

Comment by Rome Godwin on February 6, 2010 at 11:15 pm

Interesting speechlet that, look fwd to more on Monday.
BUT! [and I'll keep saying it because I know that I'm not alone], it is NOT a bad idea to have P.R., in fact some form of P.R. a.s.a.p. would be a very GOOD thing. And why, when it would advantage the Conservatibves we understand, would Mr. Pickles as your spokesperson (!?) be SO against it?

Comment by James on February 6, 2010 at 11:41 pm

In a week where the goverment have been proved to be liars, and have underfunded our troops; you have let the tory press target a nobody… what are you doing, I will not vote for you if you don’t get involved.

Comment by English Conservatives on February 7, 2010 at 12:17 am

The first thing that must be done is the introduction of English Votes on English Laws.

Comment by Rocio Cotter on February 7, 2010 at 12:43 am

David

Your last recording is fabulous, but still not good enough. After all the things that have happened recently, you need to put many agendas on the table and explain them in details.

We all want to have a democratic parliament, where people can have a say and be able to vote on every bill before it becomes law. For instance, many people want the death penalty to be brought back. So, what you could do is to create more programs like question time, inviting the public to give their opinion on it; then put it to the vote and if the 55% or more of the British population vote in favour of it, then the death penalty should become law. This is the type of democracy we all want. And none of the parties seem to get it.

Another thing that you could promise to us is to make all the very high salaries in the public sector to be fixed and transparent. For instance, in the BBC, no one should earn more than £500,000 per year and all the salaries should be published. So we know how much a top executive in the BBC earns yearly and so on. And all the salaries and expenses should be closely monitor at all times.

You also need to use a lot of common sense in order to govern wisely. Reinforce the public trust by saying that if you are in power you will bring a law to punish and prosecute any MP who abuses the system again; and that will consist of being dismissed as well as facing jail and loosing his rights to get a full pension, but the 50% only. In other words, part of the fraudulent MP’s panishment would be losing 50% of his/her pension.

I am a lady with a lot of common sense and I know the way to stop borrowing any more and avoid making so many cuts.

I know what the public want and I believe you will be the right prime minister for England, therefore I would like you to win the election and I am confident that I can help you to achieve that.

Please feel free to e-mail me if you are interested in my help.

Regards

Rocio Cotter

Comment by Clive Baldwin on February 7, 2010 at 1:19 am

Apart from the numerous topics I would like to comment on, the most important at this time is the expenses issue. I and the general public are not going to placated by the pebble thrown into the water that is represented by the charging of three or four MPs. Voters are angry and rightly so. The deeper issues such as capital gains and house flipping have been papered over. It is no good expecting the public to be spectators when MPS like Mrs. Follet are allowed to ‘apologise’ to the House.
If a crime has been committed then the responsible person must be charged under the full weight of the law, not, under what is seen by the public at large as ‘one rule for us and another for them!’ Trust in politicians and politics in general will never be restored until this is seen to be done, without favour be it peer, MP or MEP. The expenses issue has not ‘gone away’ as is the perception among some MPs. It is to the forefront of public opinion, is causing extreme anger amongst voters and needs a radical solution.

Comment by Michael on February 7, 2010 at 2:31 am

the Word politics should be scrapped and the true word governance to be spoke, and in truth, with fair weights, measures and balances given back,
Blair, said where would the world be if he had not done it ,I’ll answer that, the world would not have been told a lie, that’s where we be, where he sits in lies,

Comment by Michael on February 7, 2010 at 3:37 am

Truth, is above the law

Comment by Christopher Smithers on February 7, 2010 at 5:39 am

This is but one of many matters that must be attended to very urgently! I agree that Labour gerrimandering of the voting system to further skew it in their favour is a very serious issue! The only motivation for this must be to perpetuate ad infinitum their seats on the gravy train! There is very little evidence of any of these buffoons doing anything that is not self serving.
I have recently been particularly enraged at the likes of Mandelson trying to spin the debate on budget cuts for example as if it were a Labour initiative by attacking us for failure to specify policy! Of course every time you and the shadow team do that these villaind hijack our ideas and promote them as if they were their own! The fact is that Brown the Clown and his band of buccaneers were in complete denial that there was a need for budget cuts at all, but now they want people to believe that they are taking the lead on this! What a load of disingenuous rubbish!
But please, Mr Cameron toughen up and get in their faces as you know how to do and turn things back on them! Finally let’s do whatever is necessary to get rid of this lot ASAP!
Thank you
Christopher Smithers
Bangkok Thailand

Comment by esther devereux on February 7, 2010 at 7:56 am

I have no website. Dont give the opposition stuff they are likely to steal
Give (Joe Blogs) a say sak them for ideas amazing what they will come up with. Misery moo will do his best to down you so be clear on your policies.

Comment by M Topping on February 7, 2010 at 8:02 am

Get rid of the four scumbags, reduce the number of MP’s by at least 100 and bar all those caught fiddling from standing at the next election and I may beleive you mean business.

Comment by Paul Manning on February 7, 2010 at 8:28 am

I have been really shocked in the past month or so with the depth to which the Labour Government have sunk : lies from Blair on WMD make all the MP’s expenses look like 1 inch high toy soldiers; financial bankruptcy when Labour has a £180billion deficit and that is in spiute of taking £60billion out of our private pension funds over the past 12 years, etc. What really shocks me is that there are people out there who will still vote Labour in spite of all this. Can you show us more about how you are tackling this? You only have 3 months maximum to persuade these people that you are more trutworthy than Labour are, and it might take a bit more than the softly softly trust me I’m David approach although that will appeal to some.

Comment by Trish on February 7, 2010 at 8:29 am

What about the golden handshakes these ‘innocent till proven guilty’ MPs will receive when they stand down in june? What is most reprehensible about these people is their blatant contempt for the law and for the people they were supposed to be serving. David, perhaps you ought to be more like Cromwell in his address to the Rump Parliament in 1653! we need to hear your message loud and clear.

Comment by Hobson Tarrant on February 7, 2010 at 8:40 am

I agree with the principles laid out but the failing in presentation on recent occasions has been to dither or fall back on certain issues. DC must set out his stall and stand by it regardless of potential vote losing issues. The country needs a leader it can trust and believe in rather than another vote chaser.

Comment by Kriss on February 7, 2010 at 9:13 am

Do mp’s who live within a certain distance from there work allowed a 2nd home allowance, if they do why not stick them all in one hotel and let them pay for it them selves, when they become an MP surely they know were there place of work is. How many people across the UK have to work in London and they have to pay for there own travel expenses, MP’s should be the same.At the end of the day politics today there only looking after what they can make out of it, if they were more for the people then this would never have come about.

Comment by Stewart melling on February 7, 2010 at 9:29 am

Your video and what you say make sense i hope you acheive your goal for all our sakes never in this lifetime did i ever believe i would want to see the conservatives in power again after Maggie ,yet i never believed that a Labour government could be so corrupt so i do wish you te best , but please beware of the potal vote .

Comment by Ian Walker on February 7, 2010 at 9:41 am

As a firm believer in Tory policy and values, I am of course waiting anxiously for the elections and a change of government. My fear is the deep-seated feelings among the younger generation and now increasingly more adults of “what’s the point”? They are not just disgusted with the expenses / flipping debacle but feel disenfanchised from the whole election process, when their single vote appears to count for nothing in a Labour / Tory stronghold. Zac Goldsmith talked the other day about local referenda (as in the Swiss system) to make local (even national) politics more relevant. We need this and something much more comprehensive / ambitious form Tory policy HQ if we want to avoid a further decline in the voting numbers and if we want to re-engage with the people.

Comment by G Farley on February 7, 2010 at 9:42 am

Excellent vidio which gives us much hope for the future I cannot understand why the poles are giving Labour 30% when we all know what a mess they have made of our country The unelected Mandelson is a very dangerous man and needs watching as he can do much harm

Comment by Greg on February 7, 2010 at 9:46 am

Unfortunately Politicians are all the same, they are ready to preach and tell us what they are going to do but try and get to meet and talk to one of these guys and they are always too busy.

I have sent countless emails to David Cameron and I still haven’t had the courtesy of a reply.

Comment by Mr Christopher C C R Palmer BA Hon’s Psy on February 7, 2010 at 10:10 am

It’s not only broken politics (MPs expenses and other miss deeds) that needs fixing but the financial system.
Those who caused the credit crunch should have been made to pay for it. The bankers responsible brought their companies into disrepute and they are making matters worse by paying themselves huge bonuses for what amounts to mismanagement.
I have yet to hear any political party propose an acceptable solution or even try.

Comment by Mr Christopher C C R Palmer BA Hon’s Psy on February 7, 2010 at 10:13 am

When are MPs going to do something positive about poverty in Briton?

Comment by Bill Bristow on February 7, 2010 at 10:33 am

David, I agree with your words and thoughts on your video. I have recently been asked to Join The English Democrats, who I think are very fine. I do not agree that Thatcher politics are needed again, I do think that you need to be stronger in the way you express your pride in being British and your genuine interest in people. Ours can be the greatest democracy. The Dictatorial Labour party have forgotten that and betrayed that. But it is not the party it is the people within the party. I am not a staunch conservative but then I do not think you are. I do not agree with all of your thinking, But I do believe you are the best man for the mammoth task ahead. AND THAT IS TO REBUILD OUR DEMOCRACY. I think the Eng Dems and all others have to get behind you for this election and then we start a new slate. The great strength you have is your ability to listen. I know once you are in The Eng Dems and other national parties with some obvious exceptions, will be able to fight their cause. For now we need to vote you in. We need to unite and rebuild after that.

Comment by Philip de LEON on February 7, 2010 at 10:58 am

Physician heal thyself is I believe said in a cynical way. For the public to trust polititians first they must be seen to be ‘one of us’. The days of pater familias are over. The rules for members should be publicly displayed, and the full majesty of the law must be used as politicians are meant to set an example. Lead by example? There’s a novelty. But for 21st Century management it is essential that politicians really do have the highest standards and not those of the gutter as are currently being displayed.

Comment by Keith Drury on February 7, 2010 at 11:27 am

David, I wish you well in the coming election, it cannot come quick enough, but the main problem for the voters is, who can you trust? it now looks like the four expenses musketeers are going back 320 years to find a reason for theft, with the apparent law,
these politicians are above the law, and to be honest with you, I can see them getting away with a slap on the wrists, another, Mrs Follett (Lab) a multi millionaire’s wife, apologised on TV over £42,458 mistake, £42k mistake, unbelievable, if they are millionaires, why fiddle the taxpayers, I’m a pensioner, worked all my life and paid my taxes over 45 years, my married mans state pension £123.24 per week, I have a small company pension, and I still pay tax, so how can we trust any MP of today, with, all but a few have made false expenses claims, some small, some large, some very large, when the unelected by the people Gordon Brown became the PM, he stood outside of No 10, and said, my government will be a different, yes he was right there, his next comment, I WILL LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE, he listens to no one, then we hear that Blair, Brown and Straw, secretly opened the borders, to make the UK a multicultural county, what rights had they got to completely change the face of our country, home of 61 million people, no one has any idea the kind of people that arrived, as well as honourable hard working , there are terrorists, murderers, criminals, crime lords, people traffickers, you name it, we have them, together with thousands of illegal immigrants, mostly all being housed and paid benefits, much more a week than pensioners who have worked all their lives, frankly David, somehow, if you become our next Prime Minister, we all know it won’t be easy, but you must be seen to try to put these things right, such as close all borders, return all illegal immigrants, get rid of people like Abu Hamza to the US, return all foreign criminals to there country of origin, and cancel the human rights act, the law abiding don’t need it, time to get tough as our Maggie was.

Comment by Jo Warr on February 7, 2010 at 11:29 am

Why do you have the SUBMIT button before the two words? I spent hours writing to you and it has vanished because I pressed submit before the words. Logically one reads down a page and follows instructions – well I do.

Comment by John H on February 7, 2010 at 11:37 am

In reality I have little opportunity to change the political system, my only chance is to make sure that I place my X in the right box on polling day. Not a difficult choice this year!
However on the subject of expenses, I cannot understand how my expenses as an employee of a large organisation was subject to taxation, to the point where I was harrased by HMRC after I retired to pay off some apparently outstanding tax. (Coincedently on the same day I wrote out my cheque to pay this “debt” off Gordon Brown wrote of a bill for a company of some £375million unpaid VAT sureley that would have been more usefull to the economy than my couple of thousand pounds). Taxation of expenses would sure focus the minds of our MP’s to ensure ther claims were both legal and justified.
Further when my wife retired, she had insufficient NI contributions to obtain her full pension rights, so she paid the £275 reqiured. Since then since that took her state pension and SERPS beyound the personel tax allowance she has paid mor than that in Tax, a bill she recieves at the endo of the finacial year. If she needs that level of income to live in the UK Why is she taxed?
I read somewhere that it would be better to develop ones career to eithe being unemployed or to become an MP, sadly I believe that this may just be true.

Comment by Jill Elson on February 7, 2010 at 11:57 am

The number of MP’s is excessive in the high tec age. MP’s are too involved with ‘westminster village’ need to be in their consitituencies. Make Euro MP’s accountable to parliamentary MP’s as mich of the business in Britain is ruled by Europe. Many laws need repealing as irrelevant and others need to have a joined up approach. eg. Local Government mandatory duties are a mess – out of line – with public perception for example public toilets do NOT have to be provided by councils but public expect them similarly with swimming polls and sports halls.

Comment by Steve Downey on February 7, 2010 at 12:00 pm

I always remember meeting a politician(now discredited) who said to me “you know I’m a v.i.p!” My reply was yes a Voted in Person!.

MPs seemed to have forgotten their accountability to the voting public

Comment by David H on February 7, 2010 at 12:06 pm

As a leader you appear to be a Blair clone. I am 66 years old and I along with several of my freinds have lost faith in you and the party.
Stop trying to be all things to all men and show some backbone. Britain is for the most part ready for some hard choices but cannot see any one party prepared to take up the challenge. We are no longer a World Player,accept this and start to look after No.1 ie Great Britain. Regards, David H

Comment by Richard on February 7, 2010 at 12:22 pm

Mr Cameron, why is the case? A significant number of comments within blogs have questioned our role within the EU, and have asked that you hold a referendum on the EU to give you the authority and electoral support to obtain a better deal for this country. If you and your team ignore what they electorate are calling for, YOU WILL NOT WIN. “One insider at Tory HQ moaned: “We should be way further ahead in the polls. No one knows what’s gone wrong.” And there was another headache for Mr Cameron last night when bookies slashed the odds on an outright Tory victory”. Then it’s highly unlikely that you’ll remain the party leader. Is this what you want? It’s not what we want to see.

Comment by ruth hall on February 7, 2010 at 12:35 pm

Get this awful labour government out now.Stay strong David,must feel like running uphill sometimes,but i truly feel that this labour gov is running on bluff and arrogance and STUPIDITY.Noone is taken in by them,i am backing you all the way,have just joined local conservative group,bring on election day!!!!

Comment by Anthony Stockley on February 7, 2010 at 12:38 pm

Whilst I totally agree that a new parliament will be a great chance for politcis to gain respect again, I am concerne. The electorate will respond to it I am sure.d that a Conservative government would do too much consulting. Consult then lead. Strong leadership is essential to bring us out of the mess we are in

Comment by Edgar Stavers on February 7, 2010 at 12:41 pm

I am sick to my stomach of listening to politicians making statements which they hope will endear them to the voting public. You should all realise that actions speak louder than words and your collective actions regarding expenses, immigration and the lisbon treaty leave you all tainted. I, for one, will never forget, or forgive, labour and the conservatives for breaking promises (and the hearts) of the voting public by renaging on our need for a national vote on the entry (or not) to Europe . I also take exception to the fact that the political class have arranged a half hearted attempt at sorting out expenses – can I ask why none of the ‘flipping’ MP’s have been forced to repay their ill gotten gains and, at the very least, taxation on gains. Could it be that too many senior party MP,s would be caught up? My country has been destroyed by you lot and I will never forgive you. After voting for the conservatives for most of my working life, I am now retired, my vote will probably be for UKIP. My ideal scenario for the future of politicians would be to force then to give up there seats after a maximum of ten years and not to be allowed to stand for another seat until such time as a period of five years had elapsed.

Comment by Ray Cope on February 7, 2010 at 12:45 pm

I am not too happy with my MP (A Burt) at the moment.For some reason he does not want to help with a local problem. In the past he was helpful. We need a way of monitoring the performance of MPs to keep them on their toes.

Comment by Carole Ovenden on February 7, 2010 at 1:03 pm

I fully agree with Grant’s cooment about Maggie and Thatcher policies. Mr Osborne would probably come across with more conviction is you stop shilly shallying around. I have been behind you all the way until the last weeks – Apathy is the new party and could take the majority of votes leaving us with a “hung parliament”. PLEASE PLEASE get out there and tell it to us as it really is and what you will definitely do if you get into No. 10. The EU question needs to be addressed more forcibly as well.

Regards
Carole Ovenden
(an avid Daily Mail and Sunday Telegraph reader)

Comment by mark walsh on February 7, 2010 at 1:04 pm

good but needs to go further exposing labours true
selfishness and dishonesty

Comment by Jo Warr on February 7, 2010 at 1:22 pm

I am currently in Tenerife getting the news through the BBC and newspapers. The impression I have is that David Cameron is still trying to please all the people all the time which creates an impression of vacillation.

We need a strong leader with a vision which needs to be conveyed to us in very simple terms.

A very good example is Fabio Capello, a man with known standards, who will not bend these and is prepared to act decisively and immediately.

Please David state your values (some you have) and be prepared to stick with them and defend them. All we want is honest, strong leadership.

Comment by Mike Baker on February 7, 2010 at 1:25 pm

3 MPs charged with criminal acts start their defence by claiming they are above the law. MPs who gained tens of thousands of pounds by flipping their 2nd home, some up to 4 times and no action taken against them. You expect us to vote for existing MPs at the next Election!!! The problem with broken Btitain can only be addressed AFTER the Commons have been cleansed. You all make me ashamed to be British. This is the conduct of a Banana Republic and you have not done enough to sort your own MPs out.

Comment by Ray Cope on February 7, 2010 at 1:40 pm

Perhaps MPs should be set standards to reply
to correspondece within x number of days. I liked John Majors citizens charter.

Comment by Peter Merricks on February 7, 2010 at 1:42 pm

Amend my line to:

“5600 people didn’t want to vote for candidate A.”

Comment by Kenneth W Brown on February 7, 2010 at 1:47 pm

Be ruthless and let the electorate know you would be ruthless.We have had years of mealy mouthed polotics. For gods sake throw away the T Blair style,we yearn for PLAIN speaking,we CAN take it. Gordon Brown the man that took away your pensions, who sold off the gold,who squandered billions.
Tony Blair, say it HE LIED. Prescott,Hoon all the shower who have turned our country into the country that the rest of the world sneers at.
ASK the people if they want more of that?
TELL THEM THAT YOU ARE and WILL BE
BETTER THAN THAT…

Comment by Stancombe Smith on February 7, 2010 at 1:57 pm

Paying 21.6 Billion to the E U ? stop it we need it more than they do

Comment by Stancombe Smith on February 7, 2010 at 2:01 pm

why don’t you clarify your position on Europe, could be the difference of thouysands of votes

Comment by dorita sampedro on February 7, 2010 at 2:09 pm

dear mr cameron as a person who has worked and brought up 4 children now a pensioner I have seen many changes in my life but the most worrying to me and many others in this country is immigrants before you think me a racist I should tell you that I was married to a Jamaican for 21 years and had four children this is a bigger worry to the people than mp getting money for their duck ponds

Comment by Jacky on February 7, 2010 at 2:11 pm

Regarding the Bromsgrove candidate, why was the local candidate, Emma Moffett, not even considered. I live in a neighbouring Conservative constituency & believe this to be a snub to the local people & is arrogant in the extreme.
Would like answers please…………

Comment by Geoffrey Bastin on February 7, 2010 at 2:15 pm

I don’t understand why politicians get involved in so many subjects. I long for the day when a prime minister says he has no opinion or is not concerned about a certain subject, rather than carry on as now expecting to be an expert on every subject under the sun.
This should be applied to education or more accurately the business of running schools. I notice that we do not ask our political represenatives about architecture, soldering, manning an aircraft carrier, flying a plane but we expect them to interfer in the education of our children. Rightly the government must set a budget for education and provide a framework for what should be taught but not interfer in how teaching is done, classromm disciplin or the like. It all comes done to confidence and that is what our teachers lack. They shpuld have taken the lead long ago instead of abdicating their responsibilities and allowing political medling.
And whilst I’m at it please can PMQ’s be conducted at a quiter level. It comes across every week as a shouting match. Too much time is spent looking at the speaker and pointing across the floor. I was not impressed with last weeks performance and it didn’t seem to prove anything other than a sence of hatred. It’s a turn-off and contributes little to political debate.

Comment by helen ann booth on February 7, 2010 at 2:34 pm

As usual we hear about M.P.’S lining their own pocket’s and trying to excuse themselves once caught out, now those who are being prosecuted are going to try and claim the privilage of the House, that is one thing that need’s scrapping all together, all M.P.’ of whatever party should be answerable to the Law of this Country and not get away with committing a crime like Blair when he lied by taking us into the illegal War in Iraq, however as regards to a decent pension when we the pensioners of this once great country who have worked very hard all our lives ask for a decent pension there is no party interested, £120 per week to live on for the rest of our lives it is appaling, I asked Bruce Laughton the prospective M.P. for Gedling what he was going to do for us, why I bothered I do not know as he ignored the question all together as do the other three main parties. When we asked as promised by Brown and Blair for a Referendonm on this corrupt Europe we were lied too, politicians I am afraid can no longer be trusted to tell us the truth, they twist thing’s round and give us distorted answer’s, if however Cameron is really serious about listening to us the people of this country and not obeying his master’s in Europe then give the people the chance to vote whether they want to be in or out of this communist state once and for all, if the vote is out of Europe then he can use the huge sum’s of money which disappear every year on year to pay off the National debt and help those who need it in this country instead of borrowing constantly as Brown has done for the past 13 years when we cannot afford it as our manufacturing base collapses around our ear’s, he has put us in so much debt I do not think I will live long enough to see this once Great country out of it ever again, I for one feel sorry for the young people of this country because once they leave school what is left for them to do as regards working for a living, maybe Mac Donald’s, what a future these three main parties have brought this country too.

Comment by anna on February 7, 2010 at 3:10 pm

I think we should have as many open debates as we possibly can on the country issues:

1) Immigration policies
2) NHS & how be effective & efficient without too much wastes or to cut corner.
3) Education – how to give the next generation the choice on how they choose their futures to benefits the country of course!
4) Family Values – how the Govt. could come up with incentive schemes to to keep the family together as 3 generations for example.

Comment by Michael Ryan on February 7, 2010 at 3:26 pm

Accounability
Someitime our Prime Minister and his team have got to address the really serious long term issues – when will we hear about them from our candidate for the job?

Public Private Sector Balance
What is he best balance between private and public sector activity, employment etc? I guess that most people who think about this realise that far too much is being done and controlled by the State. When is the Prime Minister going to tell the nation what the ratio between provate sector and public sector spending should be and how does the government intend to get there?

Defence
the Government’s first priority is Defence of the |Realm, that puts it above everything else including the NHS. Not only should Defence be top of the ring fenced funds but the attention of the best brains should be on the case.Clearly the MOD (Treasury Civil Service Stranglehold) has to be changed and the whole structure reviewed. The crackpot ideas flying about at the moment of a single defence force need to be stamped on straight away (history explains why) but a restructing e.g. into two main services should at least be examined. Boots on the ground has always been the final arbiter. So why don’t we have an expert (our best Army General) as the military head of Defence? What on earth is the point of putting and keeping and ancient “jet jockey” there?

But above all the Culture of Britain (the way we do things round here) that took a wrong turning and started to go astray after 1945 has to be addressed. That is not to say chnages were not needed. For example we do need a Health Service, but if the founders knew what we now know about health, technology etc they would probably have done it differently. So why not take radical look at it and make it very much more efficent and effective?

Clearly the whole relationship with the rest of the EU has to be tackled. Its purpose is misunderstood both here and in Brussels. What a missed opportunity it is turning out to be.

I can go on. My complaint is that the really important issues are not out in the open. We will rant on about MP’s expenses for a while – that will be forgotten in time. The really important issues about Britain will still need major surgery.

Comment by brulaw on February 7, 2010 at 4:16 pm

WHEN will Cameron and his shadow government start talking about thir policies and START attacking Brown and company – there are 13 years of open goals on health,education,immigration, the prisons, crime, the economy… how many more do you want. You are sleepwalking into a New Labour victory at the General Election. SHOW LEADERSHIP CAMERON !

Comment by Ken Smith on February 7, 2010 at 4:33 pm

David,

Your words are good but nowhere near enough. There are far greater things that need doing for this Country of ours than to keep rolling MPs expenses. Also, if MP’s were paid more, they probably would have no need to fiddle. I wonder how many business men, from sucessful companies, would give up their work to become an MP for far less than 100k per annum.
Set your stall out, have backbone, tell it as it is and stop trying to please all the people all of the time. Yes, you may lose some minority votes, but you’ll gain the country. If you don’t, there’s a chance you won’t even be leader after the election.
I really hope you and the conservatives win, outrighjt, the election but you are going to have to get a lot tougher, be more outspoken, upset a few do gooders and make us truly believe you, to do it.
I wish you well and hope beyond hope you have the courage to do it. Goodness knows what will happen if we get another dose of Gordon and Mandy or a Conservative Party that isn’t as bold as it ought to be.
We want our Country back!

Comment by Val Duncan on February 7, 2010 at 5:14 pm

A Public Prosecutor is to be installed by the EU in all EU countries (States) to override all those countries rules and justice with the European Corpus Juris.

…. like a Chief of Police, who drives investigations forward, with the powers of a judge (for they are all members of a career judiciary). They wear judicial robes but they carry out a police function – in point of fact the uniformed police execute their commands and do their legwork for them. They have frightening powers and take the initiative in ordering house searches (the dreaded knock on the door in the small hours of the morning); the arrest of suspects; the interrogation of suspects; the imprisonment of suspects (potentially for months at a time, with no public hearing) etc…. will have extensive powers and will not be accountable to the UK parliament…

This must be taken up by press and media and the people informed of the ramifications. This is dictatorship at its worse and the government or next government should be forced to deny the EU these powers. Damn it, David haven’t we been sold out enough?

Comment by norma holland on February 7, 2010 at 5:16 pm

David, you seem to have gone off the boil. I agree you have to be passionate, as you always used to be and inspire people again otherwise we will lose. Gordon Brown now has Mandelson and Campbell to help him and it seems to be paying off. Do it soon before it is too late.

Comment by Ann Woodward on February 7, 2010 at 5:29 pm

I have just read that the government are going to debate Tony Wright’s reforms on 22nd February so I hope you have got your facts right because you say in your webcast that these proposals have been blocked. You can’t afford another gaffe.
I really think your pre-election strategy has been amateurish and you have let Brown & Co back in the game. Everytime I hear your shadow ministers on the tv/radio they seem so wet and they let the interviewer talk over and interrupt. I just wish you would all be more aggressive and look like you really wan to win this election. You are never going to get the better of Labour’s dirty tricks but you really do need to get your act together.

Comment by Mearcat on February 7, 2010 at 5:34 pm

Most of the people I know are of the following view. They are worried that they will be out of work after the election and more of them will be out of work if the Tories win.

Let Labour discredit itself, go where they cannot go and develope policies that allow as many people as possible to keep their jobs. Doc all public sector salaries over a 200K by 15%, those over £100K and MP’s pay by 10%, public secotor pay above £50 K by 5% and the rest no rise which which will in effect bethe same as a reduction of about 2%. Many people in the private secotor have had to go down this road.
Also introduce differential interest rates for banks who borrow public money – those who fail to follow the public sector pay example charged betwee 0.5% & 5% more interest depending on how much they pay those earning over 50K

People are just fed up with the feeling of being exploited. They are also fed up with the weak, wet bla bla bla of the endless spin and protecting people who should not be protected. They want to keep their jobs and they do not see why those who get paid the most should not contribute to the public good.

Simple stupid

Comment by john rakowski on February 7, 2010 at 6:03 pm

David , I look forward to hearing your full proposals on fixing politics, the electorate have been treated as an inconvenience by politicians for far too long.
I like the sound of Chris Kelly, he seems to understand the problems of low paid single workers. Good Luck.
John Rakowski

Comment by Bob Etherington on February 7, 2010 at 6:04 pm

David, I will be voting for you but you must up your game again to bring the majority of the British public with you. You are starting to lack presence. The impression I’m getting is that of the nice boy in the playground. You must start to look like a charismatic street fighter. We need a Churchill or Thatcher feel about you. It just isn’t there at the moment.

Comment by Arnold Whittle on February 7, 2010 at 6:28 pm

Dear David, I no that politics are broken in this country I have been aware of that for many years,this fiasco has to come to an end and all of the rotten MP’s must go, this has to happen because Government is tainted and the people do not trust any mainstream politicians and Government people have no confidence in there poitician’s those people were elected to represent there interests. The people can be very mobile when they are cheated and the vote of no confidence is plain to see, the British people will vote for those who serve them, they have been neglected while others have been pampered, look to the true British people if you want to win this election if not you will be a weak Government and you will fail. I believe that you are the last chance for mainstream Government lose and the Country will go to a minority party, close to 1 Million voted for the BNP in the Euro election and they are strong and could gain more votes in the General election, I have done a survey and most people are affraid of were the Country is going on immigration, almost 100% of people in my survey they want big changes on this subject. this is were the votes rest I think, miss that chance and you are lost, If you need my help just ask.

Comment by Fred Knight on February 7, 2010 at 6:48 pm

Dear Mr Cameron, Pickles, et al.

Please please please don’t lose focus. This dreadful shambles of a labour government which has repeated history yet again, in that labour governments almost always bring the nation close to bankruptcy is on its last legs.

Edwina Currie’s letter to the times last week should illustrate one way in which you can look to make sensible savings on the vast waste (> £0.5bn/year) on the insane levels of government advertising, which surely is little more than propaganda for this lame duck administration to desperately show that they have done *something* in their last 13 years in power. This is one facet only – there are so many more where you could devastate the blustering and moronic defences put by Mr Brown and his lackeys. Please don’t fail us, many put their trust in Blair back in 1997, (I was an exception and was not taken in) and feel so badly betrayed. Find a way of engaging with these people, for all our sakes.

Comment by roger plastow on February 7, 2010 at 6:59 pm

I am less concerned with MP’s naval gazing and more interested in your policies to rescue the economy. I will support a party that speaks out forcefully about how it will reduce the size and cost of the bloated public sector and how it will assist the private sector to have confidence to grow again. It is through increased busines activity and success that our country will claw its way out of the present mess. So tell me something that is constructive and dynamic so that I can believe in you.

Comment by Steve Willis on February 7, 2010 at 7:23 pm

Some suggestions:

1. No 2nd homes allowance; an M.P. must live in the constituency they represent.
2. All expense claims supported by receipts.
3. Standard class travel warrants for an M.P. Having seen a Conservative M.P. taking up 2 seats in an overcrowded 1st class carriage was annoying. (The Labour M.P. sitting behind him was doing the same.)
4. Reimbursement of expenses only for bed & breakfast or up to 3 star hotels only.
5. Any M.P. who’s repaid expenses, voluntarily or involuntarily, to be barred from Public Office. (Politics needs a total clear out because all parties are now tainted.)
6. No 2nd jobs for sitting M.P’s.

Comment by John Zeal on February 7, 2010 at 7:33 pm

I have no sympathy whatsoever with those MP’s and one Lord who have “helped themselves” from the Public Purse – if found guilty they deserve to be convicted for theft as I would expect to be myself in their situation. When will MP’s understand they are “public servants” and have been elected to serve the Great British Public with integrity and enthusiasm – I share the real anger of many others in this disgraceful matter.

Comment by Ian Pennell on February 7, 2010 at 7:48 pm

Dear David Cameron

The cause of the recent Conservative slips in the Polls are the economy and our position over Europe. But the possibility of the spectre of “Tory Sleaze” returning to haunt the Conservatives is, perhaps the third big issue. For example, Lord Ashcroft should be required to declare publicly what his status is, if he is non-domicile he must either register to be resident in Britain, or stop funding the Conservative Party. Such a stance will do more to restore the image of the Conservatives following the Expenses Scandal.

The most important issue, Sir is the economy. You have got to make sure you win against Gordon Brown at every PMQs between now and the election. There must be no more slip-ups on the economy.

It is also imperative that you get the Taxpayers Alliance on board. The independent TPA wrote a book called “The Bumper Book of Government Waste” recently, in which they identfied £100 billion of Government spending that does not go directly towards frontline Public Services, but quangos, red tape and bureaucracy. We must USE IT to plug the £35 billion funding gap supposedly discovered in our policies by Labour. We need at this time to get our defences WATERTIGHT!

We must use the remaining £65 billion to partly pay down the deficit and also to provide a 5 pence cut in Income Tax for all taxpayers in Britain. We need some RED MEAT, a real attractive narrative that is uniquely Conservative, so that millions really WANT to vote for us. We need to get off the fence, to stop worrying about the million or so quangocrats who wont vote for us if they lose their jobs and think of tens of millions of ordinary taxpayers who have been increasingly oppressed by Labour over the last 12 years.

Time is running out Sir. Cowardice over cuts will not win us the election, it will allow Labour to suggest to the electorate how we would fund our policies and reduce the deficit. They have indeed already started on such a campaign by suggesting (I saw the clip) that everyone on over £15,000 a year will no longer get tax credits!!

We have about a month to get our act together, and to really start hitting back at Labour exposing THEIR flaws, whilst making sure they CAN’T get US!!

Lets win this election, do not leave Labour a foothold over us. They don’t deserve it!!

Best Regards

Ian Pennell

Comment by Jean Annette on February 7, 2010 at 8:32 pm

Thank you David for this inspiring message.
Labour have been busy spinning this weekend which resulted in a tearful G Brown.
I cannot believe a word that comes from their lips. Be of good spirits Team Cameron, Labour will spin out of existance very soon.

Comment by Mick Pawlak on February 7, 2010 at 9:40 pm

When you, Mr Cameron, and your Chancellor, as the senior politicians of your party, stop taking our money to pay for your mortgage interest, then I may believe you are serious about MPs earning respect again.

Comment by leonora wollner on February 7, 2010 at 11:00 pm

Evening! Please please please don’t go down the interview route with Piers Morgan. We know you are a decent human being – you don’t have to cry on TV to make us realise that you understand us. Please rise above the ACampbell way of politic PR. Please tell the country (again) that you’ll keep your powder dry unti the election is announced as then the ideas won’t be taken by Labour and the Lib dems: that you won’t become a wannabe celeb – who’ill do anything for the female vote. Please work even harder to let your integrity shine through. Please make sure your MP’s are on message and make sure that all the ducks are in a row – THEN this country will be proud again and not lost as we are now. Any slip will be jumped upon and may even mean a hung parliament ….

Comment by Peter Gordon on February 7, 2010 at 11:24 pm

New Labour are going to:
1. carry out a review on NHS parking charges.
2. carry out Constitutional reform.
3. Ed Balls experienced great trauma over his stammer, whn young.
4. G Brown emotes over his deceased child.
5. Jack Straw supports the idea that the police are lazy.
6. The Home Secretary is going to do a little something to deal with illegal student immigration.
7. Ms Harperson for the moment gives up her attacks on religion [via her Equality bill].

Could this be anything to do with an impending election? Can they be trusted to follow through?

Comment by Vicky on February 7, 2010 at 11:49 pm

I agree that is certainly an objective to ‘fix broken politics’ i.e. the expenses scandal, but I’m not sure that there is a definate way to do this, as Cameron suggests. The idea about select committees is certainly a good idea in the way of reforming the political system altogether, but it doesn’t directly address the issue in question. I’m also uncertain as to what the definition of ‘less whipping’ and to what extent this can be achieved, as in the end political parties work by whips and no party I am certain can be eager to change this.

Also, immediately rebuffing Labour’s plans for a new electoral system seems rather hasty – reform of our system is always a good option to be thinking about and as I have aforementioned there is no definitive solution to the so-called ‘broken politics’, it all comes down to parliament being seen as a career ladder and no legislation can change this. I think Cameron should push ahead with the select committe idea, perhaps raising it to the PM in prime ministers questions on wednesday and that the parties should all WORK TOGETHER to solve the issues of the expenses in politics instead of competing among each other like squabbling children. In the end, politics should not be a competition, it should be about the best way of improving things i.e. cooperation.

Comment by Trevor Mitchell on February 8, 2010 at 8:26 am

I have been a tory voter all of my life, and I have to admit to not having a very high opinion of our politicians of any party, but the expenses scandal has made me feel ashamed of being british. The sort of behaviour we have seen from our politicians since the scandal broke has been on the par of a third world country. How dare we pontificate against other nations and there leaders when we are as bad as some of them.
Our servicemen are loosing there lives fighting for this country which is quite frankly morally corrupt.
Thank goodness I am at the end of my life because I fear for this country and the future youth.
Finally if David Cameron is going to make a difference he needs to be more like William Haig and less like Tony Blair.

Comment by Richard Waddington on February 8, 2010 at 8:29 am

BROWN, CAMERON, CLEGG. All of you with your worthless promises. I have Conservative for the last 40 years, and not missed a local or General Election.
YOU can be damn sure I wont be missing the next. ..and be warned there are tens of thousands like me out here.
Nothing short of treason. The theiving that has gone on has been ignored and unpunished, but that is nothing to the promises you gave and broke on a vote on Europe.
TRAITORS

Comment by Ray Cope on February 8, 2010 at 9:54 am

I agree that the number of MPs should be reduced. MPs should have a proper job spec like other people. We would then know what to expect from them. My MP A Burt has refused to help with a local matter but I do not know if I have a right to demand he gets involved. It should not be at the whim of individual MPs to decide what they do and what they refuse to do. Time for a big shake up.

Comment by Dr Gautam Sen on February 8, 2010 at 10:23 am

Having taught courses on international political economy and supervised doctoral dissertations on European monetary union I am aware that the benefits of the EU derive mainly from the free movement of goods and services. You don’t need the movement of labour to achieve the potential economic benefits, as the economist Paul Samuelson demonstrated a very long time ago. The benefits of harmonisation, etc. are small and only serve to justify an expensive bureaucracy while subverting alleged national quirks that define national culture. But the Tories are unable to resist the EU juggernaut and also seem content to inflict its spiralling cost on the hapless British taxpayer.
And its policies in most areas seems to be to dither and issue half-baked proposals like subsidised granny flats (it could be achieved much more simply and result in many, many social benefits). I am also astonished that they have said nothing about the disgraceful tax on Middle England’s assets that the new 18% CGT actually amounts to since inflationary gains will be taxed (the earlier 40% rate was high, but not a typical Brown con trick). The Tories seem to have quite forgotten that the big surge in their popularity was entirely due to the now abandoned promised on IHT. Public spending will have to be cut, as everyone has figured out by now, but the Tories seem to be paralysed by the fear of being associated with this unavoidable necessity. They cannot grasp the blindingly obvious fact that Middle England is more than happy to pay higher taxes if they didn’t also have to spend privately on health and education. The latter commitments far exceed any threatened tax rises. Reform of schooling and health care should be the priority and the Tory commitment should be towards users rather than providers, as in the case of Labour, and that should be made resoundingly clear.
I say nothing about UK banking since they own UK PLC and its pointless to labour the issue of their grotesque venality. Any British parliament will quietly swallow the camel of the highway robbery they have undertaken and continue to do so by enlarging spreads in every transaction while dumping toxic assets on the taxpayer (many guaranteed at face value!!!!).

Comment by Graham on February 8, 2010 at 11:09 am

First, reduce the concentration of power in too few hands.

Secondly, engage with the people using all channels of communication, HEAR what they say and ACT on it.

Thirdly, get rid of the sofa!

Comment by Paul Toleman on February 8, 2010 at 11:11 am

I must say I am not too bothered about the expenses scandall as it does not effect me personally. Expenses have been fiddled since time began and not just in the public sector. I think the responsibility lies with those who allowed it. Naturally there are those who overstepped the mark and they should be dealt with accordingly. I don’t think therefore that the baby should be thrown out with the bathwater and we end up with squeaky clean MPs who haven’t got a clue.What I am concerned about is the huge amount of tax payers money which is being wasted by this government in order to establish block votes in the public sector, the benefit culture and immigration. I think its about time we pointed out that those in the private sector should fight back by voting conservative otherwise we may never see economic prosperity again.

Comment by Jonathan Main on February 8, 2010 at 11:28 am

I really wish at least one of the three parties could demonstrate leadership on this issue. I hardly think it’s credible that the electorate feels your party can claim any sort of moral high ground on this issue, merely because you happen to have less parliamentarians caught up in the latest twist on this saga. All parties appear equally to blame and do you think we really care about the fact that some are going to be prosecuted? We have rather more pressing matters to debate than this. Please could you show us that you actually have something significant to say, on something that will actually make a difference to the care and management of our country.

Comment by Paul Leslie on February 8, 2010 at 11:39 am

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to put forward my opinions for reform of Parliament. We are very proud of our Parliament in Scotland and it is working well could do better if there were more powers including fiscal autonomy. Its now time I think for England to have her own English Parliament and the other countries coming together under a Federal UK. This would make for a more equal partnership and would I believe strengthen the country. We need radical reform and there is no good tinkering round the edges. So much work has to be done with Law and Order, Reducing immigration, reducing the dependency culture, reducing the public sector, making sense of Europe and human rights as well as sorting out the economy in this bankrupt country. We need a Government that is bold and imaginative look forward to what you have to say in Perth on Friday David. You are our hope for the future.

Comment by Hugo on February 8, 2010 at 12:04 pm

I fear that the latest MPs to be caught with red handed with their greedy paws in the money pot will escape with a meaningless and ineffective ‘slap on the wrist’ and a tasty resettlement payment (more of a pay-off it eill seem), rather that facing up without cowardly quibble to the charges facing them and being found guilty for something truly criminal.

Comment by Mark on February 8, 2010 at 12:09 pm

Fiddling with the voting system is no way to mend the “broken politics” in this country. The only way to restore trust in politicians is by them behaving better – answer questions, with honesty and behave with integrity and responsibility and set an example!

Comment by Lesley Joines on February 8, 2010 at 12:21 pm

I just wanted to take this opportunity to try to pass on a message about all the UK expats who have lived abroad for over 15 years. We are deprived of our right to vote, so our main concern is how to obtain our fundemental rights from the new Parliament. Many politicians have had similar problems in other European Country’s, so the problem of corruption is not just confined to UK MP’s. Many of us are fighting to be put back on the Electoral Roll or to obtain the right to vote in our country of residence as EU citizens. I would greatly appreciate your views on this subject as inspite of being a British Citizen I am very involved in French politics. I am participating in the campaign for the Regional Elections in France but without my right to vote. I have been in touch with my old constituency in the Uk and absolutely no reply. Many of us would vote Conservative but we have no knowledge of your position on this subject.
Thank you for your reply, as we can still incite UK expats who are not hit by the 15 year barrier to ask for a postal vote.
lesley.joines@yahoo.fr

Comment by laurie whatley on February 8, 2010 at 1:05 pm

The electorate has changed over the years. Sadly we now live in an Eastsendercorronationstjordan bespattered world. There is a need for ONE CLEAR message. “Brown and his gang have and will DESTROY the country” GET THEM OUT !

Comment by JOAN BADCOCK on February 8, 2010 at 1:44 pm

Dear Mr, Cameron,
Please do not stoop to the level of the Labour Party by turning this into an election about personalities rather than politics. Let labour show themselves to be petty and childish

Comment by Chris D on February 8, 2010 at 3:55 pm

I do not believe that any of the main Conservative politicians are reading this blog. If they were, they would realise what the Conservative voters are worried about. The party still does not have enough bite. I suspect that possibly, they are hoping to get a hung parliament? instead of winning; after all, looking at the mess the country is in, who in their right mind would want to inherit the PM’s post? On the other hand, we can’t survive another term with Gordon at the wheel. All I see is back-tracking on one matter after another; it isn’t what I expect from a Conservative party. There is something very wrong here.

Comment by Steve F on February 8, 2010 at 8:07 pm

We here so much about politicians and what good things they do.But the average working person has always known they tell you what you whant to here to get the vote`s.
Lliving in Stoke-on-Trent which has been hit hard by recessesion and before that the decline of all industry.When job`s are scarce and over sea`s worker`s take alot of the jobs when is this going to be addressed.

Comment by John Day on February 8, 2010 at 8:22 pm

I dearly want to see the back of this increasing secretive and incompetent gov’t but I’m concerned that the electorate at large are not seeing enough of what Conservatives stand for eg.

Cutting waste gov’t depts and NHS

Getting drunks to pay for hospital treatment good idea. In addition stop NHS giving gastric band and cosmetic surgery for free

Reverse Gordon Brown’s change in tax treatment of pension funds

Encourage an economy based upon manufacturing and enterprise

Give powers back to teachers and stop trying send every kid to university and focus on apprenticeships

Get rid of Human rights act and address imbalances in Justice System giving rights and soft sentences to criminals

Reverse 24 hr drinking laws and discourage Gambling. This was Labour’s Culture Secretary’s idea to encourage Gambling and betting. Well if betting and gaming is considered culture then we’re all in trouble.

Comment by Tom Brown on February 8, 2010 at 9:27 pm

This is yesterdays news, nobody cares!
Today the 50% tax rate is driving entrepreneurs out of the UK and at the same time raising not one penny in extra tax revenue.
These idiots have admitted to blowing £5bn on a silly ID card that no one wants. The London School of Economics estimates it will cost between £10bn and £20bn to complete.
Wake up Mr Cameron go for broke and tell it how it is – stick up for Tory values and you will romp home. Stick to theTony Blair 2 routine and you will surely fail.

Comment by ian miller on February 8, 2010 at 9:27 pm

Stop right there ! We need to fix the Fiscal Deficit.
What about the EU and the promised LISBON TREATY ratification which should not have been ratified by un-elected Gordon Brown.
We need to pay our way instead of haemorrhaging money to the EU !!
If this matter is not faced with all its’ implications, even the very stones will cry out !!

Comment by Neville Everett on February 8, 2010 at 9:58 pm

There is a consensus of opinion that MP’s should be paid a sensible salary which would reduce the temptation to wander off the straight and narrow. Its a sorry state of affairs when Council employees can earn more than $100K. MP’s should be paid a basic salary in the region £100K with a detailed list of what they can claim for expenses. Is there any logical reason why the tax payer cannot fund the purchase of blocks of apartments close to parliament as this would solve the problem of second homes and safe millions over time and the cost of the apartments would be self financing by the savings made on second morgages etc, etc

Comment by FaustiesBlog on February 9, 2010 at 12:00 am

Cameron’s speech today was excellent. It addressed many of the main issues of most concern today – the power of recall, localism, special interests and erosion of the democratic process.

It did not address the burgeoning surveillance/database state, nor the threat to Internet freedom posed by the secret ACTA treaty, nor the dimunition of our armed forces in favour of EU militarisation, nor other power grabs by the EU.

I realise that not everything can be encapsulated in a speech, there is so much wrong with Britain today, that it is important that people feel comfortable that all of the past 13 years of the degradation of life and liberty in the UK will be reversed.

Comment by Mike Collier on February 9, 2010 at 8:04 am

Free us from the shackles of this over-bearing Labour government that seems to have herded the British public in to an almost comatose state where they can’t even think for themselves anymore!
Strong leadership, but not micro-control is what’s needed. Make people decide what they want, not rely on Labour telling them.
I know you will be hesitant to release details, so Labour can’t steal them, but the British people have a short concentration span and the media makes them expect instant answers.

Comment by penny on February 9, 2010 at 10:07 am

I do so wish Conservatives would STOP saying we are all living in a broken society – we are not children nor are we all the same – we take pride in our lives and families whatever our income and would prefer a bit of praise for our success in the current climate

Comment by John Senior on February 9, 2010 at 10:13 am

You stil have a huge amount of work to do to convince a large proportion of disinterested voters who still think Labour can do a better job.
They still do not seem to have grasped the fact that although Labour has pumped huge amounts of our taxes into NHS, schools etc. much of that funding is totally wasted through inefficiency & propping up so called “Managers”. Many of these are not fit for purpose & in the private sector would not last beyong their trial period.
Who for instance was responsible for all the promotions etc bestowed upon the latest Police officer to be jailed. Surely someone there was not fit for purposed & obviously got it totally wrong.

Comment by Tom Pearson on February 9, 2010 at 2:40 pm

When are ou going to deal with the house flipping issue and the evasion of capital gains tax? ( like your Shadow Justice Spokesperson, Chancellor and countless other MPs) We voters would have been jailed for less!!

Comment by Ian on February 9, 2010 at 7:47 pm

We can talk about the sleaze, the scamming, the lying and thieving MP’s that we have in this country, but hell this has gone on ever since the 1st parliament was set up! Politicians are like nappies, they need changing frequently for the same reasons…..Mark Twain! There was only one honest man in the Houses of Parliament, but he was executed… Guy Folkes!
We need a leader, a government that will make a clear and irrevocable statement on Europe and what this means for Great Britain. Where we are going, where we are heading and what it means for the people of this country! What it means to be British!
What we have right now is a scenario where a new aristocracy, the Eurocrats, are making the important decisions which they think the little people of the nations of Europe are too stupid to be allowed to make. The EU is set on measures which reduce democracy. Maybe they are Plato’s philosopher kings, the benign dictators who will make the best possible decisions in our interests. Or maybe they are a lot of flawed human beings variously intentioned, or on the make, drunk with power, just drunk or perhaps not up to the job.

The present Eurozone crisis is one of history’s most predictable crises – and effectively illustrates that they are not up to the job. Currency union without political union has never worked. My view is that the self-destruction of the Euro is now not a matter of possibility but rather of inevitability. Economically this is a catastrophe; in terms of power and influence, Europe will decline. Will the fallout be better for France and Germany at the heart of the Euro and perhaps able to manage the crash, or the UK unable to control European matters and battered by the forthcoming storm?

Our newspapers are muted on the present crisis. No-one wants to talk down a country or a currency, but the pressure is building. Chinese (and others) are giving advice on how to make money out of the Euro crisis. Small investors and the big boys alike are already doing this, with a lot of speculative money chasing after a fast buck. The vultures are circling. One scenario is an order of execution, probably Greece, Portugal, Italy, Spain, Ireland, (PIIGS) and then Austria, Belgium. another scenario is that France + Germany + Benelux launch a new currency (which solves the problems of being unable to expel countries from the Euro). Another is a massive decline in the value of the Euro plus subsidies to Club Med which would cripple France and Germany.
Then there are the very real UK problems, and always the threat of some unanticipated disaster which right now the markets have no slack to support. Europe is stuffed – both the Euro and the EU. The world is looking at a double dip recession or a great depression. We’re not coming out of a global recession; we’re on the precipice of something bigger and deeper. If the Euro devalues how is that going to affect the pound? Will this destabilise our economy?
We were promised a referendum on the EU constitution; we have given powers to Brussels, the British people have been betrayed by this government. Why?
The Act of Union has functioned for 300+ years. It worked, safeguarded the Scottish legal system and the Church of Scotland, and is now a framework within which the devolved parliament works. If during the last 300 years – or at any time in the future – there is a settled majority in Scotland for independence then Scotland will become an independent nation.

The contrasts between the Act of Union and the Lisbon Treaty are stark. Does the Lisbon treaty preserve the integrity of national laws? Does it encourage national churches? Does it allow for the repatriation of powers to the nation states? And does anyone in their worst nightmares think that this abhorrent treaty will still be making our laws in more than 300 years.
No of course not, in my view we need to look at our existing family, our other (EU) economic union with the commonwealth.
We are Great Britain a dirty word to some, but that’s a fact, we have a Royal Family a monarchy and this monarch is still head of State for Great Britain and 15 other countries, now we were told this week that Her Majesties armed forces are no longer able to defend her subjects. What a damming indictment of this Labour Government.
The commonwealth is home to 2 billion people, 1 billion under 25 years of age across 53 countries, “rather a special family, a family of nations” we need to build and strengthen those ties, democratic freedom and economic and social development, which Britain does not have this under the Lisbon Treaty.
Do we need the EU and Euro? Of course it is better to be a part of this organization, but not to the detriment of our sovereignty. The EU crash is coming, let’s get prepared for it. Nobody in Europe takes UK seriously, the little island in the Atlantic. The EU may work for Germany France and the Benelux countries but cannot for the UK, we will be taxed to death to pay for the retirement pensions of the Greeks?
So is the Conservative “Government” going to take a stand, is it going to fight for our rights as a sovereign nation? Is it going to put Britain 1st and put the great back into this country? Are we going to be the beacon of Democratic Freedoms, economic and social development? The guiding principles of the Commonwealth!

Comment by tresa on February 9, 2010 at 8:51 pm

I think both labour and tories are attacking the weak sick and vunerable. I saw people old and in wheelchairs being rolled in like lambs to the sloughter while young so called qualified therapists sat in judgment. I never though I would see such a sorry sight in this dear land. its the old agency lark employ a few narks to fiddle the figures or cut the costs for some even though the people targeted are the weak as after all their the easiest to knock off some list. me not sure i would vote at all now.

Comment by Roy Chamberlain on February 9, 2010 at 11:58 pm

The 3 MP,s being charged are sacrificial offerings. Strange how those who have escaped the “attention” have suddenly decided that the 3 charged should now be hung drawn and quartered ! Would it be anything to do with deflecting the “attention” from themselves !

Comment by V Beeson on February 10, 2010 at 12:35 pm

The Inquiry into MPs expenses made recommendations. They should be carried out IN THEIR ENTIRETY on behalf of the public. Leaving MPs to decide on recommendations is like leaving the fox to guard the henhouse.

Comment by Russell Adams on February 10, 2010 at 5:22 pm

There is a general theme to most of these comments and most previous comments I have seen.
That theme is that we want leaders with integrity and vision.
People know what’s right and what’s wrong and if politicians don’t then they do not deserve to be voted for by the people.
You’re getting lost in the detail David, if it is a choice between one non-entity or another, Gordon has already won.
Whatever the subject, be bold and be clear but stick to the big subjects that really matter to us; the economy, health service, defence.

Comment by Ian Harris on February 11, 2010 at 7:59 pm

after writing a long message, it’s deleted because the CAPTCHA response thing did not appear. Why does n’t the message remain for another attempt. And it often does n’t work anyway, and all that time and effort wasted!

Comment by Gill Carrick on February 11, 2010 at 8:24 pm

This might seem rather trivial, but I think Journey’s song ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ would be a great anthem for you to adopt. It might just get people believing in politicians again.

Comment by Arnie Whittle on February 11, 2010 at 9:30 pm

You cannot fix Politics in this Country by giving way to the demands of sitting MP’s on pay, giving them an extra fifteen thousand pounds for sacraficing expenses is not good enough, you have to be tough make them manage on the pay that they already get. Most people would be over the moon with an MP’s pay packet, I would like to see them manage my four thousand a year.

Comment by Arnie Whittle on February 11, 2010 at 9:50 pm

I am not sure that the House of Commons will be any better off even when it gets rid of the resigning MP’s what state of health is the Parliament in and how long will it take to restore the confidence of the of the people in politics and the House of Commons, I believe that you will struggle for along time to restore there support.

Comment by Malcolm platt on February 12, 2010 at 7:44 pm

I’m sorry david, but you are missing the point. I’m not the least surprised by the drop in the conservatives lead. for 2 main reasons.
(1) a great number of M.Ps are theives, so far i’ve not heard an M.P apologise for stealing money from the public purse, only weak excuses. if you don’t sack them then we will at the polling stations.
(2 you reneged on your promise to hold a referendum on the Lisbon treaty, it does’nt matter to me ,wheather or not the treaty has been ratified, you knew all along this was likley to happen, what to me was much more important was to have my voice heard. you have denied me this right. after voting conservative for over 50 years, why should you expect me to do so again. Wake up !!!
start listening to us before you take these stupid decisions, and then maybe we in turn will support you

Comment by John smith on February 14, 2010 at 10:17 am

Do we really need so many mp’s when most legislation now comes from Brussels. Redraw electoral boundaries, reduce number of MP’s by about 20-30%, and get out of Europe. In the last 3 years I have had 2 occasions to engage my local MP and the ombudsman on problems with my local council and power company. I CAN SAY THAT THEY HAVE BOTH BEEN UTTERLY USELESS AND I HAVE WOUND UP SORTING OUT THE PROBLEMS MYSELF. My experience has made me realise just how little they do or care.

Comment by Ray Cope on March 9, 2010 at 12:34 pm

The freedom of info has been a most helpful but needs a few changes. Responses take up to 20 working days and the commission then take months to deal with it. The next government should find ways of finding shortcuts where urgency is needed. The justice department never respond on time when I have approached them.

Comment by Ray Cope on March 10, 2010 at 8:24 am

As former directorof the gas council I thought the shadow energy secretary would be interested in my views on Ofgem but apparently not. I was not surprised that the energy secretary ignored me but I had hoped to see some interest from future one.

Comment by Ian Reynolds on March 11, 2010 at 6:36 pm

I agree with the comments about “Britain” rather than “England”. All parties are going into this election on a “British” agenda – well there is no longer such a simple thing. The Scottish Parliament addresses virtually all Scottish home affairs whereas the UK Parliament governs England. This means that the West Lothian Question is well and truely with us and also means that Labour may well still get in and govern Conservative England.

I have a solution to this but it would require a remodelling of the devolved state. Why not let the British people vote for their UK MPs (making sure all constituencies are about the same size) then the UK Parliament meet for 1 week per month, the other 3 weeks per month the MPs would become English, Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish in their own Parliaments, voting purely on their own issues. This would save a large amount of money by abolishing parallel MSPs etc. The English would still meet at Westminster, the Scots would go to Edinburgh etc. I have not seen this scenario anywhere but it seems very sensible and efficient. Alternatively the House of Lords could be elected as the UK Parliament/second chamber with the House of Commons becoming the English Parliament and the same system as now kept for Scotland etc.

How about a discussion on these reasonable options but with the first as the potentially lowest cost and most efficient.

Comment by John Popham on March 16, 2010 at 6:23 pm

Part of the problem we face is the hundreds of thousands of youngsters who have left school without sufficient skills to earn a living.
After retiring I became an adult student for 5 years on two motor engineering courses where I studied alongside school leavers. it was clear that some of the younsters attending had no real desire to be mechanics and were there (when they turned up) to get the money that came with attendance. For those who wanted to learn they had to overcome the disruption of those who did not. The college could not select students for their suitability for courses (‘the rules’) so some who wanted places were denied to hide the no hopers in colleges rather than on the unemployed list.
Part of fixing our broken society has to include equipping as many youngsters as we can with skills to earn a living.
By requiring colleges to select students for courses and linking a significant slice of the colleges future income to the first few years earnings of the students they teach I believe colleges teaching trades will improve the standards of college leavers.

Comment by Ray Cope on March 17, 2010 at 8:03 am

I find it frustrating when I contribute to an issue where I have expertise and MPs ignore me. I sent Peter Atkinson some information about the energy bill and he has ignored me.
We have all these communication channels today but is anyone listening? David sort your MPs out.