Inspector Mawers (that's enough.Ed) - the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
If you read up on this whole self-regulation business it looks a bit like smoke and mirrors. Plenty of bodies, committees and commissioners - all independent to a man but all reporting to Parliament or the PM. Nice to be Judge and Jury at your own trial, eh ?
Needless to say, when Sir Philip Mawer returned our call, it was a bit of a shocker. We never thought in a million years they'd let us near the Palace of Westminster - let alone interview its gatekeeper of ethics and morals.
Turns out Sir Philip's office is round the back of Westminster Abbey. Bathed in divine light, you enter through a hobbit-like gate set into a suitably intimidating wall with Westminster casting suitably ominous shadows.
Passing through that gate would be crossing the line from pissing about on the Internet and sticking our head above the establishment parapet. Were we really gonna tough it out with the guy who politics between Teflon Tony and hauling MPs over the coals ?
Who are we kidding ?
I'd had a curry before-hand and that didn't bode well.
We were in a lot of trouble.
He's a very nice man, a very, very nice man. A very, very, very nice... etc. ad infinitum.
ReplyDeleteAll roads lead to the PM.
ReplyDeleteHe doesn't give a shit what you say.
He doesn't give a shit what the papers say.
He doesn't give a shit what his party says.
He doesn't give a shit what the opposition says.
He doesn't have to.
He's got a majority in the house.
You haven't.
Good luck.
Ha look what happened to the last Commissioner, she got too big for her boots and they got rid of her.
ReplyDeleteLike the interview with Sir Phil – and clearly states there’s a policing gap that’s open to abuse.
ReplyDeleteMade me wonder - when the tube stops at Westminster and the announcer says “Mind the Gap”, is this simply a subliminal message to the liars going to work ?
So let me get this right - his remit is to establish trust and confidence in Parliament - but has no power over ministers/the Gov. Isn't that a bit like being in charge of Ford open prison and leaving the cells unlocked at Wormwood Scrubs ?
ReplyDeleteDo they keep male prostitutes in the Scrubbs then ?
ReplyDeleteOnly if Ministers ask nicely.
ReplyDeletethat Mandelson never asked nicely. Also got caloused hands.
ReplyDeleteHe's also got calloused knees
ReplyDeleteWhere can I get one of those chairs with the portcullis ? Do they come in sets ?
ReplyDeleteSince parliament is responsible for creating the laws that we live under - should they be subject to legal scrutiny as well? You guys are right and Sir Philip seems a right decent bloke but thats not really the point is it? I am not sure I get what he can do even for MP's. His remit seems to be solely based on the financial register.
ReplyDeletefyi trinny - ask one of those newly made lords, you probably get a free one with your title when you 'lend' money.
ReplyDelete'the real truth'
ReplyDeletehe is holding on to that majority by the skin of his teeth and gordo isn't going to be able to do much to change that I am afraid!!
a nice bloke aint gonna get a big dirty nasty job done. they prob chose him because he seemed the softest. snigger snigger
ReplyDelete