Don't lynch MPs, kick em in ballots

NOT OUR MASTER: PM Gordon Borwn

17/05/2009

I DON'T like lynch mobs. I like them even less when they're led by sections of the media trying to whip up even more hatred in a nation already consumed by rage.

Yes, the public have every right to be angry. They have every right to be sickened, revolted and disillusioned by our MPs and their tawdry expenses scam.

But urging people in this country to chip in to have them privately prosecuted is a step too far.

Of course we want blood. Of course we want them to suffer. Of course we want them to realise the British people won't be treated like fools by the politicians we elect to represent us.

And yes, till now, it literally HAS been a case of one law for them and another for the rest of us. But going after them like a pack of rabid Rottweilers and throwing them in jail is not the answer.

Of course the fury, the bitterness, the resentment are all justified. And yes, many of them DO deserve to go to jail for what they've done.

Because, make no mistake, if you or I had operated the scams they had, we'd be slopping out by now.

But what is throwing MPs in a cushy open jail-which boasts the internet, tai- chi classes and Sky Plus-actually going to achieve?

No, the punishment that will really hurt these immoral money grubbers-and even destroy some of them-is being meted out as we speak.

They're losing what matters most in this world to them-even more than their freedom.

They're losing their power, their status, their reputations, their dignity and a job that affords them enormous respect in a world where there is precious little.

Terrified

More than that, ministers and MPs are now terrified in a way they never have been. They've been humiliated-not just on a national stage but on a world stage. They've been exposed as the thieves they are and they've been shamed as abusers of their power and their position.

And for the worst of them, everything they've ever worked for, dreamed about, aspired to, has now turned to dust and is currently swirling around the heels of their hand-made shoes. Never again will those MPs who have been party to hideous excesses be able to command any moral authority. Never in any walk of life will they be trusted.

More importantly, the people of this country have spoken. And not only have MPs been forced to listen, they now understand who their masters are. It's not the Speaker, it's not the Prime Minister. It's us.

Which means they will no longer be allowed to patronise us, steal from us or treat us like fools.

The party's over, because the great British public have stood square in front of the gravy train and stopped it in its tracks-and our message is loud and clear: "The free ride is over."

Which is why sending them to jail is pointless because it would be about vengeance NOT about change.

And surely that's the whole point of this? As a nation we have bared our teeth and made it clear public money will NOT be used to fund MPs' greed and extravagances.

But if we start sending scores of them to jail, it WILL herald the collapse of the political system and the permanent death of trust-maybe even of democracy.

Angry

I don't think I've ever seen the people of this country so angry. I've never witnessed the kind of hatred for politicians I now see in the eyes of ordinary people.

And therein lays the danger. Because we must ensure this anger we feel, this moral void we now know exists at the heart of Westminster, is not filled by parties like the BNP. No matter how angry, how infuriated, how distrustful we are-we must not be driven into the evil arms of a neo-Nazi party.

The British people don't often take to the barricades but when we do our government had better listen. And I believe it has. Which is why those politicians who DO get to keep their jobs after this fiasco will now treat them-and us-with a bit more respect.

They will realise how lucky and privileged they are and what an honour it is to serve this nation.

And No, we can't be expected to forgive what they've done but we MUST move on for the greater cause-and that cause is our political system.

The British people can take their revenge at the ballot box by not voting for those MPs who betrayed them. But lynch-mob justice, the kind that involves hounding people until they're broken- physically, mentally and professionally -is beneath us.

* You can read more from Carole Malone in today's printed edition of the News of the World.

Your comments

This article has 34 comments

This is something that has gone on for years with ALL party's. The rules have changed and MP's claim for expenses is now available for all to view. A great deal of MP's have been caught out! What about those, who over the years have got away with it?
When thinking of who to vote for....my thoughts for years have been.... "they are all the same"! In the job for what THEY can get out of it and here we are with just 'some' of the evidence!
My question is.... when we do have a general election, who should I vote for? Can anyone supply the answer?

By Lin Camsell.. Posted June 7 2009 at 12:46 PM.

The money should all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!be paid back including the previous stolen monies ie Tony Blair Presscot and spent on our NHS

By Gemma.. Posted May 24 2009 at 11:06 AM.

Since this scandal broke , they are still at it . With the cry of "we will not be standing at the next election" they remain in post , getting their salaries the average person can only dream about. Their electorate have no confidence in them , then they will depart with golden handshakes , pensions and "closing down" expenses. This country has a history of rewarding bad behaviour that must stop . Cameron has done a little bit to address the situation while Brown has done nothing .So a general election must be called now to elect new trusted MPs and rid ourselves of the fiddlers.

By bob.. Posted May 24 2009 at 6:39 AM.

Carole, you are absolutely right. They have been given an inch, and, as is human nature, some have taken a yard! The system is wrong, David Cameron is being very clear on that, although I'm not hearing enough from Gordon Brown. The system is going to change. A witch hunt is not the answer, nor is de-selection. The answer is democracy.
If this issue gets people to vote, who may never have bothered, then that can only be a good thing. If you are not happy with your MP, then go and put an X in a box at the next General Election. It won't take you long, honest!

By IAN .. Posted May 24 2009 at 12:31 AM.

Carole, will you please start a campaign to stop MP's using the term "Honourable Member" as a permanent reminder of the expenses scandal?

By Frank W... Posted May 22 2009 at 8:48 AM.

their is only one way to stop all this that is sack them and that they never again seek public office
we in ireland had top men in politics scumbags at the very top of the goverment taking what they like and going away with a big laugh we see the
result to daywe are a broke country and we will be
that way for a long time

By patrick rochfort.. Posted May 18 2009 at 4:55 PM.

please can we get the names of these MPs?

By g julius.. Posted May 18 2009 at 11:26 AM.

Admirable article re the expenses of the MP'S does MP now stand for MORE PLEASE. How can they constantly blame the system that was set up ,it is their greed and belief that they are above the law that is to blame. I have always encouraged my daughter and my female friends to ensure that they vote at each and every election but sadly they now have no trust or respect for the major parties and of course the other major issues in this country have been put onto the back burner, Im a 48 year old woman who 2 weeks ago lost her job as an administrator and im intelligent,articulate and very hardworking but to no avail, perhaps I should have falsified the petty cash or the monies that I dealt with and when caught just told my bosses that it wasnt my fault it was the system. If I was 20 years younger I would consider moving to another country for new start and I just hope against hope that after the next General Election which surely after this debacle will be called sooner rather than later , that we can put the Great back into Great Britain. The Government should be working for us not for their own betterment.

By Sue Allwright.. Posted May 18 2009 at 12:02 PM.

Carole, MP's are so thick skinned, named and shamed? - THEY AINT EVEN BOVVERED!

By mary shorthouse.. Posted May 18 2009 at 1:24 AM.

i recently applied for a discretionary grant to help me keep my home as i only recieve £75 per week housng benefit and the only house i could get to rent was a 2 bedroom privte rent due to the lack of counsi; housing , my home cost me around 100 per week beung single living by myself and on long term sick i recieve 79 in income support of which at least £25 goes on rent and by time i have paid out normal house hold bills this leaves me les than £5 a week for food but i was told i couldnt have the discretionary grant because i had enough to live on how disheartening is it to read tha politicians can claim so much money but likes of myself and many like me are expected to live on so little money i pay taxes like anyone else maybe not direct but in things i buy etc i do pay some tx and for years while i was working paid loads and loads of tax like any other working person but find myself penalised for being of ill health yet these people can make claim on rediculous shameless things and expect us to be happy i am sickened to the stomach by these people they are not fit to run a country any of them me me me its all they have thought about and not a thought for their constituents im ashamed to be british at the moment with the lying and the corrupt way our country is run if i had the money i would emmagrate i have little faith anymore in justice in this country this has been the last straw

By lornamarie.. Posted May 17 2009 at 11:48 PM.

Rose, I am not going to attack you. But can't you see how angry people are? Think of it, while these MPs have been living the high life on own taxes, people like pensioners have had to decide on eating or heating. What the MPs have done is wrong and they must pay for that wrong. If I did something like that in my job. 1. I would lose the job, 2. I would be reported to the police, 3. I would most likely go to prison. Because you see I work in the public sector, and you cannot take tax payers money and get away with it.

By Fern.. Posted May 17 2009 at 6:55 PM.

Carol we elect you! You know where its at. Why cant people like you be in power your totally on everyones wavelength and do us the supressed british public justice! What will happen is that the mp swill come up with something to somehow justify their wrongs and slip away tail between their legs but pockets full of taxpayers money. Its truly scandelous.The very worst scandal by far in recent years and lets face it with the usual mps back catalogue of scandals this sits head and shoulders above the rest. They have had us all over.Investigate this back ten years like the inland revenue would us i say. This is just the tip of the iceberg.Could you imagine if this was the free 1960's, john lennon would be writing songs of protest,there would be rioting in the streets,the universities would be in uproar but no this is the 2000's.The age where cameras watch us from every street, where intel watches out for any kind of uprising only to be beaten down savagely like in our very own city of london. By who? by the eliteist bunch that are running this country lining their pockets daily and justifying it with a smile and a stab. Its such a shame the countrys spirit is so supressed.Come back from Iraq guys your wasting your time, what are you fighting for,,the real terrorists are here wearing the suits.They will thank you with one hand and take your wallets with the other.

By jason cogley.. Posted May 17 2009 at 6:31 PM.

I absolutely love reading Carole's column every week. She is so honest and down to earth.

Also she thinks like me so I am always in agreement with her.

Keep up the good work Carole.

By Elizabeth Millar.. Posted May 17 2009 at 2:03 PM.

i dont see why these MP'S have this allowance they cant be trusted with it anyway,abolish it all together they must earn enough money to pay for bedding furniture ect.We have no one to run to and get extra money.The goverment says they dont have enough money for this that and the other schools hospital abolish this allowance people are struggling loosing there homes and they are worried about money for there second home.Why should they have a second home unless they keep it there selfs.Wont be voting for any of them.Dishonest.What is the allowance for anyway Why cant they get a bus,train,Walk to work.I say ABOLISH THE ALLOWANCE

By margaret foyle.. Posted May 17 2009 at 2:08 PM.

An accountant recently said that people like Hazel Blears who sent cheques to HMR&C without submitting a Capital Gains Tax return will simply have the funds held in credit to their account and thereby win agaiin.

By Hal Sanchez.. Posted May 17 2009 at 2:35 PM.

Normally I agree with what Carole says, however on this subject she seems to have become an apologist for the scum in Westminster. Obviously not all MP's have broken the Law of the Land, some have just broken what is moraly and ethically wrong. Those deserve what Carole suggests, to be thrown out of Parliament. But those who have broken the Law of the Land should, AND MUST, be prosecuted to the full letter of the law. How else can we justify prosecuting a motorist who does 35mph in a 30mph Zone. There can be no exceptions. The Law is the Law is the Law is the Law. No exceptions!

By Vic.. Posted May 17 2009 at 2:21 PM.

For once Carole I agree with you.
I whole heartedly agree that violence and "lynch mob" is not the answer. Everyone in this country has a vote and the greatest way of showing how much you disagree with MP's is using it. Too many people complain about the government then not bother to vote in elections, be it a general or local.
What I also absolutely agree with is the problem of the BNP. Please don't be fooled into think they are a real alternative party. We are angry at MPs but the racist BNP party is no where near the solution. Hope not hate!
So do use your vote, but use it wisely!

By Chrisso.. Posted May 17 2009 at 12:50 PM.

I agree with a lot of what you have written Carole.
However, I personally believe that it is the system that is corrupt along with seemingly many of our MPs. A system whereby Parliament in the course of its business is effectively it's own judge and jury and were the ordinary laws of the land cannot be enforced against it because of Parliamentary Sovereignty, which I think we all regard as basically stinking to high heaven. In my opinion, I think what this country needs is the introduction of a "written constitution" presided over by an "elected" Supreme Court. Whereby "all" are accountable to the laws of land and where there are no special ring fenced areas, such as we now have regarding Parliament, that are outside the law and also whereby those laws deemed as basically fundamental by the people, cannot also be altered, changed etc etc at the behest of a Government with a big enough majority when ever it feels like it. Justice and Democracy are not what some greedy and untouchable little clique of yes men/women think is good enough for the people but is instead what the people regard it to be. Therefore, perhaps it's time for what I suspect many others also feel that this rotten system is got rid off along with those who are not fit to represent anybody and lets bring in a system where this example of our rotten system will never have to be tolerated again and we the people will have the power to resolve it immeaditly.

By Herb.. Posted May 17 2009 at 1:21 PM.

Just trust us voters, their employers, to sort them out.
We will ensure that fatcat sleaze-bags will NEVER be MPs again.

By ROGER.. Posted May 17 2009 at 11:42 AM.

One wonders ,why the great british public did not suspect sooner,that many an MP were on the fiddle,as all the signs were there. Take BBC's Question Time,i've lost count of the female MP'S .dressed up to the nine's in expensive designer suit's accompanied with up market make-up,that sadly in many cases,seemed to have been put on with a catapult, OUR money,and still ,all theycan manage, is the mutton dressed as lamb look!

By ALAN SIMPSON .. Posted May 17 2009 at 10:28 AM.

One just cannot trust these politicians who promise to look after our interests during election time, but in reality they are only interested in power and money for themselves. So I don't think I bother voting for any of them in future. Surely there is still some genuine honest politicians left, why don't the media name and praise them as a reward.

By mari.. Posted May 17 2009 at 10:20 AM.

If we were to follow your suggestion and vote against them and they are duly kicked out they get massive compensation for loosing their seats.
Nothing like the statuary redundancy pay the rest of the nation gets.
They also have massive pensions topped up yet again with tax payers money when there is a pension pot shortfall.
No, voting against them allows them to win yet again I am afraid.
Shooting is to good for some of them.
They are a total disgrace to us all.

By John Pardoe.. Posted May 17 2009 at 10:00 AM.

Rose, you are living in cloud lala land if you think us regular people accept it was the system at fault. The MP's got greedy and then tried to stop us from finding out how much they put on expenses. If I had done that in my job, I would have been fired and then taken to court for fraud. The system does need an overhall, yes. However, to effectively say they are the innocent party in this and it's a corrupt system at fault, I think you need to take off your 'rose' coloured glasses and see the bigger picture.

By Tally.. Posted May 17 2009 at 9:52 AM.

no one wants to see Mps imprisoned for doing up a home with extravagant goods, whether it be a moat or a butler or£5000 worth of gardening. if it was me i may have milked away myself- but i don't think i would have (either way irrelevant).

Some MPs seem to have clearly acted fraudenly, it leaves us with NO CHOICE CAROLE but to follow the rules of the land-and start legall action. Other wise we need to scrap the law for fraud /thieft for everyone.

others crooks have been hounded by the media and then tried, so why not these people, the ones who went all out. the reason why there is GREAT public out cry is we can see what seems like law breaking ON TV but with no consequences-so i strongly disagree.

it would be a shame to lock up an MP I AGREE, equally a shame to lock up me brother, sister or son away -if they behaved in the same way. BUT no journalist - no one infact would say let them off, just you've done the crime..now do the.....

i agree with Boris Johnson - Mare of London and we are on the same page to use his delicate words about some of his COLLEGES AND FRIENDS 'plod needs to come in'

deselecting ' suspected fraudster' IS NOT OUR JOB-SO - SHOULD NOT HAVE TOO SEE THEM AGAIN, i wouldNT vote in a tainted systems. SOME MPS SHOLD STAND DOWN AS THEY TAKING THE PARTY DOWN, WITH THEM

By millie.. Posted May 17 2009 at 9:46 AM.

for SUSAN GALEA:

Just as I said, mean ugly language.

By Rose.. Posted May 17 2009 at 9:42 AM.

m.p.s tell us they could be earning more in the world of business?? really??
they all seem to come up with the same excuse
their accounting is rubbish - they forgot - they followed the rules[they made] so tell us just which business would employ you - not one, at least not if you weren't in parliament with nice contacts.

p.s. more angry with the labour [for the people] man who bought himself a retirment present of 16 grand bookcases didn't he know the expenses were to help with his parliamentary work not to enhance his retirement. Us silly pensioners are paying tax on the smallest of pensions it really makes you sick.

By mags.. Posted May 17 2009 at 9:37 AM.

No wonder MPs wanted to stop us seeing their expenses..what a load of Thieves!!!I would love to be able to live a worry-free life..but we have to live in the real world and struggle to just pay everyday bill's etc I bet they dont have to worry about having heating on in the winter or trying to run a home on very little..Get rid of these dishonest people who treat us like fools!!

By jacqui.. Posted May 17 2009 at 9:34 AM.

Me thinks Rose is related to one of these 'shysters'!!

By 'not me Guv'.. Posted May 17 2009 at 9:17 AM.

They're losing their power, their status, their reputations, their dignity and a job that affords them enormous respect in a world where there is precious little

Carole where did you get that one from?? None of them are sorry for what they did, they are just sorry for being caught. Blears, Beckett, Malik and Smith, NONE of these people have been sacked, and show NO remorse for how they ripped us off. Did you detect an ounce of remorse in Blears odious grinning face when she presented her cheque for 13 grand, NO!!. Did Beckett understand the anger felt by the question time audience last week NO!! Does Smith who is in charge of Law and Order in the UK believe she has done anything wrong with regards to her claims for second home allowance, (when everyone else in the country with an ounce of morality at least thinks it's a bit dodgy) NO!! And as for the sheer arrogance of Malik well I just despair that he is/was seen a bright aspiring 'honest' politician. I'm sorry to pick in Liebour members as all parties have been at it. But these people mentioned have been in government supposedly leading us and giving us moral and legal guidance, telling us what to do and voting for every new tax that they think up in which to rob us of our hard earned money. I'm absolutely sick to death of the lot of them and STRONGLY disagree with you with regards to punishment, they SHOULD be put before a court and if found guilty sent to prison, period

By John Liverpool.. Posted May 17 2009 at 8:21 AM.

it would appear that our MP's are human after all,despite 65k and a decent home allowance,free food etc,and many with second lucrative jobs,like the ragamuffin Oliver, they want more! pantomine season has begun in earnest as the Baron Hardup's and Swindle Twankeys fiddle away relentless ,as if Rome was in flames,to acrue cash for moats,private pools,8,000 quid for top of the range plasmas,and non-existant mortgage payments, destined for the twilight zone of an MP's bank account,as they say...you could'nt make it up

By ALAN SIMPSON.. Posted May 17 2009 at 8:11 AM.

Now that we've finally started on our lot of shysters Carole, how about the lot in in Brussels. They are ten times more corrupt and yet we pay them £40 million a day and for what? The books haven't been signed off for 13 years which is a disgrace. No wonder our lot want that particular gravy train too.
Time to investigate the EU before we give them any more, after all we didn't elect them. Better still get out of the unelected/corrupt/illegal nightmare altogether.
People don't realise that with all this taking and no giving it will all collapse one day.

By Mindcatcher.. Posted May 17 2009 at 2:00 AM.

I disagree about the prosecution part. If a member of the public committed the same offences as the MP's, then they could expect an appearance in court. I have a family member who claimed expenses fraudulently via a public sector job and they were found guilty and subject to a prison term (rightly so). Why should MP's get away with it!

By David H.. Posted May 17 2009 at 12:28 AM.

Rose: you're having a laugh, right? If these people were in any other job they would be up before the old beak. I feel sorry for you that you have evidently been so brutalised by life's vicissitudes that you appear to not be appalled by this sickening moral turpitude. You are sickened by the language used? Would that be the angry language employed by people who are feeling cheated, robbed and violated by those who purport to represent them? You thought we were a civilised people? And? Your definition of civilisation is not mine. It won't happen again you say. Why? Because you say so?

By susan galea.. Posted May 17 2009 at 12:36 AM.

I don't accept that there is the level of anger that is being made out. I'm not particularly angry and although I believe that most people are rather taken aback by what some MPs claimed for, they also accept that it was the system that allowed them to do so. Unfortunately there are a lot of people in this country who are easily led and those "sections of the media" to which you refer (and we all know who they are, don't we?) are taking advantage of it.

What does sicken, disappoint and sadden me, is the language being used. I thought we were a civilised people, but it seems I was wrong. The MPs concerned have been punished enough, it won't happen again, let it go. Full stop.

By Rose.. Posted May 16 2009 at 10:42 PM.

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