Nadine: Pity Me!

There's shooting fish in a barrel, and then there is having a pop at Nadine Dorries. Both are very simple, but I'd rather do the latter. Those fish in that barrel; well, they've just done nothing wrong. Unlike Nadine, who is one of those people who only seems to open her mouth to put her foot back in it.

From her latest blogpost*:

Existing MPs no longer trust the media, in any way. Following the disclosure of Alan's private conversation, they may no longer trust individuals.

Once again, we're supposed to feel sorry for MPs. Those who are paid £60k a year, and have the sort of benefits package that would make Sir Fred Goodwin weep tears of bitter envy. Well, boo fucking hoo. I couldn't give a flying fuck whether MPs trust the media or individuals. Because, given their atrocious behaviour, the media and individuals in this country really don't trust MPs.

The new pernicious rule for MPs to declare hours spent on outside interests will prevent the multi-skilled, clever, articulate, learned individuals who are, by their own obvious track record of achievement, the type of people Parliament desperately needs to attract and retain - from even considering a life as an MP.

Why will it stop these talented individuals from considering life as an MP? Because what we're asking is to know what else our MPs - who are elected by and paid for by the people - get up to. There isn't even an insistence that they give up outside interests. We'd just rather know what they are up to, so we can assess whether they are taking the piss. And rubbing our faces in it. 

Instead we will see the emergence of a new breed of MP: those who will enter Parliament because they are rich, or careerist.

As opposed to now, where MPs are rich, careerist or greedy. 

We will witness the opening of a chasm between the electorate and those who legislate.

That chasm is already there and created by you and your friends, Nadine. Getting a new breed of MP into power would be a good thing, and would help to reduce that chasm. If only because that new breed might not be such a collection of total, if you can pardon my French, cunts. 

Everyone will be a loser. The very people Parliament is elected to represent will be as remote from the centre as they have ever been at any time before.

No, greedy MPs with a lust for taxpayer cash will be the losers. Which actually makes everyone else a winner. 

Opportunity for the voice of the individual voter to be heard will become almost extinct

Erm, the voice of the individual is being heard, Nadine, right here, right now. You'd hear it if you would just listen. But I guess you wouldn't like what that individual is saying. Because individuals are shrieking at you, and calling you all sorts of rude names for being caught with your hands in the till.

Which is the point, and what I know I am not alone in desperately hoping for. This new era of electric, microscopic scrutiny of our MPs can only be a good thing. As Dorries accidentally reveals herself. Earlier in her post, Mad Nads writes:

We are on the brink of an historic shift in the way Parliament operates, and the type of person who becomes an MP.

Oh, I do hope so, Nadine. And I hope that the new type of person who becomes an MP really isn't like you.

*And I wouldn't put it past her to claim blogging is part of her "working" whilst still on holiday. Although at this point she claims that she is working by keeping her phone on. Using that yardstick, I can claim to work 24/7...