Monday, March 29, 2010

New Labour placeman Sir Ian Kennedy announces MPs will be able to continue to employ family members, one per MP, he is a sycophant













Dear All

When Sir Ian Kennedy was appointed as the new Parliamentary watchdog, we heard that there would a new broom to clean up the system and stop abuse.

Two minutes in the door and Sir Ian Kennedy is already a useless sycophant, he has announced that he will continue to allow one family member to be employed per MP.

In the case of ex Labour MP David Marshall formerly of Glasgow East, his wife was allegedly on circa £78k a year.

Employing family members is wrong and despite 59 per cent of those who answered the consultation telling the new watchdog this was wrong, he has ignored those concerns.

MPs have personally lobbied Kennedy to be allowed to continue employing their spouses and children.

Although it would be wrong to terminate people’s employment, the practice should be phased out for future MPs and those currently serving banned from employing family members not already under contract.

The public expected a whitewash and a toothless tiger and that is what has been delivered.

Sir Ian Kennedy has failed to clean up politics; he has failed the public trust and failed to do his duty.

His attitude is likened to institutional cowardice.

The expenses scandal broke the surface when the public found out that Tory MP, Derek Conway, was found paying his son without evidence that he was carrying out any work.

Then the dam broke and every MP had to justify their use of public money, some have now been charged with criminal fraud namely Devine, Morley and Chaytor, all Labour MPs.

We were told that a new system would be put in place, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority head by Kennedy but he has provided a dud.

I expect that although some measures have been put in place, we can all expect MPs salaries to start to rise.

What has been taken away with one hand will be given back by another.

The people expected better and have sorely been disappointed by Ian Kennedy who is known to help senior Labour Party figures.
Nothing changes, just deck chairs moved about.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

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