Grown-up Politics ... maybe some day

This morning, the BBC published an article stating that the Speaker of the House, John Bercow, had said that the "tone of the debate was putting off the public". Ed Milliband, of course, immediately jumped on this band wagon - as other politicians are bound to do.

In response, I posted the following to Facebook:
It sounds as if the politicians may, finally, be waking up to the idea that "voter apathy" is actually antipathy toward the yah-boo politics of the House of Commons.

MPs, the public doesn't care about political point scoring. We want you politicians to get the job done, preferably in a professional manner. Acting like children in a playground squabble is putting people off politics.

Oh, and professional service to the UK also means supporting the policies of the other side when they are beneficial to the people. It means working to limit the harm of policies. It means cooperation and compromise, as in any negotiation.

It also means clear and reasonable expenses, recording travel and office expenses in publicly audited accounts. We recognise that you need to run an office and have access to a flat in London. We recognise that MPs from Cornwall or Scotland are going to have a large amount of travel expenses. Greater London politicians can commute, and get a hotel room (Premier Inn) on the occasions that a late vote means that you miss your train.

MPs, you are public servants. You are elected to do a job. The most important job, running the country. We expect you to carry out that responsibility in a professional manner. You do not "deserve" special treatment because of your position. You deserve reasonable professional expenses in carrying out your duties, and a reasonable salary based on your responsibility and accountability. £50k for a basic MP is reasonable, with audited office and travel expenses on top. £80k for ministerial duties is reasonable, up to £150k as prime minister.

Please, cut out the the playground squabbles. Cut out the party political point scoring. Cut out the shifting of policies every 5 minutes, as the latest poll results breeze through.

We want honest, professional, politicians. Statesmen to the people. We want an opposition that can support the government when they are right, opposing and working for compromise when they are not. We want clear, costed, policies, not empty promises, so we know what we are voting for at election time. We want a political system we can be proud of, instead of thinking "it doesn't matter who you vote for, a politician always gets in".

Change the system. Become the leaders of the country we want. Then, and only then, will you see us re-engage with politics. Then we might actually see respect for politics and politicians restored.
It also means clear and reasonable expenses, recording travel and office expenses in publicly audited accounts. We recognise that you need to run an office and have access to a flat in London. We recognise that MPs from Cornwall or Scotland are going to have a large amount of travel expenses. Greater London politicians can commute, and get a hotel room (Premier Inn) on the occasions that a late vote means that you miss your train.

MPs, you are public servants. You are elected to do a job. The most important job, running the country. We expect you to carry out that responsibility in a professional manner. You do not "deserve" special treatment because of your position. You deserve reasonable professional expenses in carrying out your duties, and a reasonable salary based on your responsibility and accountability. £50k for a basic MP is reasonable, with audited office and travel expenses on top. £80k for ministerial duties is reasonable, up to £150k as prime minister.

Please, cut out the the playground squabbles. Cut out the party political point scoring. Cut out the shifting of policies every 5 minutes, as the latest poll results breeze through.

We want honest, professional, politicians. Statesmen to the people. We want an opposition that can support the government when they are right, opposing and working for compromise when they are not. We want clear, costed, policies, not empty promises, so we know what we are voting for at election time. We want a political system we can be proud of, instead of thinking "it doesn't matter who you vote for, a politician always gets in".

Change the system. Become the leaders of the country we want. Then, and only then, will you see us re-engage with politics. Then we might actually see respect for politics and politicians restored.