MacShane Must Go?

The world is safe again! Denis MacShane is back from his tax payer funded jolly to publicise his latest book on anti-Semitism to Canadian parliamentarians.

He sure has been busy over the last few days as theyworkforyou.com has kept me informed of his synthetic rants in the House of Commons and Westminster Hall debates this week.

No word yet on the contents of his Legg letter, however there is increasing interest in his imaginative way he has interpreted part of the Green Book as far as it applies to arrangements for constituency office costs and the conflict with the principle that the taxpayer doesn't end up subsidising or paying for both the Constituency 'home' and the London 'home'.

The undoubted highlight of the week was his 'Newsnight' appearance on 20 October. He was comprehensively bested by a representative of the English Collective of Prostitutes and by Paxman.

He was challenged on the statistics he had used in speeches in parliament and that underpinned previous and proposed legislation, he couldn't, or wouldn't, say where his statistics came from and wriggled and squirmed finally resorting to the old trick of diversion by changing the subject by quoting figures for rape convictions as though that subject had any relevance to the subject matter under discussion, the trafficking of women in the 'sex industry'. Another issue no doubt, like anti-Semitism, which will preoccupy the thoughts of his constituents and contribute to this odious attention seekers popularity amongst his electorate - NOT!.

In short, he made a complete fool of himself and should think twice before he appears again on 'Newsnight' so pathetically under informed about the subject, that it was embarrassing to watch!

Next year the good people of Rotherham Constituency will again be offered this inveterate self aggrandising, eurocentric, pompous and frankly unsympathetic politician as labour candidate at the General Election.

There are those from within the labour party that are still actively trying to unseat this odious man and to have him replaced with a more suitable candidate for their constituency. Close attention is being paid to his arrangements and claims and there is a fighting chance that, in this political climate, he could be replaced in short order if embarrassment should follow a detailed review. See previous story MP's Expenses - What's on the web.

One thing is quite clear, MacShane must come clean with his electorate and explain the way he has spent their money representing them in parliament, his use of the staff paid for from this money and explain why we have been obliged to pay for both MacShane's London Base and his constituency home, something I understood to be against even the old rules?

There are also people who are wishing to bring about MacShane's downfall by standing a candidate at next years General Election against him. Just such a potential candidate has emerged and is willing to stand. Councillor Peter Thirlwall has confirmed his intention to be a candidate next year. At last, in Peter, the people of Rotherham Constituency could have a candidate worthy of their trust and their vote.

Peter Thirlwall has attracted a great deal of local attention especially in our wonderful weekly, the Rotherham Advertiser. Both in articles and editorialised content, many aspects of this man have been probed and he has not been found wanting. On occasions even interesting 'Yorkshire's National Daily' the Yorkshire Post and Private Eye, the world's best satirical magazine.

Being an all round 'good egg' however is insufficient of itself to really make a difference for the people who vote in the Rotherham Constituency, they will need more, much more from him about what he represents and he will also need to explain his platform for the election and why he offers the best chance for genuine change here in Rotherham and to take a bold step away from the sterile politics of the class based parties that traditionally fight it out here in Rotherham.

The Conservatives in Rotherham in last Fridays (16th October 2009) Advertiser even paid Peter Thirlwall and his group of Independents the compliment of attacking them in the letters pages. Who was the author of the letter? Only the Conservative Group Leader himself! Cllr John Gilding, they must be worried! Bets are being taken on Rotherham Constituency being the only one in the country where the Conservative vote fell!

Things are getting interesting again - More soonest.