An MP's expenses joke.

Conservativehome are asking for MP Expenses jokes. Here's mine

Speaker Michael Martin had a unique way to keep an eye on MP's expenses. He had a clock made with extra big fingers that would tick on one minute every time a dodgy claim was submitted.

When asked where he kept the clock, Martin said "It's on my desk, I find it makes an excellent fan".

Don't forget the Conservative bloggers (and friends) get-together/p*ss-up next Saturday in Westminster.

Power to the People - A beginning?

Something great and historic has happened over the last month or so. Something has changed. It has changed in dribs and drabs, but when put together, the changes have the potential to be highly significant. What has happened is a power grab by the people, from the establishment - and it's all thanks to the media - both old and new.

Two months ago we had a sleazy, dirty element operating out of No10's back office. Thanks to Guido and Iain Dale, that element has been removed. We also suspected that our MPs were fleecing us but we couldn't prove it. Guido and other bloggers did their best to expose those MPs with dodgy expenses, and finally the Telegraph got hold of the truth and we were met with the terrible extent of the troughing. We have expressed our outrage and heads have rolled. Many more will follow.

Today the Speaker Michael Martin had to step down. It wasn't because MPs wanted to see the back of him, it was because the people wanted it. MPs have been forced over the last couple of months to answer to the people who put them in Westminster. They know that party members are sick of the greed and the sleaze, and that those members are more than willing to deselect them. Labour MPs especially know that many of them are going to lose their jobs come the general election unless they can get the people back on side. MPs are making their expenses "transparent" not because they want to, but because we have demanded it.

We have seen a government with a majority lose a vote because they did not understand how the public viewed the matter. We have seen that same government cancel votes for fear of losing more. We have seen policies dropped with u-turn after u-turn. The balance of power is shifting back to the people, and we have the media to thank for it.

What do you think. Are we seeing a transfer of power to the people?

Is Michael Martin about to resign as Speaker?

Is Michael Martin about to resign as Speaker? The rumour has it that Martin will announce that he is going to step down in a statement to be made at 2:30 today. Not before time in my opinion. Yesterday was a low point in our political history and I hope that on reflection of his actions, Martin will do the decent thing this afternoon. I wonder if the number of people signing Douglas Carswell's EDM since yesterday has influenced the Speaker's decision?

The next question is who is to replace him? Frank field or Vince Cable would both be worthy choices. However, I would like to see Ken Clarke get the position. Not because he is the best man for the job, but rather because it would get him out of the way. I still think bringing him back was a bad idea, and he will be used as a stick to beat us with by Brown when it comes to Europe.

UPDATE: Martin is also to step down as an MP. This will lead to a very interesting by-election.

Calling all Gosport Conservatives - Speaker's statement.

If you are as appalled as I am about the Speaker's Statement this afternoon, then please join me in asking our MP Peter Viggers to sign Douglas Carswell's Early Day Motion:

"That this House has no confidence in Mr Speaker and calls for him to step down; notes that Mr Speaker has failed to provide leadership in matters relating to hon. Members' expenses; believes that a new Speaker urgently needs to be elected by secret ballot, free from manipulation by party Whips, under Standing Order No. 1B; and believes that a new Speaker should proceed to reform the House in such a way as to make it an effective legislature once again."

You can Email Peter by clicking this link: mailto:duggang@parliament.uk

Update: Here is my email to Peter Viggers:

Peter,

Having watched the Speaker's statement this afternoon, I ask that you, as my representative in parliament, sign Douglas Carswell's EDM:

"That this House has no confidence in Mr Speaker and calls for him to step down; notes that Mr Speaker has failed to provide leadership in matters relating to hon. Members' expenses; believes that a new Speaker urgently needs to be elected by secret ballot, free from manipulation by party Whips, under Standing Order No. 1B; and believes that a new Speaker should proceed to reform the House in such a way as to make it an effective legislature once again."

Best Regards

Steve Green

Constituent and Party member/activist.

The Speaker's statement - He must go now.

What a load of old bollocks! Is this what we call democracy in this country? We can't debate whether he should step down or not. The government has to put forward the motion - like that's going to happen. Michael Martin had to ask the Clerk for advice on the ways and means of holding a debate. He's about as much use as a snooze button on a smoke alarm.

If anything, I now believe that this statement has made MPs even more determined that Martin must go. I think we will now see more signatures on Douglas Carswell's EDM.

Speaker Michael Martin 3/1 to go before General Election.

With growing demands that Michael Martin should step down as Speaker, William Hill have slashed their odds for him to go before the General Election.

From William Hill:

WILLIAM HILL have cut their odds that Speaker Michael Martin will step down before the General Election, from 5/1 to 3/1 and offer 2/9 that he will not. 'The feeling is growing that the Speaker is rapidly losing support and could be a convenient scapegoat for the current situation' said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.HILLS MAKE ALAN HASELHURST AND MENZIES CAMPBELL 3/1 JOINT FAVOURITES to succeed Michael Martin as permanent Speaker, and have seen good support for Sylvia Heal, down from 16/1 to 7/1 third favourite, and Sir George Young, in from 33/1 to 10/1 fourth favourite.

If Martin does not step down soon, then he has no shame. He has lost the confidence of many MPs, and that should be enough to tell anyone that it is time to go. But I suppose he will just desperately hang on to his position like his mate Gordon.