Eric Pickles picks apart Chris Shaw's proposal to abolish all 650 MPs

“I have had brief dealings with Mr Shaw and I am sorry to say a blinkered horse sees the wider picture better than Mr Shaw. He like many councilors have reached their lofty posistion not by what they know but who they know. That is very dangerous indeed as he like many of his counterparts do not has the skills of knowledge to do the job they are intrusted with. And it the people on the streets who suffer as a concequence.”

“PPS
My idea is that we should have an apolitical Senate. (Previous membership of any political party would disbar someone from becoming a Senator.)

The Senate's role would be reject any action or proposed legislation not previously stated in the Manifesto, eg a random decision to bomb or invade another country (with all the expense that entails) ... and, in the first place, to have rejected any Manifesto too ambiguous, ill-defined or imprecise. Would-be rulers should be able to anticipate quite a bit, or they're not up to it. Only really big events, on a scale such as the Fall of Communism or the Fall of Apartheid might call for a National response council. But things like the Poppies of Mass Destruction ... everyone can see. (So to leave out something like that would cause the Senate to reject the Manifesto.)

Any thoughts, anyone ?

l2”

“PS
I'm still wondering if there would be mileage in petitioning the Queen over all this. (The trouble with Judicial Review is a), that it concerns itself not with the quality of the decision, but only with whether the decision-makers adhered to the proper process, and b), that it costs a fortune every time you have one.)

Though non-elected, and still non-representative of us, HMQ could be one of the few people in a privileged enough position to have her voice heard as regards (her) people's wishes.
Does anyone know if that would be a runner ?

l2”

“Talking turkey, Donnie: let's mix it a bit, shall we ? Not only do porkers not vote for Sunday roast, they want their cake and to eat it. I wouldn't normally back a local despot, even on coastal path issues (or, especially not on coastal path issues) ... but if you are gonna have a United States of Europe, why do u also need 650 unux (or indeed, any at all) ?

The one thing u are NOT gonna have, though, is any say in it. It's fat cats in the middle versus porkers on the right (with no tricky left-winger to be seen anywhere, 'cept maybe on the Park). Gobblin' turkeys, to a man.”

“An italian comedian Beppo Grrillo became a politician. Judging by his actions since the last election Councillor Shaw is trying to reverse Beppos achievements. I hesitate to call CS a politician but he ignores the electors wishes and refuses to divulge details of a report paid for by the population that may not confirm his views.
He should have been a Tory.”

“Mr Pickles has all the councils in his back pocket.He can do what he likes with them.A bit on the despotic side. Not to my liking .”

“The only reason Pickles tore Chris Shaws proposal apart is that he's worried he won't have the money to buy all those fattening dinners and lunches oh yes and all the pies.”

“How could he for one minute have thought his idea would go anywhere or be considered? This part of the country is allready a backwater, we don't need Shaw to rub it in. The man is in need of a MRI scan. That or as Robbie Williams said in Good morning Vietnam.”

“Why not do away with elections as well and save MP's to more money?

I've just remembered where I first saw this suggestion - it was in the Telegraph from Chris Shaw!

It seems like Shaw is in favour of anything that will give him more power!”

“Local councils like to play politics while central government actually govern. If we follow Chris Shaw's plan, then the country would be in worse shape than ever.

However, if we were to get rid of all the local politicians....

you get the picture”