Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

POLITICAL SLEAZE

I may be the only opposition MP not rejoicing at the current troubles of the government over political donations. Why? Because actually the issues involved are relatively trivial and the scandal only serves to drag all of us down, undermining confidence in the entire political system. Already people think we are all in it for ourselves and all as bad as each other.

In my job as chairman of my party’s international office I travel a lot to countries that are struggling to find their feet on the rocky journey towards good governance. In almost of these countries in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the public square is bighted with deep-seated corruption: nepotism, back-handers, bribes for government contracts and personal pocket lining from the public purse – it is endemic from top to bottom. It will probably take generations to get all of these things ironed out in some countries, if it ever happens. We take for granted the benefits of a free press, an independent judiciary and verifiably free and fair elections. We shouldn’t – they are the safeguard for the freedoms we enjoy in Britain, imperfect though they are.

What I am about to say will anger some of you, but I am going to say it anyway: Here in the UK we do not really have corruption in our political system. In fact, we probably have the cleanest politics in the world. Even the so-called sleaze during the Major years hardly deserved the name – a handful of human beings behaving badly, whipped out of all proportion by a bored media. What we have now – “donorgate” as some have dubbed it – concerns one northern business man giving money to a political party through acquaintances. It was wrong, stupid (difficult to understand) and the people concerned should be held to account.

But as the scandal rumbles on I fear that only three things will result. First, more good people will be turned away from politics. Second, the public confidence in all politicians will be further undermined. Third, a new system of funding political parties will be introduced that will cost the tax payer more without resulting in better governance.

But the national press can smell blood and so off they go, teeth bared, hunting as a pack, determined for a kill. Thank goodness we have a free press, but don’t let Fleet Street decide who governs this country – that should be for you to determine.

posted by Nigel on Friday, December 07, 2007