Prescott spreads the blame

Robert Anton Wilson often promoted the idea of reading the books your opponents read so that you can understand their mindset. In keeping with this idea I've been having a nose around the blog of the ex-Deputy Prime Minister John 'two jags, two shags' Prescott who is often described as being one of the few Labour people who "get" blogging.

His latest contribution? To claim that along with reform for the way that MPs claim their expenses along with the BBC and NHS. I agree with him that those national bodies need to be transparent about how they spend public money. I'm not convinced that that is the same conversation as how MPs have systematically abused their position for personal gain but there you go.

He's also concerned about a civil servant leaking information to the opposition that could be used to embarrass the Government of the day. Here's Gordon's take on that subject


But that's all in the past isn't it? Line drawn underneath and moved on?

The other point that he raises is that the media need tighter regulation in the wake of the MP expense scandal. He offers the opinion that the Telegraph may have breached the existing regulations if they paid for the disc that contains scans of the receipts and says that tougher regulation is needed because parliament was going to publish the receipts in July anyway. The only problem is that those receipts were in the process of being redacted by the claimants. Ample opportunity for removing embarrassing details from the public eye in the name of 'security'.

John .. .. .. I think you do 'get' blogging, I just don't think you 'get' how angry the public are. At all.