The Sunday
MurdockTimes: Two more ministerial 'cabs for hire'… This weekend a YouGov poll of more than 1,500 people for The Sunday Times shows that by nearly two to one, 49% to 29%, voters agree with Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, that this is the most corrupt parliament in Britain's history.
Nick Clegg always struck me as a reasonably sensible chap, not given over to hyperbole. The most corrupt parliament in Britain's history? Seriously? Did he actually do history at school? Has he forgotten what things were like before the Great Reform Act of 1832? No parliamentary representation for entire cities; rotten boroughs; the vast majority of men unentitled to vote (and no women whatsoever).
Surely Nick Clegg must be pulling our leg.
But no, let's read what Mr Clegg actually said:
Hansard: Prime Minister's Questions, 24 Mar 2010
Mr. Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam) (LD): … Is not the truth that this Parliament will go down as the most corrupt in living memory because [the Labour and Conservative parties] both blocked reform?
So, there you have it. It's not the most corrupt parliament in Britain's history; it's the most corrupt parliament in living memory. A small, but significant difference.
We'll sleep sounder in our beds knowing that.
But if, by any chance, you're considering not voting in the forthcoming General Election, remember your history, and the people who died to earn you the right to vote.
During his U.S. tour of 1988, Frank Zappa encouraged young concert goers to register to vote during the intermissions. This proved so successful that senators passed a law forbidding this from happening at rock concerts. Apparently they were happy with middle class, middle aged middle America voting, but didn't want too many young people influencing the polls.
All together now...God bless America, land of the free....
I share the view that everyone has a responsibility to use their vote. That said, if they're proposing to use it to vote BNP or UKIP,I'd be quite prepared for them to be disenfranchised on the grounds of racism, xenophobia, stupidity or any combination of the three.