Jack Straw is worried about MPs’ reputations.
The reputation of MPs will be damaged if they do not have a stronger role in scrutinising proposed new laws, new Commons leader Jack Straw has warned.
Mr Straw said the Commons should be careful otherwise it would be judged badly in comparison with the Lords.
I’ll pause for a moment and get something to hold my jaw back where it belongs. Run that by me again? Oh, yes, something about scrutinising new laws in case they are judged badly in comparison with the Lords. Jack, where were you my old mucker when the ID cards bill was being debated? What have you to say about the exceedingly dangerous Legislative and regulatory reform bill? What about your political master’s idiotic, shoot-from-the-hip, populist comments about lynch law summary justice?
He said ministers created further problems for themselves by resisting constructive criticisms of their plans.
Constructive criticism is clearly a concept that bypassed the two recent incumbents in the home office. I wonder if the current one will take notice?
“It’s never seemed to me to be sensible to have a standing committee run where you are resisting everything, because you are often storing up problems for yourself in the Lords.”
Indeed. Having read the transcripts of the ID cards bill during the committee stage, I was appalled at the bullying, hectoring resistance from the odious McNulty. So, Jack, when are you going to clean up your own back yard? Telling us what we already know isn’t going to cut it. :dry: