Make MPs Accountable

Power Corrupts and Absolute Power
Corrupts Absolutely
Lord John Dalberg-Acton - 1887

There can be no doubt, that the lack of moral fortitude in the Political Elite has left a stain on the country, created a toxic and greed-driven society, broken the public trust, and ruined a political party (rightly so).

However, along the way, this last scandal-ridden Government has also ruined the lives of the very people they were elected to serve

The only way to rebuild trust is to introduce accountability.
That starts with the local constituents

1. Performance Based Politics
An innovative policy to withhold £25,000 or 25% of the MP salary which their constituents vote on each year, to determine whether the MP is sufficiently upholding their pledges as to warrant the release of funds

2 Constituent Power
Expand the oversight and tighten up the toothless: "Recall of MPs" Act
Constituents must be allowed to kick-start the Recall of an MP, without Westminster approval

3 Proceeds of Crime
The misuse of power for personal gain and theft from the public purse, should be punishable to the same extent as the other vile and corrupt deeds
MPs should be stripped of privileges, pensions, and monies gained. They should face a judge who has the power to remove from them the product and benefit of their abuse of power

As a reminder, here's what the CONservative Government allowed to happen during its 14-year term of "Governance"

1. Partygate Scandal (2021-2022):
   Parties and social gatherings at Downing Street and other government buildings during COVID-19 lockdowns, which ultimately contributed to Boris Johnson's resignation as Prime Minister after The Privileges Committee found that he deliberately misled (lied) to Parliament on multiple occasions. Rishi Sunak also attended parties.
   The Political Elite held an 'Inquiry' and fined themselves £50 whilst members of the public were arrested, given criminal records, taken to court, and fined £10,000
   
   
2. 2024 United Kingdom General Election Betting Scandal:
   Several Conservative Party members, including candidates and officials, were investigated for allegedly placing bets on the election date using insider information. This led to the withdrawal of support for two Conservative candidates, Craig Williams and Laura Saunders.
   
   
3. Windrush Scandal (2018):
   The scandal stemmed directly from the "hostile environment" policy introduced by Theresa May as Home Secretary in 2012 and continued under subsequent Conservative governments. This policy aimed to make life difficult for illegal immigrants but ended up affecting legal residents as well
   
   
4. Post Office Horizon Scandal:
   Although this scandal began before the Conservatives came to power, it continued under their governance and gained significant attention in recent years. Hundreds of subpostmasters were wrongly accused of theft, fraud, and false accounting due to a faulty IT system.
   
   
5. MPs' Expenses Scandal (2009-2010):
   While this scandal began under the previous Labour government, it continued into the early days of the Conservative-led coalition government and led to reforms implemented by the Conservatives
   
   
6. (PPE) Scandal involving Matt Hancock
   Matt Hancock, as Health Secretary, was involved in awarding large PPE contracts during the COVID-19 pandemic and criticized as likely fraudulent and wasteful
   The PPE Scandal: A Timeline of Key Events2020:
   • Early 2020: The UK government begins awarding large PPE contracts as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds.
   • May-June 2020: PPE Medpro, a company linked to Conservative peer Michelle Mone, is awarded two contracts worth £203 million through the government's "VIP lane".
   • October 2020: By this time, the Department of Health and Social Care had spent approximately £15 billion on PPE contracts, but only £2.68 billion worth had been made public.
   2021:
   • February 19, 2021: A High Court judge rules that Matt Hancock, as Health Secretary, acted unlawfully by failing to publish details of COVID-19 related contracts within the required 30-day timeframe.
   • May 2021: The National Crime Agency (NCA) opens an investigation into suspected criminal offenses in the procurement of PPE contracts by PPE Medpro.
   • June 26, 2021: Matt Hancock resigns as Health Secretary following a scandal unrelated to PPE contracts.
   2022:
   • April 2022: NCA investigation leads to searches on several properties in the Isle of Man and London, including those linked to Michelle Mone and PPE Medpro.
   2023:
   • March 1, 2023: Matt Hancock fights claims that he rejected advice to give COVID tests to all residents going into English care homes.
   • June 5, 2023: Hancock apologizes for a "minor breach" of the MPs' code of conduct related to lobbying rules.
   • November 2023: The NCA questions Matt Hancock and Michael Gove as witnesses in the PPE Medpro investigation.
   
   The PPE scandal involves allegations of cronyism, lack of transparency, and potential misuse of public funds. It includes the controversial "VIP lane" for politically connected companies, contracts awarded to firms with little relevant experience, and significant amounts of unusable or overpriced equipment. The scandal has led to ongoing investigations and calls for a comprehensive inquiry into potential corruption and profiteering during the pandemic