How democracy works...or doesn't...part 2

What's the point of an MP then? All they do is fiddle their expenses, open a few village fetes and vote how their party tells them to. That's the received wisdom isn't it? The less cynical response is that they hold the executive to account, ask awkward question and scrutinise legislation. Plus they might occasionally do something to help their constituency.

 

And so it comes to pass that one way MPs can make themselves useful is by sitting on parliamentary committees. But then how useful is that? This blog has already had a go at the Public Accounts Committee for its dumb approach to the tax affairs of the likes of Google, Starbucks, etc., etc. Now this bunch of financial wizards has been lambasted by BT for a similarly idiotic approach to Internet infrastructure upgrades. The BT head honcho accused them of rudely interrupting answers and being far more interested in generating headlines for themselves than getting at the facts. One reason for this is that, just as with the tax business, they're too thick to understand the facts. Another reason is that these things are often televised these days so playing to the gallery ensues.

 

So what's to be done? God only knows but it's clear that many of our MPs are just not up to the job. Perhaps there should be rigorous testing of prospective candidates rather than just some local big mouth or whoever's flavour of the month with the party and is parachuted in.

 

You get who you vote for but you can only vote for who you get given. IQ tests for prospective MPs now! And less of this stuff on TV.