Oct 30 2009
Today I find that Parliament is experimenting with free child and student labour to do the jobs of MPs. What if they do well? Could it catch on? What would Mopy (Members of Parliament Union) and Health and Safety say about that?
John Redwood has been the Member of Parliament for Wokingham since 1987. First attending Kent College, Canterbury, he graduated from Magdalen College...
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They couldn’t do worse. Having watched the slanging match on wednesday lunch, I’d imagine it will be more dignified. Although it will achieve as much as an Early Day Motion. Best wishes to the kids, they might learn something, only wish the current lot would too.
This all sounds very interesting.
Please tell us more.
Assume all involved have of course been CRB checked.
You should see the volume of paper exercises slung at us lot at parish council level- we are middle aged volunteers too- and it is exhausting and time consuming sometimes trying to keep up with new regulations and ticking boxes etc.
We have to satisfy every criteria for the Standards board of England- Parish, District and County councillors are pounced on and humiliated if they err.
The trickle down effect from government is like a flood now, how I wish I could claim for paper and office space and filing cabinets and a printer!
As long as I’m allowed to do it and not have some government bully-boy prosecute me for failing to pay the minimum wage, fine.
But methinks we are back to the netherworld of one rule for Parliament, another for the plebs…
Remember to get yourselves CRB checked and to go on the IBS (or whatever its acronym is) database.
After all, there is a faint possibility that some of you might possibly perhaps (although highly improbably) be fantasizing about maybe telling children off in stern voice. No chance is too small to ignore, even if it is microscopically unlikely…….
Just seen a short report on the Youth debate in Parliament on TV News.
What a good idea, reflects your own initiative of a yearly debate competition between local schools here in Wokingham, which has been running now for a few years.
Never know, may be a Prime Minister in waiting amongst them, good to see access made for a number of those in wheelchairs as well.
I have my doubts, the children and even students would never be able to shift booze at the level that some members can. As for the after hours personal interests of some……….
John
I don’t wish to become irritating so I promise not to raise this subject again. You spoke of supporting British manufacturing/engineering. If you recall I said that Toyota are starting production of a new Hybrid car here in blighty.
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Secret-new-cars/Search-Results/Spyshots/Toyota-Auris-Hybrid-2010-new-spyshot/
If “DC” could twist the arm of fleet managers to buy them on mass it would be great. Being Toyota they are nice cars. However I know there are euro rules about allowing “fair” placement of contracts.
All you have to do is say that the car in question must be able to travel a distance with ZERO emissions. Toyota will be the “Only show in town” as the French & German 99 CO2 cars are diesels.
Cheers
From what I have seen on TV today the young people genuinely are managing a better quality of debate than the usual. I would beware of being condescending, they will have the last laugh.
My eldest son was slung out of Secondary modern at the age of 16. I took him to the dole myself. Guess what? An architect walked in and, because it was still the time of the Youth Employment Scheme, took four “useless” boys back to his office. After a month they were earning him serious money.
My son is now an RIBA and an associate Director.
Three days ago I watched, horrified as about 20 “NEETs” were treated to a Primary School type art class. Two of the boys were throwing paper darts at teach other. No hope there.
So – anything that gives hope to the hopeless is something which I really welcome.
I would have thought we could outsource parliament to Indian nationals like the rest of the workers in this country
Mike Stallard:
It makes your heart bleed for the poor young people..how it does.
Hmmm. Softening us all up for votes at 16 I suspect. Another giant step on the road to perdition.
I think today’s exercise would have better reflected the make-up of the Commons if the kids had come from Feltham Young Offenders Prison.
When I heard this on the news I thought it was an insult to use the cradle of democracy as a venue for this useless talking shop, on second thoughts….
True Belle: “We have to satisfy every criteria for the Standards board of England- Parish, District and County councillors are pounced on and humiliated if they err.”
In a democracy, if that were what we were living in, such a thing as ‘The Standards Board of England’ would not be tolerated. It is an abomination, the spawn of a poisoned mind.
If Cameron’s Tory party takes power next year the first of the QUANGOs that should go is the Standards Board, then the BBC.
But they won’t, they will think they can turn the Standards Board to their advantage, so it will continue to exert its malignant influence, this time sponsored by Blu Labour.
Sir,
What do you mean, found out today?
I sent you a letter inviting you to attend the Youth Parliament Debates and meet with me over lunch a week ago to which I received no response.
I think we did a pretty good job. For one, speaker didn’t have to shut us up like he regularly does to your lot at PMQs! Never once was it said “There is simply too much noise!”
My speech, Votes@16, which was the one we voted for as our main issue, was not broadcast by BBC Parliament as they decided to just cut the debates in half.
Will send you a link when I get it online. If you’re interested.
James
I put an empty cardboard box under my letterbox, it just fills up with Junk mail and demands for money.
I feel I should put in a claim for my time involved in answering all these letters.
Are we really any better off than your average caveman from 10,000 yrs ago.
I bet he spent 4 hrs per day hunting, picking berries then that was it, rest of the day off, back to the cave with his friends and family.
I don’t want anything to do with this anymore, its mindless.
this must be the youth parliament.
Bunch of dullards at the best of times. So desperate to be politicians they forgot to have opinions of their own.
This is no joke. I am horrified to hear that a friend’s son is serving an UNPAID four year apprenticeship with a local airline.
There is no help from either the state or the young man’s employer. Yet again we have an example of how recent policies have made British people subservient… unless they are intent on a life on the dole of course.