New Speaker may be tainted before they start

Many people were hoping that the election of a new Speaker today might usher in with it a greater era of transparency, accountability and - dare we say - democracy into the tainted House of Snouts.

Alas, if reports in two of today's broadsheets are anything to go by, we're in for more of the same.

The Times states that Labour Party whips are working behind the scenes and are "accused of colluding with Conservatives" to ensure Margaret Beckett is elected the new Speaker.

What makes The Times' claim more credible is the very similar story running in The Telegraph. Where the two differ in early reports is that The Telegraph names at least one of the MPs blowing the whistle on interference by Labour Party whips in the race to become Speaker.

So, if Margaret Beckett wins the Speaker gig today, the British public are probably going to see her with at least as much disdain as they viewed Michael Martin. Which makes the whole thing a farce, a charade beneath contempt.

Let us remember that the whips - which all political parties have - are the people who bend the arm of your MP to make them toe the party line. What that means is that your MP might not be able to vote how you want them to - even if they agree with you, support your view, and stood on a specific manifesto commitment.

A referendum on the Constitutional Lisbon Treaty, perhaps.

The whips system taints British politics as much as dodgy expenses, because it works to ensure that your MP does not serve YOU, the voter and taxpayer, it merely makes politicians into subservient tribal lapdogs.

--

Talking of being made subservient little lapdogs, The Guardian is reporting another case which should cause concern to civil libertarians. As in the recent past, it's a shocking piece of video footage that we are being asked to form our opinions on.

If it carries on at this rate, they'll soon be using tasers on us for dropping litter.

We did hope to start the day with a funny slogan and a comic make up of the person we wanted to see made Speaker in a wig and flowing black gown.

Alas, we are starting the week in the same way as we ended the last one - somewhat depressed at the state of democracy and oppression in Britain and seriously praying for the end of the nightmare that is ZaNuLiebour.