Norman Baker - on the take I see?

[portlock seagull]

More reasons to dislike the MP for Lewes.....

BBC News - MPs' foreign visit rules breached

Liberal Democrat Norman Baker, who has been actively calling for a clean-up of Parliament following the expenses scandal, has admitted breaching the rules on 37 occasions.

 

[Martinf]

You could forgive once or maybe even twice but 37 times! Fucks sake!

 

[portlock seagull]

I know! 37 times, FFS!!!! Thieving git. Loves to portray himself as a hard-working and community minded. Well, apart from opposing what most of his constituents wanted, he's been on the take it seems.

Remember this come May 5th everyone!

 

[Bwian]

He's a politician-they're all a bunch of money grabbing hypocrites. He's just more odious than the others.

 

[Twinkle Toes]

Norman Baker, is a wanker, is a wanker.

 

[clapham_gull]

As much as it pains me to defend him, it's hardly the worst parliamentary crime in the big scheme of things is it.

He sits on a Tibet committee and is President of the Tibet society. Unpaid positions that he is hardly quiet about.

They've paid for him to go to Tibet and he forgot to declare "interests" when tabling early day motions on Tibet etc...

If anyone watched Dispatches tonight, you'd agree they are much more worrying things going on.

 

[Pot noodles for everyone]

I'd agree Clapham Gull, but is Baker being disingenuous in his response. It appears that he went only twice as a guest of Tibet-in-exile. Where were the other 35 breaches and what were they for?

Liberal Democrat Norman Baker, who has been actively calling for a clean-up of Parliament following the expenses scandal, has admitted breaching the rules on 37 occasions.

In a statement to the BBC, Mr Baker accepts he failed to declare an interest when leading debates and tabling questions about topics such as human rights in Tibet. He has travelled to India twice, courtesy of the Tibet Society and the Tibet government-in-exile. "I should have then declared a relevant interest in respect of the parliamentary activities you list," he said. "It is an unintended oversight that I did not."

BBC News - MPs' foreign visit rules breached

 

[clapham_gull]

I'd agree Clapham Gull, but is Baker being disingenuous in his response. It appears that he went only twice as a guest of Tibet-in-exile. Where were the other 35 breaches and what were they for?

Liberal Democrat Norman Baker, who has been actively calling for a clean-up of Parliament following the expenses scandal, has admitted breaching the rules on 37 occasions.

In a statement to the BBC, Mr Baker accepts he failed to declare an interest when leading debates and tabling questions about topics such as human rights in Tibet. He has travelled to India twice, courtesy of the Tibet Society and the Tibet government-in-exile. "I should have then declared a relevant interest in respect of the parliamentary activities you list," he said. "It is an unintended oversight that I did not."

BBC News - MPs' foreign visit rules breached

I think they refer to the numerous early days motions he has tabled on the subject of Tibet, without declaring he has "an interest".

Sorry made me laugh, it is like disciplining Father Christmas for asking a question on reindeer.

 

[Driver 8]

Why are all these MPs asking questions on behalf of foreign countries? Other than the fact they are doing it to bag foreign holidays on the cheap if David Lepper were my MP I would rather he was concentrating on things closer to home rather than asking loads of questions about f***ing Cyprus. The more that comes out about these MPs (of all persuasions) the more bent and self serving they appear.

 

[clapham_gull]

Why are all these MPs asking questions on behalf of foreign countries? Other than the fact they are doing it to bag foreign holidays on the cheap if David Lepper were my MP I would rather he was concentrating on things closer to home rather than asking loads of questions about f***ing Cyprus. The more that comes out about these MPs (of all persuasions) the more bent and self serving they appear.

I agree, but I think that's a bit harsh on Baker.

 

[Pot noodles for everyone]

I think they refer to the numerous early motions he has tabled on the subject of Tibet.

Ahh...In which case, I agree with you - chairmanship of the Free Tibet committee or whatever position he holds kind of implies a pretty big interest, wouldn't it?

 

[clapham_gull]

Ahh...In which case, I agree with you - chairmanship of the Free Tibet committee or whatever position he holds kind of implies a pretty big interest, wouldn't it?

Yes

 

[Driver 8]

I agree, but I think that's a bit harsh on Baker.

That's why I used David Lepper as an example. Have a look at Richard Spring. Holidays for free in Mauritius and then asks three questions in the commons. I used to think an MPs salary was a bit on the low side given their responsibility but now realise their actual salary is irrelevant as they never pay for anything! It's about time we had another Guy Faulks.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Baker was campaigning on behalf of the Tibetans long before he became an MP.

 

[Driver 8]

Baker was campaigning on behalf of the Tibetans long before he became an MP.

Did they have a say in the matter?

 

[vulture]

please people of lewes vote this bald -unt out

 

[Guy Fawkes]

It's about time we had another Guy Faulks.

What - I'm not good enough

 

[Guy Fawkes]

please people of lewes vote this bald -unt out

I fear the people of Lewes will re-elect him, well they are a couple of decades behind the rest of the country so expect them to finally realise what a theiving he is in the year 2030.


I just hope he decides to stand down at the next election afterall he's being caught out after trying to play an anti-corruption and clean up Parliament campaigner.

 

[The Large One]

He is standing again, but to be fair to him - the charge of 'corruption' is a bit strong here.

He hasn't fiddled the UK taxpayer, he has asked questions without declaring an interest. Bit of a difference.

 

[Guy Fawkes]

He is standing again, but to be fair to him - the charge of 'corruption' is a bit strong here.

He hasn't fiddled the UK taxpayer, he has asked questions without declaring an interest. Bit of a difference.

He has been rewarded for asking questions about a certain subject in Parliament, something he might not have done if he hadn't been influenced by a) someone buying time with him to influence him and possibly his question in Parliament or b) a free trip which could be seen as somone trying to influence him, c) he failed to inform people (possibly policy makers) than his input to proceedings may have been influenced and that he has a vested interest - this could have altered any findings or answers

He has set himself up as someone who is looking to expose corruption and clean up Parliament, so by his own doing, he has been caught being corrupt and therefore should go asap. Whats the difference between what he has done and say an MP who claimed for a small item like a Mars Bar on expenses when they shouldn't be which he was trying to expose in his campaign?

So whats the difference between receiving a free trip somewhere or being given cash to ask questions or influence Parliamentary debates?

Ok, so human rights in Tibet may be seen as a nobel cause, but whats to say that other parties haven't influenced all of his Parliamentary career, were companies that stood to benefit from say building flood defenses in Lewes exerting an influence on him to press for the improvements in the town? or has there been any perks given to him for any of the other questions he has asked that he has also failed to declare?

Failing to declare an influence once or twice as an oversight?, maybe, but 37 times seems too often to be unintentional or being acceptable.