I came across Labour MP Paul Flynn’s blog during the course of my research project
into MPs who write blogs and two-way communication. And I really think it is a good read.
Paul is not afraid to speak his mind, he understands the essence of political blogging – that writing propaganda will turn people off, that the last thing you want to write is a political leaflet. Oh, and at 72, he is the 10th oldest MP and is currently up for re-selection in Newport West. In fact, could he be the oldest blogging MP in the UK? I would imagine so.
He has written a great post today about Iraq and the Campbell diaries, describing the forceful bullying and bribing of reluctant Labour MPs so Blair could win his vote.
“Where were these sick-with-doubt cabinet ministers? They were running around cajoling, twisting arms and mouthing threats. All of them. Can it be true that members of the Labour Cabinet were no more sentient that Thatcher’s ‘vegetables.’?”
He has just celebrated 20 years as an MP and his wife made the following toast:
“Here’s to the Honourable member’s 20 years. He has never taken a bribe, or ever been corrupt. Yet we still love him.”
It made me smile.
Ha! That is too funny, Ellee!!
Hello stranger – don’t see you much these days. The thing with blogs, labour or otherwise, is how close many of us are on most issues. It’s only in certain areas we differ and yet party politics would have us believe we’re sworn enemies.
IS there such a thing as an honest politician?
I am encourgaed to read this!
Good for him. A rare politician indeed.
I don’t read Labour blogs except the welll known ones, so it was interesting to come across this one. There are lots of good Tory MPs’ blogs too, more of that later.
That’s a nice toast from his wife. I’m going to read his blog now.
Paul Flynn is the one MP, let alone Labour MP, that told the truth on the magic mushroom fiasco that happened in London a few years back.
Not only did parliament pretend that class A drugs were not being sold openly on our streets, the Met and every local authority concerned did.
Two people ended up commiting suicide under the influence of these drugs during the time they were being openly sold on Camden and Portabello road markets.