MacSHANE SHOULD BE IN PRISON.

What is it that makes politicians almost universally corrupt ?

 

In 'tin-pot' third world dictatorships, national leaders habitually steal everything they can get their hands on and yet the developed world continues to pour in vast sums in so-called 'overseas aid'. Much of the money given by these countries simply disappears into the pockets of vicious tyrants such as Mugabe and, in the past, the likes of Bokassa. However, what we don't expect is for this same greed and corruption to occur in our own nation.

 

How wrong we are. The recent revelations of the activities of Labour MP, Denis MacShane, demonstrate that our own politicians are every bit as corrupt as those in other countries. MacShane has been suspended by his party and will almost certainly be suspended by the House of Commons within a few days for submitting entirely false and fraudulent expenses claims; a Parliamentary conmmittee has said that these were "plainly intended to deceive". He is, of course, not the first member of one or other of the Houses of Parliament to be caught out and he's unlikely to be the last, but his is a particularly corrupt case.

 

If MacShane were an ordinary member of the public, he would now be under arrest and would certainly be facing a lengthy prison sentence but, as a Member of Parliament, it seems that there are rules which prevent his prosecution. In this supposedly law-abiding country of ours, not only do our politicians routinely defraud the taxpayer, they have also provided themselves with a degree of immunity from the normal consequences of such behaviour. Is this really any different from the behaviour of dictators in the third world ?

 

MacShane is a crook and should be in prison. Unfortunately, the worst that is likely to happen to him is removal from his Parliamentary seat; this will simply free him to accept a variety of corporate posts which will bring him many more opportunities to enrich himself. Some punishment. Is it not time that we, the people, did something about the corrupt and self-serving political class which has failed so miserably to represent us and our interests for so many years ?