There is a statement that is often made by some people repulsed by the way that we are governed that Britain’s Members of Parliament don’t give a monkey’s chuff about the average person. That can be countered by pointing out the decent elected representatives at the Palace of Westminster of which there are some. However it’s difficult to defend any Member of Parliament when they either fail to prevent, or actively work towards an outcome that many citizens will see as perverse. I speak of the truly abhorrent situation of allowing a man of such questionable morals as Keith Vaz back on the House of Commons Justice Committee.
MP’s from across the political spectrum voted for Keith Vaz’s inclusion on the Justice Committee, which provides Parliamentary scrutiny of the legal system, despite Vaz’s current ‘rent boy and coke’ problems and his long record of dodginess including a passport scandal and other instances of questionable behaviour. This act looks like one that shows total contempt for the British people by members of the House of Commons. Here we have a man, Keith Vaz, who is still under police and Parliamentary investigation for alleged coke fuelled sex parties with East European rent boys now occupying a position where he gets a say in how the rest of us are judged by the courts or policed by the police. Given his current problems he’s the very last person who should be in such a position.
Re appointing Vaz to the Justice Committee is a perverse decision of the worst sort. Vaz should, because of both his previous reputation and his current troubles have been left in the wilderness on the backbenches to serve out his time until the next election. Vaz’s hands are so grubby and more importantly so many members of the public can see that they are grubby, that he should not have been considered for a position on such a powerful and influential committee. It is especially perverse when it is realised that this appointment has been made whilst Vaz is still under investigation. If Vaz does have some vital skills that he brings to the committee, something I personally doubt, then it would have been much better to await the results of the police and Parliamentary enquiries into Vaz’s behaviour before shoving him back onto the Justice Committee.
This is an arrogant and thoughtless decision by members of Parliament who have disregarded the disgust that many people will feel about Vaz’s record and also by the details of Vaz’s recent alleged behaviour, which included cheating on his wife and having unprotected penetrative sex with the rent boys. Vaz is one of those politicians whom you would think twice before purchasing a used car from, something that has been amply illustrated over many years of scandals associated with Vaz.
When the scandal over Vaz and the rent boys (Hmm could be a good ‘band name’ that lol) first broke many thought that at last justice had been done. Surely many thought, Vaz would not escape from this predicament and that he would be relegated permanently to the back benches and would be removed from any greater position of influence? Unfortunately the rest of the MP’s decided to stick two fingers up to the general public and keep Vaz in a position where he can do both great damage to the nation and also where Vaz will be in a position where he will be helping to provide Parliamentary oversight to the very police officers who are investigating him for the ‘coke and rent boys’ parties. Even if this decision to re appoint Vaz to the Justice Committee is not corrupt per se, it does give the distinct impression of corruption, which can be just as bad and just as damaging to the image and reputation of Parliament.
Parliament brought shame on itself when they voted Vaz back into this influential position. Parliament has also brought upon itself the disgust of a great many people. There will also be questions asked about how Parliament will behave when faced with more important issues? After all if they can put aside all thoughts of morality, probity, honesty and justice and re-elevate Vaz to the Justice Committee, then how will they behave when there are other more vital issues at stake?
With one vote, that of putting Vaz back onto the Justice Committee, the House of Commons has bought itself a whole lot more distrust from voters who like me will be disgusted by the naked arrogance of this decision.
Link
Sky News article on Keith Vaz
http://news.sky.com/story/mps-fail-to-bar-keith-vaz-from-commons-justice-role-10640330
