Alistair Carmichael memo leak and inquiry: should he resign?

[Colin]

"Expect them to resign.

If they refused to do this I would expect them to be expelled from their party.

In essence I think all sleazy politicians should be sacked by their bosses, that's us the electorate.
In the event of their wrongdoing coming out between elections and them refusing to step down they should be recalled and forced to hold a by-election to let their constituents decide."

 

Thank you and, my thoughts exactly but, in our "broken" (and token) democracy, MP's, once elected, can not resign/step down/whatever and, we have no power of "recall" in order to force another election.

 

As others have suggested, the only option that AC (or any other MP) has is to apply for inclusion in the Chiltern 100's and, only 2 at any one time may be appointed..  Dismissing MP's under the current system is, virtually, impossible as it is THEY who have to make the choice not us.

 

Expulsion from any political party does not, and can not, remove anyone as an MP and, if anything, in a "tight" parliament it gives them more clout as a "free agent" who is able to vote according to his/her own constituents wishes.

 

Oh, and once they are elected, we are NOT the "bosses".

[Capeesh]

^^^

I'm glad we agree.

Yes I'm aware that MPs have to effectively resign by applying for an office of profit under the Crown, steward of the chiltern 100's or steward of the manor of northstead.

This is a simple process there were two examples of it in the last parliament alone, the two Tory defectors did this and stood for re-election for UKIP in a by-election.

 

So in the case of Alistair Carmichael do you agree when he has the sheer brass neck to refuse to step down after being caught wrongdoing and when his fellow LIb Dems unbelievably think this is all hunky dory, are his constituents not entitled to place the largest amount of political pressure on him, or should we just let him off the hook and sweep it all under the carpet.

 

By the way, I in no way support the antiquated westminster parliamentary system.

It is unfortunate the right of recall act 2015 is not yet law, our MP would almost certainly have been forced to answer for his wrongdoings in a by-election.

[Windwalker]

When the SNP members responsible for mistruths about cutting health spending etc stand down, I would then back the "witch hunt", sorry campaign, for Carmichael to stand down. What I can't stand is the double standards being displayed, which is nothing other then a hidden agenda by the SNP, who will stop at nothing to get their way. Nearly everyone I've spoken too feels this is the case.

[Colin]

I don't believe that his party collegues think that it is all "hunky dory" and, yes, as constituents we are entitled to call him to account.

Unfortunately, the bulk of the "political pressure" seems to be coming from SNP supporters who are more than a little miffed that their "wannabee", "Old Etonian", "Head of Clan Skene" and "Tory/LibDem/SNP/Whatever" opportunist candidate didn't get his nose into the trough (again)..

For this reason (and the fact that I loathe anything to do with a "class" system), I think that AC, although he was wrong(?), should hold on to what he has and not be "bullied" into submission.  After all, although the margin was pitifully small, he did WIN the election and, personally, I don't think that his "leak" had any real bearing on the result.

 

As for referring to the SNP supporters as "dingalings", well I first did that nearly 30 years ago and, I make no apologies for  it.  Recent events have proven that I am, at least, partly right..   

 

NB;

 

To dispell any misconception (because this place is full of them)

I am NOT a LibDem.

I am NOT an SNP supporter.

I am NOT a UKIP supporter.

I am NOT a Labour supporter.

In fact, I am NOT a supporter of any political colour/persuasion

 

I simply vote for the candidate who I think would best support my interests..

Edited June 14, 2015 by Colin

[Distortio]

 

i just find it telling that while you regularly complain about dishonesty and lack of democracy you are perfectly happy to actively brush it under the carpet when it suits you politically. and furthermore you will label calls for accountability for the actions you complain about "a witch hunt" etc.

even if it was a witch hunt (which for the most part i don't believe it is) what's your problem with that. surely by your measure that's just part of the ruthless cut and thrust of politics, how did you put it? "kill your opponent by any means possible" wasn't it? so you don't like it when you think your political opponents are playing by the same rules you are happy enough to endorse/accept when it suits you.

 

What's the point of chopping one heads off the monster when it has hundreds of the things? Calling one to account is about as much use as catching one mouse, when your house is alive with them.

 

Its the system that is rotten, and the participants either have to get with the program or fail. It is the dishonesty and lack of democracy of the system that gets my goat, and no amount of shuffling the deckchirs on the Titanic by exchanging faces is ever going to make one iota of difference to that.

 

If this was a campaign to revolutionise how we are governed by imposing greater accountability and standards I could be persuaded to back it, all it is though is a small slightly distracting side show, which regardless how it plays out will not make one iota of difference in the final analysis - business with continue as before, and as is - aka. a monumental waste of time.

if it makes so little difference to you i find it surprising you've been such a regular contributor to the 17 pages of discussion on it...

 

fair enough, the system is flawed. not many would argue with that. you must find it a little ironic though that the party you're spending so much time criticising is one of the few which actually supports PR which would make a more representative system? (despite the fact it would result in them winning fewer seats)

 

I never said I wasn't happy for opponents to play by the same rules, by all means feel free to  "kill your opponent by any means possible", fill your boots, but at the same time don't expect me let you get on with it unhindered if I disagree with you, and not try to do exactly the same thing to you and the cause you choose to support - Which is exactly what I am doing and have been doing throughout this thread.

inviting others to join in the same dirty tricks campaign which prompted this thread and the complaints, investigations and legal action probably isn't the best way forward...

 

I was talking bout the lack of democracy, honesty and a level plying field in politics - NOT the media industry.

 

Two very different spheres.

there's a pretty big crossover though. the vast majority of people get their political information from tv/newspapers and if that media has a clear right wing bias then it seems pretty obvious there will be a similar right wing leaning in the voting patterns.

 

Just supposin this waste of money trumped up campaign were to succeed and Carmichael retired a few years earlier than he planned, the difference it would make to the 649 he left behind would be less than the passing of gas each of them made after eating lunch

well, how do you think turning a blind eye helps? you're basically saying "yeah we know you're all corrupt, noses in the trough etc, but that's fine, carry on, we don't really expect any better." surely if they saw their noses could be pulled from the trough they might be more inclined to get their house in order?

 

...but odin? really? i thought you didn't want anyone with religious convictions representing you? (course, that would rule out carmichael too, being a church elder and all...)

[George.]

Embattled Carmichael wins rare landslide victory - as you vote him the worst Secretary of State for Scotland since 1999

 

 

Heeheehee    

[Ghostrider]

....you....

 

 

New euphemism for "SNP supporters"?

[Capeesh]

A few new developments in the Alistair Carmichael scandal in Shetnews HERE

The Telegraph who printed the Carmichael leaked smear (which he later tried to cover up) are expected to be reprimanded by the Independent Press Standard Organisation (IPSO) for breaching the first clause in the editors code of conduct which insists publications "Must take care not to publish innacurate, misleading or distorted information."

Secondly the piece mentions the inquiry into Carmichaels behavior by the Parliamentary standards commissioner.

The article then goes on to describe the fact that a number of our MPs own constituents raised £61,000 to take their MP to court.

Lastly, the UK government have refused to publish the dodgy memo Carmichael leaked in the failed smear attempt, saying it would damage French relations (which begs the question why Alistair Carmichael sanctioned the release in the first place?)

All this is under the laughable headline "Business as usual for isles MP."

[Wheelsup]

so the authenticity of the  memo is being suppressed for diplomatic reasons?

[Suffererof1crankymofo]

so the authenticity of the  memo is being suppressed for diplomatic reasons?

 

Ah, but will its contents come to light during the forthcoming Court case?

[Colin]

Like I said earlier, The French wrote the book on diplomacy and, it's pretty certain that the outcome of the election and "preferences" might have been discussed.at the meeting.

[Capeesh]

The SNP lodged the freedom of information request for the full contents of the memo which suggests they know the attempted smear was untrue, as Alistair Carmichael admitted in his apology to Nicola Sturgeon and the French ambassador.

Maybe they lodged the FOI request to find out who else was in on it, for example the current Secretary of State for Scotland doesn't sound too convincing in this Sunday Politics interview:

Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcJWcjwYMfc

[George.]

The SNP lodged the freedom of information request for the full contents of the memo which suggests they know the attempted smear was untrue, as Alistair Carmichael admitted in his apology to Nicola Sturgeon and the French ambassador.

Maybe they lodged the FOI request to find out who else was in on it, for example the current Secretary of State for Scotland doesn't sound too convincing in this Sunday Politics interview:

Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcJWcjwYMfc

 

Hopefully David Mundell, and whoever else had their fingers in the pie, will pay for what they are guilty of, too.

Edited June 21, 2015 by George.

[George.]

Don't forget, he said it.....

 

[Urabug]

Perfect George--I bet you have told a lie!