Representing the People...

Just when I thought the MPs' expenses scandal couldn't get any worse, Esther Rantzen declared that she was considering standing at the next general election. Yeah, that's just what we need to restore credibility to Parliament and the political process - celebrities invading the House. The last thing we need right now are yet more rampant egos hell-bent on showing us how wonderful and caring they are sitting in Parliament. Surely that was a major contributing factor to the present crisis - the fact that over the past few decades we've been electing more and more self-serving bastards who have forgotten that they are in Parliament to represent us, and instead have been attracted by the fame, the status the power and the money, that comes with the job. Pretty much the same things which motivate others to try and become celebrities. I sincerely hope that Rantzen's ludicrous bid for publicity doesn't spark a stampede of celebrities to try and get elected as independent 'anti-corruption' candidates. Rather than yet more preening egotists, what Parliament desperately needs is an influx of MPs with some concept of public service.

The question is, of course, would voters actually support a celebrity who stood against the main parties in their constituency? Are they that stupid? I hope not. Indeed, if anyone would be tempted to vote for such a novelty candidate, should the opportunity arise, I would strongly advise against it. Don't forget, that you are electing someone to represent your interests in Parliament. Independent candidates of any ilk are ill-equipped to be effective representatives. Like it or not, affiliation to one of the major parties gives an individual MP far more clout when trying to further his or her constituents' interests with either the government, or other bodies. No matter how tempting voting for the protest candidate might seem, just ask yourself whether it will really have any impact in the long run? After all, wasn't Martin Bell elected as an independent MP on an anti-corruption ticket more than a decade ago? He really cleaned up British politics, didn't he?