And a Conservative wants more politicians?

Steve Tierney, who publishes a blog called "Getting the message out" and sub-titled "A Fenland blog with a Conservative flourish" raises an interesting point - and one not seen touched upon elsewhere.The interesting point he makes, without realising it, is Cameron's desire to strengthen the control of central government.

Writing that the Coalition wishes to cut the number of MPs in the Houses of Parliament and that meanwhile, there is some discussion going on about changing boundaries so that there will be fewer local councillors at county hall, Tierney continues:

"The spirit of government is that people have their own representative who will be their voice in the organisation.  The powers of patronage make this more difficult – particularly in national government.  So if you’ve been made a cabinet member, or a junior minister, or a permanent parliamentary secretary, or some other variation of appointed honourable position – you are then expected to always and absolutely vote with the whip.  Some might even suggest that the government has purchased those votes. If MPs are cut and the boundaries redrawn the effect will be to give even more power to the executive at the expense of the legislature.  There will be that many fewer backbenchers to hold their leaders to account...."

The first part of that statement is one I have covered, to a certain extent, most recently here and where, in other posts, I have argued that disenfrancisement of the electorate is taking place when MPs are appointed to ministerial office at whatever level. The second part, about the lack of backbench potential opposition I totally missed, so credit must go to Tierney for spotting that. Unfortunately Tierney, being the Cameronian that he presumably is, promptly spoils the trend of his post by stating that he does not wish to cut the number of MPs and Councillors - but would rather increase them, thus increasing the public payroll.

Whether the number of MPs is cut, thus reducing the backbench opposition is, in reality, neither here nor there as Whips treat their MPs as no more than voting fodder - and sadly MPs willingly fall into line, thus ignoring those whose views they are supposed to represent and as a result put the needs of their party above their constituents and their country.

In case it has slipped Tierney's notice, Conservative policy is to cut the public payroll, not increase it - however, as John Redwood posts, that policy appears to be another which is being broken. It would seem that those of us on the 'right' were right - that Cameron's Conservatives are in fact closet socialists!