MPs being ignored — Meacher

MICHAEL Meacher says a website should be set up to show the public MPs are voting for change — but are being ignored.

The site would explain Parliamentary procedure to voters said the Oldham West and Royton MP, who is spearheading the idea.

“Parliament is currently not fit for purpose. Perhaps the most effective way of making progress is greater awareness among the electorate of how parliament actually performs or fails to perform.

“If the public understood how the corrupting influence actually works, how the power system turns everything to its own advantage and how the genuine objectives of democratic elections are so readily thwarted, a lot of these unedifying practices would have to be curbed.”

The call comes after Mr Meacher led a backbench debate calling for an investigation between welfare reforms and poverty. The vote was won by 125 votes to two - but as it wasn’t government business, ministers can ignore the result.

Mr Meacher said: “This wasn’t the only time. There are so many procedures in Parliament that are used to stop things happening if Government doesn’t want it.

“A website would allow people to see what is happening and then lean on their local MPs and write to their papers and put pressure on the Government.”