Life at Westminster

On Wednesday 8th September, I was interviewed by Jonathan Sheppard, Editor of toryradio.com.

I had a great time discussing life in Westminster, although, as you may know, since the interview was carried out, I have had to leave the Home Affairs Select Committee as I have been appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to The Rt Hon Nick Herbert MP, Minister of State for Police Reform and Justice.

If you want to listen to my interview, please click on the following link:

http://toryradio.podbus.com/marymacleod.mp3

My Maiden Speech

Making a maiden speech is a landmark for any new Member of Parliament. I did mine on Thursday last week in the Chamber during the Poverty debate. Do have a listen and hear my summary of the constituency and what I would like to do for local residents.

http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingid=6333
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Let's be more transparent

Billions are being wasted each year on bureaucracy and failed projects in government. It is about time something was done about this. We need change so that tax-payers money is used more effectively. I believe we should decentralise, be more accountable and transparent, to reduce dramatically the cost of government.

A Conservative government has promised to:
- put online all national government spending over £25,000
- put online the salaries and expenses of the 35,000 most senior civil servants
- abolish any quangos that do not perform a technical function or act independently
- open up government data and publish datasets in full and online
- not start any ICT projects without checking lower cost options

This is a start and will make an immediate difference.

Should MPs be put on trial?

Three Labour MPs and a Conservative member of the House of Lords are to be prosecuted for their expenses. The Conservatives have already withdrawn the whip from Lord Hanningfield after he was charged with false accounting over his expenses.

It is incredible that the three Labour MPs are trying to hide behind 'parliamentary priviledge' to avoid prosecution. It is a complete abuse of power.

If Gordon Brown is so keen to reform Parliament, then why does he not come out and insist that they must face court? It is so important to resolve this expenses issue as soon as possible or the public will never trust politicians again.

Rebuilding trust in politicians

There was much talk this weekend in the press about the Conservative MP Derek Conway, who has been suspended from the House of Commons, after it was alleged that he paid his son out of public funds, for work that did not appear to have been done.

I think David Cameron was right to withdraw the Conservative whip from him as it is important that we stamp out any misuse of public money... and show clearly that in Britain we do not tolerate any corruption within the political process. The behaviour of a few MPs over the years have tarnished the standing of all parliamentarians. This has helped to create huge apathy towards politics and a widespread distrust of politcians.

It is important that we now try and rebuild this. There are many MPs and aspiring politicians, like myself, who really are in politics for the right reasons and will work hard to make a difference to the country we live in. Most of us can be trusted!