Business as Usual

Its nearly one month since the General Election that was meant to clean up the Palace of Westminster and restore our faith in Democracy but as yet nothing has changed. Business goes on in the same arcane old way only the floor managers have changed.
The State Opening of Parliament as usual had more costumes and flunkery on display than in the whole of the West End of London and enough Ermine to give the World Wildlife Fund an apoplectic fit. No urgent cutbacks in this expensive charade.
Then the Coalition Government in its hastily cobbled together agreement promised a reduction of 50 in the number of MPs while in the very same breath creating over 50 new Lords from amongst its financial backers and a motley collection of former members of the House of Commons more famous for their 2 jags or fiddled gardening expenses than their achievments for the country.
Finally to see out the month in grand ignominy not just 1 but 2 Chief Secretaries to the Treasury ,fresh from sharpening their axes to cut billions in taxes, were forced to excuse themselves for over claiming on their expenses or evading their liability for CGT on their second homes. Matters they so very conveniently and so hypocritically concealed from the electorate before and after the election in pursuit of a place at the cabinet table.
All this in less than a month from a Coalition Government that promised to clean up Politics once and for all, reform the voting system and the House of Lords , create the Big inclusive Society and give power back to the people.

No wonder Cameron and Clegg want a Parliament fixed for 5years. At the rate they are going 5 weeks let alone 5 months is time enough to show everyone how shallow their promises are and how little is set to change in the Palace of Scandals.

                Guy Fawkes was perhaps not so misguided after all . Just a few centuries before his time?