Parliamment In Disarray

Three members of parliament in a state in India are said to have stepped down after being filmed on TV cameras watching a pornographic clip on a mobile phone in parliament. The incident according to Reuters  involved members of the conservative Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, which is in power in the state and the main opposition on a national level.

Now, what three adults decide to amuse themselves with is their prerogative, politician or no politician. Politicians are just like the rest of us. What is questionable is the venue and timing of the incident. There is a place and a time for everything. Showing your fellow honourables your favourite clips on dirtyparliament.com while in parliament and surrounded by the press is hardly a wise thing to do.

To  make matters worse one of the three film buffs was the minister for women affairs or something akin to that. Given the controversy surrounding the treatment of women in India and the general perception that pornography in any form is an exploitation of women, then I can understand why his position became untenable.

Let all video aficionados members of parliament beware. 

THE QUEEN`S DIAMOND JUBILEE

This year of course marks the 60th year of the Queen`s ascension to the throne after the death of her father  George VI. A cause for celebration. Until lately, the two other  major events happening in  London this year have over shadowed this remarkable milestone in Queen Elisabeth reign.. Im talking about the Mayoral elections and the Olympics.

But now Buckingham Palace have finally got round to  letting the world know about the big occasion. That said, I think they still  need to give a little more publicity to the festivities. We know there are various events lined up in connection with the celebration. The grand party however  is the Queen`s cruise on the Thames accompanied by a flotilla of  vessels. I hope to be on one of those. Why not? You get to revel on the Thames and be part of history at the same time. The Buckingham Palace website has loads of information about the various events planned for the celebration.

Chris Huhne Saga

I was getting really tired of the Chris Huhne speed driving affair. Bt relieved now its been confirmed the Energy Secretary would be prosecuted for asking his wife to take the rap for being behind the wheels while doing 80 in a 60 lane. Well I would imagine thats a fair margin. Anything less wouldnt make a difference to arrival time, anything higher suicidal and er er criminal. Not encouraging anyone to test the theory out I must add.

The thorny  issue though is not that Mr Huhne broke the law (allegedly) by going over the speed limit, it is the allegation that he tried to cover it up by involving his ex wife. Oh no Chris! Perverting the course of justice is a much much graver and serious offence than speeding. As far as I'm concerned at present the man is innocent until proven otherwise. The truth will out after the law has taken its due process. I

However the gravity of the allegation is not lost on both himself and his bosses at Westminster and kudos to him for stepping down promptly after learning of the decision to prosecute the case. Now did he jump? Was he pushed? We will never know. I don't personally care. I would like to give him the benefit of the doubt and say he went voluntarily. It can never come at a worst time for Chris Hune. What with the groundswell of public anger occasioned by the MPs claim scandal and the spending cuts. People would love to think that politician are beyond reproach, both in their public and private conduct. We like to see those who govern us as being morally adroit. Breaking the speed limit, then asking someone else to take the penalty for you is definitely not the ideal conduct expected of an MP.