The Tory MP Matthew Offord, completely unknown to me until he made a rather pompous Point of Order about people using IPads in the Chamber (an issue which is yet to be resolved) is invoking Art. 8 of the Human Rights Act – the one which protects the right to a family life – because he’s been told he’s not allowed to bring his dog to work.
Of course Mr Offord, being a typical Tory, doesn’t like the Human Rights Act, but hey, it has its uses. Here’s the full story http://tinyurl.com/notmadjustbarking.
And I’d like to dedicate this song to Matthew and his pooch.
Shot by both sides 
Comments
Why is it ‘pompous to make a point of order about using ipads in the House of Commons? If a fellow Labour MP had made such a comment would you have called it ‘pompous’. I have no love of the Tories but if this kind of school playground response is now the way Labour is going to conduct its politics then it will not win back power anytime soon. Why attack someone in a verging on personal manner? On the issue of mobiles and I pads I think most people expect MPs to be listening to the debates and giving others the courtesy of doing so, rather than twittering etc. Would you do that at a meeting, rather than have good manners and actually listen to fellow MPs? I have watched the Parliament channel and find it pretty poor than many MPs are sat using their phones, i pads whatever.It does not give a good impression.
Well let’s just say I was there and (I assume) you weren’t, and the point was made in a very pompous manner. And seeing as it was aimed personally at me – which it was, given that I’d just used an iPad for a speech – I think I’m entitled to express an opinion.
There’s going to be a debate soon on the use of electronic devices in the Chamber, probably in September. If I take part in it I will tell the House I think it enables better participation in the debate, as you can check points the other MPs have just made – for accuracy, or to find info for rebuttal – and you can update your speech notes to reflect what has already been said, rather than just sitting there with your speech notes already typed up, ready to deliver it word-for-word regardless of whether someone else has already said it, and said it much better. Which is what all but the best speakers in the House do.
Come on, the other Peter Shelley was much better. As you well know…
My favourite dog of the moment is Loukanikos, a stray living on the streets of Athens that has turned up on demonstrations for the past few years, usually in the thick of the action (dodging tear gas grenades, etc.) and always on the side of the protesters. See also http://rebeldog.tumblr.com/
I clicked on this expecting to see the Buzzcocks!
Trackbacks
[…] kerrymccarthy on Love me, love my dog […]