SNAP!

Yep, he's your man! Who couldn't trust a face like that?

And while we're at it...

That Sun photo represents the worst of the link between the media and politicians...

"Excuse me Prime Minister/Deputy Prime Minister/Leader of the Opposition, the editor of The Sun is on the phone and he wants you to pose with this draft copy and send him the photo by noon so they can publish it tomorrow"

"I wouldn't wipe my backside with that f'kin poor excuse for a newspaper"

"Its a patriotic front page though sir..."

"What are they going to think in Liverpool ?"

"The Sun will crucify you if you don't pose sir..."

"Oh fook it, give it here and hurry up..."

I've said it for years. The media run this country, not the PM. They have far too much power. The scandalous goings on of the phone hacking trial is a perfect example.

The media and private companies who use lobby groups to pay MP's and political parties.

The only way to deal with the corrupt media is through press regulation, but unfortunately it looks like that won't happen despite the phone hacking & Leveson.
The corrupt payments can be dealt with quite easily - ban MP's from having any additional income and fund political parties from public money. Simple.

...and remove the whips system of forced party voting, leave MP's to vote on issues according to either their own beliefs and ethos, or on behalf of the constituency that they represent and suddenly you have 600+ individuals to lobby and "bribe".

The idea that an MP can "represent" a constituency when they would be effectively sacked for not voting along party lines even when it directly affects that constituency is both outrageous and ridiculous and could only have been invented by a committee of MP's.

Yep. It would also make party leaderships more reactive to their party rather than the latest media trend.

And stop MPs allowing pop stars schmoozing up to them. The words Gary and Barlow spring to mind!

You only have to take a look at the BBC Parliamentary Channel.

Apart from PMQs, the Budget, Autumn Statement and a few other photo-call debates, the green benches are virtually empty. Then the division bell sounds and in they troop through the division lobby, to get their heads counted after listening to buggerall of the debate.

The whips' system is peverse in a democratic society

As is the method by which they pair up if one is going to be absent - its also a complete travesty of democracy, fiddling the expenses doesn't even come close.

Its the North... who cares??? *joke*

However, it isn't only the north where massive infrastructure and housing developments have been proposed and railroaded (forgive the pun) through parliament and local councils. HS2, Heathrow/Gatwick expansion, "Boris Island" (if it gets approval instead of expanding existing airports) and turning green belt into housing estates are all wonderful ideas for the south east at the moment

Dennis Skinner refuses to pair up!