The evil MPs of Christchurch and Shipley
Evil: Christopher Chope (left) and Philip Davies (right) ‘talked out’ a private member’s bill to end ‘revenge’ evictions by private landlords. Are they really representatives of the people?
Take a good look at the faces in the picture (above). The one on the left belongs to Christopher Chope, Conservative MP for Christchurch and the one on the right is our long-term acquaintance, Philip ‘let the disabled work for less than the minimum wage’ Davies, Conservative MP for Shipley.
Yesterday (November 28), they proved that they really were “lower than vermin”, in the words of Aneurin Bevan, when they ‘talked out’ a private members’ bill aiming to outlaw ‘revenge’ evictions by private landlords, carried out against tenants who – for example – requested repairs on the properties they were renting.
Oh look – according to the Register of Members’ Financial Interests, Mr Davies is a landlord (albeit on a small scale), receiving rental income from a flat in London.
With Mr Chope, he made it his business to ensure that it would remain possible for callous landlords to victimise these people – even though it was against the wishes of the Coalition government.
The sort of person who does that is not a representative of the people. The sort of person who does that is supporting the privileged few; the rich landlords who are able to charge ridiculous rents and then throw out their tenants for requesting repairs. The sort of person who does that is chasing the money; supporting profit without responsibility.
This blog would suggest that such a person is a whore, in the worst connotations of the term.
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While I support your politics, this writing just made me unsubscribe. It’s tabloid and sensationalist and lazy.
It’s entirely factually accurate, too.
I am finding that Mr Sivier is like the sacked diplomat blogger Craig Murray. One day he says something eminently sensible, next day something outrageous, then next day back to something sensible again.
The private rented situation in Britain is a scandal. British tenants have far fewer rights and protections than tenants typically enjoy on the continent or even in the free market USA. This didn’t matter too much in the days when people could choose between renting and buying, but years of ridiculous house price inflation means that many people, including myself, face a lifetime of living in insecure rented accommodation where you are only two months away from being homeless.
I am very disappointed in Philip Davies. I have met him a few times as his constituency is near mine, but I find myself yet again feeling very glad that I didn’t vote for this party in 2010, in fact I haven’t voted since 2009.
I hope your reaction to me is something personal to yourself, rather than anything widely-held. I write about the subjects that catch my attention, and I write my honest opinion, that’s all.
These ghastly faces are those of two people who are true representatives of the vile class to which they belong. Talking out a debate should not be part of a democratic government; it is both disgusting and morally illegal.
I’m surprised you had so much restraint in your description of them. I failed to do it without an expletive or two.
The whole housing sector needs proper reform – not the IDS sort!! If you have ever been the victim of revenge eviction then you understand how appalling and traumatic it is. We need far more quality social housing plus a complete overhaul of the incestuous way the tory landlords are buying up social housing in prime spots and then evicting the long-term social housing tenants to push up the prices astronomically.
And very often the properties are relet at a higher rent with the repairs not having been carried out, such is the scramble for rented accommodation.
How many empty properties are there and how many young people need good jobs and how many homeless? I think I can see a connection but I’m not sure others in high places can add up or even multiply!
x
It’s about time every MP was judged on their actions and voting records. The example this week of the re-invention of a social conscience by Amber Rudd come to mind of one among many. The scandalous naked self-interest in privatising the NHS by the 71 MPs with connections to the private health sector is another.
I assume it was well known in advance that these two would try this tactic to lose the Bill, so where were the whips if the coalition were really in favour of it?
I’m not sure but I think bankbench members’ bills are unwhipped.
Ah, yes, now you mention it. But surely a little private arm-twisting is always an option?
Are they really representatives of the people? no they are complete and utter self interested bast**ds.
Why do they get paid over £100 per hour for filling in a survey, it should just be part of their “work”.
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/11816/philip_davies/shipley#register
http://politicalscrapbook.net/2014/11/landlord-tory-mp-blocks-law-to-protect-tenants-with-hour-long-speech
Not using the whips could be classed as a nod and a wink to these two, allowing the government to be publicly for the law while privately getting the result they wanted.
Politics is a fecal business and the Tories are right at home in it…
This might help give an insight into the mindset of Philip Davies, the emails below have been put into the right order from top to bottom for ease of reading.
Express permission is granted to share this as widely as possible.
…..
>> From: Colin Wilson
>> To: DAVIES, Philip
>> Sent: Fri Jun 17 20:09:29 2011
>> Subject: Employment opportunities for the disabled
>>
>> Sir,
>>
>> Having read of the astounding remarks you made regarding employment
>> and pay for disabled members of the public, I felt compelled to
>> contact you directly to express my disgust.
>>
>> While I’m sure you’re an educated man (hence your position), your
>> twisted sense of morality towards those less able than yourself is
>> telling.
>>
>> You openly suggested employers should take part in government
>> sanctioned institutional discrimination, in breach of minimum wage
>> legislation.
>>
>> Given the amazing figures you’ve claimed in expenses for staffing and
>> “costs”, I wonder how many more staff you could have employed at the
>> reduced rates as you suggest.
>>
>> As you have such strong feelings on job opportunities, perhaps you
>> should start the trend – employ only disabled staff, so you can become
>> more aware of the difficulties faced.
>>
>> You are living in a bubble set aside from the realities of life – the
>> poor can’t claim expenses for items they need, it has to come from
>> their meagre allowance. You, however, can order what the hell you like
>> and make everyone else pay for it.
>>
>> This message will be posted to various media outlets, as will any reply.
…..
> On 17 June 2011 20:16, DAVIES, Philip wrote:
>> Dear Mr Wilson
>>
>> Thank you for your email.
>>
>> You clearly have no idea about what I actually said but I wouldn’t want you to let the facts get in the way of a good rant.
>>
>> Best wishes
>>
>> Philip Davies MP
…..
> From: Colin Wilson
> To: DAVIES, Philip
> Sent: Fri Jun 17 20:41:55 2011
> Subject: Re: Employment opportunities for the disabled
>
> “Given that some of those people with a learning disability clearly,
> by definition, can’t be as productive in their work as somebody who
> hasn’t got a disability of that nature, then it was inevitable that
> given that the employer was going to have to pay them both the same
> they were going to take on the person who was going to be more
> productive, less of a risk, and that was doing those people a huge
> disservice.”
>
> …told the Press Association: “I’m not saying disabled people should
> work for less money. I’m saying that if people finding it difficult to
> access the jobs market, decide themselves they were prepared to work
> for less in order to get on the first rung of the jobs ladder, if they
> thought that would help, then the Government should not stand in their
> way.”
>
> Perhaps you can please clarify which facts you choose to use.
>
> Are you suggesting people should work for less than the minimum wage
> or not, as your comments to the Press Association are hard to
> interpret in any other way.
…..
On 17 June 2011 20:47, DAVIES, Philip wrote:
> I am suggesting that THEY should have a choice.
>
> You clearly think you should make decisions for people and know what is best for every individual in the country.
>
> Best wishes
>
> Philip
…..
From: Colin Wilson
To: DAVIES, Philip
Sent: Fri Jun 17 21:01:46 2011
Subject: Re: Employment opportunities for the disabled
With respect, you seem to be filling that role yourself.
On another note, if you had the balls to live on minimum wage as many
of your constituents do for a month or two, without recourse to any
additional income, you would be in a better position to appreciate
that the view from the ivory tower looks a whole lot different on the
ground floor.
I’m sure the BBC could arrange for a dilapidated property in a sink
hole estate with high crime rates for you and your family to
experience real life first hand.
In fact, I’m going to suggest that to them right now.
you cannot have a sensible conversation with these mps, they don’t live in the real world, they lie and cheat, fiddle their expenses, and have never had to do without in their silver spoon lives, all paid for I might add by the very people they vilify at every turn.
The more publicity these nasty cretins get and the more their faces are publicised the better. Keep up the good work.