Parish and Swire were amongst 190 MPs who abstained on equalising abortion and marriage rights between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK:
Here’s the full list of MPs who voted against marriage equality and abortion in Northern Ireland
Those MPs who did vote had a majority for equalisation.
Swire no doubt didn’t want to upset his DUP Leader pal Arleen Phillips.
After all, he did bring her to East Devon to address the party faithful recently.
Surprised The Sun is running this – it’s more of a Daily Mirror story!
“THE Conservative Party has already sold access to the next Prime Minister for £300,000 – before the leader has even been chosen.
Party officials raised the staggering six-figure sum by selling dinner with the new leader at an exclusive fundraiser on Wednesday.
The auction at the Tory summer party – revealed by the Daily Mail last night – has raised questions about cash for access to the new PM.
Dinner for ten Tory supporters with either Boris Johnson or Jeremy Hunt was offered at the private members’ club bash in West London.
A party source told the paper: “The next prime minister is being pimped out before they’ve even got the job.”
Among the other lots sold off at the posh Hurlingham Club included a signed photo of Boris and David Cameron and tickets to the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix.
Deep-pocketed Tories were also offered a walk with Tory leadership wildcard Rory Stewart – who electrified the contest with his trips around the country.
A wine tour with Education Secretary Damian Hind was also offered for sale – while a donor paid £40,000 for a private champagne party at the London Cabaret Club.
Boris and Mr Hunt were both in attendance at the fundraising do – along with outgoing PM Theresa May and other senior cabinet figures.
OUTRAGE OVER DONATION
It’s not known who successfully bid for the £300k Tory leader’s dinner.
The sale comes after outrage over the wife of one of Vladimir Putin’s former ministers paying for a night out with Mrs May and six female cabinet ministers in May.
Lubov Chernukhin was entertained by the Prime Minister at the five-star Goring Hotel for £135,000.
The banker has donated more than £1million to the Tories in the last seven years alone.
Theresa May defended the donation as Mrs Chernukhin is now a British citizen.”
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/9441101/tory-dinner-boris-johnson-jeremy-hunt/
” … Under the Recall of MPs Act 2015 constituents can recall their MP if they receive a custodial sentence, if they are banned from the House of Commons for 10 sitting days (which only happens if they’ve previously been banned for a shorter period) or if they are convicted of providing a misleading expenses claim.
That means that so far this year, the public has been able to recall one MP for lying to avoid a speeding ticket and another for fiddling his expenses claim for two landscape photographs. But even if an MP admits to aggressive or violent behaviour, without a custodial sentence they are untouchable until the next election. That’s why the Women’s Equality party has written an open letter calling on parliament to amend the Recall Act 2015, to give the public the power to recall their representatives in cases where they have been found guilty of violence or harassment by the independent parliamentary commissioner for standards.
We live in a country where violence against women and girls is endemic yet rarely prosecuted. An astonishing 98.3% of rapes reported to the police in England and Wales do not lead to a conviction. Nor does assault always result in a prison sentence, with many perpetrators getting off with a fine. These problems urgently need to be addressed, but we should not have to wait for an improvement in conviction rates to ensure that MPs are held accountable for their actions.
Violent people do not belong in government. Let’s make that clear.”
Swire was Raab’s campaign manager – Raab was knocked out of the race.
Parish backed old coke-snorter Gove, who is also out of the race.
So who will they back now?
Both started off as Remainers and switched to Brexit (they can change their minds, we can’t).
Johnson and Swire are both Old Etonians, so that looks a pretty likely match.
Parish left school at 16 to work on the family farm so Bojo AND Hunt, who have no interest in agriculture, will patronise him, if they notice him at all.
Neither of them says anything (much at all) on their websites.
Probably still trying to extricate themselves from the tangled voting webs.
Of course, they voted against it – their first (maybe only) priority is to keep the Conservative Party in power.
“… The whole issue has actually laid bare just how MPs and ministers (paid for by taxpayers) are treated differently than other public sector workers (paid for by taxpayers) on drugs.
While civil servants are required to be vetted formally (especially those working with access to intelligence), MPs do not have to fill in any forms on drug use. If the spooks are unaware of any such conduct, they are powerless to advise a PM on the blackmail risk or otherwise of someone in line for promotion. …”
Source: The Waugh Zone (Huffington Post)
“Some gangs seek to smuggle puppies rather than drugs as it is potentially more profitable, prosecutions are less likely and the punishments less severe, a Devon MP has told Government ministers.
Senior Conservative Neil Parish, MP for Tiverton and Honiton, pressed the Government to increase the maximum prison sentence for animal abusers to five years and also encourage best practice for puppy breeding to keep up with demand.
He suggested “criminal elements” will seek to exploit the market if there is not a good supply from reputable breeders.
Mr Parish’s remarks came as MPs backed regulations which require anyone looking to buy or adopt a puppy or kitten under six months to deal directly with either the breeder or with an animal rehoming centre. …”
No surprises there, then. But what about the rest of us?
https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/neil-parish-backs-gove-over-2927618
Could you see Swire or Parish doing this for the sake of our district and our country? No. Could you see Claire Wright doing this? Yes.
“… A few weeks ago I was asked if I would be interested in joining the More United Network. One call with its leadership team and I was sold. The idea is simple really, a new platform for MPs who are willing, where possible, to work cross-party in the national interest, regardless of which party is in power.
I know it’s a cliche, but becoming a dad completely changed how I viewed the world. My outlook was different, less selfish and short termist. I began thinking more about the sort of country I wanted my kids to grow up in. And I could either be the guy who sits round the dinner table or down the pub putting the world to rights, or I could get out there and fight for the things I believe in. So that’s what I did, and two years later I was elected to parliament.
Most MPs enter politics for reasons like this, having been inspired by something or someone in their lives to make a positive difference. And going to work surrounded by a group of people with an immense breadth and depth of knowledge and experience means there’s always something to learn, and areas where common cause can be found.
What many people don’t know is that some of the best work in parliament happens in the All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs), where MPs with a shared interest join forces to push for change. Sadly, this sort of positive cross-party cooperation doesn’t often make the headlines.
On the whole, MPs tend to agree on the destination we want to arrive at. We all want to make sure our NHS is at its best, that we’re giving our kids the best start in life and an excellent education so they can fulfil their potential, that people can achieve the dream of home ownership, that our high streets thrive, our environment is protected, and that we have the right transport and digital infrastructure in place.
What is true is that we don’t always agree on the path to get there. That is no bad thing either, we need a battle of ideas, and no side has a monopoly on good ones.
This is what the More United MP Network hopes to achieve; bringing people together in a space that allows consensual politics to flourish so we can find solutions. Seeking out differences and grievances just for the sake of it doesn’t help anyone.
Outside the Westminster circus, real life and real issues are affecting my constituents. Too many feel the deck is stacked against them. It is that pervasive sense of unfairness that threatens social cohesion, and has seen people lurching to populists on the left and right in search of scapegoats and easy answers.
It’s the job of serious MPs to tell it straight – that there is no silver bullet or magical solution to all the issues facing us as a nation. That whilst of course at times our political differences will be too big to bridge, where we can work together to make your lives better, we should.
And when it comes to those of us in the More United Network, we will.”
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-mps-more-united-network-parliament-commons-a8883656.html
Wonder how much Swire’s second home is worth now – but is it the one in mid-Devon or the one in London? Is Neil Parish’s second home his London pad or his Somerset farm?
“Boris Johnson’s Oxfordshire farmhouse has soared in value to £1.2million – but the taxpayers who helped him buy it won’t see a penny.
Boris’s nest egg is one of 170 “second homes” owned by current and former MPs that have shot up by £100million.
Many were bought in flashy Central London postcodes before the 2000s boom – some have quadrupled in value.
The average growth is £570,000 for each of the 170 MPs, before costs and tax, if the properties were sold today.
Boris bought his country pile in 2003 after he was elected MP for Henley.
He paid £640,000 for it and has since seen its value rise by £560,000, or 88%.
Boris designated it his second home, meaning between 2004 and 2008 he claimed £77,957 in mortgage interest. He continued to own it throughout his two-year stint living at taxpayers’ expense while Foreign Secretary.
Of the MPs’ properties the Mirror has uncovered, the top five increases in value were all owned by Tories. …”
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnson-among-170-mps-14272830
Swire voted against all options.
Parish voted against customs union, confirmatory referendum and parliamentary supremacy and abstained on Common Market 2.0.
Neil Parish
Voting record on the following Brexit proposals:
For
No-deal: Leaving the EU on 12 April without a deal (John Baron’s proposal – 160 for, 400 against)
Did not vote
Common Market 2.0: Remaining in the European single market and seeking a temporary customs union with the EU (Nick Boles’ proposal – 188 for, 283 against)
For
EFTA and EEA: Remaining in the European single market but not forming a customs union with the EU (George Eustice’s proposal – 65 for, 377 against)
Against
Customs union: Seeking a UK-wide customs union with the EU (Ken Clarke’s proposal – 264 for, 272 against)
Against
Labour’s alternative plan: Negotiating changes to the withdrawal agreement so that it includes protections to workers’ rights, a permanent customs union, and close alignment to the single market (Jeremy Corbyn’s proposal – 237 for, 307 against)
Against
Revoke Article 50: Cancelling Brexit if the UK gets within days of leaving the EU without a deal (Joanna Cherry’s proposal – 184 for, 293 against)
Against
Second referendum: Holding another public vote to confirm any withdrawal agreement agreed by Parliament (Margaret Beckett’s proposal – 268 for, 295 against)
For
Standstill arrangement: Seeking a tariff-free trade agreement with the EU that will last for two years, during which time Britain will contribute to the EU budget (Marcus Fysh’s proposal – 139 for, 422 against)
In spite of several Cabinet Ministers abstaining to avoid being seen as definitely not following Theresa May’s firm whipping orders, our MPs did exactly as May had ordered them to do, and were in the minority on all votes.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/13/mps-reject-no-deal-brexit-by-majority-of-four
Many berate Swire for not answering their letters or giving “automated” replies.
Well, local elections and a possible general election seems to be concentrating his mind and rumours reach Owl that – VERY unusually – he (or his wife who draws a £35,000+ salary for “helping” him) is answering letters!
Get them in NOW! Once elections have passed and/or Brexit is sorted one way or the other, normal service will no doubt be resumed!
Owl would love to know if this also applies to Neil Parish in the east of our constituency. Time to nobble him about Persimmon in Axminster, perhaps!
Owl cannot understand how East Devon Tory councillors, who have voted time and time again for austerity, who have preened themselves for having one of the lowest council tax rates in the country, and instituted savage cuts can act surprised when they get less for more!
And don’t forget every time there is a vote in Parliament to cut anything – our two MPs vote for those same cuts – unless they affect their salaries or tax breaks for the rich or farming, of course in which case they fight tooth and nail for them!
“Give us more police’, East Devon councillors have demanded, to help tackle increasing incidents of disorder in the region.
Wednesday night’s full council meeting saw councillors agreed to write to the Chief Constable for Devon and Cornwall Police to recognise the needs of East Devon when deciding how to allocate extra resources after the council tax rise will enable 85 new officers to be recruited.
Councillors demanded that extra police be provided to the region, particularly in light of the number of PCSOs being cut from the current 196 to 150.
It comes after the Police and Crime Panel chose not to exercise their veto on Alison Hernandez’s proposals that would see council tax rise for £24 a year for the average Band D council tax payer.
Cllr Tom Wright, who proposed the motion, said that over the last two years, the increase on tax payers is 20 per cent, so residents should expect to see a significant improvement in the service.
“As East Devon residents are the biggest contributors to the police budget in Devon, other than Plymouth, it is only fair that we should get a fair share of the larger cake.
“The increase for this year that the police are getting from us is an extra £1.5m and for that we should get more police on the streets.”
Cllr Alan Dent added: “PCSOs can nip in the bud problems that can arise.”
He gave the example of a problem of people coming from North Devon to Budleigh Salterton to do wheelies in the car park.
Cllr Dent said: “They were zooming around across the car park. I got cross and took pictures of them. They gave me an earful, but I gave the pictures to our PCSOS, and in 24 hours it was dealt with and we never saw them again.”
He said that there was another incident where garden furniture was stolen from a show house. Cllr Dent again took photographs of the perpetrators, gave them to the PCSO, who said ‘I know who they are and will have a word with their parents.’
“That is the value of PCSOs and why we need them in the community,” he added.
Cllr Brian Bailey said that PCSOs stop people going down into the depth of drink and drugs. He added: “Extra funding mean officers can go into schools and educate people and get them on the right track.”
He said that there was another incident where garden furniture was stolen from a show house. Cllr Dent again took photographs of the perpetrators, gave them to the PCSO, who said ‘I know who they are and will have a word with their parents.’
“That is the value of PCSOs and why we need them in the community,” he added.
Cllr Brian Bailey said that PCSOs stop people going down into the depth of drink and drugs. He added: “Extra funding mean officers can go into schools and educate people and get them on the right track.”
And Cllr Eileen Wragg said that extra police would help tackle the ‘proliferation in drug use in Exmouth which is harming our youngsters, and has even resulted in the death of some of them’.
The motion, calling for the chief constable to recognise the needs of East Devon when deciding how to allocate extra resources, received almost unanimous support from the council, with only Cllr Megan Armstrong abstaining.”
https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/demand-made-more-police-east-2599799
Yvette Cooper’s amendment to hold the prime minister to her promise of three meaningful votes passed with a majority of 482.
Q: How did our MPs vote?
A: They didn’t
They abstained.
And they both voted against other amendments to give MPs more say in the process.
So now you know.
Will Swire be off to the Maldives … or Saudi … with Parish on the Somerset farm?
“The cancellation of MPs’ two-week break to deliver Brexit on time has been branded a PR stunt after Conservatives were told they could still go away if they had “family” commitments.
On Thursday commons leader Andrea Leadsom formally ditched the half-term recess so more “progress” can be made on preparing to leave the EU.
But following a backlash from MPs who had apparently already booked holidays, chief whip Julian Smith informed Tories they are not obliged to attend the commons if they have pre-existing engagements. …”
Meanwhile, cleaners have to stay:
“Tory MPs jet off on ski holidays while parliamentary cleaners continue to work”:
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/parliamentary-cleaners-forced-scrap-holidays-13935427
So, Swire voted against May’s Brexit deal, Parish voted for it.
Just where does this leave East Devon?
Piggy-in-the-middle.
Not a good place to be!
The no confidence vote later today will be interesting. If Swire votes to retain May after voting down her deal will that make him a hypocrite?
Swire on Twitter:
“I do believe that there is still a deal to be done with the EU but that this is not that deal. I simply do not think it right for an MP to bind this country into the backstop from which there is no unilateral right to withdraw. Statement on the eve of the vote.”
Parish on his website:
“There is much that I like in the Withdrawal Agreement and my preference is to vote for a deal to ensure a smooth and orderly exit. The deal can protect citizens’ rights, give businesses certainty, ensure frictionless trade, no hard border in Northern Ireland, co-operation on security – and provide an agreed process moving forward.
But as I have explained to the Prime Minister, the current deal needs work, or it will not pass in the Commons, with or without my vote. Vital issues remain on the indefinite nature of the Northern Ireland ‘backstop’, both in terms of annexation and CJEU jurisprudence, but also as a loss of leverage for leaving the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement – and getting a good future trade deal.
Until I am convinced these are sufficiently resolved, I cannot support the Withdrawal Agreement.”
https://www.neilparish.co.uk/news/my-position-brexit-withdrawal-agreement
East Devon Watch 