Why I won't be voting for Lord Ashcroft

In all the coverage of the tax affairs of Lord Ashcroft the funniest story is of concerns from MPs about the accountability of the Upper House (http://m.guardian.co.uk/ms/p/gmg/op/sUBclsEIJmU8PSkOd_cicLg/view.m?id=339877&tid=120787&cat=Search).



These would be the same MPs who have collectively failed to introduce any element of democracy into the Lords since 1997 would they?



The whole point of the Lords is that they are not accountable to anyone - and the whole point of elections is that they are our opportunity to hold to account those who have power.



That (and regular readers Sid and Doris Blogger will have seen this one coming a mile off) is why it's important our members have a choice in the election for Unison General Secretary! (http://www.paulholmeskirklees.blogspot.com/)



I should note also that it is greatly to the credit of former Unison General Secretary Rodney Bickerstaffe that he established the precedent that Unison General Secretaries do not take up a seat in the Lords upon retirement. The labour movement should do nothing to sustain this relic of feudalism.

Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange