Moonlighting MPs
People are beginning to take notice of the moonlighting escapades of their local MPs.
One publicly minded citizen in South Shields - George Elsom - has written to his local newspaper apparently drawing attention to the frequent absences of local Labour MP - David Miliband.
"What Mr Miliband is doing is just not right," thundered George to the Shields Gazette. "Does he want to be the town's MP or does he want to be swanning around the world doing all these jobs and lining his pockets?"
Well put George - that's hitting the nail on the head - though it might be helped by the fact that George is a former Labour councillor who now sits as an Independent.
Yet what he says is spot on - and deserves a proper answer instead of the following nonsense offered up by David Miliband by way of a reply:
"My commitment to South Shields is real, proven and lasting. South Shields comes fiorst. Being foreign secretary sometimes took me away from the constituency, but I never forgot my responsibilities."
That's as maybe - I would say.
Because David Miliband is not foreign secretary now - just as Gordon Brown is no longer prime minister.
And these days their frequent trips abroad are not about the greater good of the country - but their own personal interests.
So it's high time more people like George spoke out.
