David Hanson is our MP

'Give It Some'

2005-05-25T10:15:00.000+01:00

'Parliament is out of touch'

Politicians make decisions in Parliament which affect us all – whether it's going to illegal wars or spending billions of £'s on pointless ID cards.

But a new report says Parliament is especially out of touch with young people - it says the politicians needs to sit up, listen and do something about it.

To see this particular report's suggestions for improving parliamentary democracy then go to www.giveitsome.org.uk.

The Pay of Ministers & MPs

2005-05-23T20:22:00.000+01:00

In case constituents of Delyn are wondering, from 1 April 2005 Members of the House of Commons (MPs) are paid an annual salary of £59,095, known as the Parliamentary salary.

Those MPs who are also Ministers receive the full Parliamentary salary, in recognition of their continuing constituency duties, in addition to their Ministerial Salary.

This means that the Prime Minister, for example, is entitled to a total salary of £183,932. Whilst a Minister of State will receive a total salary of £97,949.

House of Commons Ministerial Salaries (from 1st April 2005)

Post & Salary (£)

Prime Minister 124,837
Cabinet Minister 74,902
Government Chief Whip 74,902
Minister of State 38,854
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State 29,491
Advocate General 65,263
Government Deputy Chief Whip 38,854
Government Whip 25,005
Assistant Government Whip 25,005
Leader of the Opposition 68,662
Opposition Chief Whip 38,854
Deputy Chief Opposition Whip 25,005
Speaker 74,902
Chairman of Ways & Means (Deputy Speaker) 38,854
First Deputy Chairman of Ways & Means (Deputy Speaker) 34,148
Second Deputy Chairman of Ways & Means (Deputy Speaker) 34,148
Parliamentary Salary 59,095

In addition, there are various allowances covering travel, subsistence and office expenses are available to MPs and Ministers.

Smile and be Happy!

2005-05-17T22:08:00.000+01:00

Voltaire, author and philosopher

"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities"

"All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds"

The Blair Project is the Problem

2005-05-16T19:42:00.000+01:00

Blair & Blairism's two-finger message to voters

'The big debate will be about what, rather than who, follows Blair'

Labour dissidents will give full vent to their anger over Mr Blair's leadership tomorrow with the launch of 40 Bills for the next session of Parliament. The MPs are furious that Mr Blair is showing no let-up in his reforming zeal despite the "bloody nose" he suffered at the general election. Instead Blair is pushing ahead with "bringing the private sector into public services" and the authoritarian "managing" of people.

For example, just two controversial Blairite policies include:

Private Academy Schools: a 'trojan horse' for the privatisation of schools

Compulsory ID Cards: a £6 billion project based on 'falsehoods' and a 'dangerous fallacy'

In today's Independent, Labour MP Alan Simpson said: "The failure (or liability) is not Blair the person, but Blairism the project. It cuts across all areas of policy. To move beyond the war, we have to take ourselves out of the war zone. If today's market obsessions reduce people to commodities, we need to set out alternatives to these obsessions rather than call for a different figurehead to pretend that they work. If climate change is the serious priority of this parliament then it has to change policies far more profoundly than it changes leaders."

He added: "I am as overwhelmingly disinterested in Blair, the person, as I am in Brown, the knee-jerk alternative. The manner of Blair's departure matters not one jot. The big debate will be about what, rather than who, follows him. This is where the conflict is unavoidable."

'...I would have grieved not campaigned'

2005-05-14T01:00:00.000+01:00

'You did good Reg'

'If you've learned and listened, when will you apologise Tony'

To read and/or see the election night speech of Reg Keys go to BackingBlair

Have you read Reg's letter to Tony Blair?

'The new fax your representative for free'

2005-05-13T20:48:00.000+01:00

Contact your Councillors, MP, MEPs, or Welsh Assembly Member for free (via sidepanel)

Basically just go to the box in the sidepanel, type in your postcode and then press Go. If you plan to use this service then please first read the WriteToThem guidelines

This service was developed by a group of volunteers who've now set up a charitable organisation called mySociety; they thought that it would be a good thing if it were easier for people to contact their MPs. Their primary mission is to build internet projects which give people simple, tangible benefits in the civic and community aspects of their lives.

Alternatively you could just send, for instance, your Delyn MP an email to hansond@parliament.uk

We are listening... really we are

2005-05-11T19:40:00.000+01:00

Go to Let down by Labour: I see Red

On Representative and Participatory Democracy

2005-05-11T19:36:00.000+01:00

Considering that there was yet another low-turnout in this month's General Election, that the electoral system itself is being openly questioned, and that some people consider Tony Blair to be running an 'elected dictatorship' - here are a few points for Delyn constituents to possibly reflect upon and/or discuss:

How do Delyn constituents think that representative democracy could be made even better in this constituency?
How do you think that democracy could be made even more participatory in this constituency too?
Are you supportive of any particular reforms or fundamental changes to the electoral system?
Are there any broader reforms or fundamental changes - short, medium or long term - that you would suggest in order to challenge state-corporate power?

What do you think?

2005-05-11T19:34:00.000+01:00

The truth couldn't be found

So Delyn constituents, when in government there are tough decisions to be made (and to cover-up) - and sometimes we won't listen to what you say, no matter how principled, intelligent or practical it might be - nevertheless, here is an opportunity for you to let us know what you think:

Are there any particular issues that concern you that you want to raise?

What are your thoughts on the Iraq war, the legal advice issues, and the ongoing occupation?

What do you think about Britain's nuclear weapons; are they WMD that should be scrapped or essential for the UK's military arsenal?

Do you think public services should be publicly-owned, publicly-financed and delivered on a non-profit making basis? Or do you prefer the private option?

How do you think civil rights should be protected? Or do you prefer an authoritarian state?

Do you believe that poverty and inequality should be challenged both in the UK and abroad? If so what extra things do you think could be done?

Do you think new nuclear power stations are a good or bad thing in North Wales? What alternative technologies do you think could be promoted and utilised more effectively?

There is no Alternative

2005-05-11T19:29:00.000+01:00

...or is there?

Sooner Rather than Later?

2005-05-10T22:00:00.000+01:00

‘22% of the electorate voted for us, 78% didn’t’

In the recent General Election out of that 22% who voted for Labour, many did so because of negative views about other parties (52%) rather than enthusiasm for the Labour Party (45%), according to a Populus poll.

'You are very welcome to have this blog'

2005-05-10T21:15:00.000+01:00

Bloggerheads and others have been actively campaigning to get more MPs weblogging. "The campaign to get constituents to blog on behalf of MPs is chuffing along nicely too" says Tim Ireland, who has blogged Tory MP Tim Yeo.

As with those other proxy web-logs this is the typical offer that goes out to MPs who've been blogged by proxy:

You are very welcome to have this blog, and the associated gmail address, and passwords as long as you keep it up to date.
Please make sure you bring it to life e.g. encourage comments and democratic discussion (some basic anti-offensive/anti-oppressive groundrules could be useful though).
A suggestion is to leave the archives in place.
Please feel free to add to the existing links.
The design template can be reviewed and changed plus content added to so they give a better overview of who you are and what you stand for.
On a voluntary basis political bloggers in your constituency would be happy to guide you through the technical basics if need be.

'How I voted in the 2001-2005 parliament'

2005-05-10T20:53:00.000+01:00

How David Hanson voted on key issues in the 2001-2005 parliament:

Very strongly for introducing foundation hospitals.
Very strongly for introducing student top-up fees.
Quite strongly for Labour's anti-terrorism laws.
Very strongly for the Iraq war.
Very strongly for introducing ID cards.

Remember 'I am not a dissenter or a rebel'. For instance, your Delyn MP voted for the illegal Iraq war that Tony Blair verbally agreed to in advance with George W Bush in April 2002 at the Crawford Ranch, Texas. In total your MP rebelled in 6 votes out of 1114, 0.5% (2001-5) and in 1 vote out of 1045, 0.1% (1997-2001).

Here is some performance data too:

Spoke in 0 debates in the last year — 490th out of 645 MPs.
Asked 0 written questions in the last year — 407th out of 645 MPs.
Replied within 14 days to 36% of messages sent via FaxYourMP.com during 2004 — 495th out of 590 MPs. (Sample size: 11 faxes.)

HOWEVER, these fax statistics are anything but foolproof. They merely provide a broad indication of an individual MP's performance, and in a minority of cases they may be grossly unfair to otherwise conscientious MPs.

Why don't you sign up to your constituency mailing list

Or you can check your MPs record for the past and in the future on: www.theyworkforyou.com

Surgeries: May to July '05

2005-05-10T20:19:00.000+01:00

"I hold regular surgeries across the constituency. No appointment is needed and I see everyone who attends on a first-come-first-served basis. Below is the list of my surgeries to July 2005."

Friday 13th May Bagillt Beechcroft House 5-6pm

Friday 20th May Holywell Town Council Offices 5-6pm

Friday 27th May New Brighton Community Centre 5-6pm

Friday 10th June Nannerch Village Hall 5-6pm

Friday 17th June Greenfield Meeting Place 5-6pm

Friday 24th June Bagillt Youth Centre 5-6pm

Friday 8th July Flint CAB Offices 4-5pm

Friday 15th July Gwernymynydd Village Centre 5-6pm

Friday 22nd July Strand Community House, Holywell 5-6pm

For updates on surgeries after July you can also visit the official web-site: www.davidhanson.labour.co.uk/

Why the need for an MP's web-log?

2005-05-10T20:00:00.000+01:00

'But I already have a web-site'

Here are a few reasons for why elected representatives in Delyn might want to have their own web-logs:

It complements other forms of information, communication and discussion with constituents such as web-sites, email, letters, leaflets, hustings, forums, surgeries, manifestos etc
Due to the interactive possibilities of web-logs they can become increasingly 2-way forums for communication (eg through comments sections), not simply 1-way (though content can be moderated to ensure no offensive materials are posted on them)
They are quicker and easier to update than websites, very little technical knowledge is needed to run one
They can be free to set up and maintain, and therefore they are a more cost-effective form of communication and information
It could be seen as a duty of public servants to experiment with more diverse methods for engagement with their constituents