They’re All Going On a Summer Holiday…
April 22, 2009
The more I ponder the issue of our MPs extending their annual summer holiday to three months, the more incensed I am becoming.
We’re in the middle of the worst recession to ever hit this country, and the people legally charged with sorting the mess out are all buggering off to the beach for a quarter of a year.
Coming off the back of the outrageous series of second-home and porn-on-the-taxpayer expense scandals, this is another spectacularly unedifying insight into the inherent arrogance of so many of our elected officials.
Politics is a serious business, and we are in very serious times.
By responding to the crippling credit crunch by awarding themselves a 12-week holiday, our MPs have told us that they are not serious people, but a bunch of lazy little sods.
Shame on the lot of them.
© Piers Morgan 2009
Missed any of Piers’ Daily Rants? Catch up now:
Madonna
Heather Mills
Piers’ Daily Rants contain the personal opinion of Piers Morgan and are likely to offend, upset and annoy virtually everyone. The opinions belong solely to Piers and do not reflect those of iViva.com, The Daily Mail, ITV or indeed anyone who pays him money for being nice.
April 22, 2009 at 10:50 am
Zee says
Right on! I think its absolutely disgraceful that elected officials are happy to reep the benefits of their position but when it comes to actully doing work to correct issues that we face its excuse after excuse so that nothing ever really gets done.
Its shameful and unfortunately it feels that there is nothing we can do about it. Who can we complain to that will actually listen to us?!
April 22, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Marian says
Politicians are the same all over the world. How long they take their holidays for, is only a minor problem. The biggest problem is that the rest of the year they do NOTHING at all!
The word ‘NOTHING’ does NOT include: to fill up their pockets with our money, to ‘pose’ for pictures, to attend lots of dinners or to have nice ‘naps’ on their parliament seats.
P.S. The Health Authorities advice:
Politicians are harmful for your purse!
There are cooler ways to get ruined!
April 22, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Kathy says
Sounds as though you all need to organize a TEA party; let ‘em know your TEA’d with this situation!
Ours are growing: look for more around July 4th!!
In all seriousness, God Bless Britain.
April 22, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Kathy says
Why don’t you join us? It could be a mother-daughter tea!
April 22, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Dotty C. says
Hi there
I’m from France and I’m relieved to see that laziness is not present only in my country! What can we do then?! Not much I’m afraid… And Yes I agree with you: shame on those politicians…
Cheers,
Dotty
April 22, 2009 at 2:16 pm
ann morrison says
I think the reason the whole world has fallen for
Susan Boyle, apart from her magnificient voice, is her purity and innocence which is rare in these times. Our MP’s are a national scandal, they
manipulate the system for great financial gain and
have been allowed to get away with it for years.
They should receive a fixed salary, and any genuine
expenses, for travel or accommodation, on production
of a receipt would be re-imbursed. I think everyone is sick of the greed of people in responsible positions in this country.
April 22, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Edie says
The United States Congress decided that they do such a good job that they voted a pay raise for themselves this year (mind you, they are the only people in America who think they do a good job). Never mind that the rest of the country is cutting back and cutting jobs and that taxpayer money is paying for their undeserved raise. The politicians in Washington are the epitome of what living on government welfare looks like. They would be lost without our handouts.
April 22, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Canadagirl says
Sorry to hear that Canada (and the USA) are not alone in lazy politician category. Although I’m across the pond, we feel your pain here! Laziness in the upper echelons of government and the corporate world cannot be ignored or continue. These are dire times and require dire measures. Change has to happen. Perhaps the UK could start a petition to pressure them to go back to work?
April 22, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Anne says
piers, the more I read from your blog, the better I like you. Susan has good taste.
Anne
April 22, 2009 at 5:26 pm
Richard says
Piers my friend you are a breath of fresh air, unlike the Politicians of today, who, if you were to enter the houses of parliament, would most likely stink of pigs and troughs. I have a sneaking suspicion that Gordon Brown is a reincarnated Robert the Bruce, intent on the destruction of England, He’s in the best place to do it as well, right at the heart of government…….Richard
April 22, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Kathy says
What is happening in our respective governments, and society as a whole is a symptom. Our society has, in many ways, turned from God. Our culture is perverted.
The Old Testament passage, 2 Chronicles 7:14 is the solution, though many will not take it to heart. “if my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” NKJV
April 22, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Kris Drum says
Piers I think you would make the perfect PM, can just see you at no. 10 !
April 22, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Edie says
You know, Piers, it occurs to me that your government may have accidentally stumbled onto something good here. The government being less involved in governing might actually be the solution to the economic crisis. Especially since their handling of the crisis has only made it worse.
April 22, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Rob Weiss says
Even thought I am in the United States (Arizona)it seems we all are wound up in the same issues. My parents are visiting me and can’t get enough of Susan Boyle. Thank you, for putting forward a woman with a beautiful voice. I hope her success continues.
As for lazy politicians, I thought the US has the market cornered on that. Sorry, I see where it has infested Parliment as well as the US Congress and the US House or Representatives.
With self voted pay raises and vacations when the world is screaming…they ALL NEED TO GO BACK WHERE THEY CAME FROM, only this time, FLUSH IT!!
Peter, have a wonderful day!!
Rob Weiss
Tucson, Arizona
April 22, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Marian says
What can we do? Maybe a ‘violence-free’ remake of the ‘Storming of the Bastille’.
Next June, we should not contribute to renew the European Parliament. Instead we all should introduce the envelope with a clear handwritten message inside. i.e.: DO SOMETHING GOOD TO EARN YOUR BEANS OR GO HOME YOU LAZY PR*CKS!!!
Millions of invalid ballots would make politicians to think twice before acting.
April 22, 2009 at 8:56 pm
olivia says
Here here! I’m a Brit living in Los Angeles so this is the first I’ve heard about the extended break. These are extreme times which call for sacrifice and redoubled efforts by everyone, especially those charged with governing. Only just found your blog Piers and love your rants!
April 23, 2009 at 2:30 am
Mary Jo says
So far, Britain, France, Canada & the USA have been diagnosed with lazy politicans. I have a couple of suggestions for curing these afflictions, but if you’re a bad person, go away & don’t read this.
If you’re a good person and find another good person running, vote, campaign & contribute to their cause.
If you can’t find another good person, run yourself. Not for Parliament or Congress to start out, but your local council or village board, & move up from there. If we only wait for lazy whoring crooks to run, what can we expect?
BTW, my state, Illinois, not only produced Obama; but also the recently impeached governor who put Obama’s prior Senate seat up for auction to the highest bidder. (sigh) Government by EBay.
April 23, 2009 at 8:45 am
missteek says
It seems that any party that remains in government longer than two terms, fleece the system.
As an OAP
I got the new raise 
think it was about, say £5 week, in the next post I got a letter informing that my occupational pension; will be adjusted for tax purposes, so I pay 20% extra tax on the £5. What a laugh…
I don’t shop and John Lewis’s and not have to furnish receipt of goods, bla bla
Apologies to Piers, I’ve not understood how the site buttons work, they need to be dated
Keep up the good work.
May 12, 2009 at 2:49 am
Steve says
For a minute I thought this article was about the U.S. Congress.
Reading over it again it is…. LOL…..
All Congresses and Parliaments have a kindly feeling for idiots, and a compassion for them, on account of personal experience and heredity.
- Mark Twain’s Autobiography; also in Mark Twain in Eruption
…I never can think of Judas Iscariot without losing my temper. To my mind Judas Iscariot was nothing but a low, mean, premature, Congressman.
- “Foster’s Case”, New York Tribune, 3/10/1873
May 24, 2009 at 7:51 am
Zac says
I have read this blog from start to finish and regretable I must concur with much of what has been said alread. I see no point going into a personal RANT, but I have to say I have just as intense feelings on the topics raised. How can it be that the Polly’s totally disregard the discontent of those who vote for them?
May 28, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Gina from Florida says
It is truly amazing that the soul of the politician is the same no matter what country they live in! They always come first and the little person is meant to work and pay for their excesses! They are all so out of touch with the real world.
May 31, 2009 at 5:41 pm
jonny says
You have good reason to be upset. But to think clearly it is best to go back to your own garden and think that means stop all radio and TV and think. Then go back to work with a clear head. Makes a big difference because then one is able to do ones job without the constant reactionaries nattering at one. Don’t you think it is better to step back take a breather then act, rather than react? Just a thought.