Why doesn't Ben Gummer talk about MP expenses?

David Cameron was quick to attack the 3 former Labour MP's who are attempting to claim Legal aid to fight the corruption charges against themselves. Locally Tory activist Jamie Spencer seems to have a weekly rant about Chris Mole and his use of expenses to pay for an office in Ipswich but Ben Gummer would rather talk about legalisation of drugs and job prospects for graduates. Many would wonder why Ben is not following the Cameron trick of blaming Labour for every expense scandal. Now it may be because, Chris Mole was found to be one of the few MP's who did not have to pay anything back to the government and has also led the way by publishing all his expenses on his own website. But many may believe that the silence from Ben on the subject is more likely to do with his father and his exorbitant claims he made on his Suffolk property, claims for Mole removal, removing Jackdaw nests and various other garden tasks, many that never saw a proper receipt. The release of those Gummer expenses by a Tory paper ( you can read here) may have been the reason that John Gummer stood down, because I am sure if it had been a more planned decision to retire from front bench politics we would have seen Ben standing in Felixstowe not Ipswich. So I look forward to Ben and maybe even Bridge News talking about the MP expenses scandal that seemed to pass Ipswich by but did see a sudden departure from politics by the Suffolk Coastal MP - over to you Ben and Jamie!

Hazel Blears- too late to come crawling back

Hazel Blears let down the Labour Party and it's members. I actually like some of the stuff she said in her campaign to be deputy Prime Minister, her close links with her Labour roots, working class girl 'made good', her push for the parliamentary party to be closer to those of us out campaigning every week. I was also impressed by her use of new technology, tied in with good old knocking on doors, shaking hands and talking to people.

Then she acts like a spoilt child who has her toys taken off her! She quits just before the Euro and County elections- her aim to damage Gordon Brown. She did that bur she also kicked in the teeth those who campaign week in week out, and especially those who had spent every spare minute of the last 4 weeks fighting a campaign that was difficult anyway.

Now she has changed her tune! Her interviews this weekend have been very emotional, now I am not saying that she is not upset, I am sure she is, but partly because she realises she made a big mistake, she is from a strong Labour family and I am sure those in the North West who know her better will rally round her but I hope some there are honest enough to tell her that she had let them as well as us down.

The 'rocking the boat' brooch just made her quitting look more like an act of a teenager playing up because she is not allowed to go out Saturday night.

The election was always going to be hard for Labour this time but we suffered more than others because of the expenses controversy, even though more Tories were caught with their noses in the trough, but lets face it Hazel, you were caught ' playing the system' and that is when you should of quit.

I am sure she will bounce back, and that she will work hard in the Manchester area, but for many of us in the Labour movement we feel betrayed by her actions - maybe she should go on 'You Tube' and explain her real reasons for going.