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A Very British Revolution: The Expenses Scandal and How to Save Our Democracy
Martin Bell
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Description for A Very British Revolution: The Expenses Scandal and How to Save Our Democracy
Paperback. The revelations over MPs' expenses that began in May 2009 ranged from petty thieving to outright fraud and sparked a crisis in confidence unprecedented in modern times. The author explains how the expenses crisis arose and, lays out his prescription for healing the deep wounds inflicted by the scandal. Num Pages: 256 pages. BIC Classification: 1DBK; JPH. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 197 x 130 x 18. Weight in Grams: 238. Good clean copy with some minor shelf wear
The revelations over MPs' expenses that began in May 2009 ranged from petty thieving to outright fraud and sparked a crisis in confidence unprecedented in modern times. This was a 21st-century Peasants' Revolt - an uprising of the people against the political class. Ordinary men and women with political views across the spectrum were by turns amused, incredulous, shocked and then bitterly angry as the disclosures on MPs' expenses flooded out. From Home Secretary Jacqui Smith's bath plug to Conservative MP Sir John Butterfill's 'flipping' of his constituency home - a now-notorious manoeuvre that required him to refund GBP60,000 to the taxpayer - the exposure of MPs' expenses revealed Westminster's culture of quiet corruption like never before. Drawing on his experience as an MP and as a member of the Committee on Standards and Privileges, Martin Bell explains how the expenses crisis arose and, most compellingly, lays out his prescription for healing the deep wounds inflicted by the scandal. As Martin puts it: 'The revolution will not be complete until all the rogues in the House are gone and public confidence in the MPs remaining is restored.' This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to revive British politics, and the rebuilding starts here.
Product Details
Condition
Used, Very Good
Publisher
Icon Books
Format
Paperback
Publication date
2010
Number of Pages
256
Place of Publication
Duxford, United Kingdom
ISBN
9781848311282
SKU
KRA0004907
Shipping Time
Usually ships in 2 to 4 working days
Ref
99-1
About Martin Bell
Martin Bell OBE is one of the best-known and most highly regarded names in British television journalism. As a BBC reporter he has covered foreign assignments in more than 80 countries and eleven wars including Vietnam, Nigeria, Angola, Nicaragua, The Gulf and Bosnia, where millions watched as he was nearly killed by shrapnel. In 1997 Martin became the first Independent MP to be elected to Parliament since 1950, and he has since campaigned tirelessly for trust and transparency in British politics.
Reviews for A Very British Revolution: The Expenses Scandal and How to Save Our Democracy
The book took 10 weeks to write and reads quickly off the page.
Eastern Daily Press The journalist turned accidental MP has an insight not available to reporters.
Eastern Daily Press I am especially interested to read Martin's new book...And I am recommending that everyone buys his book.
Douglas Carswell, MP for Harwich and Clacton Adversity, Bell reminds us, can actually be quite useful.
Tribune Bell doesn't mince his words condemning the 'corrupt' politicians who have 'lost our trust because they pick our pockets.'
Sunday Herald His latest book is scathing about those who become MPs without having done much else in their lives other than politics. He judges - as I do - that much of the recent debacle would have been avoided, if so many of those who made it to Westminster had a career pattern other than school, university, researcher, aide to MP and adoption as Parliamentary candidate.
Tribune Bell is right when he emphasizes that the real problem with the expenses scandal is not the money: it's the fact that MPs make up their own rules, and effectively end up writing their own cheques.
London Review of Books
Eastern Daily Press The journalist turned accidental MP has an insight not available to reporters.
Eastern Daily Press I am especially interested to read Martin's new book...And I am recommending that everyone buys his book.
Douglas Carswell, MP for Harwich and Clacton Adversity, Bell reminds us, can actually be quite useful.
Tribune Bell doesn't mince his words condemning the 'corrupt' politicians who have 'lost our trust because they pick our pockets.'
Sunday Herald His latest book is scathing about those who become MPs without having done much else in their lives other than politics. He judges - as I do - that much of the recent debacle would have been avoided, if so many of those who made it to Westminster had a career pattern other than school, university, researcher, aide to MP and adoption as Parliamentary candidate.
Tribune Bell is right when he emphasizes that the real problem with the expenses scandal is not the money: it's the fact that MPs make up their own rules, and effectively end up writing their own cheques.
London Review of Books