[Malcolm Armsteen]

I'm not sure if this is down to sheer ignorance, profound stupidity or the corrosive drool that is Twitter.

Someone has posted a list of Labour MPs who abstained from the Paterson Escapology Bill. Cue numbers of people speKing there BraNes about how disgusting this is.

One Labour MP has said that she is paired because she is on maternity leave. Many others are likely to be the same, with at least 50 MPs away from the house either isolating or ill with Covid. Others are still at COP or on other duties that keep them away from the House.

Many of us are trying to explain pairing to the ignoscenti.

But the narrative continues - they are all dishonest, self-serving etc. etc. I really despair sometimes.

(Of course, we would teach this in schools if we were allowed to...)

You can see the thread here:

[Oboogie]

What percentage spelt disgusting with a letter c?

[Malcolm Armsteen]

It comes close to that.

[Watchman]

Bit worrying, on that thread someone commented that they may have paired and NF replied “Maybe, I don’t know”….is that the level of research one should accept from a barrister

[Malcolm Armsteen]

He's stirring amongst the ignorant. I've told him so.

[Boiler]

Hasn't there been a recent case where the Tories have chosen to ignore the pairing agreement?

[Tubby Isaacs]

Like the way Inspector Clueso there tells us it's up to MPs to answer the question he's just stupidly raised.

[Tubby Isaacs]

[Malcolm Armsteen]

This puts me in mind of the Twitter posts showing the House half, or more, empty, and then a picture of the House full, claiming that the first is MPs discussing some important matter and the latter is MPs debating their pay claim, provoking shrieks of anger and disgust from the intellectually challenged, until someone points out that most MPs are working on other matters, in committees at at any given time, and only come together for big debates, and the 'full House' picture is at the State Opening.

[The Weeping Angel]

Yeah I saw this arsehole's thread it's depressing to see the people quoting this and treating this as gospel.

[Abernathy]

See also : Second homes, expenses. It’s like nobody knows (or wants to know) that the whole fucking system changed radically after the 2009 scandal involving houses for ducks.

See also :
They’re all the same.
Only in it for what they can get.
Snouts in the trough.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I remember that. Wasn't it claimed that the full house was "MPs discussing their own expenses?" I think the empty house was actually something that was a formality or something that had no chance of going anywhere, even if the subject sounded important.

This stuff always brings out a particularly high standard of Wolfie Smith posts. Don't work and commit tax evasion, that'll show them.

[Nigredo]

Lest we also forget that attending/voting remotely via digital means was a proven success until that loathable prick Rees-Mogg abolished the practice.

[RedSparrows]

I am increasingly convinced that whilst there are numerous structural issues in society, a lot of people who HAVE been given access to good education and much opportunity need to do a fuck load better with their understanding and appreciation of the world.

[mattomac]

If this barrister bloke has so many questions why doesn’t he do some research, dunno if Luke Pollard but I believe he is at COP or due to be.

I’m also sure that I saw that Beckett was isolating during the summer. End of the day the issue isn’t whether some abstained, the issue that such a disgusting thing was attempted in the first place.

[Youngian]

I am increasingly convinced that whilst there are numerous structural issues in society, a lot of people who HAVE been given access to good education and much opportunity need to do a fuck load better with their understanding and appreciation of the world.

We’re all ignorant of most subjects but I don’t personally have any problem spotting the people who aren’t if I want to increase my knowledge. Before I open my gob.

[RedSparrows]

Well, quite.
Coupled with a recognition of one's own bias and prejudice.

[The Weeping Angel]

Of course it's all the fault of the pairing system and politically illiterate arseholes.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I think she's right that it could be transparent. Always going to be fools and misleaders about but it would help.

[The Weeping Angel]

Ok yes being transparent would help still she is editor of LabourList and maybe she could try to find out herself.