[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Gayle

Thing is that they weren't fiddling the system, the system was flawed in the first place to allow them to do this 'within the rules'.

Rules are made for worst case scenarios - for example, I don't think anyone would argue that MPs who live a long way from London have to have two places of residence. In effect, these long distance MPs have two very different and distinct jobs - they have to look after their individual constituents and they have to be available in Parliament to vote and debate on issues - I suppose they all have this but for long distance MPs there could be 100s of miles in between the two jobs. What is wrong, is when every MP (well not every MP) decides to claim the 'worst case scenario'.

I think the rot set in when MPs were allowed to be selected as MP for a region without living there - if they do that then they clearly aren't interested in that region they're interested in being an MP. Fortunately, Greg is a local lad, lived locally and wanted to represent the people closest to him. There are less and less like him these days.

The last MP DID actually live in Hyndburn