Reviewed
by: T, Brighton
As
a constituent of Brighton Pavilion, I find my Labour MP David
Lepper to have done some very good stuff, however, this does not
mean he has been representative to an extent which I would find
acceptable over all.
This
is by no means an exhaustive review but it shows what you can
find with just an hour or so's research. A much better insight
than reading their empty and petty rhetoric in your local rag.
These
are the facts about David Lepper and how he has actually represented
Brighton Pavilion, (accompanied by my humble opinion).
DAVID
LEPPER:
Background:
Biography
(Source: The Guardian)
Interests
(Source: The Guardian)
Parliamentary
Votes:
Summary
of Votes (Source: The Guardian)
All
Votes (Source: Publicwhip.org.uk)
David
Lepper's voting record is a mixed bag. 91.2% of the time he follows
the Labour Whip and basically does as he is told. However amongst
his rebellions are some very significant votes which he would
have been under considerable pressure to fall in line with, but
in which he has decided to actually represent his constituents
concerns.
Primarily
I am thinking of the decision to invade Iraq. For
the main Parliamentary votes for the Iraq war, Mr Lepper
voted against the war on 26/02/03 and 18/03/03. He had
even voted for the Lib Dem amendment limiting the justification
for war without UN sanction on 25/11/02. This is significant for
a Labour MP, as no doubt party politically it wouldn't have made
his New Labour bosses very happy. Looking at positive voting records,
he also voted in favour of a Ban on Hunting on 15/09/04
and abstained from the vote on Tuition Fees on
27/01/04.
However,
he has also voted many times in an unrepresentative way. He voted
for the creeping privatisation of Hospitals by voting
in favour of Foundation Hospitals on 19/11/03, which passed with
just 17 votes.
He
voted for 'Anti-Terrorism' legislation giving the government the
right to detain foreigners without trial on 21/11/01. He also
seems to be in favour of ID cards, for the vote on 20/12/04
the Guardian has him as a no vote and PublicWhip has him as voting
in favour. For someone with some resolve in opposing the Iraq
War, showing that he can obviously see through the New Labour
spin, it is odd that he doesn't see through the spun reasons for
ID Cards. He
also voted against Freedom of Information legislation.
Written
Parliamentary Questions:
Recent
Debates & Written Questions (Source: TheyWorkForYou.com)
With
regard to Iraq, Mr Lepper was not in favour of the war but what
has he done to attempt to hold those responsible to account? Blair
lied to Parliament, all the reasons given for the war were simply
spin and the results have been horrendous. What searching
questions has he made then? None - Very disappointing!
He
has however, asked some good questions. Particularly with regard
to environmental issues, for example:
"To
ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
what waste reduction targets have been set for the UK by European
directives and regulations; what penalties could be incurred for
failure to meet those targets; and what assessment has been made
of the contribution of a reduction in the numbers of disposable
nappies being sent to landfill to achieving those targets."
(06/05/2004)
"To
ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
what research her Department has commissioned on the potential
impact on household waste volumes of introducing charges based
upon the volume or weight of domestic waste produced by each household,
with particular reference to disposable nappy volumes; and if
she will make a statement." (06/05/2004)
Mr
Lepper has partaken in some debate and asked a few good questions
in relation to environmental issues, which press the Government
to take action. Okay so he seems a little pre-occupied with disposable
nappies but these are good questions and the issue of nappies
is valid all the same.
Early
Day Motions Signed:
Early
Day Motions (Source: edm.ais.co.uk)
David
Lepper has also signed quite a few decent Early Day Motions which
reflect the views of his electorate. These relate to the Environment,
Human Rights, Animal Rights and Fair Trade. Click on the the link
above for a full list.
Some
of the EDMs signed are particularly good, for example:
EDM 360 US Government & Climate Change - That this House believes
that the planet cannot afford another four years of inaction and
denial from the US Administration; and calls on the Prime Minister
and Foreign Secretary to do everything possible to get President
Bush to accept the need to take climate change seriously and ensure
the US plays its part internationally in reducing greenhouse gas
emissions
EDM 175 Accountability of parties to the Iraqi Conflict to International
Humanitarian Law -
That
this House reiterates the reminder of the International Committee
of the Red Cross (ICRC) following the fighting in Fallujah, that
complying with international humanitarian law in Iraq is an obligation
and not an option; endorses the ICRC view that killing of non-combatants
or those no longer fighting, torture of non-combatants and combatants
and the taking of hostages whether Iraqi or foreign, are all prohibited
for all parties to the conflict and under any circumstances; recognises
that adequate medical care for the wounded, either friend or foe,
must be provided and that there is a duty to help civilians caught
up in fighting to obtain the basic food, water and health care;
and reminds all parties to the Iraqi conflict that violation of
these and other tenets of international humanitarian law must
lead to those responsible being held accountable.
EDM
2 Make Poverty History in 2005 Campaign - Calling for action aimed
at trade justice, dropping the debt and providing more and better
aid to make poverty history in 2005.
However,
there are some very valid and powerfully worded Early Day Motions
which Mr Lepper has not signed, these include:
EDM
664 US Foreign Policy - Criticising the US for supporting terrorists
whilst making unsubstantiated attacks upon Iran for supposed terrorist
links.
EDM
652 Interests of All Party Parliamentary Groups - Calls for all
financial and other support for all party parliamentary groups
to be declared, following news of a pharmaceutical company paying
£100,000 through lobbyists to influence them.
EDM
406 Genetically-Modified Organisms - Concern regarding pressure
from the US and biotech companies to open up European markets
to GM products.
EDM
362 Tax Avoidance - Call for clamp down on artificial tax avoidance
schemes including offshore tax avoidance loop holes that enable
millionaires and big business to avoid valid UK tax.
To
conclude, looking at the facts, i.e. Mr Lepper's voting records,
parliamentary questions and EDMs signed. I conclude that David
Lepper's performance as my MP, when compared against other MPs,
is okay. His outspoken support for environmental issues and voting
against the Iraq War stand him in good stead. However, the rest
of his voting record is poor, supporting attacks on our civil
liberties and privatisation by the back door of essential public
services is not what I would expect from my Labour MP. He has
also been silent regarding the Iraq War rather than very noisy
as I would have hoped.
If
David Lepper is your MP contact him regarding issues which affect
you and your community. Follow the links above and explore what
David Lepper has done in your name.
Contact
Details:
Contact
Details (Source: The Guardian)
Indymedia
Article:
Article
posted to UK and South Coast Indymedia (27/02/05)
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