Parties, porn and predatory behaviour: I’d rather have boring politicians

Opposition MPs are often portrayed as boring – especially Keir Starmer – and certainly struggle to get the media coverage meted out to the more “colourful” characters.

I’m not sure when not behaving like a D-list celebrity became an insult in political life, or why it is relevant.

If the opposite of boring is tax evasion by those imposing poverty on millions of ordinary families, MPs watching porn in parliament, partying while people die, lying, obfuscating, using the privilege of office to prey on women and young men, proven bullying, etc – please give me boring.

Amanda Baker

Edinburgh

It is, sadly, refreshing that Neil Parish has fallen on his sword and resigned as an MP. Sadly because other MPs who have crossed the line or broken the law have not followed suit.

Mr Parish let himself, his family and the office of MP down, for which he went without too much fuss. However, it does add to the lack of respect for MPs – not only from the public, but between colleagues in their own party. The two women who brought this obscene behaviour to the attention of senior administrators in the party were quite rightly outraged that it happened in the first place, but especially that they viewed it in the Commons.

I find it absolutely astonishing that 50 MPs and others in government have been cited for sexual misconduct, bullying and other antisocial activities, and are still working in Westminster. Surely they ought to be suspended until their case is resolved, which would galvanise all parties to proceed with pace for a resolution. There is too much time wasted between accusation and conclusion of misconduct in Westminster.

Thankfully there was no cover up this time by Conservative MPs or support from the PM. However, the damage has already been done by previous episodes of blatant cover up, support, conspiracy and lies to evade remedial action or punishment.

Keith Poole

Basingstoke

Regarding Neil Parish’s utterly shameless behaviour in parliament, I haven’t yet read any criticism about him watching anything of any nature in the Commons, instead of concentrating on what he should have been doing: listening and contributing.

Unless MPs are reading material related to the ongoing debate, or preparing themselves in advance, they should be censured for misuse of taxpayers’ money.

Alistair Vincent

Chipping Barnet

Business secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, has seen fit to deny there is a culture of misogyny in parliament. That would make it at odds with so many UK workplaces, including the police and the law.

I wonder what makes the Palace of Westminster so enlightened? Perhaps he could – should, even – share parliament’s work ethos with us, for the benefit of us all?

Beryl Wall

London

I always enjoy reading Harriet Williamson’s thoughtful columns and this one was no exception. She is right that bank holiday weekends are meant to be a pleasure-fest, a chill out time with hopefully a benevolent sun shining. But often expectation over realisation can rear its disappointing head if the weather doesn’t play ball or that get together with friends doesn’t materialise.

She is right it is important to have friends that lift one up and are there for the good times and just as importantly the bad times. As a 70-year-old woman, I have sustained friendships over many decades and relish their unfailing permanence in my life. They even put up with me talking politics ad nauseam!

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Yes we should be with people who lift us up, but just as importantly, we should have people who get down with us in the more problematic periods. We should also realise that being on your own and making a friend of oneself, warts and all, can be really rewarding and illuminating too.

Judith A Daniels

Great Yarmouth

In The Independent’s exclusive on Sunday, Adam Forrest writes: “Mr Browder warned Mr Johnson’s government not to backtrack on its promise to crack down on the flow of dirty money. ‘I can’t stand these pronouncements fizzling out into nothing because the laws and institutions don’t work,’ he said. ‘I’m worried the interest could dissipate.’”

The present focus is on Russian dirty money. The corrupt systems are deliberate UK mechanisms for the evasion of tax. The “flaws” in the systems are intentional. There are Tory party members, supporters and promoters who have a direct interest in its continuation.

There is little chance of effective action being taken to change the laws and institutions while we have a Tory government. It is not in the interests of a powerful and controlling element in a party that has been deliberately purged of longstanding MPs of distinction and in that process, also purged of much of its decency.

Any action eventually taken is likely to be little more than tinkering at the edges for cosmetic purposes.

David Nelmes Caerleon

Newport