Article for 'Asian Voice' Newspaper

This week is Volunteers’ Week and I was pleased to begin it by attending Victim Support's launch of its campaign to recruit 1000 volunteers. Volunteers are the bedrock of Victim Support's services to victims of crime. A particular focus is upon the need to increase the numbers of Black and Minority Ethnic volunteers so that their volunteer service more appropriately reflects our diverse communities. Victim Support wants more Asian volunteers so please contact www.victimsupport.org today!

Whilst volunteering involves giving up time for others, I know from my involvement as a voluntary youth worker that you receive so much back in terms of experience. Volunteering, and the training provided by organisations like Victim Support, can be extremely valuable for students, and whether you are employed or unemployed in terms of employment and career development.

A focus on the volunteer motivation of service is a relief from the dominant issue of the day which of course is the MPs’ expenses furore. It is though worth remembering that most MPs are also motivated by a desire to serve their community and country and not to line their pocket or second home. However, some Parliamentary Colleagues have only themselves to blame for making wrong and excessive claims. No political party has been exempt from this, and we all as MPs need to accept collective responsibility for an allowances scheme that is clearly out of touch with any standards that would be deemed acceptable outside Parliament. The electorate need to hold us all to account – the good and the bad.

Transparency is the best medicine to clean up politics. I have previously published a full breakdown of my expenses because my constituents have a right to know how taxpayers’ money is spent. I publish all my past and future claims for expenses on my website www.davidburrowes.com. I need to be held me to account for not only what I say and do in Parliament and the constituency but also my conduct and character which is reflected by, among other things, the way I spend and account for taxpayers money.

The crisis does provide an opportunity to go further than the issue of expenses, and ensure that Parliament becomes not only cleaner but stronger. In the week that the Speaker resigned over the expenses scandals a typical Parliamentary scandal took place when another criminal justice bill was pushed through the Commons by the Government without proper time for scrutiny. At the same time the Lords’ were left to consider a Bill which seeks amongst many other issues to reform the law on murder. There can be few more important pieces of criminal law which require careful attention of Parliament. However due to Government timetabling these provisions have not been debated on the floor of the Commons and it is up to the Lords to pick up the pieces. This is a travesty and is letting down victims of crime and the public who elect us.

Ultimately what we need a General Election sooner rather than later to bring in the change which is desperately needed in the economy, society and Parliament.

David Burrowes
Member of Parliament for Enfield Southgate
Shadow Justice Minister
www.davidburrowes.com