RANDOM THOUGHTS...

I know that the Speaker of the Westminster parliament is the most senior "commoner" at least in England and Wales, and possibly in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but is it really necessary for him to spend £172 on a chauffeur driven limo to take him 0.7 miles to attend a function? I'm not suggesting that he turn up on a bus (although why not?) but there must be cars available in the Commons and he must be able to find someone who could drop him off.

This is not the first time that Mr Bercow has been lavish with his own comforts as this article suggests. It sounds like he's being pompous and self important to me.
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More details about the pay of top people in the
UK government. As well as the fat £7,000 or 11% pay rise for our beloved MPs (which all SNP MPS will give to charity), I read last night that the Queen will get an 18% increase in her private income from crown lands in the Duchy of Lancaster as well as an increase in her Civil List. However, despite this she will still expect the repairs of Buckingham Palace to be paid for from peasants' taxes.
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It seems that the Wilson Doctrine, whereby the communications of members of parliament are not hackled by police or secret service, may have been ditched for the Scottish, Welsh and NI parliaments. It may be that MI5 is reading Scottish ministers' emails and tapping their phones. The FM has rightly written to the PM asking him to confirm or deny this:

Dear Prime Minister,

I am sure you will agree with me that, excepting truly exceptional circumstances involving national security, the confidentiality of communications between parliamentarians and their constituents is of the utmost importance. I am sure you will also agree that it is just as important for MSPs as it is for MPs. This principle of confidentiality is what the ‘Wilson doctrine’ was introduced to protect.

You will therefore understand my concern at suggestions in the Daily Record and elsewhere – reportedly supported by documentation shown to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal – that, while GCHQ had been applying the Wilson doctrine to the communications of MSPs, that is no longer the case. The Scottish Government has not been consulted on any such matter. I would therefore be grateful for urgent responses to the following questions:

1. Are these reports correct in stating that there has been a change of policy and that GCHQ has ceased to apply the Wilson doctrine to the communications of MSPs?

2. If so, why was this decision taken, when and by whom was it taken, and was there any ministerial knowledge or approval?

3. Has there in fact been any interception of MSP communications?

4. Will you give an immediate assurance that this policy change by GCHQ will be reversed and that the Wilson doctrine will again be applied to MSP communications, and indeed to the communications of other devolved Parliamentarians and Assembly members?

5. Will you give an assurance that, with respect to the Wilson doctrine, MSPs will in future be treated equally to MPs by all of the intelligence agencies?

6. Francis Maude, MP, then Minister for the Cabinet Office, made a commitment in the House of Commons on 12 March 2014 to look at policy in relation to the Wilson Doctrine, along with the Home Secretary and yourself. Can you confirm what progress has been made in that work and whether its scope has included consideration of the position of Scottish parliamentarians?

I am copying this letter to the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Presiding Officer.

Nicola Sturgeon

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Ah well...seriously what did you expect from his lordship? Something approaching socialism...?

Ha ha ha ha ha ha.

Silly! Darling to Tory.