Chris Maclean: parliamentary debates

Tonight's bar debate is about our MPs.

Our MP here specialises in questions about the forthcoming Olympics.

His "proudest achievement since the election in 2001.... was to introduce a private members bill against the trading of endangered species". The bill was defeated.

Wow.

His annual salary is £57,485 plus a very generous pension provision. In addition, last year his expenses were £123,446. Over £180,000 a year he costs us.

And he asks questions about endangered species. He's a shadow minister for sport.

But people here have a low opinion of their MP. Perhaps justifiably. £180,000 and an attendance record of 69.8 per cent. Nice work if you can get it. Last year the House of Commons sat for 99 days. Ninety-nine days out of 365! And my MP was there fewer than 70 times! That's more than £2,500 a visit and the best he's done in the past five years is propose a motion about endangered species.

It seems all so very far away from the rough and tumble of running a frontline pub.

This morning I walked down our small high street. One pub, one jewellers and a take-away shop with their windows smashed. Two fights in the pub in the centre. Broken bottles strewn around. Seagulls mobbing for the discarded kebab fillings. It's probably the same in towns and cities throughout the country.

But it is the pubs that get the blame while successive governments twiddle with irrelevant legislation but, in reality, change nothing. Its hard to be on the frontline contributing to the community when our generals don't manage two days a week, don't get their hands dirty and don't have to face the consequences of their decision making.

I think I'll stand for parliament. I'll propose a motion about endangered species - licensees. They really don't deserve to be treated so.

Vote for Chris. You know it makes sense.