A VERY BRITISH REVOLUTION
The Expenses Scandal and How to Save Our Democracy
MARTIN BELL
will be speaking about his book at a special event organised by
WARWICK BOOKS
on Friday 30th April 7pm at Lord Leycester’s Hospital, Warwick
The essential read on 2009’s scandal and the forthcoming general election is now fully updated and due for publication in paperback in April with a brand new section on events since last year. We are very lucky that Martin has agreed to come to Warwick as part of our ‘Meet The Author’ programme. Tickets are limited, so do reserve yours quickly!
“Enormously worth reading.” Tam Dalyell MP
The revelations over MPs’ expenses that began in May 2009 ranged from petty thieving to outright fraud and sparked a crisis in confidence unprecedented in modern times. This was a 21st-century Peasants’ Revolt – an uprising of the people against the political class.
Ordinary men and women with political views across the spectrum were in turns amused, incredulous, shocked and then bitterly angry as the disclosures on MPs’ expenses flooded out. From Home Secretary Jacqui Smith’s bath plug to Conservative Sir John Butterfill’s ‘flipping’ of his constituency home – a now-notorious scam that required him to refund £60,000 to the taxpayer – the exposure of MPs’ expenses revealed Westminster’s culture of quiet corruption like never before.
Drawing on his experience as an MP and as a member of the Committee on Standards and Privileges, Martin Bell explains how the expenses crisis arose and, most compellingly, lays out his prescription for healing the deep wounds inflicted by the scandal.
As Martin says: ‘The revolution will not be complete until all the rogues in the House are gone and public confidence in the MPs remaining is restored.’ This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to revive British politics, and the rebuilding starts here.
Martin Bell OBE, as a former BBC war reporter is one of the best-known and most highly regarded names in British television journalism and in 1997 became the first independent MP to be elected to Parliament since 1950. He has since campaigned tirelessly for trust and transparency in British Politics.
Tickets are available from Warwick Books and Kenilworth Books price £7.50 (£6 concessions). Thanks are due to Icon Books for supporting the event and to The Master of Lord Leycester’s Hospital for allowing us to use the splendid venue of the medieval hall.
