Would You Support This Bill?

[PoliticalDiscussor]

So, would you support this bill?

The
Elected Representatives (Prohibition of Deception) Bill

requesting accountability through independent legal redress for misrepresentation or misleading statements or actions by our Elected Representatives.
(In other words ask your MP to support a law giving genuine accountability for deception)

To the House of Commons,
The Petition of citizens of the United Kingdom Declares that prior to the next general election it is imperative for all political parties to show their commitment to honesty, transparency and accountability; and further declares that a Private Member’s Bill entitled the Elected Representatives (Prohibition of Deception) Bill, presented by Adam Price MP on 17 October 2007, sought to achieve this aim by introducing legislation to protect the contract between the electorate and their representatives.

The Petitioners therefore request that the Houses of Commons urges Her Majesty’s Government to make provision for independent legal redress for misrepresentation or misleading statements or actions by elected representatives, by bringing forward proposals in line with those set out in the Elected Representatives (Prohibition of Deception) Bill, and to provide time for the House to debate these proposals.

To sum it up it - this bill would essentially make it a crime for MP's to lie. What do you guys think? If you vote please post your thoughts too.

(you can sign the actual petition here or learn more about it)

Yes, No, Maybe?

[Midas]

The difficulty here is in establishing what was a lie and what was circumvention, either because of genuine personal or political reasons or through lack of the full information on a subject. There are many reasons why people don't always tell the truth, or at least the whole truth, but that doesn't always mean they're lying per se. I can see legislation like this, however well intentioned, resulting in confusion with a consequential difficulty in enforcement. I suspect it would be too difficult to be so prescriptive about what constitutes a lie and under what conditions for it to be effective.

[Barry]

Seriously, there needs to be an exemption on matters of National Security.

Not so seriously... although MPs offices can be searched under the terrorism acts.

[Opinionated]

To sum it up it - this bill would essentially make it a crime for MP's to lie. What do you guys think? If you vote please post your thoughts too.

Does rather depend on what they are lying about, everybody lies. We should never hold our politicians up to a standard we can't live up to ourselves, we're just asking to be lied to if we do. I couldn't personally give a damn if an MP lies about having an affair for example (unless it was with a Russian spy or something - ooo remember those days of real scandal?).

[PoliticalDiscussor]

We should never hold our politicians up to a standard we can't live up to ourselves

We dont run the country. We dont have to live up to the same standard as them.

The difficulty here is in establishing what was a lie and what was circumvention, either because of genuine personal or political reasons or through lack of the full information on a subject. There are many reasons why people don't always tell the truth, or at least the whole truth, but that doesn't always mean they're lying per se. I can see legislation like this, however well intentioned, resulting in confusion with a consequential difficulty in enforcement. I suspect it would be too difficult to be so prescriptive about what constitutes a lie and under what conditions for it to be effective.

Well laws very similar to this already exist (just not for MP's.....but for companies/advertisers). Dont see why MP's - the people running the country - should be exempt from this law.

http://img3.imagesha.../10/post1bi.jpg
http://img3.yfrog.co...8485/post2u.jpg
http://img12.imagesh...836/post3dp.jpg

Nike Sued For Allegdly Lying To Public About SweatShops
Fox News Sued For Decepting Advertising
Man believed Classmates.com popup ad, suing website for false advertisement

People get sued all the time for lying.

[Streetwalker]

I support the bill.
Having said that is it realy necessary ? Dont elected MPs swear on oath to uphold the laws of truth and justice ?
Can we have this bill back dated please ,say ten years ? The commons would be like the Marie Celeste

[DC]

I would say that's fair, lying about politics anyway. Of course we have Pinocchio himself in charge of our country.

[PoliticalDiscussor]

Having said that is it realy necessary ? Dont elected MPs swear on oath to uphold the laws of truth and justice ?

" I (name) swear by almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God "

Unfortunately the oath mentions nothing about lying. Would be nice if they added that in though!

[Streetwalker]

Erm....... is that all they swear by?, Maybe we could at least make the political parties follow there manifestos that got them elected in the first place.

Something like "If elected we will have a referendum on the constitution"

Translates to " The constitution is nothing like the Lisbon treaty so we are not having a referendum"

Now that is lying

[Kiwi 1691]

It really depends how you define Lying?

Does that include a politician making a promise before an election, but after the election are unable to get enough support to pass the promise.

As some would consider that lying.

[KDee]

I agree that the term lie has far too wide a definition for me to vote for the bill. However if it was to be clearly defined and exceptions were made for national security then possibly. But then you have the problem of what is national security? and all the other exceptions that Mps would lobby to be made to it .