Category: Party Politics

I wrote last month – with complete disbelief – when I discovered that our MP did not even turn up to vote on behalf of his constituents, either for or against the official report published, proving Boris Johnson’s lack of integrity and deceit during lockdown. This was a report which presented our then Prime Minister, as possibly the most untrustworthy person to have ever led our country. To read the report findings and see which MPs took the time to vote, click here >>

It’s no coincidence that, whilst the majority of MPs for parties other than the Conservatives, were present to cast their vote on Johnson’s controversial antics – Conservative MPs were rather more elusive, with 63% not turning up to vote on behalf of their constituents.

I doubt there is one person reading this page, that wasn’t affected by the restrictions imposed on us by Boris Johnson during two years of lockdowns. Unable to hold a loved ones hand, unable to socialise, to go to school and for much of the time, leave our homes. Whilst at Downing Street, our prime minister was partying with his “trusted” colleagues.

Why Were We Not A Priority Kevin?

I have politely asked Kevin Hollinrake – as a fellow constituent in the Malton and Thirsk area myself – why he did not represent his voters in this democratic process, which was designed to bring some degree of justice for all those that suffered during the pandemic, while Boris Johnson betrayed our trust.

What could have been more important than his duty to represent the views of his constituents in his area, on such a sensitive and high profile debate?

Kevin kindly took the time to respond to me and explained at the time of the vote, he chose to instead attend the Muslim Business Awards in London. He went on to explain that in effect it was pointless casting a vote because ‘as Mr Johnson is no longer a Member of Parliament, any sanction on him is immaterial, as someone who is no longer a Member cannot be suspended from the House. Therefore, I did not find the vote in itself to hold much tangible weight.’

The overriding message of Kevin’s response seeming to be that voting was a worthless exercise – and in his decision, taking away our right to have our opinion put forward in a political process – which was designed to allow us, as British people, to be represented in parliamentary decisions. If there was no point in voting, then why were MPs given the opportunity to vote, and why did so many MPs from other parties exercise this right?

As has been evident through Kevin’s previous communications – his loyalty to Boris Johnson has been unquestionable – read here to see why. This vote on the privileges committee report was about bringing closure for the people in our area.

Why No Answers? – Voters Must Decide

I responded again to Kevin and asked – did the people of Thirsk and Malton not deserve to have a sense of justice through being represented in parliament? When faced with the decision of doing the right thing by his voters, Kevin’s choice was clear – he put his personal views and his party first .

I went on to ask our MP given he didn’t cast his vote, to confirm how he rates the integrity of Boris Johnson, having read the privileges committee report? – which was interestingly supported by 98% of those MPs who did vote (view full results here).

And finally, I asked how he would have voted had he prioritised his attendance in parliament that day?

It is with great trepidation that I confirm Kevin was unwilling to answer any of these questions. These were fair questions. Questions which us, as his constituents have the right to know the answer for. Kevin clearly doesn’t want us to know these answers.

What Can Be Concluded?

• He does not want to answer the questions because he prefers to sit on the fence and play his voters.
• He knows that the answer he will give would not be liked by the vast majority of his constituents, even those who would typically vote for him.
• His answer would highlight the fact that the very constituents he represents come second to his ministerial role.
• He is now part of the political class – this is the opposite of what his stated goals were when he went into politics.

The Facts

• Only in this party could somebody get away with not doing their job, ie not voting on behalf of their constituents.
• Only in this party would somebody get away with not answering a clear and fair question with a straight answer.
• In any job apart from that which Kevin holds, the behaviours above would see him lose his job.
• The behaviour Kevin has displayed is cynical towards all electors and is exactly why we are seeing so many people disengaged with politics.
• Kevin’s behaviour is in effect damaging to democracy.

What we can be sure of is, Kevin doesn’t want people to know what the truth is behind why it was not his priority to vote on one of the most sensitive issues any government has ever faced in our country.

It’s time that we as voters, make sense of the political embarrassment the Conservative party have brought to our country – and we make the change that is needed.

PLEASE COMMENT BELOW TO CONFIRM – DID KEVIN MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE NOT TO VOTE?

As I continue to hear people out in Ryedale’s community expressing their disgust in the conservative leadership – their question of who can reliably represent their views is more valid than ever – following the absence of our elected MP Kevin Hollinrake when invited to vote for or against the privileges committee report, which brought Boris Johnson’s integrity into account.

The report confirmed that Johnson misled MPs and the Commons during his time as prime minister. In other words he lied. He twisted the truth. He deceived his party and his country, resulting in the ultimate sanction; now unable to access parliament as an ex-Prime Minister, a privilege offered by tradition to all MPs.

Funded by taxpayers money, this was a damning cross-party account which opens bare the complete dishonesty of the former Conservative leader.  More worrying than the findings themselves, is the fact that our elected MP is not willing to vote on behalf of the people he represents across Malton and Thirsk’s constituency.

Whilst Boris Johnson insisted his birthday and ‘morale-boosting’ parties during lockdown were “essential”, there’s barely a person I’ve spoken to in the last three years, who didn’t go through some form of suffering during this same period of time; loss of loved ones; loneliness; financial hardship; health challenges; lack of education – and the list goes on.

Yet at this time – whilst he imposed rules of isolation on the rest of us – Boris Johnson was partying with his cronies at Downing Street, in the face of a worldwide pandemic.

Despite being found guilty of five contempts of Parliament, both Malton & Thirsk’s elected MP, as well as our country’s current prime minister (pictured above), chose to withhold their vote and stand in the way of justice.

Where Were You Kevin?

As a life-long resident of Ryedale, who had the decency to respect the rules during lockdown – I am asking Kevin to explain his choice for not even turning up to cast his vote?

This vote was offered to our MPs to protect the integrity of parliament; of our government; of the democratic values we place trust in, when voting at an election. Yet with 63% of Tory MPs withholding their right to vote, there can realistically be no doubt that this party as a whole, is unwilling to act in the interests of our country.

Is there any going back?

To clarify, the Committee of Privileges who conducted the report, is made up of seven cross-party back benchers, selected to proportionately represent the members of the House as a whole; their collective role being to ‘investigate potential contempts and breaches of privilege as instructed by the House.’  This report scrutinised the facts and offered an unbiased outcome.

Surely if there was ever a time for our MP to stand up for the people who voted him in, this was it?

The findings of the report confirmed that Johnson “repeatedly misled parliament” about lockdown parties at Downing Street.

Boris Johnson was found guilty of five serious offences; how can any elected MP not have an opinion on these rulings? Surely this is the primary role of an elected politician – to have and express a viewpoint on behalf of their constituents.

How can Kevin justify his absence…

• Did he not have an opinion on his party leader, Boris Johnson’s proven lack of honesty?
• Did he believe the partying at Downing Street was acceptable, while the rest of us were locked down?
• Or is he simply more willing to protect his leader’s interests over those of the people who live in our area and who he’s representing?

Your Party or Your People?

It is no longer an opinion that Boris Johnson is a liar – it is fact; whilst all attempts to defend him were completely dismantled in any parliamentary debates, this was confirmed when 98% of those who did vote, supported the findings of the report.

Had his dishonesty been left unchecked, this would have further contaminated the government and allowed deceit to become an acceptable trait within our political constitution.

Sadly 63% of conservative MPs who didn’t vote – including Malton and Thirsk’s elected MP – have confirmed they are content with this standard of leadership.

See who voted here >> 

Our MP’s display of loyalty to his leader, who betrayed our country, is nothing less than spineless. Those who voted Conservative and whose MP did not vote, have essentially been politically abandoned and deserve more.

Many of these politicians fought for parliamentary sovereignty, removing us from Europe to take back control – yet when given the chance to exercise, on such a personal level, what they have fought for – they surrendered it.

The shortcomings of the Tory party are endless; from Austerity and Brexit to the failings of ministers, constant resignations and policy corrections. This country is in desperate need of change, and I urge people to think hard about who they can trust to represent their needs in future. 

Please comment below and tell us if our elected MP represented your interests fairly by withholding his vote on the privileges committee report.