There’s a story on The Register website about Lord Oxburgh, the Peer charged with leading the investigation of the UEA ‘Climategate’ controversy. It seems he has failed to declare his interest in an organisation called ‘GLOBE’ – a wealthy influence group which funds eco-meetings for politicians. One insider called the situation, “like putting Dracula in charge of the Blood Bank”.

This follows on from the post I made yesterday about the skewed way our information is provided, with commenter Chris pointing out the way that people and groups with a vested interest try to influence our views and government policy by presenting ‘facts’ that suit their purpose.

Add to that the recent Channel 4 exposé, “Politicians for Hire” where MPs rent their services to lobby groups and companies and we’re starting to build up the beginnings of the complete picture.

Our elected representatives and appointed public servants (including local ones) should not be allowed to hold outside interests. They should not be permitted to work for any external organisation, company or group. They should not be entitled to hold a religious, educational, legal or medical post until after their political term is over. If we pay them a decent wage for the job, they have no excuses for trying to line their own nests (and we’d get better service and value from them in the long term).

Also, we need to make the penalties for transgression severe. That’ll get their noses out of the trough and stop them putting their own interests (and those of the companies paying them) before those of the people they purport to represent.