No representation without taxation

There are people in the House of Lords who don't pay tax. That's to say, they have a lifelong seat, with speaking and voting rights in the legislature without ever having to be elected, collecting attendance money and affecting the laws of this country, while hiding their money abroad. They don't contribute to the roads, health service, justice system, defence of the realm, environmental improvement or the education system, but reap all the rewards of living here and being listened to on whatever subject is on their minds.

There are also lots of tax exiles who live abroad but hand over large amounts of money to political parties to get their own way, such as Sean Connery, the Scottish Nationalist (Barbados Branch) amongst many others.

Lord Campbell-Savours moved an amendment to the Political Parties and Elections Bill outlawing this corrupt distortion of democracy. The government and the Tories are planning to allow this revolting practice to continue when the bill comes back to the Commons.

Lobby your MP: mail them, fax them, make a personal call. The rest of us pay taxes and get very little say in affairs - let's level the playing field. Contact your representative via They Work For You.