Bush - He really is that stupid

Mr Bush argued that fighting Islamic militants in Iraq helped to prevent attacks on targets in the US - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7305023.stm

You actually couldn't make it up. Perhaps when facing the brunt of the IRA's attacks the British Government should have invaded the South in order to stop the terrorists retreating to Donegal. Roll on December, any of the three Presidential possibilities will make a refreshing change.

Number of MPs at Westminster

I heard recently Nick Clegg was advocating a reduction in the number of MPs at Westminster. Obviously, the first thing that comes to mind is that this is another Lib Dem scheme to wangle a little more power in the House of Commons. However, the more I think about it the more I can see his point.

Without going over the West Lothian question for the umpteenth time in recent history, most people accepted as reasonable that following the introduction of a Scottish Parliament there was a reduction in the number of Scottish MPs at Westminster. However, there is still a disproportionally high number of Welsh seats for general elections. Even more baffling is the fact that despite the introduction of a London Assembly there has been virtually no change in the number of seats in London.

Party politics aside, shouldn't a greater level of pluralism and 'local democracy' lessen the need for so many representatives at Westminster? Two hundred fewer politicians would save us all plenty in tax-funded salaries and expenses.