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[MSE Lawrence]

This is the discussion to link on the back of Martin's blog. Please read the blog first, as this discussion follows it.

Read Martin's "Dear Gordon, why no response on Bank Charges?" Blog.

Click reply to discuss below.

[Paul_Herring]

So what is it? Why have politicians singularly failed to address this issue?

Because it's being dealt with (slowly) by the courts, and there's not a lot a politician can usefully say about it?

[OliveOyl]

Their web-site states :
If you have signed a petition that has reached more than 500 signatures by the time it closes, you will be sent a response from the Government by email.

Did you get an e-mail?

[MSE Martin]

Nope - no email no contact no nothing.

[stokefan]

that great leader we have couldnt organise a beer session in a brewery
it doesnt suprise me he hasnt responded

[*MF*]

"Silence is also speech ..."

- most often heard when faced with a question you do NOT want to answer.

[Paul_Herring]

Originally Posted by MSE Martin

Nope - no email no contact no nothing.

Out of interest, what exactly are you expecting from them?

An acknowlegment?

An admission of culpability?

A dry statement that the poll was conducted, and got the necessary number of signups to warrant a reply?

Somthing that supercedes anything the courts will come up with when they eventually reach a decision?

Martin, what exactly are you expecting from this shallow show of government pretending to listen to the public?

[Flickering Ember]

Originally Posted by *MF*

"Silence is also speech ..."

- most often heard when faced with a question you do NOT want to answer.

Yes, the silence is deafening...

The PM will never address such issues which he knows are unpopular, like when Blair refused to give us a referendum on going into Iraq and Afghanistan.

If anything, he's just nailing another few bolts into his coffin in time for the next general election.

[Hanco]

Martin, sometimes it seems they are not too keen on a quick reply from the PM... Here's another one:

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/ispphorm/
(against the spying on internet usage by ISPs)

21000+ signatures and not a dickiebird yet.

Except from the company who wanted to do the "snooping" for internet service providers to make money... Phorm launched a website and said this:

"The website managers at 10 Downing Street recognised their mistake
in allowing a misleading petition to appear on their site, and have
since provided assurances to Phorm that they will not permit this
to happen again"

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/reques...tition_website

More here... so people wait for the PM reply and the FOI reply!

(Interestingly, the Phorm Website text quoted was apparently removed from the site within 48 hours of publishing for some reason and there is no reference to why on their website)

I suppose it can take time for responses, but it should be good when it comes through. The banks have had it very easy until recent years on charging customers...

[MothballsWallet]

Martin, I don't think that Gordon Brown and the Nu Labour Reich actually care about the ordinary people of this country. Look at all the wastes of public money (including, but not limited to, ID cards).

[Lansdowne]

There is a principle that politicians do not make official comment on matters that are before the courts. So I would not be surprised that there is no definitive response. But surely there could have been a holding reply saying "This matter is before the courts and therefore we can not comment further until..." Bit poor if there isn't even that.

[A fiend for life]

I quite agree a response at the very least is in order. The whole court case is farcical as the banks could have been required to reveal individually the true costs of printing a letter in camera or have a £5 limit imposed.

[Tee_Jay]

I'd guess the majority of MPs are too busy either trying to hide super-excessive expense claims, flipping second homes, or running for cover, based entirley on whether their character is dishonest, belligerent or cowardly.

[A fiend for life]

Was that a dodgy dossier?

[its.ray]

Just what did people expect when this already tarnished and ineffective wally was placed into the Prime Ministers job without an election or referendum? Blair was a pratt and it looks like he trained his successor to follow his example like a sheep. Let us not forget who itn was that held the countries purse strings before he was Prime Minister, he is the one responsible for this current debacle! Small wonder he chooses not to reply when the banks doubtlessly line his party nest. Labour has never been any good for the people and to call themselves socialists has always been a joke! The only persons they are interested in are themselves and developing the 'how far can I get my snout in the trough' and the 'let me see how little work and useless I can become before they get rid of me' skills! None of our current Labour MP's or Ministers would last a week honestly employed in a real job in the real world.
Why do people vote for a proven failing system called Labour, New Labour or whatever disguise they choose to wear. Smoke and Mirrors are the tricks they rely upon, plus the apathy of their supporters to force a change to stay in power.
As an actor he is useless, as leader he is useless, as a Prime Minister he is the biggest joke of all.
Ray

[greg_reece]

I feel so let down by our current government, It's got so bad now that we don't know who to vote for because none of the parties can be trusted with the responsibility to hold office and at least tell the truth. It's impossible to please everybody but it seems the politicians only deal with problems when there are votes at stake. This banking fiasco is just the tip of the iceberg, but to pose a question, What would happen to the financial system if the courts enforced them to pay back all the charges? I've applied for the reimbursement of bank charges by the way but just a ponderous thought!
Taff

[MSE Martin]

Originally Posted by greg_reece

I've applied for the reimbursement of bank charges by the way but just a ponderous thought!
Taff

I included my view on this in this guide

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/p...k-charges.html

[earthmother]

To be honest, even if they did reply, would it be worth anything?

The times I've had replies from signing one of these petitions, they've just been a couple of paragraphs of spiel and bumpf - there's never any recognition of the actual petition issue - just a cut and paste of whatever the nearest applicable policy document is.

It means about as much as someone saying they're sorry long after an event and only after everyone in the country has told them to.

[Paul_Herring]

Originally Posted by earthmother

It means about as much as someone saying they're sorry long after an event and only after everyone in the country has told them to.

I think you meant "saying sorry for any hurt/embarrassment caused/we were caught" - since most of these apologies rarely actually apologise for the thing they're supposed to be apologising about, but apologise for the effects of the thing they're supposed to be apologising about.