'Dear Gordon, why no response on Bank Charges?' blog discussion

Former_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_2

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

MSE_Martin wrote: »

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?

ThinkingOfLinking

*MF* wrote: »

"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/request/downing_street_petition_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.