On the matter in hand surely it is time for some fresh blood politically in the town.

Re me not liking Vic (dont dislike him just dislike his column - in the main)why does that bug you so much - are you really that insular that you permanently surround yourself with people with identikit opinions and take it personally if someone has an opinion different to yours?

A Troll i maybe (thats up to you) but i am certainly 'The Satisfied Customer' - of that you can be sure!

   oh how drool, what a putdown.

   Oh me Car you have done the same, upset the poor little troll. It does not like Vic B does it?

   It's a shame that some pointless online wars are still being fought after all this time.

Back on topic. Whatever brownie points Sir Nick has with this town are being seriously spent. I can't ever see anything but a Tory MP for this town but whether it will be Nicky-boy at the next election remains to be seen.

   Oh Me Car i am far from upset, i never take things personally and enjoy the cut and thrust of debate - you should try it sometimes!

   I think you will actually find the term "troll" is old news, all the best most hippest webposters are using WUM now.

Still thats the risk people of your age run when trying to appear trendy.

SC is here to help and long may it continue, fightening old fuddy duddy dogma where ever it rears its weary stuffy pigheaded head.

   Ah, bless you Epsilon, you have upset the "Little Flaming Troll"

   Epsilon, was it really necessary to put the same comment on about 3 different stories.

I do appreciate your efforts though, recognition is always nice. I promise to not disappoint anyone and will continue to contribute.

I also appreciate your constructive criticism, i do comment first sometimes, but on reflection I could do it more, point taken and rest assured Epsilon you see a marked improvement in this area over the coming weeks.

The Satisfied Customer (Here To Help)

   Just as boardmonitor, from Canada said about The Satisfied Customer “Here to help? I thought you were just here to annoy and wind up people! “ How true they are known as “Trolls and Flamers” and exist just to try and ruin any comments section or forums. What they don’t like is to be ignor4ed, so just ignore him. You might notice that he says nothing until someone else as commented.

   Yes but I dont just refer to you do I?

   Satisfied Customer at least get your facts right. I have never referred to him as "maverick" I think you have just made that up. Read the Readers letters this week, two very good replies.

   Maxonian and Turner yet again miss the point....

Here is a man who has made his name being outspoken, talking out of turn and as you fondly refer to him being a "maverick"

Obeying the rules, following the party whip etc when it comes to what Big Nick thinks is right and wrong has never concerned him before when he speaks on a matter.

Which is why the silence is deafening.........

And yet you contine to blindly defend him. Bizarre.

   There is certainly a lot of pork already in Westminster with £87 million of MPs expenses, plus subsidised dining and boozing all at the public's expense.

Not forgetting the no-receipts-required culture. We even have learnt in the last few days that the Speaker has authorised the shredding of past expense claim records. Just as the Stasi shredded the evidence of their guilt as the Berlin Wall came down. Oink! Oink!

The unpopular parts of the blogosphere are complaining about comparison of the monies received by Tom Watson's family and the amount received by Derek Conway's family. None of them dispute that the Watsons suck on the teat of the taxpayer to a far greater extent than the Conways ever did. Not one has disputed the £300,000+ figure, they just weakly claim that the Watson family do more work.

So there you have it, standard Parliamentary practise.

Nick and Anne are at the bottom of the trough trail.

   I read about that £160 this weekend. Michael Martin has not defended himself either, because he is not allowed to say anything.

   Applies to all Politicians. They are trying to vote themselves an allowance of £160 per day, just for turning up. That is what I thought they were paid for. At the moment they get paid if they turn up or not.