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T_i_B

(14,800 posts) Mon Dec 18, 2023, 06:50 AM Dec 2023

My local Tory MP is in hot water!

Last edited Tue Dec 19, 2023, 01:20 AM - Edit history (1)

Not sure what she's done to warrant being under investigation by Parliamentary Standards.

Although Miriam Cates hasn't been a good constituency MP at all since she got elected back in 2019. At present she seems much too focused on internal Tory wrangling than engaging with people in the North of Sheffield and the West of Barnsley.

https://news.sky.com/story/tory-mp-miriam-cates-under-investigation-by-parliaments-standards-watchdog-13033359

8 replies

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My local Tory MP is in hot water! (Original Post) T_i_B Dec 2023 OP

Torygraph suggests it might be lockdown-party-related muriel_volestrangler Dec 2023 #1

I was thinking it might have been something elae T_i_B Dec 2023 #2

She seems to be a horrible person LeftishBrit Dec 2023 #3

She's never been personally horrible to me T_i_B Dec 2023 #5

I wasn't thinking that she'd been personally horrible to constituents.... LeftishBrit Jan 2024 #8

Given how many of the Tories have been at it* and it seems like the floodgates might have finally opened Emrys Dec 2023 #4

My MP is pretty forgettable... róisín_dubh Dec 2023 #6

Yeah, she's getting increasingly loonier the longer she stays in Westminster T_i_B Jan 2024 #7

muriel_volestrangler

(102,475 posts)

1. Torygraph suggests it might be lockdown-party-related

Reply to T_i_B (Original post)

Mon Dec 18, 2023, 12:01 PM

Dec 2023

However, Ms Cates is the fourth MP to be investigated by the Standards Commissioner after being linked to a drinks party that took place during lockdown.

She is reported to have been present at a birthday gathering for Baroness Jenkin, a Tory peer, and Virginia Crosby, a backbencher, in December 2020. She has not commented on the reports that she attended the event.

The Tory MP Sir Bernard Jenkin, the husband of Baroness Jenkin, is also said to have been there, along with Dame Eleanor Laing, the Deputy Speaker.

Ms Cates, Sir Bernard, Ms Crosby and Dame Eleanor are all being investigated by the Standards Commissioner under the same clause of the code of conduct.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/12/18/tory-mp-miriam-cates-investigated-by-standards-watchdog/

T_i_B

(14,800 posts)

2. I was thinking it might have been something elae

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Reply #1)

Mon Dec 18, 2023, 01:58 PM

Dec 2023

Specifically allegations she's made about sex education in schools, which might have been misleading.

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/mar/31/overhaul-of-sex-education-in-england-based-on-overblown-claims-say-teachers

To be honest, there are numerous issues with Miriam Cates. We're at the stage where a lot of people in this area breathe a sigh of relief when she doesn't turn up at constituency events as so many of us are fed up of her antics.

LeftishBrit

(41,303 posts)

3. She seems to be a horrible person

Reply to T_i_B (Original post)

Mon Dec 18, 2023, 07:36 PM

Dec 2023

I thought my own former MP Nicola 'Blockhead' Blackwood (2010-2017) was bad enough; but Cates is quite a few miles further in the Sarah Palin direction.

Cates' and Dunning-Kruger's National Conservative group are scary!!!

Even apart from her being a bad constituency MP and apparently a bit dodgy.

T_i_B

(14,800 posts)

5. She's never been personally horrible to me

Reply to LeftishBrit (Reply #3)

Tue Dec 19, 2023, 07:44 AM

Dec 2023

Last edited Tue Dec 19, 2023, 08:17 AM - Edit history (2)

But she hasn't done anything whatsoever to earn my respect since getting elected. There are other politicians who are worse on a personal level but better at their job.

And dislike of the stuff she's been doing since she was elected unsurprisingly tends to be the major reason why some people have fallen out with her!

Especially when it comes to LGBTQ+ issues.

LeftishBrit

(41,303 posts)

8. I wasn't thinking that she'd been personally horrible to constituents....

Reply to T_i_B (Reply #5)

Sat Jan 27, 2024, 09:15 AM

Jan 2024

though, given the behaviour of the likes of Nadine Dorries, all things are possible.

But she is moving more in a Sarah Palin/ Rick Santorum direction than I like in my own country.

My own current MP, Layla Moran, is fine; though we've had local problems with the religious right in the past.

Emrys

(7,941 posts)

4. Given how many of the Tories have been at it* and it seems like the floodgates might have finally opened

Reply to T_i_B (Original post)

Mon Dec 18, 2023, 10:02 PM

Dec 2023

in getting at least a little bit of accountability going, I'm reminded of the (untrue) legend of Labour MP Dennis Skinner standing up in the Commons and declaring, "Mr Speaker, half the Tories opposite are crooks."

The speaker told him to sit down and insisted he withdraw the remark.

"OK," he said, standing up, "half the Tories opposite aren't crooks."

* Whatever it is, I'm against it. - G. Marx

róisín_dubh

(11,899 posts)

6. My MP is pretty forgettable...

Reply to T_i_B (Original post)

Thu Dec 28, 2023, 12:08 AM

Dec 2023

but apparently he's a decent enough guy. He's currently dealing with a huge cladding issue here in Ipswich, as well as the absolute shambles that is the route to Felixstowe port (https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-67615093 )

Yours sounds like a real peach...

T_i_B

(14,800 posts)

7. Yeah, she's getting increasingly loonier the longer she stays in Westminster

Reply to róisín_dubh (Reply #6)

Wed Jan 24, 2024, 02:22 PM

Jan 2024

Her latest cause? Banning mobile phones for the under 16's.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/ban-under-16s-from-using-smartphones-tory-mp-suggests/ar-BB1hccn2

Former teacher Miriam Cates put the case to Rishi Sunak at Prime Minister's Questions today.

She said there had been a "marked increase" in poor teenage mental health since 2010, and that it was "time to consider banning social media and perhaps even smartphones for under 16s?"

"The United Kingdom has a strong tradition of legislating to protect children from serious threats to their safety and welfare.

"So does my right honourable friend agree with me that it's time to consider banning social media and perhaps even smartphones for under 16s?"

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