Eric Joyce, currently the ex-Labour MO for Falkirk, was ordered to wear an electronic tag after being convicted of assaulting politicians in a House of Commons bar.
On 4 July he fancied taking part in a Commons versus Lords charity boat race on the Thames and decided to cut off his tag to 'avoid negative publicity'.
Removing the tag triggered an electronic buzzer and he was contacted by the security firm Serco, who are responsible for supervising tag wearers.
According to the Scotsman, Joyce's lawyer said the bulky nature of the tag would make it difficult to for him to row so he removed it.
Joyce was fined £600 for the offence.
“It’s quite a stiff penalty, but I’m an MP and it’s perhaps an attempt to persuade others not to do the same.
“The event was very high- profile and for charity. I didn’t want to overshadow the charity’s work,” he added. “If I turned up wearing my tag, that’s what all the papers focus would be on. Me and not the charity.
“I made the decision to cut it off. If I’d knew it was a breach at the time, I wouldn’t have done it. (source)
I've seen a tag and it can easily be covered by a sock if the wearer wishes to distract attention from it.
Eric, I think your years within the Westminster bubble have distorted your thinking. The papers wouldn't have been interested in your tag-wearing leg because they know the public wouldn't have the slightest interest.
According to the Sun, Mr Joyce said he didn't realise it was an offence to remove the tag. Really? I do find that very, very hard to believe.
It's long past time legislation was introduced so as MPs who break the law and are convicted are automatically sacked. It would happen to most other working people. The good people deserve an MP of integrity and with common sense. At present their representative has neither.
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"The good people deserve an MP of integrity and with common sense. At present their representative has neither."
Representative should be plural.
One would have thought that one or all of either The Speaker of the House, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards or the Standards and Privileges Committee would have/should have called Mr Joyce to the bar of the House and punish him accordingly for, once again, failing to maintain the standards of a member of the House and also of furthering an offence under the law of the land.
... but it seems that being an MP one can do whatever the hell one likes - and get away with it.
An oversight OR. :)
Exactly JRB. Even the least educated in the land understands that a tag is electronically sealed or why use them.
Seems to me that behaviour like this and other criminal behaviour should be made grounds for immediate automatic recall and the offender made to stand for re-election and see if the voters want him or her as an MP/MSP. His reason for removing the tag is spurious as he must have known that doing so would get him "in the papers". Or is he saying to us "I am stupid".
If I’d knew it was a breach at the time
Is he a liar or just not the full shilling? They explain perfectly clearly what the point and purpose of the tag is.
Either way, he should be chucked out.
Ah Rosa, if a law such as the one you propose was enacted we would have a severely diminished lower chamber, the House of Lords reform would be in the hands of the probation service and the City would be an open prison where all the inmates are sentenced to a lifetime of unpaid community pay-back.
But, as it is, it's the price we pay for allowing democracy to be suffocated by the mask of PR spun and refined tyranny.
@ JRB 11:13
"One would have thought that one or all of either The Speaker of the House, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards or the Standards and Privileges Committee would have/should have called Mr Joyce to the bar of the House and punish him accordingly for, once again, failing to maintain the standards of a member of the House ...."
Do you mean by getting caught lying?
@ Joe
In a word - Yes! :)
Hard to believe that eric thought it was ok to take off the tag since the tag is designed to let people know where you are. As an alternative to being in a prison.
The 'official photo' shows other members of the winning team wearing socks while Eric opts for the bare feet and trainers look...
http://conservativehome.blogs.com/gazette/2011/07/house-of-commons-victorious-in-lords-vs-commons-boat-race.html
You're such an optimist, Rosie. Expecting the honorable thing from Eric Joyce? :D
Fully agree with your article.
Those who make our laws must never break them in such a blatant fashion.
Oops, I think my 'official photo' pic was from last year SR ;)
Google isn't always your friend lol
Good points Apogee. I suspect his reason was the former. He's nothing to lose now.
I bit of both WoaR? Regardless, he shouldn't hold the public office he does.
There's democracy and democracy Crinkly. The one I prefer is the one in which all are treated equally. That's not what we have in this country.
Google isn't my friend RM. It resists my searches. :)
I try to be optimistic Jeanne. Sometimes it is difficult...
A fine isn't good enough Barbarian. He ought to be taken back in custody as Apogee said.
Calling for an MP to do the honourable thing? Might as well call for a cat to bark and chase postmen!
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