Forum Topic

Double-Jobbing

Here's an open question to members of this forum who live in Ealing Southall parliamentary constituency or Norwood Green council ward.Do you think that Virendra Sharma is devoting sufficient time to performing his roles as both an Ealing Councillor and a Westminster MP to a satisfactory level? http://www.ealingtimes.co.uk/display.var.2018813.0.call_for_mp_to_quit_council.php

James de Vivenot ● 6813d44 Comments

What was disappointing about his election as MP was the fear that he might be as inactive as his predecessor.  The Lib Dem candidate was very proactive and gained a lot of respect for that around here.See theyworkforyou.com and you can get email alerts when anyone you choose speaks in Parliament  and lots of other info.

Philippa Bond ● 6813d

Its quite difficult to gauge his performance as an MP but theres no doubt that by missing nine full council meetings, for which he was scheduled and receives an allowance, he is not performing his proper role as an Ealing Councillor.

Robert Darke ● 6812d

There's some interesting information on theyworkforyou.com about our local MP's travels:30 September-3 October 2007, to Cyprus, for study visit with Friends of Cyprus delegation. Accommodation costs, use of car and driver provided by the Republic of Cyprus House of Representatives. (Return flights to Cyprus paid for out of House of Commons European travel allowance.) (Registered 17 October 2007)23-30 October 2007, to India, including New Delhi and Mumbai, for international Parliamentarians of Indian Origin event. Return flight to India, accommodation, meals and travel costs met by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. (Registered 21 November 2007)27 December 2007-10 January 2008, to Chandigarh, Punjab, India, for a Punjab State Government Conference on issues relating to overseas Punjabis. Upgrade to Business Class for return flight from Heathrow to New Delhi provided by Air India. Accommodation, meals and travel costs in India relating to the conference paid for by the Punjab State Government. (Registered 1 February 2008)He also went to India between 16-23 November 2007 as part of Ken Livingstone's delegation.I just wonder how all these trips are benefiting his constituents???

James de Vivenot ● 6809d

His double jobbing and lack of read impact can't be any real surprise since he appears to have been largely elected on racial / religious grounds and not his competency / ability to fairly represent all of his constituents.

Ed Yelland ● 6809d

No benefit at all for Southall. As he loves India so much he should be given a one way ticket or get his snout out of the trough.

Graham Weeks ● 6809d

Another example of why people come to this country - self-betterment.If there's anything for the general good it's incidental or luck.

Alan Brainsby ● 6809d

With few exceptions like missionaries. migrants have been motivated by economics.

Graham Weeks ● 6809d

Funny. Great-grandfather came here to avoid being gassed....

Gavin Gilbert ● 6809d

There is a considerable difference between a refugee, asylum seeker, and economic migrant.One could be cynical and suggest that "great-grandfather" went back to his country of origin immediately the risk of gassing had passed, but one won't.My grandfather left this country to face the risk of being gassed in the trenches during the Great War. In his little way I would like to think that he helped keep this country free.I suppose that doesn't count now.

Alan Brainsby ● 6809d

Soldiers going to France to fight were not migrants.  Jews fleeing pogroms or Nazis were not economic migrants. The Pilgrim Fathers were not. But most migrants are economic.

Graham Weeks ● 6809d

... most migrants are economic.This may have been true of the immigrants in the 50s, 60s, 70s, and early 80s, in the sense that they came, and worked.Subsequent non-European waves have just come.I rather feel that the non-criminal sections of East Europeans will slip back to their homelands when this country's economy goes belly-up this year.

Alan Brainsby ● 6809d

I can`t understand why he wants to remain a Norwood Green councillor which is part of his parliamentary constituency, when he is likely to come in for increasing criticism for missing the meetings he`s scheduled to attend. Any ideas?

Robert Darke ● 6809d

Snout in trough for the money?

Graham Weeks ● 6808d

Poor Mr Virendra Sharma ain't getting a good press at the moment. Rather like his unfortunate predecessor Mr Piara Khabra. Sad really, especially as he's my MP.  Guess he won't be for much longer, 'cos with the pending electoral boundary changes, my little outpost of Ealing Southall(Walpole Ward), won't be in Mr Sharma's domain no more. Speaking of which, I rather like the cut of Ms Angie Bray's gib...she looks the business does Ms Bray...hope she makes it in the new EalingCentral and Acton constituency. I think she's up-and-coming and one to watch IMO.

Gerry Tan ● 6808d

That's the trouble with these changes.  The MPs concerned seem to stop paying any attention to the areas which they are supposed to represent NOW and probably won't later and only pay attention to those which they are hoping they will be representing after the next General Election.  They have been moaning about Andy Slaughter doing the same in the Acton Ealing & Shepherds Bush constituency as well.  (He's concentrating on the Shepherd's Bush bit.) As for trying to be an MP and a Councillor at the same time.  It just seems like title collecting and they are jobs not just titles.

Philippa Bond ● 6808d

"As for trying to be an MP and a Councillor at the same time.  It just seems like title collecting and they are jobs not just titles."I have no problem with people having two or more jobs; it's a free world and if one chooses to have another job that's OK by me. Agter all, many people have to be or elect to be double-jobbers. My wife and I had two(and more) jobs all our working lives until we both retired - each our own fulltime careers and sharing the bringing up of our children, albeit with the help of fulltime NNEB live-in nannies. I think it's a matter of how one copes with the duties and resposibilities of two jobs. If my esteemed MP Mr Virendra Sharma ain't attending to his Councillor duties, as seems to be claimed or suggested here, then he has some thinking to do and so perhaps do his constituents. Anyway, I'm looking forward to better things, when we cease to be Ealing Southall and become the new Ealing Central and Acton constituency. Roll on the next election.  ;-) 

Gerry Tan ● 6808d

Gerry, the problem is that he can't do the jobs properly if he doesn't attend meetings that he's supposed to.You're lucky that you'll be in Ealing Central and Acton at the next election. Unfortunately, us residents of Northfield ward are stuck with him, even though he does very little for us.

James de Vivenot ● 6808d

As a councillor, Virendra Sharma may share or cover his local ward duties such as surgeries at Norwood Green with colleagues; ironically when allocated to the Planning Committee, as an experienced councillor making up a team, scrutinising planning applications can affect residents borough-wide from Acton to Northolt. (important bearing in mind backgarden developments up to Dickens Yard and Arcadia Mk2, each of 700 flats).

Robert Darke ● 6808d

New research confirms that the average rat in London is never more than fifteen feet away from a sleazy MP.

Graham Weeks ● 6805d

As an MP he is failing by making three flights to India in three months at a time when massive expansion at Heathrow will lead to a new flight path over Norwood Green, Southall, Greenford & Northolt, bringing noise and congestion of ground services (I used to expect a seat on the Piccadilly line)I could understand one trip with an extension for family reasons but his unnecessary trips (all junkets) are not setting a good example in order to relieve pressure on Heathrow. (The late Piara Khabra only made three trips in three years)I doubt Virendra Sharma will vote against the Government on this issue!

Robert Darke ● 6805d

"I doubt Virendra Sharma will vote against the Government on this issue!"Mr Virendra Sharma is bound to vote for expansion at Heathrow. After all many of his constituents make a good living at the airport - can't blame him really.

Gerry Tan ● 6805d

Gerry, Its not about contraction so it won`t affect constituents making a living. Its a shame Virendra Sharma isn`t up to the mark like John McDonnell MP for Hillingdon and still taking needless trips don`t you think?                    www.john-mcdonnell.net

Robert Darke ● 6805d

"...and still taking needless trips don`t you think?"Trips by our MPs to India are essential, as we need to have vital trade contacts with the Sub-Continent - after all, they are now a very large and expanding(possibly more quickly than most western European economies) and we need to attract some of their investments here in the UK. Was he on trade missions, I wonder? Do you know?

Gerry Tan ● 6805d

Virendra`s trips won`t make a shred of difference to trade which may have been more of a help thirty years ago. Nowadays many Brits of Indian descent, as well as Indian residents, hundreds of whom are very astute at business, are far ahead of Mr.Sharma.I particularly disliked the GLA trip with Livingstone, funded presumably out of our council tax. James has posted the list of trips near the start of the thread.

Robert Darke ● 6805d

Correction to my earlier posting. John McDonnell`s constituency is Hayes and Harlington.In my view he is properly representing his constituents in a sincere way.                    www.john-mcdonnell.net

Robert Darke ● 6803d

Apparently Mr Sharma belatedly came out against Heathrow expansion at last weeks Featherstone School meeting, which may help his longevity, once all his constituents realise they will have the joys of 320 Airbuses on the additional flightpath with easterlies (I in 4 days). (Norwood Green/Southall/Greenford/Northolt)

Robert Darke ● 6799d

Apparently Mr Sharma hasn`t attended any council meetings since a few minutes on the 9th October. It means that some committees have been understrength and he`s particularly let down Southall Area Committee and the borough wide Planning Committee who need experienced councillors to be up to the mark judging from some of the proposed development, whether backgarden or tower block.He will soon be disqualified as Ealing`s rules say that any member who doesn`t attend a meeting for six months ceases to be a councillor.

Robert Darke ● 6761d

If the esteemed Mr Virendra Sharma is allegedly neglecting his councillor's duties, he has to go.  I've never had time for two-timing/double jobbers.  :-(

Gerry Tan ● 6761d

Many Councillors have a full-time high powered job and manage to do their Council work.  What is equally important is that there is a rub-off of experience from one job to the other with the Council and residents often the beneficiaries.  But MP Sharma has not attended any committee for six months minus 14days, therefore, we can say we have not benefitted from any of his new expertese or experience.  It could well be that there are benefits to the UK from his travels abroad but he is not bringing any discoveries or insights to the town hall. He should, therefore, give up his Council seat.  Could it be that he thinks that Labour will lose it and that's why he is hanging on to it?

Barbara Yerolemou ● 6761d

The only thing high powered about Sharma are the jets that he uses for his frequent jaunts abroad!As you say, Barbara, councillors often have full-time day jobs, but at least they turn up to council meetings. If they fail to do so, they are not representing their constituents properly and should stand down.

James de Vivenot ● 6761d

There is a convention in the country and in others that when a local councillor is elected to Parliament, he or she should  then resign as a councillor. This is in fact a legal requirement in the Republic of Ireland.Quite apart from his non-attendance, neglect of his council duties and the double-jobbing aspects of being both a councillor and an MP, there can also be a conflict of interest between a person's duties and responsibilities as an MP to serve and represent all his or his constituents in the national interest in the House of Commons and that person's duties and responsibilities to serve and represent the residents of his or her ward locally in the Borough Council.For example, as a local councillor he should be campaigning for a fairer deal from Central Government for the London Borough of Ealing whereas as a Labour MP he may well feel that Central Government should send yet more money from London to the Labour heartlands of Scotland, Wales and North-East England.In addition, the requirements regarding expenses and ethics that apply to local councillors are much stricter than those that apply to MP's. Mr Sharma could find himself in a very difficult legal position if he does something or accepts donations as an MP which could also be construed as being an illegal act of or an illegal  donation to him as a councillor.

David Giles ● 6761d

Ealing Gazette has also highlighted as did Robert that MP Sharma could soon be expelled for non attendance in 6 months - or will he play a game of a token appearance as little as possible and just avoid expulsion

Colin Izzard ● 6761d

Apparently Cllr Sharma will at last bother to turn up to a Council meeting about Education, Leisure and Children’s Social Services on Thursday evening.Coincidentally, the 6 month limit after which he was liable to be kicked out of the council for non-attendance is due on 9th April.

James de Vivenot ● 6757d

Interesting James - thanks for the info. Just in time and better late than never come to mind. 

Gerry Tan ● 6757d

I hope he stays for the whole evening's discussions.  Last meeting he attended I don't think he even sat down before he was off again!  By the way, the new labour Leader, Cllr Dheer came to cabinet last night.  As Opposition leader he is allowed to speak on any item.  He spoke on one item right at the beginning and then left.

Barbara Yerolemou ● 6756d

In the interest of fairness....Whilst it seems that Boris will resign as MP for Henley now that he has been elected Mayor of London, should Richard Barnes stand down from Hillingdon Council to concentrate on being London Assembly member for Ealing and Hillingdon? Ealing Times article

James de Vivenot ● 6723d

He should stand down because even though a councillor is not a full-time job and Richard Barnes isn`t a cabinet member he should be devoting his full-time to representing Ealing and Hillingdon at the GLA.Mind you Cllr Dheer has a nerve complaining when as leader of Ealing`s Labour Group he`s condoning Virendra Sharma double-jobbing at the same time!Angie Bray the prospective parliamentary candidate for Ealing Acton constituency has stood down as an assembly member for the GLA and is making a commitment I feel is likely to succeed.

Robert Darke ● 6722d

Re :- He also went to India between 16-23 November 2007 as part of Ken Livingstone's delegation.I just wonder how all these trips are benefiting his constituents???          xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx      for those of Indian origin, Punjabi or otherwise, possible benefit if they intend to return but for the rest of his constituents ( which includes much W5 and W7 areas ) , precious little I would have thought but maybe we see racism at work here?. I wonder if he will go to Pakistan and Somalia?, even if he doesn't get invited,and for what purpose. Which brings the question, WHAT was the purpose of his visits so far, incl to Cyprus. What reports has he produced re their need and results?.

Tony Price ● 6722d

Re:-  In his little way I would like to think that he helped keep this country free.I suppose that doesn't count now.             xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx        good gracious me , NO. Much out of fashion now, thanks to PC idiots with more mouth than brain. Surely you must realise everything alien is to be worshipped and applauded while we and our own to be denied and denigrated. Just read some of the posts on this Forum to get that drift. But the worm will turn, as we are seeing with the London election. Livingstone paid the price for his anti indig white and pro everyone else and as  the countrywide situation worsens, greater and wider will be the turn. Then might be the time to splatter details of NL's Revised Tenancy Agreement 2001 around.

Tony Price ● 6722d

Re :- As for trying to be an MP and a Councillor at the same time.  It just seems like title collecting and they are jobs not just titles.          xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx        don't forget the money, always the money

Tony Price ● 6722d

Re :- as an MP to serve and represent all his or his constituents in the national interest in the House of Commons"        xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx    most if not all comments here have revolved around his non activity as a Local Councillor but has his H. of Commons performance been any better. I can't say that I have heard much about his activities there, unlike Stephen Pound, who does make his presence felt and who has WEEKLY surgeries whereas Sharma  does only monthly. So where is he, what does he do and much to the point, for whom?.

Tony Price ● 6722d

Have just read that Richard Barnes has been appointed the statutory Deputy-Mayor and would take over from Boris Johnson in the event of illness, holidays etc. and reading between the lines has a safe pair of hands as a previously successful Council Leader.As a councillor for Ruislip/Northwood he may have a special interest in Harefield Hospital with its threatened closure, but I still feel holding elected positions at different levels is unhealthy and single-issue groups can have a surprising amount of expertise and success.

Robert Darke ● 6720d

In this week's local news there is criticism over parking policies for central Ealing. Councillor Sharma makes comment but as MP and in my reading of the words reported is so distant of the council that he should no longer claim to be councillor - quote as per paper - It's unfair the local authority is only looking at one aspect of the issue...Responsibility lies with the council. If they want the area to flourish they need to ....

Colin Izzard ● 6711d

Re :- words reported is so distant of the council that he should no longer claim to be councillor"            xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I think you will find that that is not only the census of opinion but the Council leaders think likewise, plus of course, he ain't much use as an MP by all accounts. I would hazard a guess that he was not voted in because of any ability , but for other reasons?.

Tony Price ● 6711d