Richard's Kingdom

The Digital Economy Act 2010 is now law. Last week thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, watched the tragedy unfold on Twitter and via the live stream from Parliament (starts at 20:51:25). Many of those people were seeing the internal mechanisms of the British political system for the first time. Their reaction was almost universally one [...]

Despite massive public opposition the Digital Economy Bill was voted into law last night. Here’s how Sheffield MPs behaved:

Constituency
MP
Party
At 2nd reading?
At 3rd reading?
How they voted

Attercliffe
Clive Betts
Labour
No
No
FOR the Bill

Brightside
David Blunkett
Labour
No
No
ABSENT

Central
Richard Caborn
Labour
No
No
FOR the Bill

Hallam
Nick Clegg
Lib Dem
No
No
ABSENT

Heeley
Meg Munn
Labour
No
No
FOR the Bill

Hillsborough
Angela Smith
Labour
No
No
FOR the Bill

Frankly, I’m appalled. Any illusions I had about Britain being a representative democracy have been shattered. [...]

There is an issue about which I care passionately. It doesn’t matter what it is (though if you read the rest of this blog you might be able to guess). In the last six months I have written to retiring MP Richard Caborn half a dozen times urging him to act. I have called his [...]

The Gagged Geeks protest against the Digital Economy Bill in Sheffield yesterday exceeded all my expectations. Around thirty protesters handed out 300 leaflets – our entire stock – in less than 20 minutes. We were joined by Paul Scriven, leader of Sheffield Council and Lib Dem PPC for Sheffield Central, who handed out leaflets and [...]

Dear Harriet Harman
I am writing to you in your capacity as Leader of the House of Commons. My MP Richard Caborn may have made representations to you already on my behalf however I wanted to emphasise how important this matter is to me.
Please ensure the Digital Economy Bill benefits from the full scrutiny of all [...]