Gordon Brown: Choose your role

The news that Gordon Brown has signed up for a speaking tour to support his new book on his (mis)handling of the economy and financial crisis, should make us think about his role.

He is still an MP, but has yet to vote, speak or make more than a fleeting appearance in Parliament since the election. He is being paid an MPs salary whilst not representing his constituents in Westminster. It is quite a disgrace, and like Margaret Moran who "was too ill" to attend but could be seen on video in the Lobbygate scandal, he should hang his head.

Whilst he's been taking the Queen's shilling he has been putting pen to paper to tell us his immense wisdom on taking the British Economy to the brink whilst blaming the whole problem on America. A man who hasn't apologised for his bad handling of the nations finances is trying to further his own, at £60K per event for unfortunate people to listen to a pack of half truths and dodgy statistics.

There should be a rule for Westminster that in order to be paid an MPs salary you should turn up for at least 40% of the votes and spend two days in the Palace of Westminster a week, unless you can provide a doctor's note. It's what the rest of us have to do!

Squiffy.