back to article Mandybill enters pre-election wash-up

Both sides of the Digital Economy Bill debate made what could be their final pitch to MPs in newspaper adverts today, as the legislation enters the Parliamentary "wash-up" ahead of the election. The Bill is due to receive its second reading in the Commons at 3.30pm. During the wash-up, set to take place over the next few days …

COMMENTS

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  1. Anonymous Coward
    Stop

    And the other bills too...

    The Childrens Schools and Family's bill has also entered the "wash-up". This too contains a lot of contentious things in it and should be dropped along with this Mandybill and the Justice Bill.

    At least the home ed part is illicit in so many ways including legislation being based on a review (with illegitimate terms of reference) with stats that are not being put on the DCSF statistics database so the National Statistics Office have no way of giving opinion on them as they are not being asked to make them official. Therefore MPs should not have been given in a form they were led to believe were official, legislation should not be based on them because to form policy they must be qualified. But it is not the only controversial section of the Bill and it would be better if the whole thing were scrapped as the shoddy and irredeemable piece of work it is.

    Watching the bills pass through Parliament (yes I did watch!) - there was not enough time given to discuss pertinent points. They have ended up here in the wash up instead. Not really democracy in action...

    Here's hoping that these bills ends up dropped.

  2. Velv
    FAIL

    Can we all work this way ?

    Wouldn't it be great if we could all work this way. Instead of following due process, we bypass all process just to get it done and out of the way.

    It really would make life so much simpler and quicker. No need for cumbersome safety equipment. Don't bother stopping for red lights. Security checks - pah, not required, it's time to go home and organise a BBQ.

    It's almost as good as Bruce Almighty saying "Yes" to all prayers!

    Make your MP work - don't re-elect them!

    1. Sir Runcible Spoon

      Sir

      You may jest, but this already happens.

      It's called a jfdi, and is usually activated when the upper management ignore the advice of their advisors, go ahead with an ill-conceived plan and then get everyone working all hours just to pull their knackers out of the fire when it all goes tits-up.

  3. Anonymous Coward
    Alert

    Herr Dictator Mandelweasel

    Speaking of Mandy.....

    http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/news/mp-left-redfaced-over-boob-letter-32119.aspx

    I can see how it happened. "Mandelweasel" just seems such an appropriate name for the unelected, twice disgraced twatspanner.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Happy

      Hehehe

      I think I have a new name for our pub quiz team... Better than 'Colonel Gadaffi's Batman' or 'It's-a-me, Silvio!'

    2. Nigel 11
      Thumb Up

      Awesome choice ot words

      Where's my pen?

      "Dear unelected, twice disgraced twatspanner, ..."

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Pedantic

        That should be Lord Twatspanner.

        But thanks for an awesome new addition to my lexicon.

    3. Stefing

      Personally

      I prefer Mandelsnot.

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    farce

    I wrote to my mp about getting the mandybill discussed properly in parliament. He told me that I was completely wrong to suggest that it needed discussion as the 3 main parties supported it entirely.

    I was also wrong to suggest that there is an alternative to voting for the main 3 parties apparently.

    1. Tony S

      @ AC 12:39

      I also wrote to my MP - he wrote back and told me that he and many others were against some of the points within the bill; although he felt that there were many good points - and that they would "strenuously oppose" it being forced through. He agreed that it needed "a full debate" and assured me that he and others "would not allow" it to be passed without the necessary full debate.

      I'm tempted to write back and ask what happened.

      Still I suppose that they may take out the more controversial clauses. (Yes and the species Sus Domestica may grow wings and nest in trees one day!).

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Thumb Down

        No reply

        I wrote to my Lib Dem MP and didn't get a reply - even after sending them a reminder - can I complain to anyone?

        Rest assured I won't be voting for them again.

        1. Tony S

          @AC 20:58

          Try their main office https://www.libdems.org.uk/contact.aspx

          Otherwise, write to Nick Clegg http://www.nickclegg.org.uk/ncorguk_contact.aspx

          You can also use "They work for you" http://www.theyworkforyou.com/contact/ and advise them that you had no response - it can help to identify who is doing their job.

          If you want to wind your MP up, use http://youve-been-cromwelled.org/ (most of them hate that site!)

          You could also contact the Parliamentary Standards Comittee http://www.parliament.uk/site_information/contact_us.cfm - however, they may do nothing now until the new parliament.

          Don't let them get away with it - keep writing and pester them until they respond. Find the telephone number of their constituency office and call them. If you feel stringly enough, get other people to write or call - they are answerable to their constituents, but you may have to remind them of that.

  5. Andy 97
    Stop

    Anything that 'Mandy' has his name on....

    In my humble opinion; that snake-like devious weasel needs to have some wind taken out of his sails.

    Tell us about the yacht trip with your mates you odious slime-merchant.

    I haven't disliked anyone as much as him since ....well Mandleson.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      @Andy 97

      "I haven't disliked anyone as much as him since ....well Mandleson."

      Jeffrey Archer?

      1. Anonymous Coward
        FAIL

        Not a minister

        At least Jeffrey Archer was never made a full minister. The highest he achieved was deputy chairman of the Conservative Party. Lord Twatspanner has been made a minister 3 times, despite being forced to resign on mutliple occasions for gross misconduct.

  6. JP19
    Stop

    Dissolved?

    Parliament is dissolved today I saw on the TV.

    I thought thank god, at least one month in 5 years the f**kers can't do any damage. Seems I was wrong and they try to cram all next months damage into a day.

    Bringing back Mandleson is more than enough reason not to vote FuLab. He is still going to be a Lord after the election so that damage is permanent.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      They have until Thursday

      From what I saw on the beeb anyway. Didn't say whether that's 9AM or 11PM Thursday.

  7. BristolBachelor Gold badge
    Joke

    New Taxi law

    The taxi industry in the UK employs over xxx people, and has a turn-over of over £yyyyy per year. This industry, and all the jobs in it are at risk. The industry has recently seen income fall, and people are already loosing their jobs over it. In fact the industry across the whole of Europe is suffering.

    Some detractors say that the industry charge a heafty premium for their serves, when people don't have a choice, but the industry disagrees.

    After many fact-finding meetings in various destinations around the world, I can confirm that the industry provides excellent service. In addition, the industry is at risk from " Private Individuals Running Alternate Transport Equipment" (PIRATE). These individuals are copying the idea of Taxi drivers, and sitting in cars driving themselves from one place to another.

    To protect the industry, we will introduce new laws to protect taxi drivers:

    If we catch a Person Illegally Running Alternate Transport Equipment (PIRATE), they will be warned. After 3 warnings, they will have their hands cut-off to prevent them offending futher (3 stikes cut-off law). To streamline the legal process, all taxi drivers will be granted status as witness, judge and jury to issue the warning letters without extra burden on the courts. Possibly senior taxi drivers will also be given machetes to stream-line the cut-offs.

    We are considering extra taxes on items used to copy taxi drivers. Cars, bicycles, and Bus tickets will all be taxed under the new Collect A lot Need Our Nepotism (CANON) tax and a proportion will be given to the new TAXI agency agency to compensate Taxi drivers because people don't wish to buy their service.

    Since clothes are usually used by a PIRATE, these will also be covered by the new tax. This tax is already succesfully applied in countries like Spain.

    If this is not sufficient, we may also tax everyone who travels from one place to another, in case they are doing so without using a taxi.

  8. Macka
    Thumb Down

    An end to Mandy

    I'd like to see this guy out of government. It winds me up no end that an unelected official like Mandy has so much power and influence in government and the running of the country with absolutely no accountability to the electorate. First Secretary of State: that position should be held by an elected MP. Mandy's a member of 35 of the 43 cabinet committees and subcommittees for goodness sake, and we can't get rid of him without tossing out the whole government. Not that I'm in favour of keeping the incumbents, but that is so wrong.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Joke

      Maybe when parliament is dissolved

      They should use some sort of strong acid for the purpose, such as hydrogen fluoride? That should do the trick, and clear the nasty blockage...

      1. Semihere
        Joke

        Know your corrosive chemicals...

        But surely Hydrogen Fluoride is an alkali, not an acid!?

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Coat

          Hydrofluoric acid

          But Hydrofluoric acid is my favourite acid!

          What with being water clear, odourless (if you could smell it, you'd know to start organising your funeral), with the same viscocity and clingyness of water, a pH of -11, and the way it removes all the calcium from your body after skin contact, it scores very high on the cool wall.

          I'll get my own coat; I don't want you breaking the flask in the pocket...

  9. Mme.Mynkoff

    So when do they...

    ... start disconnecting Freetards?

    And can I watch?

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Thumb Down

      Twat

      See title

  10. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

    @An end to Mandy

    You think he won't just pop-up for the other side in a year or so?

    Or do you think his idealistic commitment to socialism will stop him working for the tories ?

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Mandy will work for anyone...

      ...who crosses his palm with the appropriate amount of silver - used to be 30 pieces, but I dare say inflation has taken care of that.

      I'll vote for anyone who can guarantee this unelected, bent (in every possible way) insult to our democratic system is taken away to a desert island and left there - preferably staked below the tidal line.

      But then he probably has as much dirt on his potential new masters as he had on the last. That the guy obviously 'knows something' about a lot of people is the only explanation for his continuing liberty long let alone his power.

  11. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    I watched to the reading and 'debate' ...

    ... the conservatives were against the bulk of the bill in it's current format, including the most controversial parts. There was much questioning by MP's as to why this bill is being rushed through.

    The way I see it, it's probably going to go through but not with the agreement of the conservatives or the lib dems. The conservatives pledged to challenge the controversial and downright stupid aspects of the bill - but of course, they would.

    All is not lost by any means, as it's clear this bill will be debated, modified and large swathes of it chucked out over the coming months.

  12. John Smith 19 Gold badge
    Happy

    When I hear his name

    The words to Big Country's track "Republican Party Reptile" start to play in my head.

    I wonder why?

    BTW this will be his *third* time in office.

    Perhaps there might be use for this "3 strikes" idea after all......

    It's now official. 30 days to go.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Flame

      30 days to go...

      ...and almost no REAL choice !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      1. Ihre Papiere Bitte!!
        Happy

        Sure there is!

        There's the grumpy bastard, the smarmy bastard, and the other bastard.

    2. M.A
      Gates Horns

      funny you should mention

      A ex member of big vountry is now a MP and spoke in favour of the bill being pushed through without further debate.

  13. Gizzit101

    Well...

    Type your comment here — plain text only, no HTML

    I'm not a freetard - I've paid for every bit of software, music and film that is on my computer. Many years ago, before I knew better, I, (hangs head in shame) recorded music onto C90 cassettes and distributed them to friends. In my own defence, I suspect one or two others did the same.

    My concern is the ability of the much vaunted DEB provisions to correctly distinguish between legal and illegal P2P traffic. I foresee much wailing and gnashing of teeth, as innocent netizens are bombarded with threatening letters.

    I could be wrong, but I'm sure that I also heard a reference during the "debate on the second reading" last night, about ISPs being obliged to provide reports to rights-holders groups, to enable civil prosecution and fines.

    I'm also going to predict that some of my favourite wifi hotspots in local pubs and cafes will elect to just pull the plug, rather than undergo the expense and hassle of the "technical measures" to police the connection they provide.

    Finally, when I'm on the topic, I'm also miffed that despite representations, there is no such thing as "fair-use", or legal format-shifting in this country. So anyone who rips a legally purchased CD so they can listen to it on their own mobile phone is a criminal, they just rely on the BPI et. al. not prosecuting them (yet).

    How long before there is legislation which obliges us all to stand outdoors with our eyes closed and our wallets open?

  14. John Smith 19 Gold badge
    Unhappy

    @M.A

    "A ex member of big vountry is now a MP and spoke in favour of the bill being pushed through without further debate."

    Damm. Now that is depressing.

  15. Anonymous Coward
    FAIL

    Mandybill article without comments?

    How come this article does not have comments? http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/04/07/mandybill_washup/

    In any case, in response to the above, 6 million people are sharing music online. That's a rather conservative number first of all but I have not seen the question being asked, why?

    Why would 6 million people knowingly break the law? If 6 million people are doing it then something must be driving it right? There are two options, 6 million people do not think copyright infridgement is such a bad thing after all and/or 6 million people have no other, easier, faster way to share music.

    Where are the digital services that allow you to grab any song/album from any artist within seconds? iTunes? Controlled by one company, choice is liimted to 'mainstream' stuff. Does not cater to all interests. Spotify is nice and all but rather limited again. The simple fact is, it is far far faster and more convenient for people to just download music they like. As long as this remains as such, online copyright infridgement is not going anywhere, no matter what the law says or how many bills the collective middle men of the creative industry (and not the creators themselves) make up and no matter how many Lords they take on private cruises on their yaughts to 'discuss' said bills.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Thumb Up

      Agree totally

      I agree totally with all of your points. And have to say that despite not being a regular sharer of files, I'm considering now opening up my rather extensive (and all bought and paid for) music collection to the masses for as long as I damned well can until this bill is passed and the copyright-holding freetards (those who expect to earn money form a piece of work indefinitely - money for nothing you might say) come knocking on my door.

      F**k them, f**k them all - they've had their last bit of money from me and I shall never buy another thing from them.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Thumb Down

      @ zef

      look at the author of the piece you link to and you will see why there are no comments...

  16. Ben Rosenthal

    Mme.Mynkoff

    after all you've heard and seen, you still trust NuLab enough to either be happy giving them even more sweeping, arbitrary powers of social control, or to not read what they are so eager to have no opposition to?

    I don't consider myself a freetard, but would rather be grouped with them than just be an actual IRL tard.

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