Do you know this mystery man? (clue... he's your local MP)
Do you know who this man is? How that question confounded the majority I asked.
"Is he a wanted man?" shouted a roofer in Cleveland Road when I produced a photo of Sunderland North MP Bill Etherington.
Well, you could say that – wanted by the people of Sunderland. We seek him here, we seek him there.
Scarlet Pimpernel that he is, Mr Etherington has definitely, if not defiantly, gone to ground since the recent allegation that he took part in a champagne-drinking contest on an official trip to Paris, ending up throwing up like a baby – projectile vomiting – after drinking so much a doctor had to be called.
He has yet to break his silence to the Echo on the accusations soon to be released by Labour MP Paul Flynn of his fling at a dinner 10 years ago as a member of the Council of Europe, which if true, is as sickening as his record as an MP.
We couldn't catch up with him at the House of Commons or his
constituency base in Sunderland.
Not surprising, he's hardly ever there and has notched up a record as an MP who has not only put in the fewest Parliamentary appearances but also queries.
Born and bred in Roker, we never see the one-time Dawdon colliery fitter and former full-time official of the NUM walking the streets of Sunderland.
No doubt he is otherwise engaged at his country retreat in Galloway, Dumfrieshire – a far cry from our desultory city.
Politics aside, at least David Miliband, MP for South Shields, is a familiar figure walking that town's streets with his family, pushing one of his children, popping in for a coffee on the seafront and for his Indian takeaway on a Saturday night in Ocean Road.
But I bet Mr Etherington couldn't give a monkey's what we think of him now he's standing down at the next general election, or the tirade of disdain and disgust expressed by Echo readers in the letters page this week. Rightly incensed by the allegations of his junket to Paris and denouncing him for having brought more shame on this city, one correspondent, Sober Pensioner, railed: "Do you think he cares anything about Sunderland ? Abandon ship and away with pockets full of money to enjoy his retirement with his three pairs of steps."
After 28 years in his privileged position, Mr Etherington had the brass neck to defend MPs in the expenses scandal and declare he was prepared to go to court rather than pay any money back.
He was defiant to the last, declaring: "If I don't think it's correct they can take the matter to court." The 68-year-old claimed 22,922 in additional allowance costs which included 2,490 for roller blinds; 150.99 on three sets of stepladders in three months; 74.44 for a razor; and a 119 radio. Mr Etherington says he is looking forward to retirement as is he is sick of politicians being portrayed as crooks.
As in laughing all the way to the bank? Good riddance. And for the record he has said there was a minority of people in the country who hated the sight of MPs and there was a lot of envy and dislike of politicians.
Consider that a personal majority, Mr Etherington, of the people I asked. Not one had a good word to say for him. Roofer Carlo Dimeo, 39 of Grangetown, called Mr Etherington "a tosspot."
He enraged Pamela and Eddie Price, of Silksworth, "by milking the system".
Anne and Colin Metcalf of Millfield reckoned: "We don't rate him at all. You never see him."
He spoke in just four debates last year and his voting record is around 46 per cent, putting him below the average.
But Mr Etherington said his low attendance was due to him being part of a Parliamentary delegation to the Council of Europe and the Western European Union, involving regular travel to the continent. Mmm doing what? Getting paralytic in Paris?
I'm amazed this lazy MP has stayed in office so long coining in his MPs' salary of 63,291 a year, plus expenses. Given his productivity rate of speaking in an average of just four debates a year, that equates to 54,916.75 per speech. Nice money if you can get it.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Sunderland striker Campbell fresh to face Middlesbrough
- Sunderland’s astonishing rise even surprising Martin O’Neill
- Middlesbrough 1 Sunderland 2 (aet): O’Neill relieved to avoid shoot-out lottery as Sessegnon wins it
- Martin O’Neill defends David Meyler after criticism from Tony Pulis
- Kieran Richardson says there is plenty more to come from James McClean
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sunderland
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -3 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South west
