From ChequesandBalances' photostream, here are some samples of the same cheque design, all from different Conservative MPs, including some ministers. The cheques feature a common slogan, Conservative colour, and the MPs name.
Who pays for the printing of the big fat cheques? The Conservative Party or taxpayers? No matter what the answer is, there is an ethical issue. If the party pays, then they're lifting credit off of our dime. If taxpayers pay, it's free partisan messaging. Again.
Curiously, this issue may be getting more mileage than the other overtly partisan, and far more expensive, abuses we've learned of recently. I think that's because there are visuals here, and they speak explicitly of money. Hearing about millions spent on partisan ads is not the same as an MP handing over a big fat cheque of our money as if it were his own.
Myself, I wouldn't care much about the cheques. After all, whenever you have an MP in public, you will have partisanship. But bundle this with tens of millions in partisan advertising spent with our dime, public funds being dolled out disproportionately to Conservative ridings, coerced PCO bureaucrats screaming partisanship, and you have a systemic problem which needs addressing.
Throw the bums out.
And if the next government doesn't get it, throw them out too.
And so on. Until someone gets it right.
Oh, and look, Harper signed a cheque too:
Yes, that's Stephen Harper's signature.
(h/t Impolitical)
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