David “the awesome power of the moon” Tredinnick joins the Commons Science Committee

[LeftishBrit]

http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/01/31/david-the-awesome-power-of-the-moon-tredinnick-joins-the-commons-science-committee/

David “the awesome power of the moon” Tredinnick joins the Commons Science Committee
By Andy McSmith
Thursday, 31 January 2013 at 5:01 pm

David Tredinnick, the long serving Tory MP for Bosworth, came to the nation’s attention for the first and last time in 1995 when his fellow MPs suspended him without pay for 20 days for being prepared to accept cash for asking parliamentary questions. He has another peculiar claim to distinction: he is an avid believe in homeopathic medicine. Five years ago, he waited patiently until almost 2 o’clock in the morning to deliver a long speech deploring the failure of the NHS to support homeopathy, which he upheld as a cure for HIV, TB, malaria, urinary infections, diarrhoea, skin eruptions, diabetes, epilepsy, eye infections, intestinal parasites, treatment from pregnancy to childbirth, cancer, gangrene, toxaemia and general injuries. The list, as he put it, “is endless.” In a previous speech, in 2001, he told MPs: ‘science has worked out that pregnancy, hangovers and visits to one’s GP may be affected by the awesome power of the moon’, to which in 2009 he added that phases of the moon influence the number of accidents, and blood clotting.

Though no Prime Minister has called Tredinnick to a ministerial post during his 26 years in the Commons, his fellow MPs have honoured him today by co-opting him to the all-party Science and technology Committee. “Their role is use science to inform policy-making. Someone with such incredibly odd views is not helpful,” said Imran Khan, head of the Campaign for Science and Engineering.

[mr blur]

1. Another Tory loony slots in place. nt

[TZ]

2. ugh

Is someone consulting with Dubya Bush on "scientists"?

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. He also claimed some astrology software on expenses

A Conservative MP attempted to claim expenses of £755 for a computer programme that uses astrology to diagnose medical conditions, documents published by parliament today show.

Details of dozens of MPs who had been allowed to apologise for breaking anti-sleaze rules and avoid publication of the details were revealed after the Commons agreed to open up the process of internally investigating MPs for the first time.

David Tredinnick, Conservative MP for Bosworth, claimed for software including the astrology-based medical diagnostic package. In January this year the commissioner wrote that he has a "longstanding interest in complementary and alternative medicine and in its relationship to astrology". Tredinnick is chair of the parliamentary group on complementary healthcare and argued that he was pursuing that interest in his parliamentary duties.

The letter to Michael Barnbrook, who made the complaint, says Tredinnick had agreed to repay the money and later apologised.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/dec/09/tory-mp-david-tredinnick-astrology