Should Politicians Be Fined If Proved To Be Misleading Public?

[spathiphyllum]

should politicians be fined / prosecuted if proven to be knowingly misleading / lying to the public?

[dannyk13]

If that was to happen the House of Commons would be empty.

[Old_Geezer]

No. Folk don't generally get fined for lying, unless under oath to the court, or something.
They just shouldn't be voted in again as they've proved untrustworthy.

[spathiphyllum]

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/15/french-finance-minister-bruno-le-maire-on-brexit.html

I was raised to believe that actions had consequences and that you should be honest about your mistakes. If there are no consequences.. then what will prevent these serial liars from striking at every moment. What information can we trust and what is just propaganda?

[dannyk13]

Spath why are you bothered about a French politician?

[Old_Geezer]

Opinion isn't necessary lying. It would have been possible to minimise disruption and get back to the same economic health over a short period, but it required a reasonable attitude from the EU. Even now the chance of trading favourably worldwide under new deals can negate the disruption of change.

If folk should be fined perhaps it should be those trying to harm another country.

Meanwhile you never know what is true and what propaganda until time gives you a clue. Example being the UK population being told that the EEC was just a trade thing and not integration into a Europe-wide state.

[spathiphyllum]

I just don't see why politicians should be allowed to lie and warp the truth for their own either financial or political gain.

[Spicerack]

It's one way to fix the balance of payments.