MPs' expenses

[????]

,,,Telegraph publishing cabinet ministers' expenses tomorrow, including Flash Gordon's...no wonder they tried to circumvent the Freedom of Information Act and hide this from us....I expect that the Tories will fair no better, bunch of theiving parasites all round. Will make you weep when you see what these scumbags are claiming for.

Snorky, where are we with our petrol bombs?

[Andystar]

???? Wrote:

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> Snorky, where are we with our petrol bombs?

Can you use wind or solar powered bombs instead??

[????]

Gordon Brown claimed back ?6,000 after paying his brother for cleaning at his Westminster flat, it has been reported.

It is among details of expenses claims made by Cabinet ministers which are to be published by the Daily Telegraph.

No 10 said Mr Brown reimbursed his brother for the share of the cost and did not profit at all from it.

The paper also says Jack Straw used his expenses to claim back the entire council tax on his second home despite already having a 50% discount on it.

Mr Straw said all his claims were within the rules and that he spotted errors himself and repaid the money.

The newspaper has obtained details of receipts for claims made by the prime minister, Mr Straw, Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and other senior Labour party figures.

The BBC's Political Editor Nick Robinson said the claims were an embarrassment for the Cabinet and Parliament and showed how lax the system of allowances had become.

Cabinet details

The details of all MP's expense claims since 2004 are to be published in July under a Freedom of Information request, the result of a long-running battle over MP's expenses.

It is reporting that Gordon Brown's brother, Andrew, received ?6,577 over 26 months for cleaning services at the prime minister's private flat in Westminster.

No 10 told the newspaper that the PM shared a cleaner with his brother and "reimbursed him [his brother] for the share of the cost".

The paper also says Gordon Brown claimed for the same plumbing work twice at his constituency home in successive quarters.

However, No 10 said the Parliamentary Fees Office accepted this was done inadvertently and had written to Mr Brown to apologise for not spotting the mistake.

It will reveal that Mr Straw claimed his entire council tax bill for his second home despite already enjoying a substantial discount on the bill, worth a reported ?1,500 a year.

A spokesman for Mr Straw said all his claims had been made in accordance with Commons rules. While there were errors in the council tax claim, the mistakes were spotted by Mr Straw himself and the money has been repaid.

Among other reported revelations is that Ms Blears claimed for expenditure on three different properties during the period including a hotel where she stayed after selling a Manchester home.

A spokesman for Ms Blears said she had done nothing wrong and the furnishings she had bought were "reasonable".

"Hazel is honest as the day is long," he said.

'Systematic abuse'

The Daily Telegraph's assistant editor Ben Brogan said the disclosures showed the "scale of systematic abuse" of parliamentary expenses in recent years.

The information was reliable, he stressed and it was in the public interest that it should be published.

Some ministers would be "embarrassed" by the facts, he said, but it was up to the public to decide whether the practices being highlighted amount to fraud.

Mr Brogan would not say whether the newspaper paid for the information.

But he stressed the material in his possession was not limited to the Cabinet and the newspaper would be releasing information about the claims of leading opposition politicians in the coming days.

No 10 sources have suggested the information published on Friday is accurate but have insisted the nature and timing of the publication was politically motivated.

A series of recent scandals over MPs expenses, centred around the so-called second homes allowance, have prompted widespread calls for reform of the allowances system.

MP voted through a series of reforms - including a requirement for MPs to provide receipts for all spending - earlier this month.

The Committee on Standards in Public Life is conducting a review of MP's pay and expenses after MPs expressed concern that public confidence in politicians and Parliament has sunk to an all-time low.

COME BACK GUY FAWKES

[Mark]

I'm really bored of this throw shit at the politicians until something sticks palaver. ?6,000 for a cleaner, so what? The fact it was paid through his brother is a lame tabloid headline. All this of course is goaded on by David Cameron, every time he's on the news/given a PR opportunity he's not talking about policies and doing the right thing, he's throwing playground insults at the opposition and taunting Gordon Brown, pathetic. If Cameron was replaced with someone more focused on getting things done (Lumley?) I would seriously consider voting Tory.

Can we get back to politicians doing what they should be doing and judging them on their actions and results and not their lack of accounting skills? I'm not saying it's not important for them to be accountable but the media and Cameron seem to be blowing everything out of proportion at the moment and it's getting on my tits. Perhaps I should just turn Radio 4 off for a while.

[Edit] I am joking about Lumley, she just seems to be the tabloid's figurehead of choice at the moment.

[woofmarkthedog]

Can we get some levity here ?

INFLATION

Ok the "National inquirer" has shot up , was 99p..........NOW ?1.00..

Discuss

W**F

*that'll get this into perspective, oh yes indeede *

[*Bob*]

As the world plummets into global economic meltdown, I couldn't really care less if Hazel Blears might have overspent on her soft furnishings.

Clearly claiming ever cent you can get away with 'without breaking the rules' has become entrenched in HOC culture over the years - on all sides of the house. Let's change the rules, get over it and move on.

Is it not more scandalous that William Hague (to name but one) manages to find the time in his busy constituency schedule to earn ?100k on top of his MP's salary (plus whatever expenses he claims for, naturally)?

[SeanMacGabhann]

Whole heap o' sense from messrs Mark and *Bob* there.

I can't imagine most people would behave any differently given the same rules - and I've heard many people admit as much on the radio from back when they used to work for companies that were generous with expenses. It's time to change the rules, so let's do that but spare the moral outrage. And bear that outrage in mind next time you submit a home contents claim on your insurance

[snorky]

Pfft- I dont see what the fuss is about - these people are policicians - the sums are truly pitiful when compared to the dodgy dealings of say the Italian government ministers - this is a diversion - give the masses something insignififant to chew over and it will keep them occupied for years

there are greater problems around than someone maybe skimming a few grand a year

[sophiesofa]

I think people are angry because for some people the few grand they're skimming means the difference between their family eating baked beans on toast every day and a proper meal.

What really worries me is how the MP's have time for their additional jobs, I work full-time and do a bit of freelanceing on the side for extra money but how on earth do some of them earn an extra 100k whilst supposedly doing their job as an MP.

[????]

...oh so it's alright then, everyones up to it, no moral compass needed here by our law makers paid by us, move on, everyone.....silly me for finding it an outrage

[????]

...and how are they spending the rest of my money, probably REALLY REALLY well.....

[snorky]

???? Wrote:

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> ...oh so it's alright then, everyones up to it, no

> moral compass needed here by our law makers paid

> by us, move on, everyone.....silly me for finding

> it an outrage

It doesnt make it right , but its not that big an issue finacially - morally is a whole different ball game I admit - but these are policicians- they are not in then game for anything apart from their own ultimate ( ego or financial ) benefit

you encourage these vile detestable mealy mouthed w@nkers by voting for them ( any of them ) , then you have to accept this kind of fallout.

You dont keep a dog and get surprised when it shits all over your floor now & then

[*Bob*]

Where's Martin Bell in his tedious white suit when you need him?

[Mark]

???? Wrote:

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> ....silly me for finding it an outrage

Paying for a cleaner, outrageous! Putting a plumber's invoice in twice, preposterous! That means they're probably paying to have little boys imported from 'nam as well the bastards. Let's stop them from trying to sort out out country and have them spend days going through their receipts and if there's one sly Big Mac on there that an MP's paid for with tax payers money, hang Mr Brown because he should have known about it.

[????]

SeanMacGabhann Wrote:

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> Whole heap o' sense from messrs Mark and *Bob*

> there.

>

> I can't imagine most people would behave any

> differently given the same rules - and I've heard

> many people admit as much on the radio from back

> when they used to work for companies that were

> generous with expenses. It's time to change the

> rules, so let's do that but spare the moral

> outrage. And bear that outrage in mind next time

> you submit a home contents claim on your insurance

I've never made one or on travel- and if i did it would be honest and possibly scrutinised by a loss adjustor...don't assume your attitudes to insurance are everyone's

..although sadly they're probably the norm going by people's replies on here

[*Bob*]

Ever paid cash for anything, Guvnor?

[*Bob*]

Naughty Naughty

[????]

Multi-millionairre Babara Follet, ?25,000 on security because she got mugged and felt insecure.....paid for by you and I...whose really been mugged here?

[Marmora Man]

What happens in the Scottish Parliament and WElsh ASsembly - all very quiet on those fronts but I can't believe it's any better?

[Andystar]

Can everyone who is not outraged by the shady antics these overpaid incompetant people, who abuse their positions & claim for all these perks & expenses using OUR tax money, please feel free to leave envelopes stuffed with cash marked for attn of Andystar at the bus stop at the Plough..

[tog_in_sox]

?90+ million on expenses last year

?37000 to "make flat habitable" only to sell it for a profit later and under no obligation to pay back the ?37k

?800+ for a new TV in yet another new residence.

How many of you have ?37k available to tart up your house?

How many can afford the ?800 (second or third) TV rather than the ?400 no-brand in Dixons?

Plenty of reason to be outraged. Move on? We'd certainly love to as soon as we can "move on" these free-loaders (from any and all sides).

Keep them from spending time scrutinising their expense claims so they can get on with "good" Government? Wouldn't dream of it. Keep them from "p!$$ p00r" Government? Love to.

I'd say it's rather telling about their characters if they can't exert some personal fiscal prudence whilst sermonising about the "current economic climate" preventing all their good ideas from coming to fruition.

?90m may not be a lot cf ??? billions to bail out whichever industry BUT when individual schemes to regenerate areas, keep hospitals open, improve care, etc are budgeted in the ?x m range there's still plenty good that could be done with this little money.

Anyone know what the entire expenses budget is against the public purse for all national and local government? There'd be a figure to learn about.

[poppylucky]

I totally agree with all the comments made about our elected representatives swindling us, their voters, out of our hard earned money.

What gets me is the cheek of the MP's to call in the Police to investigate the apparent 'leak' - forget about investigating the fraudulent claims of our MP's, our money spent on their lavish lifestyles, lets just find the 'leak'! its incredulous, no wonder people are so disenchanted with the system, and by that i mean from the very top...Our privileged and over pampered Monarchy to out snouts in the trough MP's, our Poilce force (who are servants of the people, and paid for us) who end up beating us up and killing us! its just unbelievable and very sad state of affairs.

Sometimes i just feel like packing up and running off to a deserted island! (probably not many left that are habitable!).

['bout now]

What riles me, apart from the blatant freeloading is the petty, penny pinching nature of some of the claims. Was it 87p for a bathplug? FFS you actually bothered to file and claim for that! No point asking you for 10p for a cuppa is there.

Truly pathetic and insulting to boot.

Can't wait for the disclosure of Tory claims though, probably why they are not making to much a fuss.

[dukesdenver]

I propose the creation of government-owned 'MP hotels' in central London. Non-London MPs each get a small suite of their own which is comfortable but nothing fancy. If that's not good enough they can pay for something better out of their own money.

During the summer recess the rooms could be rented out to earn a bit of money for the public purse.

[gerritsmith]

snorky Wrote:

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> Pfft- I dont see what the fuss is about - these

> people are policicians - the sums are truly

> pitiful when compared to the dodgy dealings of

> say the Italian government ministers - this is a

> diversion - give the masses something

> insignififant to chew over and it will keep them

> occupied for years

>

> there are greater problems around than someone

> maybe skimming a few grand a year

When ordinary people ask for 5% pay rise, we are told by the politicians to show restraint but no restraint from politicians when claiming expenses which are not even incurred in doing their job.