MPs' expenses

[Mikecg]

Would they Felicity?.

[HellNoHellYeah]

Any particular reason you are calling me Felicity?

[Mikecg]

*Looks down a slightly to the left*

[HellNoHellYeah]

Mikecg Wrote:

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> *Looks down a slightly to the left*

Beyonce lyric?

[AllforNun]

WARNING : WARNING : WARNING : WARNING : WARNING : WARNING : WARNING : WARNING : WARNING : WARNING : WARNING : WARNING :

Can I just say that when Parliament eventually gets dissolved and we get a snap general election DO NOT and I repeat DO NOT vote for the raft of CELEBRITY candidates who appear on the lists : F-ING Esther Rantzen is the first of a wave of these fame seeking twats, remember, THEY ALL, went to drama school and pranced round like bell ends for years !

[SteveT]

Perhaps future candidates can be tested on their ability to defraud,

and timed when filling in expenses forms.

[Marmora Man]

Just an idle thought - The Telegraph group has been the lead in publishing and embarrassing MPs over their expenses. The Labour government benches are suffering more than the Tories - but all sitting MPs, and their leaders, are tainted. It is therefore somewhat strange that the Tories cheerleader newspaper has been so keen to publish everything and damage Tory prospects so effectively. It has been likened to using an atom bomb in trench warfare!

Boris Johnson has repeatedly acknowledged his desire to become a Conservative leader and Prime Minister.

Boris Johnson was, and remains, a leading light in the Telegraph stable of journalists.

Boris Johnson is the only leading Conservative with a high profile who is totally untainted by this scandal.

[david_carnell]

Hmmm, not sure MamoraMan.... but it will be interesting to watch developments re: Boris.

Anyhoo....it looks like Michael Martin is announcing that he is standing down later today. Next Speaker anyone? Someone untainted by this scandal naturally.

From Labour benches I'd favour Bob Marshall Andrews. A no nonsense left winger who'd give the government short shrift regardless of who they were.

From the Tory benches (and protocol should mean it is a Tory), Alan Haslehurst (the current Deputy Speaker) is out due to expenses claims but Sir Michael Lord may fancy a shot.

[Ted Max]

I thought the details were on the market to the highest bidder, plus the media org willing to take any possible legal risk.

Also, the Telegraph couldn't really just have targeted Labour and Lib Dems, it would have lost them any credibility.

[*Bob*]

If Boris Johnson becomes Prime Minister I'll do 'The Locomotion' naked on the Goose Green roundabout.

[Brendan]

Following on from MM,

Boris Johnson has high profile personal and family connections to the Media aristocracy.

[Marmora Man]

On the Speaker - Vince Cable is being touted, Menzies Campbell, despite his ?1400 interior designer claim, is also a good each way bet. It doesn't have to be someone of matching politics to the incoming government - independence of thought and strength of mind are more necessary attributes.

[snorky]

Policicians are scum. People who aim to be politicians are scum. Politician take whatever hope we still retain, and use it for personal gain. MEPS, MPS, HoL, Local councillors- they are all in it for the wrong reasons

Why is it a surprise that they also turn out to be caning their expenses.So what if they change the rules to tighten up a bit - all is good then ? We can all sit back and be content that these people are doing their best for us ?

No

Voting is theft, voting is deception, voting is fraud - the system is geared for the enrichment of the few & the enslavement of the many.

[Marmora Man]

I'd hate to quote Churchill at you Snorky but what alternative version of governance would you prefer to our current parliamentary system?

[snorky]

As a free marketeer/ libertarian IIRC , Im sure you can second guess my off the cuff answers

[Louisa]

Politicians of all colours have taken advantage of a system which was kept under wraps from public scrutiny for many years to satisfy the 'old boys' routine which has dominated this place for years. An election should be called immediately and if we are to re-gain any trust in our public servants we need to be able to take it to the ballot box. The sad reality of this whole affair will be the dumbing down of democracy and sadly the potential rise of extremist parties, something handed to them on a plate by the liberal elite.

No one should suggest that all MP's are crooks, I think most rational people would agree with this, but the sad consequence is that we are all now being re conditioned into believing that this is the case, and the lower house has in no way made any moves to change this perception. Things are moving now, but only a general election will satisfy the need for an overhaul of our democractic representatives.

Louisa.

[SeanMacGabhann]

Err. . Im not being conditioned to think anything.

If you call an election now as this conditioned electorate acts like a prat and votes on a wave of anger ridding the good with the bad just who exactly is going to be elected in their place

[*Bob*]

Esther Rantzen?

[snorky]

To act all outraged now is a bit poor and is allowing yourself to be maniplulated by the media

No one is saying that all MPs are crooks - but the kind of person who revels in such arena is not someone who should be trusted - they are slippery salesmen, thats it.

[Louisa]

No offence, but who exactly is being manipulated here? The media released information which should have been in the public domain 20 years ago, so this isnt exactly some sort of revelation. The public opinion of MP's has always been quite low anyhow, so this particular story does in no way do the electorate justice in the long run because we have been turned over time and time again.

Sean who are you to say the electorate votes like a prat? In a democracy we should be able to overhaul an exposed corrupt system by using the ballot box. The main political parties manipulate the electorate in the run up to any election through the use of ads and propaganda for their own ends, so why not put a little faith in the people and allow them to decide what they think now that this information is out in the open? Why is it a concern of yours who is elected in their place? Surely the whole point of a representative democracy is that we are able to elect whoever we want, whether that be seen as rational or not. I know the liberal elite including the media and main political parties would not be impressed, but this should in no way sway anyone from voting for WHOEVER they want.

Louisa.

[SeanMacGabhann]

Well partly I'm going on what you have said - namely the possible rise of extremist parties. Something that can only happen if elected by the public. And if they vote extremist parties is does that not make them a prat?

Given the amount of interviews I have read/heard with members of the public on TV/radio/newspapers it should be obvious to anyone that rational judgement is not been excercised by Joe public. It's the same mantra trotted out time after time

"You can't trust any of them/they are all on the take/I'm voting UKIP" yadda yadda an infinitum

[david_carnell]

Ah, yes, UKIP..... the party of honesty benefits cheats.

[????]

SeanMacGabhann Wrote:

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> >

> Well partly I'm going on what you have said -

> namely the possible rise of extremist parties.

> Something that can only happen if elected by the

> public. And if they vote extremist parties is does

> that not make them a prat?

>

> Given the amount of interviews I have read/heard

> with members of the public on TV/radio/newspapers

> it should be obvious to anyone that rational

> judgement is not been excercised by Joe public.

> It's the same mantra trotted out time after time

>

> "You can't trust any of them/they are all on the

> take/I'm voting UKIP" yadda yadda an infinitum

Sean, Jo Public is not 'represented' by random interviews chosen for by the media*......journalist are not that fond of choosing rational, non-contraversal, points of view reasonably expressed for their articles/broadcasts...

*see also contestants in reality shows

[Louisa]

Yes and so what if people do vote extremist parties? That is the luxury and unfortunate nature of living in a parliamentary democracy, and in all honesty it is no more than the current political elite deserve. Some see it as a kick up the backside, others do it because they genuinely believe that the extreme and/or fringe party will actually deliver, but this is what we for having a large number of MPs claiming for having swimming pools cleaned, second and sometimes third homes being paid for with our tax money. Regardless of whether rational judgement is exercised by the electorate, we should always respect their opinions otherwise we will end up living in some sort of quasi communist/fascist state, and of course the irony being that this could indeed happen anyway as a consequence of the electorate punishing the naughty liberal elite currently ruling the roost.

Let us all hope that people abstain from voting next time around, but equally it would be good to see the main political parties suffer at the ballot box for the arguably insignificant European Elections.

Louisa.

[*Bob*]

Louisa Wrote:

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> Let us all hope that people abstain from voting

> next time around,

It's a lovely idea.

Unfortunately Cameron will get in. Because the electorate are indeed mostly eejits who dance the the tune of whatever rag they read on the way to work.