The Biggest Piss-take on MPs' Expenses

[mrs quoad]

If i was an MP i bloody well would. Not that it's even part of their job.

Yet more proof that I am not destined for Parliament

 

[Nemo]

If your employers asked you to go to three Remembrance day services, and wreaths were kinda obligatory... would you joyously cough up without question or query?

If my employers paid me £63,291pa plus extremely generous expenses, I wouldn't moan too much.

 

[butchersapron]

Well, ok. Maybe a better question would be: is he attending these in his official capacity, or as Just Another member of the public?

No, worse question. There is no such 'official capacity' that requires MPs attendance. He is there personally and the fact that he's an MP is neither here nor there apart from him having to do it to maintin local support and of course looking like a local bigwig. Of course, this is now officially recognised as money for wreaths has been declared not to be a justifiable expense.

 

[Citizen66]

£60 is hardly going to break the bank when you're squirreling away the amounts these fuckers are.

 

[mrs quoad]

No, worse question. There is no such 'official capacity' that requires MPs attendance. He is there personally and the fact that he's an MP is neither here nor there apart from him having to do it to maintin local support and of course looking like a local bigwig. Of course, this is now officially recognised as money for wreaths has been declared not to be a justifiable expense.

Ok!

 

[butchersapron]

I bet the weasel only went to one and claimed for three as well!

 

[cesare]

Is there a list anywhere?

 

[_angel_]

James Purnell claimed for more rent than he actually paid on his flat.

 

[isitme]

I don't see how they can be regarded as doing a good job if they're looking out for number one; they're supposed to hold the well-being of the people of this country in trust, not look for lots of sordid little scams to enrich themselves at our expense.

oh come on man

they are like the stockbroker people, they only exist for their own benefit.

they are supposed to be public servants, but if they were proper public servants they would work for the wage that they deem is the acceptable minimum to live on

your idea is just as daft as mine

 

[Geri]

£60 is hardly going to break the bank when you're squirreling away the amounts these fuckers are.

He probably wouldn't think twice about spending that amount of money on a poncy bottle of wine.

 

[Citizen66]

He probably wouldn't think twice about spending that amount of money on a poncy bottle of wine.

And then keep the receipt and claim he was entertaining someone in an official capaity.

I think it's Jacqui Smith's 88p bath plug that really sticks in the craw with me. That's proper fucking tight that is!

 

[spacemonkey]

Margaret Moran, the Labour MP for Luton, spent £22,500 of taxpayers' money treating dry rot at her and her husband's seaside house 100 miles from her constituency – days after switching her "second home" there.

This one takes the fucking piss.

 

[Jon-of-arc]

Well, hang on. He's claimed that amount in expenses.

If this is the most 'invalid' expense that he's claimed, that doesn't say a great deal about how invalid his other expense claims are.

Is the £60 a cost that arises due to his being an MP? Or is it something else? I attend 0 Remembrance day services. If I suddenly had to attend three because of my work, I'd hope that the cost of wreaths I had to buy because of my work would be covered by work expenses.

If your employers asked you to go to three Remembrance day services, and wreaths were kinda obligatory... would you joyously cough up without question or query?

I don't see why he would have to attend, except that it might help with voter popularity, in which case he should try and claim it back from labour party funds, and see how far he gets...

 

[Sasaferrato]

It seems as if they are all a bunch of freeloading wankers, but this one takes the biscuit in my book:

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/new...hero-Phil-Packer-crossing-finishing-line.html

Scumbag, isn't he?

 

[weltweit]

McNulty claimed £60,000 for a second home, which it turns out his parents live in.

And I believe he owns a house commutable from westminster.

 

[Sasaferrato]

And then keep the receipt and claim he was entertaining someone in an official capaity.

I think it's Jacqui Smith's 88p bath plug that really sticks in the craw with me. That's proper fucking tight that is!

A Scottish Labour MP claimed 5p for a carrier bag.

 

[Geri]

I don't see why he would have to attend, except that it might help with voter popularity, in which case he should try and claim it back from labour party funds, and see how far he gets...

Not very far at all, since he's a Tory.

 

[stupid kid]

Well, hang on. He's claimed that amount in expenses.

If this is the most 'invalid' expense that he's claimed, that doesn't say a great deal about how invalid his other expense claims are.

Is the £60 a cost that arises due to his being an MP? Or is it something else? I attend 0 Remembrance day services. If I suddenly had to attend three because of my work, I'd hope that the cost of wreaths I had to buy because of my work would be covered by work expenses.

If your employers asked you to go to three Remembrance day services, and wreaths were kinda obligatory... would you joyously cough up without question or query?

If I were on a six figure salary and could vote for my own pay rise whilst never having to pay for travel I'd put my hand in my pocket all the fucking time, especially for stuff like carrier bags, bath plugs, and yes even wreaths.

 

[weltweit]

60,000 is not a six figure salary, it is a 5 figure one

 

[Sasaferrato]

Not very far at all, since he's a Tory.

Well spotted, I was just about to post that.

 

[Sasaferrato]

60,000 is not a six figure salary, it is a 5 figure one

It is a seven figure salary. 60,000.00.

 

[weltweit]

But?

Will we see any resignations?

 

[stupid kid]

60,000 is not a six figure salary, it is a 5 figure one

I was thinking about Jacqui Smith's 88p bath plug claim in particular though. Ministers make six figures, can't remember how much exactly but I think 130k sounds about right.

 

[weltweit]

MPs are by their very nature thick skinned, I recon all those outed so far will tough it out and rely on the "broken no rules" argument.

 

[Nemo]

But?

Will we see any resignations?

Plenty of involuntary ones come next year.

 

[Citizen66]

I was thinking about Jacqui Smith's 88p bath plug claim in particular though. Ministers make six figures, can't remember how much exactly but I think 130k sounds about right.

Yeah, £60k is the salary for back benchers not members of the cabinet.

 

[weltweit]

Its quite good to get a bathplug at all, they are not easy to come by!

 

[Pingu]

could always move parliament out of london so stuff wouldn't be too expensive as well

 

[stupid kid]

MPs are by their very nature thick skinned, I recon all those outed so far will tough it out and rely on the "broken no rules" argument.

They will, but it's a poor one. They know why they've been given a parliamentary allowence, they're acting within the letter of the rules but not within the spirit. For the body of people charged with creating and debating law, that's just not good enough.

I always knew MPs expenses were high, but this whole episode has been an eye-opener for many people including myself, I had no idea they were using it to claim for such trivialities.

 

[tbaldwin]

I was thinking about Jacqui Smith's 88p bath plug claim in particular though. Ministers make six figures, can't remember how much exactly but I think 130k sounds about right.

London met university is just having to pay back the £36 million it overclaimed for students who no longer attended.....Corruption in the public and voluntary sector is rampant and people are moaning about a home secretarys bath plug......Silly season....