How much longer?

ChrisMClark

ChrisMClark

Suspended / Banned
Messages
3,822
Name
Chris
Edit My Images
No
How much longer is it going to be until MPs lose their 'second home allowance'? I'm a private in the Army and they can claim more in a year to furnish their second homes than I earn in a year.

Latest story is here...looks like Jaqui Smith's been a naughty girl again.
 
What she's been doing may not be against the rules but it's bloody dishonest.
 
It's absolutely disgusting what they can claim for - and what's worse is that they do not have to justify it or provide invoices etc for their expense accounts.

All the lib-dems have to do is propose to change they way polititians get away with murder and they'll get voted in.

However, we're in danger of getting into a political thread (not allowed), so I'll just say that I am EXTREMELY grateful for what all you guys and gals do for us :thumbs:
 
legal or not, dishonest or not, it shouldn't happen. I mean how the **** can they justify claiming money to furnish their second home? Especially with how much the earn in the first place. I'll bet nobody in government, local or national, are feeling the pinch in current times.

@Outlore: If I claim expenses while I'm away I have to show receipts for the lot, and if I can't I have to pay it back (even if it was a truthful claim) and face strict disciplinary action.

EDIT: Apologies, forgot the no politics thing, but it's not like I'm stating my political beliefs? Surely nobody can seriously defend this other than someone looking for an argument?
 
Last edited:
OutLore said:
It's absolutely disgusting what they can claim for - and what's worse is that they do not have to justify it or provide invoices etc for their expense accounts.
Click to expand...
Wasn't there something about a recession on the TV recently and how "we" all need to help the country get back on its feet?
or did I dream that :thinking:
OutLore said:
......... I'll just say that I am EXTREMELY grateful for what all you guys and gals do for us :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Absolutely :thumbs:
 
ChrisMClark said:
legal or not, dishonest or not, it shouldn't happen. I mean how the **** can they justify claiming money to furnish their second home? Especially with how much the earn in the first place. I'll bet nobody in government, local or national, are feeling the pinch in current times.

@Outlore: If I claim expenses while I'm away I have to show receipts for the lot, and if I can't I have to pay it back (even if it was a truthful claim) and face strict disciplinary action.

EDIT: Apologies, forgot the no politics thing, but it's not like I'm stating my political beliefs? Surely nobody can seriously defend this other than a troll?
Click to expand...

I totally agree with what you're saying, although a clamp down on expenses should have happened years and years ago, not just in a time of economic downturn.

Also I warn against calling people trolls... just because they provide a point of view that doesn't comply with yours does not make someone a troll.
 
Oh KJ, I'm not for a minute suggesting anyone here's a troll, I forgotted that we're not taking new members, but I was just trying to say that I'm not looking for arguments. It's also intended to convey just how ****ed off about this I am, and that I can't understand how anyone could possibly say that these MPs deserve it.

And I'm not saying that it's not just the economic downturn that means it should stop, I agree it should have happened years ago.

Just to clarify, I wouldn't accuse anyone of being a troll just for voicing their opinion, provided that it is their opinion, and not just such diatribe intended to cause a dispute :)
 
Last edited:
Nae worries mate. Have you been deployed anywhere recently? I fully respect the armed forces. I have friends in both the UK and US military, so all the best to you mate.
 
Not deployed yet. If I deploy it means the ****'s really hit the fan as I go out as part of a chemical decontam area, and thankfully there's been no need for that yet.
 
I assume that her sister has declared the contributions to the household expenses to the tax man, since the amounts paid would seem to be above the rent a room threshold?
 
But your expecting the people abusing the rules, to change the rules to stop them from being abused..... it ain't ever gonna happen :(
 
I know DF, and it makes me sick to the stomach sometimes.
 
//RANT ON


I think it is about time that we the public voted with our feet - the three main parties out they are to self important and have forgotten what they are paid to do.
whilst we are at it lets get rid of of all the soft judges letting the crooks go free

the main banks are not doing anyone any favours are they? if we ALL take our business elsewhere then they will need to change their ways - and whilst we are at it - we should all try to buy British -

//RANT OFF
 
This country needs a political shake up. A totally new party with some good policies and completely transparent accounts. Polititians who make a respectable living - means that you get people doing it because they want to not because it will make them rich.

Her £24,000 per year allowance would pay for one more policeman/soldier/ambulance etc etc...

It drives me wild - just because it's there they'll take it. It should be considered an expense and therefore they should have to justify it with paperwork.
 
but who is going to do it???

personally i think the country needs to vote someone like the BNPs in for a term. let them cock everything up or change everything they can. then a competent(does one exist) follow and will look good.

but i aint much good at politics.

the 2nd home thing is scandalous though...

as for voting with your feet, how? you have to vote for one of the people or not at all, each party will vote for themselves etc... so one will get in. what can you do to change it?
 
Last edited:
i hate this country. Priorities are all backwards. Rich keep getting richer, Average Jo gets constantly ripped off and has to fight for a life so that Bank Execs can get their yearly bonus...

UK's gone crazy :shake:
 
fletch5 said:
as for voting with your feet, how? you have to vote for one of the people or not at all, each party will vote for themselves etc... so one will get in. what can you do to change it?
Click to expand...

There should be a "none of the above" option on ballot slips.
 
Last edited:
OutLore said:
There should be a "none of the above" option on ballot slips.
Click to expand...

that is dont turn up, which a lot of people are doing, but noone seems to be too bothered by it.
 
ChrisMClark said:
How much longer is it going to be until MPs lose their 'second home allowance'? I'm a private in the Army and they can claim more in a year to furnish their second homes than I earn in a year.

Latest story is here...looks like Jaqui Smith's been a naughty girl again.
Click to expand...

Not content with her £24k home allowance, Jaqui Spliff employs her husband as a Parliamentary Sec. (glorified office boy) at £40k per year.

Ed Balls (up) is married to Yvette Cooper MP and they "share" their 2nd home, but each claims the £24k allowance.
The other day Cooper was lecturing bankers (another bunch of ****s) that it was immoral for them to take bonuses.
That's rich from the likes of her.

All these 2nd homes have another snout in the trough aspect to them. The MP's get to keep them.
 
ridiculous. I really hope my mother moves from this country again so i never have to come back. There is so much that is wrong here...
 
They should get some allowance for living away from home, if your company send you away for a few weeks say on a training course they don't expect you to pay the hotel bill do they, it's the same with MPs.

Having said that, the allowances do need to be looked at if the Ed Balls / Yvette Cooper comment is correct that is unfair they should only get one allowance.
 
With regards to 'none of the above' on the voting slip. If you 'spoil your ballot' its much better than that. I think that the candadates have to inspect spoiled ballots to agree that its not actually an attempted vote for them. this gives you the oportunity to send them a little message of your choosing.
 
whiteflyer said:
They should get some allowance for living away from home, if your company send you away for a few weeks say on a training course they don't expect you to pay the hotel bill do they, it's the same with MPs.

Getting expenses for being away from home is one thing, but no one else gets to keep the accommodation when the job is done.


Having said that, the allowances do need to be looked at if the Ed Balls / Yvette Cooper comment is correct that is unfair they should only get one allowance.
Click to expand...

Ed Balls thing was the subject of yesterday's D. Telegraph editorial. Balls & Cooper admit it. Nothing illegal about it just plain wrong.

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mps/
You can click on any one them and follow the link to their expenses, but the info is only up until year 06/07.

Peter Hain was another case. Employed his mother aged 80.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Sky-News-Archive/Article/20080641303755

Whole system stinks.
 
fletch5 said:
that is dont turn up, which a lot of people are doing, but noone seems to be too bothered by it.
Click to expand...

Not quite the same though, as they take not voting as "not bothered by who is in power"

Having a none of the above means you took the time to vote, but had no confidence in the options provided to you - very different, and seen very differently when counting votes.
 
Whiteflyer, I understand you thought on expenses when away from home, but I can claim £5 a day in this country, £10 a day if overseas. Hotel bills are paid directly, I'm not out of pocket for a minute with them. But even these costs don't justify 24k PA do they?

There's people in Iraq and Afghan getting shot at for a darn sight less than that, and that's their salary, not an allowance to furnish their second homes.
 
ChrisMClark said:
Whiteflyer, I understand you thought on expenses when away from home, but I can claim £5 a day in this country, £10 a day if overseas. Hotel bills are paid directly, I'm not out of pocket for a minute with them. But even these costs don't justify 24k PA do they?

There's people in Iraq and Afghan getting shot at for a darn sight less than that, and that's their salary, not an allowance to furnish their second homes.
Click to expand...
:clap:
 
whiteflyer said:
They should get some allowance for living away from home, if your company send you away for a few weeks say on a training course they don't expect you to pay the hotel bill do they, it's the same with MPs.

Having said that, the allowances do need to be looked at if the Ed Balls / Yvette Cooper comment is correct that is unfair they should only get one allowance.
Click to expand...

the NHS expect you to pay for travel and any overnight accommodation for training courses - why shouldn't MPs have the same issues?
 
What is of most concern is that the people involved appear to be at ease with themselves as they have not broken any rules. The immorality of what they are doing escapes them. These are the people we have elected to represent and lead us. Our opportunity to make our feelings known will come at the next election. The only difficulty there is in finding a suitable alternative. Labour were initially voted in on an anti sleeze platform. All I can say is "how the mighty have fallen"!
 
barrypriddis said:
What is of most concern is that the people involved appear to be at ease with themselves as they have not broken any rules. The immorality of what they are doing escapes them. QUOTE]

The immorality does not escape them. They are well aware of what they are at just like a criminal is.

Now Alistair Eyebrows is under scrutiny.
He declared his £1.2 million family home in Edinburgh as his 2nd home and claimed £70,000 expenses for it whilst maintaining that his £150 per week London flat is his main home.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...acqui-Smith-lavishing-70-000-family-home.html

BTW, Darling's history on Wikipedia is worth a look at. On the wrong side of the Iron curtain.
Click to expand...
 
ChrisMClark said:
Whiteflyer, I understand you thought on expenses when away from home, but I can claim £5 a day in this country, £10 a day if overseas. Hotel bills are paid directly, I'm not out of pocket for a minute with them. But even these costs don't justify 24k PA do they?

There's people in Iraq and Afghan getting shot at for a darn sight less than that, and that's their salary, not an allowance to furnish their second homes.
Click to expand...

I know you are in the forces, Chris and I admire you for that.

All this gov have for the forces is crocodile tears. Not one of them has been in the forces.
 
Don't admire me Arc, I've never deployed. They save me for when the poop really hits the blades as I'm chemical decontamination (nerve gas, mustard, nukes etc)...so hopefully I'll never be called on to do that. They prefer to leave us marching up and down bits of tarmac most of the time!

And as for the gov, well, I couldn't possibly comment ;) But maybe we need some politicians with life experience, instead of a degree in something totally unrelated to running a country.
 
arclight said:
All this gov have for the forces is crocodile tears. Not one of them has been in the forces.
Click to expand...

Same in most countries unfortunately, I personally think that to be Commander in Chief, you need to have served in one way or another.
 
OutLore said:
Same in most countries unfortunately, I personally think that to be Commander in Chief, you need to have served in one way or another.
Click to expand...

Ceertainly - if any of them had been at the sharp end they might be a little less keen to get involved in foreign adventures.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top