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They're still at it

(27 Posts)
absentgrana Fri 19-Oct-12 11:26:58

We recently learned that two MPs had claimed the cost of language lessons unrelated to their jobs as parliamentary expenses because their partners were Chinese and Israeli. Now John Bercow is trying to prevent the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority from publishing the names of MPs who are exploiting a loophole in the rules and renting out their homes to each other. He claims that publishing the details of MPs' landlords jeopardised their security – but does not explain how. Did they learn nothing from the scandal three years ago?

Greatnan Thu 13-Dec-12 10:53:50

When........grin

whenim64 Thu 13-Dec-12 10:45:13

Good cartoon in my NAPO (Probation Assoc) newsletter this morning:

All offenders are equal.....but some are more equal than others

Government minister to the public: 'Offenders need to be SEEN to be punished!

Probation officer complying with government instructions, to offender: 'You need to pay your debt to society...or you'll SERVE TIME!

Tax Inspector to fat cat mate of Government Minister: 'I know it'll be an oversight, but there does appear to be a slight underpayment of 12 million pounds in tax, of course if you can see you way to repaying SOME of it, then no more need be said..........

Greatnan Fri 16-Nov-12 09:41:12

Perhaps Bercow should spend some time talking to his very silly wife about her twitter account!

absentgrana Fri 16-Nov-12 09:38:11

Now Mr Speaker Bercow – the man who replaced the disgraced Mr Speaker Martin during the expenses scandal – is planning on hijacking the independent committee that scrutinises MPs' expenses. He has already forced members to resign and has placed one his minions on the selection committee. He has been angry every since The Daily Telegraph exposed the extent of snouts rummaging in the House of Commons trough and has been working hard to do away with independent scrutiny.

Greatnan Sun 04-Nov-12 13:07:51

His resignation speech is full of weasel words - and a lot of boasting about his marvellous work for the constituency.
The revolving door is still going round too - Lord (Gus) O'Donell, who was involved in much of the spending on consultants has now taken a job with a consultancy firm, Frontier Economics. Any MP who has any input into outsourcing is likely to end up on the board of some firm which has benefited from it.
This applies to all parties, so no tribal politics, please.

absentgrana Sun 04-Nov-12 09:53:16

I thought the laptops for interns – not assistants – were a separate issue in addition to the £12,000. Either way, it's fraud and he's still displaying a totally arrogant attitude. Surely no one with his background and experience could really be that unprofessional.

JessM Sun 04-Nov-12 09:50:16

But apparently they were for laptops which he gave to his assistants to take away! Not for personal gain. No grip on "professional behaviour" is what I am trying to say.

absentgrana Sun 04-Nov-12 09:35:04

JessM Writing 19 fake invoices to claim some £12,000 to which you are not entitled over a period of four years seems to me a little more intentional than being a mere clueless git. The really clueless git thing was that although they were all "signed off" by the same non-existent person, the signatures varied considerably.

JessM Sun 04-Nov-12 09:06:45

Sounds like a clueless git who can't be bothered to check/follow rules, rather than one of the nest feathering brigade.
The one that floored me was the head of the Met who didn't seem to understand that accepting a "gift' of a free week in Champneys was inappropriate.

absentgrana Sun 04-Nov-12 08:57:58

It was the BNP who went after Dennis McShane about falsifying documents. That's why he claimed to be the victim of a right-wing plot. No doubt the BNP had its own agenda, but in this case, it turned out to be the right course of action, whatever they had in mind. Yet he still doesn't get it. He committed fraud for heaven's sake. It doesn't matter how he was found out or who by; committing fraud was wrong – and criminal – in the first place. Are they all stupid as well as crooked? I despair.

absentgrana Fri 02-Nov-12 18:05:13

They're still at it. QED.

janeainsworth Fri 02-Nov-12 18:03:30

absent grin
Apparently he has now claimed he is a victim of a right-wing plotconfused

absentgrana Fri 02-Nov-12 17:52:56

Oink flap. smile

janeainsworth Fri 02-Nov-12 17:12:18

Just heard on the news he has resigned and there will be a bye-election.

soop Fri 02-Nov-12 16:55:26

PLEASE...don't get me started! It's all too much to deal with. Why? Because no one listens to the common man. angry

janeainsworth Fri 02-Nov-12 16:44:59

BaNana And his punishment is suspension from the House Of Commons for a year! What about his constituents who are now not represented in Parliament?
The honourable thing would be to resign his seat but that is as likely as air-borne pigsangry

absentgrana Fri 02-Nov-12 16:42:47

baNANA And he's "considering his position". His position should be in Wormwood Scrubs.

baNANA Fri 02-Nov-12 16:39:25

Like pigs in s**t, and the latest Snouts In Trough award goes to Dennis McShane, Labour MP, for Rotherham for his outstanding performance in his submission of 19 false invoices! What a star!

york46 Thu 25-Oct-12 22:13:46

I think I read that one of the excuses being put forward for renting out their own properties is that since having bought it they cannot afford to live there. Solution: sell it and buy and place they can afford. Simples!

absentgrana Tue 23-Oct-12 19:48:36

Today I have learned that the law has changed (during this summer, I think) and those MPs who bought houses or flats with the interest paid by the tax payer have to refund some of the money they received when they sell these properties. Apparently, some MPs have simply refused to do so on the grounds that that they paid more for the house/flat when they bought it in the past than they are being paid now.

They still don't get it, do they?

baNANA Tue 23-Oct-12 19:04:14

Following an article in the Independent, a labour MP, Gloria Piero, has recently found out that if the word MP is mentioned many people respond with a derogatory comment. Who'd have thought it!

absentgrana Sat 20-Oct-12 09:45:09

What makes this sort of behaviour so infuriating is the contrast with all their mouthing off about benefit scroungers and the undeserving poor (obviously more subtly phrased than that).

vampirequeen Sat 20-Oct-12 09:42:26

Typical. They see a loophole and they're in there like a pig in muck.

whitewave Sat 20-Oct-12 09:30:24

Arrogance beyond belief - It is a dangerous game that they are playing because Parliamentary integrity legitimizes amongst other things their existence. They are not gods but we should expect and get a degree of behaviour that legitimizes their right to pass judgement and laws.

baNANA Sat 20-Oct-12 09:19:15

It's as if the expenses scandal never happened, same old, same old! and yet they expect the "little person" to be fully accountable, they just don't get it!