Maria Miller

GillT57, I think the even more 'dreaded' MOS ran a story by her (I think) agent who was so appalled by her behaviour at the last election he decided not to vote for her and voted Labour instead!

Her smug face tells it all.

I've just signed the petition from Change.org to sack her. Can't do the link. I'm ashamed of her as a woman .i thought we were more principled.

There is no doubt that she was on the make but presumably staying within the law.

No different I suppose from all the other MPs, including Osborne, who 'flipped' their main residence to avoid tax.

From what I've read, the house was bought cheaply at £237,00 and she continued to re-mortgage up to over £500,00 and the taxpayer paid the interest.

She has now benefited hugely from the crazy increase in London property prices.

The whole thing stinks

Found this while skimming through the dreaded DM online . Maybe Ms Miller should sell hers?

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2598465/Higher-fines-dole-cheats-lose-homes-Iain-Duncan-Smith-unveils-latest-reforms-welfare-system.html

An interesting thought from today's Wright Stuff. If DC sacks Mrs Miller, he 'll also need to sack several other Cabinet Members for similar reasons. Is that the REAL reason he is continuing to back her?? !!

I agree.

I expect that is why the 'cross party' committee did not recommend her resignation and just ordered a low pay back and apology.
She could have done herself a favour by apologising with a bit of sincerity!

I agree, I too think Maria Miller should resign as Minister.

I also think if she did then 'all' of those who did the same should resign whether Ministers or backbenchers. Parliament would be empty probably but at least it would be a fair solution.

My problem with this however is the partisan politics by Labour MP John Mann.

I never heard him call for the resignations of the likes of Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper, David Miliband, Hazel Blears etc. etc. There were some very big hitters in both parties and they should all do the same. It's worth bringing up the expenses scandal lists and remember the names and amounts MP's from all parties were found guilty of 'borrowing' from the tax payer.

Don't stop at Maria Miller Mr. Mann and I just might accept you really are principled.

I do not have a problem if grandparents are doing childcare as that makes sense to have them there. But really if she was living in Wimbledon before becoming Basingstoke MP she did not need another 'home'. An hour's journey to work is not unusual! Some days to Westminster others to Basingstoke. An occasional overnight stay in Westminster/Basingstoke in a cheap hotel to cope with late events would not be that terrible!

It truly is ridiculous that she should have been entitled to claim this as a second home at all given how near she lives, let alone install her parents there and get us to pay for it! Unbelievable! If DC does not sack her, he is in for a kicking from the voters. Has he not yet worked out how much this annoys ordinary people managing on ordinary incomes?

Puts rather a new slant on MPs favourite saying of 'we're all in it together'

Any MP living within the M25 should not have a second home, full stop. If her constituents are expected to commute daily, then so should she. Had a fine case here where the MP for Chelmsford ( worked in Transport, responsible for trains) claimed that he had to have a chauffeur driven car every day into the Commons, couldnt possible travel with the people he represents. Arrogant bastard chap. D Cameron has really got to get things sorted if he is going to have any credibility. And as for Grant Shapps...........

It is time that MP salaries included a means tested fixed grant for travel/second home costs. This would take account of any other earned /unearned income plus distance of constituency/difficulty of access from Westminster.

Maria Millar constituency is Basingstoke & she lives in Wimbledon. It takes about an hour to travel from Wimbledon to Basingstoke by train. It is only a 45 minute journey to Waterloo (then 10 minute wlk to Westminster) from Basingstoke. It takes about 15 minutes to Waterloo from Wimbledon. Not sure why a second home is absolutely necessary! Loads of novotel / premier style hotels near Westminster for late sittings/ occasional late nights which would prove a lot cheaper than a second mortgage!

Another example ( as if we needed one) of how out of touch DC is. He thinks people wont support him if he gets rid of a woman from the cabinet.
He doesn't understand that he will get MORE support if he sacks this pitiful excuse for a "public servant" The only thing they serve is themselves.

A benefits cheat would not be considered for high office or a responsible job - this woman is in the cabinet for goodness' sake! Get rid of her! I am sickened by this sort of behaviour. I spent a large part of my professional life trying to help people who were disabled to keep food on the table; and this wretched woman just gets away with this huge fraud. Why isn't she up before the beak?

Rant over.

One of the people on Sunday Politics this morning claimed that Ian Duncan Smith (IDS) was going to make a further statement regarding sanctions on 'benefits cheats' this morning on the Andrew Marr show, but it was thought politic not to do so. My money is on her going on Tuesday, but with very bad grace, thus leaving IDS free to announce his latest draconian punishments for being poor and/or disabled.

I don't think that's strictly true, Mishap, the benefits cheats who actually receive a prison sentence seem to be those who have falsely claimed tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Maria Miller should definitely go, though. Perhaps the PM will persuade her to resign, thus avoiding having to publicly sack her after saying she had his continued support.

He'll finish up getting rid of her - my OH always cynically says, when a PM says he is backing a naughty member, "Oh dear, then they will be out on their ear soon." PM can't possibly support her - it is nonsense, and he will lose votes.

This sense of entitlement to taxpayers' money and to protection from the law is sickening.

If a benefits claimant embezzled a minute proportion of this money they would be in the nick.

Grant Shapps Bingo

Having Grant Schapps to give you a character reference is like having Jeffrey Archer recommend your book.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/apr/04/maria-millers-great-hypocrisy-representing-people

Grant Shapps (that fine, upstanding fellow) is on the news now saying that "it's time to let it go". It's great how these people back each other up isn't it.

Agreed BAnanas, it is no good bringing in all these new regulations and housing benefit changes, and banging on about benefit cheats when the very people who are setting the regulations are cheats themselves. I dont understand why the Scottish Labour MP ( sorry cant remember his name) got imprisoned a few months back for embezzling £5000 and then repaying it, while SHE embezzles around £90,000, is recommended to repay £40,000 and then gets her mates in the standards committee to agree to £5000. I am no fan of David Cameron, but I always thought he had some backbone, obviously not.

I think on balance Cameron should have the sense to know that most people would rather see her sacked, one less woman in the cabinet is of secondary importance. This story wont go away and if he is forced to act later it just makes him look weak and if he doesn't do anything then his judgement will be in question. Voters are sick to death of this flagrant dishonesty and it only reinforces the view that many of us hold of the political class, lofty, arrogant, out of touch and in some cases down right dishonest. No good banging on about benefit cheats, politicians are not in a position to make judgments about the honesty of their fellow human beings when they behave in this manner.

Perhaps if she is sacked, she could also be deselected as well, if I were one of her constituents I wouldn't want her as my MP.

I agree with each and everyone of you, it is an abuse of power. I thought that it was more than £40,000 that she took/borrowed/stole. The house in question is now "only" worth well over a million pounds. Nice if you can get it I think. DC should show that he has some backbone and sack her, better late than never. There are two laws in this country, one for them and one for us minions.