UK MP's expenses.

[Andy Bowden]

Dunno if theres a thread elsewhere, but in the UK theres been a shitstorm for the past couple of weeks as MP's expenses have been revealed thanks to the Freedom of Information act.

MP's are allowed an allowance to upkeep second homes in London they are granted, so they can do business at Westminster etc.

One Tory MP claimed money for a moat in his second home, and a Labour MP claimed thousands for a mortgage that was already paid off.

Oh, and the DUP Robinsons claimed 30k in food over 4 years :lol:

[bellyscratch]

Although I am glad this has come out so people can an insight into how corrupt some of these politicians are, it does worry me how much the BNP will capitalise from this in the upcoming euro elections. We all know they'll use populist tactics to try get what they want, and this may just sway a seat or two in their direction.

Lets hope I'm wrong :(

[Pogue]

Its brilliant how they've been revealed to be corrupt, greedy scum, but incredibly misfortunate that the BNP seem to be the ones capitalising fully on this with their whole 'We're good guys unlike them' shit.

On the Vannesea Phelps radio programme today (for those who don't know she's this presenter woman who does a very popular show which covers all manner of things), a woman who described herself as ethnically Black African said she would vote BNP in the Euro elections because she is so disenfranchised with the other parties. I couldn't believe my ears - neither could Vannessea, who said it was the most shocking end to a show she had ever had.

[bellyscratch]

Its brilliant how they've been revealed to be corrupt, greedy scum, but incredibly misfortunate that the BNP seem to be the ones capitalising fully on this with their whole 'We're good guys unlike them' shit.

On the Vannesea Phelps radio programme today (for those who don't know she's this presenter woman who does a very popular show which covers all manner of things), a woman who described herself as ethnically Black African said she would vote BNP in the Euro elections because she is so disenfranchised with the other parties. I couldn't believe my ears - neither could Vannessea, who said it was the most shocking end to a show she had ever had.

:scared:

This is horrible.

Also, aren't they standing an openly gay candidate in the euro elections?

[Y Chwyldro Comiwnyddol Cymraeg]

Why arent they procecuted for fraud as anyone else would be if they claimed for something they were not entitled to?

But I will say, it annoys me when people say "oh, he brought a plug and 4 cans of dog food with the taxpayers money"
Ok, its wrong, but compered to the billions spent on the Trident missile it irrelevant!



Has anyone heard about the Welsh AMs, mostly Plaid I think, who have refused a pay rise? Fair play, they arent quite as bad as most politicians!

[rednordman]

All i will say is that it if you believe in parlamentory democracy in anyform, this should be very worrying for you right now.

[und]

It's not surprising that this has happened. I look at all MPs except for a select few as bourgeois scum, who will not think twice about spending OUR money. I don't personally contribute to the economy as I'm not really old enough, but my family certainly does, and I'm not happy that first of all, we're being exploited and then the money being earned through government taxes goes straight to the pockets of MPs and to other projects, many of them probably unknown to the public, and including the creation of weapons of mass destruction, funding wars, defense, etc.

On the other hand, I understand the need for a second home in case the journey from your constituency is too long. In this case, MPs should be allowed to claim expenses for a reasonable house/flat. After all, if they weren't doing this job then they wouldn't have the necessity. This does not mean, however, that an MP should be able to claim for extravagant furnishings or decorations which the majority of people can't even afford.

[Sean]

People who become career politicians will inevitably become scum. Its simply the nature of the political lifestyle. I don't see anything shocking about it.

[Dr Mindbender]

Has anyone noticed that it's the right wing that have been the most vocal in their criticism of this?

I think us lefties shouldnt be left out to be seen as being complicitly silent.

We shouldnt feel like we have to apologetic for these greedy bastards.

[Dr Mindbender]

Oh, and the DUP Robinsons claimed 30k in food over 4 years :lol:

Well, in their defence, the DUP are capitalists so you cant fault them for their consistency.

Its the so called socialists that are the hypocrites.

[brigadista]

the interesting thing was who did NOT claim the expenses...also the left could take advantage of this if we get in quick..

just imagine if NOONE voted...for anyone

[Die Neue Zeit]

With the precedent of the Paris Commune, why are there no serious campaigns to have the politicians and the bureaucrats paid at average workers' wages tops (with stricter control over work-related expenses)?

[ls]

Has anyone noticed that it's the right wing that have been the most vocal in their criticism of this?

I think us lefties shouldnt be left out to be seen as being complicitly silent.

We shouldnt feel like we have to apologetic for these greedy bastards.

Apologetic? I think that's the last thing on the majority of people's minds whilst reading this thread.

Every 'expense' belongs rightfully to workers and not them.

Each of them receives an unfair salary as it is "What is the annual salary of an MP? £64766 as of 1 April 2009".

[und]

Apologetic? I think that's the last thing on the majority of people's minds whilst reading this thread.

Every 'expense' belongs rightfully to workers and not them.

Each of them receives an unfair salary as it is "What is the annual salary of an MP? £64766 as of 1 April 2009".
If you call that unfair then what do you call the salaries of senior bankers earning 8-figures? They earn in a day about double the average annual salary! Yes, it is unfair, but so is everything else in the capitalist system.

[ls]

If you call that unfair then what do you call the salaries of senior bankers earning 8-figures? They earn in a day about double the average annual salary! Yes, it is unfair, but so is everything else in the capitalist system.

Except MPs work hard everyday at upholding and working the capitalist system. MPs get paid more including expenses than bankers, they can claim for shit like massive mansions and the like just like Brown himself did.

It's good to point this out to people, it's an issue that people care about (and rightly so). Focusing on bankers is always good too.

[perky596]

As some people before me have put forward, its disgusting that the BNP have capitalized on such a situation and how little publicity the left have had. Saying that though i wouldn't expect any less from media and news ran by filthy capitalist scum. The term "professional politician" is one that has never stuck with me, particularly in a so-called democracy, why should we spend huge chunks of our own earnings each year just to stick it into the back pockets of people who clearly don't understand the meaning of money? Im sure any starving, jobless and nearly homeless member of the proletariat would understand that money is best spent on public healthcare and transport, not on 42 inch flat screen TV's for your second fucking home in London. I've also just realised what i can spend my July-August after finishing college doing, if you want me i'll be in London, with a placard in one hand and a megaphone in the other.

[piet11111]

With the precedent of the Paris Commune, why are there no serious campaigns to have the politicians and the bureaucrats paid at average workers' wages tops (with stricter control over work-related expenses)?

because then we would lose our "best and brightest" to the market.
well that is the dutch governments excuse why those bastards have to be paid so damned much :mad:

[perky596]

because then we would lose our "best and brightest" to the market.
well that is the dutch governments excuse why those bastards have to be paid so damned much :mad:

haha is that the same old same old "removal of incentive to work" excuse that is constantly regurgitated by the right wing? I hate that excuse. I remember reading up about it and would love to be informed by others about it, but MP wages weren't always existent were they? I for one wouldn't mind that happening again, im sure we'd save billions a year. Although my understanding is that before payment for MP's it was impossible for anyone without wealth to become an MP, mainly because if you are starving, your not going to go into a unpaid job are you? But times have changed and I'm sure that wouldn't be the case nowadays. Of course i might just be totally wrong.

[OneNamedNameLess]

[QUOTE=Y Chwyldro Comiwnyddol Cymraeg;1445005]But I will say, it annoys me when people say "oh, he brought a plug and 4 cans of dog food with the taxpayers money"
Ok, its wrong, but compered to the billions spent on the Trident missile it irrelevant!QUOTE]

True about Trident however, the state propose strict punishment for benefit cheats and others who abuse the system. Trident is a different matter and btw, who is responsible for the billions spent on Trident? As you suggested they should be prosecuted for fraud. The sheer hypocrisy of this matter pisses me off most.

[Poppytry]

Dunno if theres a thread elsewhere, but in the UK theres been a shitstorm for the past couple of weeks as MP's expenses have been revealed thanks to the Freedom of Information act.

I thought the public got access to the information through the Daily Telegraph who say they were passed the information on by an undisclosed source. Which is why the Speaker wants a inquiry into how the information was leaked in the first place.

I hope voters can look for alternatives away from lab and con.. maybe even liberal. Proberly the main beneficiary will be the BNP due to media speculation and the amount of exposure they are getting. Not to mention that there is no strong united leftist party to serve as an alternative.

http://www.broadleft.org/gb.htm ... Lmao