MP's expenses - can someone tell me why...
14 May 2009, 06:06 PM
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MP's expenses - can someone tell me why...
Sorry - truly boring I know but can someone explain why it is felt necessary to have this complex system of second homes etc.
Just give every MP his salary and for any MP with a constituency outside the M25 say, give him/her an extra £24k a year which equates to £2000 per month which should be adequate to rent a reasonable furnished pad within commuting distance of The House. THe MP is free to do what he likes with the money - rent, buy, pay for hotel when in town, whatever.
That's it though. Nothing else to be claimed.
Too simple?
dl
Just give every MP his salary and for any MP with a constituency outside the M25 say, give him/her an extra £24k a year which equates to £2000 per month which should be adequate to rent a reasonable furnished pad within commuting distance of The House. THe MP is free to do what he likes with the money - rent, buy, pay for hotel when in town, whatever.
That's it though. Nothing else to be claimed.
Too simple?
dl
14 May 2009, 06:13 PM
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One idea would be for the Government to lease a couple of decent hotels within a mile or so of Westminster and let MP's stay bed and breakfast for free when they are in London, any MP living in Greater London would just have to commute to work.
Would save a fortune and no extras.
Would save a fortune and no extras.
14 May 2009, 06:23 PM
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Not sure about that. Some of the long distance MPs stay in London for 3 or 4 nights. Not sure it would be reasonable to expect them to stay in a hotel for several years mixed with fellow MPs? Boarding school all over again. dl
14 May 2009, 06:52 PM
#4
David - That's pretty much what happens to those members of the military who are posted to work in central London (at MOD Main Building for example). You have a set amount of money (dependent upon rank) assigned to cover the rent of a flat, and a food allowance to account for the lack of subsidised messing.
All bills above those required for basic living (i.e. telephone, internet, TV Licence) must be met by the soldier/officer as they would be in normal mess/barrack/quarters accommodation.
I would imagine most other public services away from the military have similar, rigid, rules - except the politicians it seems..
All bills above those required for basic living (i.e. telephone, internet, TV Licence) must be met by the soldier/officer as they would be in normal mess/barrack/quarters accommodation.
I would imagine most other public services away from the military have similar, rigid, rules - except the politicians it seems..
14 May 2009, 07:20 PM
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Why not just build or buy a block of flats specifically for MP's all kited out with the basic necessities, when they retire or lose there seat they give the keys back then there's no profiting.
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14 May 2009, 07:29 PM
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One idea would be for the Government to lease a couple of decent hotels within a mile or so of Westminster and let MP's stay bed and breakfast for free when they are in London, any MP living in Greater London would just have to commute to work.
Would save a fortune and no extras.
Would save a fortune and no extras.
An excellent idea. One target. Save on C4
14 May 2009, 07:40 PM
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To get over that malarky just convert a block of flats into MP only quarters. Have the 1st two floors for security/check-in etc and the MPs on the rest of the floors. Simple flats, bedroom, office, kitchen, bathroom. No need for more. It's only somewhere to work from after all! And thus no need for their own *expenses* to go into it as all their needs will be catered for.
It's not a difficult problem.
Dave
14 May 2009, 08:20 PM
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Why don't the Government buy as many 'modest' houses as needed and loan them out to MPs as and when needed, this would work exactly how it is now, but is centrally managed and no MP ever profits.
No?
No?
14 May 2009, 10:11 PM
#13
Barracks? Which central London barracks would these be???
I think you'll find Labour have flogged them all off at bargain prices to development companies I'm sure will have new, well salaried, board members in a few years time...
I think you'll find Labour have flogged them all off at bargain prices to development companies I'm sure will have new, well salaried, board members in a few years time...
15 May 2009, 09:03 AM
#15
move the entire shower of ******** to the midlands, and give them the average local rent if they aren't local enough.
There's no nead for them to be in London, at our expense, when the huge majority of people don't live there.
There's no nead for them to be in London, at our expense, when the huge majority of people don't live there.
15 May 2009, 09:50 AM
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There's a huge drive to bring government services out of London but it's not really working. We have some big public sector clients - all in the W1 area, all in offices that must cost a fortune, all having to commute from miles outside the City.
Seems a bit daft.
UKHO and Met Office have managed to move out but too many are still based in the City for no reason.
Seems a bit daft.
UKHO and Met Office have managed to move out but too many are still based in the City for no reason.
15 May 2009, 09:57 AM
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The problem is some MPs (especially high profile or ministerial) live in London with their families and have a second home in their constituency. Nothing wrong with that of course.
15 May 2009, 09:58 AM
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There's a huge drive to bring government services out of London but it's not really working. We have some big public sector clients - all in the W1 area, all in offices that must cost a fortune, all having to commute from miles outside the City.
Seems a bit daft.
UKHO and Met Office have managed to move out but too many are still based in the City for no reason.
Seems a bit daft.
UKHO and Met Office have managed to move out but too many are still based in the City for no reason.
. they have a stipulation all business done in England, preferably in London. they couldn't move it if they wanted to due to the unions.
15 May 2009, 10:17 AM
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What I find truly staggering is that they seem able to claim things for their main family home...... What the **** has that got to do with working as an MP??
The "excuse" seems to be that the rules allow it. BUT THEY DON'T. The rules say that claims have to legitimate and associated with working as an MP. 99% of these claims should have been knocked back in the first place.
Thge Gov't of the day missed a big trick when County Hall was emptied some years ago. Ideal for refurbisment and reasonable accommodation within a short stroll of Westminster.
dl
The "excuse" seems to be that the rules allow it. BUT THEY DON'T. The rules say that claims have to legitimate and associated with working as an MP. 99% of these claims should have been knocked back in the first place.
Thge Gov't of the day missed a big trick when County Hall was emptied some years ago. Ideal for refurbisment and reasonable accommodation within a short stroll of Westminster.
dl
15 May 2009, 10:22 AM
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For any others that run their own show - it's galling how careful we have to be with expenses - any hint of a claim that's a bit suspect and it's very possible that you'll get investigated and done by the Revenue. Shame MPs don't seem to play by the same rules.
I do know some that really take the mickey though - highlights of people I know claiming are:
£600 dog, all food and vet bits - claimed as "security" (it's a soppy beagle!)
A £150k boat - client "entertainment"
A £300k flat - not sure what is was claimed as but he got done and had to pay about £150k to the Revenue.
Family holidays abroad - with one "business" visit so all claimed.
I do know some that really take the mickey though - highlights of people I know claiming are:
£600 dog, all food and vet bits - claimed as "security" (it's a soppy beagle!)
A £150k boat - client "entertainment"
A £300k flat - not sure what is was claimed as but he got done and had to pay about £150k to the Revenue.
Family holidays abroad - with one "business" visit so all claimed.
15 May 2009, 03:22 PM
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Trouble is, they seem to have a vastly overinflated idea of their own importance anyway!
Les
15 May 2009, 06:40 PM
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I dont for a second think that everything they have in their second home should be "budget" or "value" but they take things to an extreme.
A lot could be learnt from the average people that work in London during the week, and return home at the weekends. Plenty of people do it regularly and im sure on a MUCH lower budget.
16 May 2009, 09:15 AM
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Just love the unintended hypocrisy here ... Bonus Culture: Treasury Select Committee Report Into Bank Pay Says Bonuses Encouraging Risk Taking | Business | Sky News
In this quote just substitute 'MPs' for 'bankers' ...
"... "We have a suspicion that many bankers remain unconvinced by the need for change," the report says. "(We) believe that once 'the storm dies down' it will be a case of 'business as usual'." ..." ....
Dave
In this quote just substitute 'MPs' for 'bankers' ...
"... "We have a suspicion that many bankers remain unconvinced by the need for change," the report says. "(We) believe that once 'the storm dies down' it will be a case of 'business as usual'." ..." ....
Dave
16 May 2009, 09:22 AM
#26
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Just love the unintended hypocrisy here ... Bonus Culture: Treasury Select Committee Report Into Bank Pay Says Bonuses Encouraging Risk Taking | Business | Sky News
In this quote just substitute 'MPs' for 'bankers' ...
"... "We have a suspicion that many bankers remain unconvinced by the need for change," the report says. "(We) believe that once 'the storm dies down' it will be a case of 'business as usual'." ..." ....
Dave
In this quote just substitute 'MPs' for 'bankers' ...
"... "We have a suspicion that many bankers remain unconvinced by the need for change," the report says. "(We) believe that once 'the storm dies down' it will be a case of 'business as usual'." ..." ....
Dave
quite!!
and as I said on an earlier thread -- Sir Fred Goodwin (remember him) must be laughing his fvcking **** off
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