General Chat

No just to pay for some of the items themselves - if I thought that a kit kat would enable my MP to do his job better then I wouldnt complain but I dont see how such trivial purchases have to be passed on to the taxpayer. As for the 46" TV that is mentioned that was a top of range £8000 model. Is the MP unable to purchase a smaller £399 21'' - of course not not whilst us mugs carry on paying through the nose.
As far as visits from foreign Government Ministers are concerned nine times out of ten they reside at their country's Embassy or Consulate and if the MP does entertain guess what he claims for that from the Foreign Office

The MP here (Conservative) sorry no more detail than that lol......looks to be kind of in the middle..and tbh......the only really shocking thing on it was the staffing bill..... I WOULD be interested to know if that included any of his family.......However, as no details have been disclosed about outrageous claims for porn films and the like.....I assume for the moment he's ok xx

Janey - yes they should have plugs but I'll be dammed if I'm happy paying for them ! - And neither am I happy to pay for the mortgage on an MP's second home when that mortgage was paid off in full 18 months ago - this is what we are angry over, not their office or staffing expenses etc but the claiming of Tampons

Not sure I could claim for my tampons on my monthly expenses !

And here is mine, not too bad as it all looks like it is needed to do the job that we put them their to do

Constituency: Sheffield Hillsborough
MP: Smith, Ms Angela C.
Party: LAB
Expenses
Second Home: £22,843
London Supplement: £0
Office: £14,575
Staffing: £86,090
Stationery: £1,319
IT Provision: £1,138
Staff Cover: £0
Communication: £9,741
Travel: £10,904

Total Expenses: £150,240

No, nobody thinks MPs shoudln't have plugs for their bathtubs Janey. But is it necessary to claim for something so cheap?

Would you have claimed that on your expenses without being laughed out of the office?

Why would a male MP need tampons?

How does a chocolate santa help with either voting in parliament or within your constituency?

Mole burrow underground and leave little heaps of soil on your lawn. Yes they are a nuisance, but surely a second home for the purpose of the job does not constitute having a lawn big enough for a mole problem to be costing as much as it did? Many MP's rent a flat in London, used only when they are attending the house of commons.

Some are claiming for second homes, again supposedly to be nearer to their constituencies, but which are nowhere near, and certainly not as close as their main home.

I'm not biting Janey. End of.

Just for interest

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/05/15/expense-report-mp-0515.html

"Unlike Britain, Canada has checks in place that would make it difficult for MPs to file expenses unnoticed. In Canada, it's mandatory for all MPs, commissioners and government officials to publish their travel and hospitality expenses. Chiefs of staff, press secretaries and policy advisors are also bound by the same rules."

http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/process/house/GeneraLInformation
/MembersExpenses-2007-2008-e.pdf

Canada's MPs have a very specific schedule of expenses they are allowed. And their expenses are overseen by a House committee, and published every year.

Our MPs actually seem to spend more than yours. Staff costs them over $200,000 each (divide everything by two for approximate values in pounds). Of course travel isn't comparable, when you're looking at MPs having to travel to the Pacific Coast ...

Office supplies are comparable, communications expenses are higher (again, much greater distances), they spend a lot on printing, constituency office rental averages out at about the same probably.

Apparently MPs here get $25/day allowance for accommodations in Ottawa. $750 won't really get you a basic one-bdrm apartment in a decent highrise near downtown, I don't think.


Anyhow, looks like you need a system like ours!

Maybe you'd like to send a fact-finding mission over here to take a look ... ;)

Not biting what, McB?

Truth?

Brian,

I know what you have been through, you me too, please rise above it,

Caz x

Janey.................if your standard of living was dropping year after year as ours is in the UK and a proportion of your hard earned tax was paying for some of the ridiculous expenses some MP's have been claiming you would be probably be as angry as we are.

Let us Brits have our moan in peace please.

I'm way above it Caz. lol

Well that is basically what we are saying Janey. The fact that they COULD bend the rules and manipulate the system shows it is the system itself that needs to be changed. The fact that some DID, shows that THEY need to be changed.

Yes the system does need to be much more restrictive, and certainly clearer as to what can or cannot be claimed, and transparent to the point of immediate publication of expense claims, which at least the tories are proposing right now.

As it is, those MPs have not broken any rules, so technically they have done nothing wrong. But morally....they do not deserve to be called 'Honourble'.

Glad to hear it Brian,x

Teresa, your link went to

What: Ice cube tray
Who: John Reid
How much: £1.50


So ... an MP should pack up his/her ice cube tray and take it home on the train on Friday, and bring it back on Monday? Along with a bath plug from home?

Oh look. One MP shouldn't have had a toilet seat.

There is nothing ridiculous about those claims, really. And yes they're "trivial" in size -- but when you have to equip a second home to a reasonably livable standard, and a standard that makes it usable for some at least semi-public purposes, those "trivial" things can add up to a noticeable sum.

If you want your MPs to stay home, you should just tell them.

Or set up a system of oversight, with careful guidelines about what is allowed and what is not, like we have here.

And take a look at what your occupation of Iraq is costing you.

I was going to say that at least the MPs haven't killed any children lately, but given that they're the ones allowing the occupation of Iraq, I guess that wouldn't be quite accurate.


Seriously. Get a system for MPs' expenses that works, and use it.

Corruption in government is a hugely serious and important issue, you will get no argument from me. People all over the world are united in their concern about corruption as one of the things they care about most.

But this is just kinda small potatoes, isn't it, really?

Ever feel like you're being manipulated, just a tad?

Caz:
"Brian,
I know what you have been through, you me too, please rise above it,"

Well, I don't have a clue.

If it is actually relevant to something here, maybe someone would tell me.

If it isn't, is there some reason you're mentioning whatever it is, Caz?

And what's this "it"? Me?

Yes Janey for attention and sympathy nthing at all to do with the debate..

I really don't think MPs should be able to claim anything. They get an extremely good wage and should be able to pay their own expenses out of that.

Janey, what Brian has been through is personal and for him to say if he so wishes, but as he is a man of integrity, I have no doubt he will share if he wishes,

The' it' is NOt you, it is an arguement with a government which squanders tax payers money and gives a life of unwarranted luxury to those who are greedy, and morally unjust { not all I may add.} But meanwhile does nothing to help tax payers, pensioners who have saved their whole lives, or people who strive to build businesses against all the odds.

I may not have the way of your eloquent discussional techniques or the time to qoute many figures, but i am living in a family where there are 4 tax payers and one , who has served our country has claimed nothing, compared to our Oh so respectable MPS.

Please live here and experience the distress of the hard working British public who can claim for NOTHING!

Yes Janey for attention and sympathy nthing at all to do with the debate

I hope i have answered this accusation.

Hi Janey :-)

Manipulation is when these MPs wouldn't release what was claimed as expenses to the public.....it took a leak to reveal all.

Yes I agree Janey, there are running costs to being an MP which we should take into account but there is a lot that shouldn't be claimed. Did I dream it or did someone claim for something to do with a moat?

All I know is that a neighbouring MP claimed a hell of a lot less than my MP; and I respect the other MP a lot more. It was a pity I couldn't vote for him but we all can't be lucky I suppose :-)

No you didnt dream it 'moat cleaning' lol of course a reasonable expense after all we cant have our MP's with mucky moats