howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
12 October 2009
22:3830316#1
it now transpires that our elected representatives have got their heads together during their short break spent slaving in their constituencies, and reached the conclusion that they will pay nothing of their ill gotten gains back.
we seem to have two choices here.
1) follow the advice of barry and paulb and go for the usual parties, otherwise it is a wasted vote.
2)pick out someone untainted and hope for the best.
the blues will get in anyway, but what if they needed a few independents and small parties to form a majority government?
might make the major players lose some of their arrogance, and have to think differently to their usual dogma.
what does the team think?
13 October 2009
07:2130325#2
PLEEEEEEEEEAAAASSE let a Monster Raving Loony stand - they will have my vote guaranteed. Their policies are great: force sock manufacturers to sell socks in threes to save that loss of a pair, for instance. Can they do much worse than the money-grabbing-pocket-picking-lie-telling-back-stabbing-voter-shafting crew we already have?
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
13 October 2009
07:2930330#3
are we sure that the blues will get in?,will it be a hung parliment with the smaller partys having the final say.who knows but above all who cares we will get screwed all the same.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
13 October 2009
07:4330333#4
Actually they have been told to pay the money back and are subject to retrospective rules.
These rules are tougher than before but still not as tough as those imposed by Cameron on Conservatives last summer. Remember those Conservatives who do not pay money back will not be allowed to stand again at the next election. Most have done so but more will need to do so soon.
What amuses me is that Brown thought that Legg would be a patsy and he has turned around and bitten them. Good for him.
Brown having to repay £12k,wonderful.
If you want political chaos and uncertainty at a time when clear and decisive leadership is needed to steady the markets and get this country out of the mire then by all means do what howard is saying. Most people have more sense than that.
Cameron has repeated this.
http://page.politicshome.com/uk/mps_who_dont_repay_cant_stand_as_conservatives_says_cameron.htmlGuest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
13 October 2009
08:0430334#5
Although I have been outspoken on the expenses scandal, and been horrified by the revelations, I am wondering now if this retrospective payment plan is not actually whats required. Its very odd to bring in new rules and then make them retrospective. You couldnt possibly do that for example in the sporting arena or indeed big business or anywhere. I dont think we are seeing the bonuses in the city being paid back for example...so I can partially understand why some MP's feel this is unjustified.
They of course are not a body of individuals many have sympathy with at the moment, however it may have been better to draw a line under this whole episode, put in newer austere rules and try and get the dreadful situation behind us. This retrospective idea will drag it on now to blight a new parliamentary term. No work was done last session with everyone watching for the knife in their back. There are some obnoxious individuals in the House with an aura of greed hanging about them, and Im hoping the voters will show these individuals the door next election.
13 October 2009
08:0630335#6
If people had more sense than that the parties wouldn't waste so much time and money on advertising and campaigns based on personality and spin. Brown having to repay £12k and sucking it up is a good indicator that he supports the process he instigated. Frankly I don't care if it is Brown, Cameron, Leadbelly or the winner of Crufts who is elected, as long as they are relatively truthful, and don't steal my money.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
13 October 2009
10:5030351#7
All MP's from the 3 main party leaders have been told to go along with leggs recommendations.
I have to say hehas been strong on this on(legg) although not sure he should be making new rules, or going bk over years of agreed expenses.
So i understand (a little) MP''s kicking up, but still feel in the interest of politics these recommendations are agreed, dosh repaid, and lets move on
13 October 2009
16:4330366#8
NO! Let's NOT move on. Let's remember and publish again the main culprits, let's remember and vote them out, let's remember and keep remembering the shower that fleeced us and continue to think they were hard done by when expected to pay back or apologise, and who had hissy fits because us proles didn't understand their need for extras.
GET THEM OUT!!!! Make them pay back, apologise and shut the door on their way out.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
13 October 2009
16:5830370#9
that is the view of the man/woman on the street.
i don;t go along with the retrograde altering of the rules, neither do i believe that paying back is sufficient.
if it had been someone swindling a few bob on the dole, they would have been hauled up before the magistrates, humiliated in the local press, and have a conviction on their record.
the politicians think we have forgotten, wait until they start knocking on doors for our votes next spring.
if they cannot be trusted with their expense accounts, how can they be trusted with the billions in the UK economy?
13 October 2009
18:1830384#10
I couldn't have put that better, Howard. Let's not forget.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
13 October 2009
18:2730385#11
Howard - the worse of them, those who actually broke the rules should certainly have their collars felt.
You cannot do that with those who did so within the terms laid own by the fees office, the best you can do is get them to pay back abuses but even then there is no way they can be forced to by law.
Even Legg's ruling is not legally enforcable, morally its another matter.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
13 October 2009
19:3630397#12
just seen on the local news, the honourable member for canterbury explaining why the fees for his "gentlemans club"
should be paid by us.
some of them live in another age, probably thinking that we are all members of similar institutions too.
the only person i know like that is posh barry, to his credit he always smuggles out a doggy bag for me.
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
14 October 2009
15:1430456#13
Agree with you Bern & Howard 100 per cent, as one of our great politicians from the distant past once said - "We will never forget". The majority of these MP's need to be presented with a criminal record.
Howard, I'll slip in an extra jar of 'Gentlemans Relish' next time
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
14 October 2009
16:5630462#14
if you could also book me some time on the chesterfield and save me some kedgeree it would be appreciated.
tugging my forelock as i type.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
14 October 2009
21:3130486#15
Barryw and I probably agree on this one!!!!!!!!
Although we may disagree a lot of these allowances were agreed.
Those that went that 1 step further and broke rules should be taken to task.
Of course im still of the opinion MP'S get to much dosh in the first place, and to many allowances on top and this needs an overhaul
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
14 October 2009
22:0230490#16
there was a big turn out of mp's in the commons today, a lot of heated exchanges
sounds good??
forget it,passions were aroused over their expenses.
unemployment set to reach 3 million, another 500 troops to afghanistan, the pound getting a bashing on the exchanges.
thankfully our elected members have their own priorities.
15 October 2009
06:0430497#17
Another thing to remember, Howard. I hope very much that our own voter apathy does not kick in this time and allow these money-grabbing fools and shysters a further opportunity to con us.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
15 October 2009
07:5530521#18
BERN
Unless theres an overhaul of the system it aint going to make any diffrence who is elected it will be b same
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
15 October 2009
17:0730539#19
i don't have a problem with the wages of mps if it was a full time job.
we know about the excess holidays, what about the other lucrative things so many are involved in.?
cannot leave much time for constituency and commons work.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
15 October 2009
17:0830540#20
HOWARD
i Do have a problem with the £70,000 basic wage they get.
Thats without any of all these top ups!!!!!