howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
14 November 2009
10:4333061mr bercow has now spent 45 grand of taxpayers money up grading his grace and favour apartment for his own comfort.
will they ever learn?
i doubt it.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
14 November 2009
11:4533068While presiding over the expenses scandal, Lord Martin had also spent £725,000 of taxpayers' money on the Speaker's luxury apartments overlooking the Thames - then fought for years to cover it up.
In addition to a £20,000 refurbishment bill - previously published in an apparent attempt to mark a new era of transparency - a second fund of almost £25,000 was also spent on "routine" work on the flat.
And they disclose that this £45,000 total was almost double the original budget, which increased following correspondence between Parliamentary officials and Mr Bercow's wife Sally.
Mrs Bercow first gave Commons officials a list of her demands for the apartments during a discussion just four days after her husband's election on June 22. After this was sent to her by email for approval, she replied with yet more requests.
She wrote on June 30: "Having visited today and thought a bit more, I have a number of comments/changes." She conceded in the bathroom "we'll keep the carpet". But of a study being made into a playroom, she said: "The existing wall paper is very office/board-roomy.
"So, if at all possible, can the walls be redecorated ... a wipeable paint strikes me as the best option in here as there may well be lots of sticky fingers....(!)"
She continued: "Can the TV be replaced with a larger one ... I assume it will have Sky (as the sitting room one does) and we'll need a DVD player too if possible."
Of her plans for the drawing room, she wrote: "Remove bench cushions ... I'd prefer scatter cushions (more homely)". In "Bedroom 4", the Bercows "would like to redecorate as it's not really a little girl's kind of wallpaper."
Signing off, she said: "Do give me a buzz if you need to discuss further."
The following day, the Commons official replied: "My concern is that the list is getting longer, which isn't technically a problem, but I know you are very mindful of the costs and only wish to do what is considered as reasonable". It remains unclear what rooms Lord Martin had failed to refurbish.
A Commons official told Mrs Bercow: "I hope this email finds you settling comfortably into your new home". The Speaker is now likely to face calls to explain precisely what work was covered by the second budget.
A spokesman for Mr Bercow said that "a lot of the other work is beyond the control of the Speaker and is determined by English Heritage and other bodies".
I also learned that Bercow employs his own 'spin doctor' who earns £90k per year.Please give us a job I'm the best bullshitter in town!!
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
14 November 2009
12:3933073And still they grumble -mainly about being caught out. I have yet to hear the door shut as they leave......................
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
14 November 2009
12:5633074i feel sure that the constituents of mr bercow will have taken note of all this.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
14 November 2009
13:4633078And all the other party MP's with there noses in the same
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
14 November 2009
16:3533104These people live in a different world - and should move there.
This is our money for God's sake
Roger
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
14 November 2009
17:2533106you could allways send them to brussels for punishment.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
15 November 2009
09:2833138ROGER
Problem is getting them all to accept there is a problem,and this is ALL parties.
At the moment even now MP's from ALL parties are still moaning they have been hard hit!!
They earn a fair wage, far higher than it need be
the expenses are way above what they should be and needs altering
The list is endless.
But many won't recognise it, and it will sadly go on.
And more and more people will be turned off politics
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
15 November 2009
13:1833152John Bercow was on the Andrew Marr show this morning (hosted today by Sophie Rayworth) and he was saying his wife is to stand as a Labour MP.
I find it odd that these people (try to) come across as sincere and really wanting to stop the greed and restore respect etc. to the Commons and yet they do this kind of thing - it must be a blindness to decenct they have, that or someone will come up with a syndrome for it, to show that it isn't their fault at all, they just suffer from this complaint/syndrome.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
15 November 2009
13:4833160i saw a bit of that, had trouble keeping a straight face.
roger is spot on with his assessment of this issue, the miscreants genuinely believe they are being persecuted by the media and public.
their is a name for this syndrome, i cannot remember it, but basically everything is someone elses' fault.
15 November 2009
17:2733167MPs syndrome?
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
15 November 2009
17:3133170SINdrome Bern.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
15 November 2009
17:3133172give them enough rope and they may do us all a faver.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
15 November 2009
17:3533174I haven`t voted for nearly 20 years now, so looks like another 20 years coming up.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
15 November 2009
17:3833176colin you may have something there.and its spreading faster than swine flu,its called apathy.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
15 November 2009
17:4333178As I said in one of my postings Brian, looking at this planet from afar, all the squabbling seems so trivial.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
15 November 2009
18:0233185try to ignore the squabbles colin, listen closely to what politicians do not say, then you will find it more interesting.
do you not turn up at all at the polling station?
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
15 November 2009
18:0533187thats what the man is saying howard.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
15 November 2009
18:0733188brian
there is a difference between not voting and not turning up at all.
some people prefer to spoil their ballot paper in protest.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
15 November 2009
18:2033189Honestly speaking, politics have never interested me at all. At work, as you were working class, you had to vote Labour, but as I was in private industry, I was told to vote Conservatives. As I had no knowledge of the subject, I never saw myself as qualified to vote. Nothing they ever said interested me. A question alot of people ask. Why do they only come round the door at voting time? Why did politicians always seem to choose, holding a baby, standing among old people or shaking hands with coloured people? I must say though, it has been interesting reading all your views on here, though I can never comment as I`m out of my depth on the subject. I`m not alone with these views.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.