Scream

[Two_Sheds]

we've not had anything from any of the parties. Nothing posted through the door

Mr Sheds said the same thing. They've started putting flyers through now, so I hand them to him, and he puts them straight in the bin.

He's determined to not vote (too lazy) but I'm going to drag him to the polling station. He can spoil his paper if he likes, (he'll probably write in FRANK LAMPARD, tick) but he's going. Racehorses had to trample over posh ladies to get the vote, so we should make the effort.

[zazen999]

I had 8 flyers yesterday with every one a grinning gurn on the front and in the inside pages.

Sorry, but I don't find it very funny....they need to start taking their responsibilities seriously.

I'm going to leave it there or I'll start ranting.

[Madasafish]

"Can anyone hold up their hands and say they wouldn't have done the same thing, given a chance? Put everything on expenses, everything you could? Put everything through the books, instead of taking "cash" ? "

Without boasting, I would not. I was a Finance Director in earlier reincarnation and control of expenses meant you lead by example...

[pdblake]

We've had quite a few things through the post, all telling me not to vote BNP.

Now, I don't know about anyone else but I'd rather they tell me what's so good about themselves than what's so bad about the next guy.

You couldn't get a fag paper between most of them anyway.

[di]

they haven't done anything illegal, or even against the rules. However, they did write their own rules

Can anyone hold up their hands and say they wouldn't have done the same thing, given a chance? Put everything on expenses, everything you could? Put everything through the books, instead of taking "cash" ?

I would say, though, that MPs are supposed to be role models, leading the way, kind of thing. Like teachers, police, you are supposed to look up to these professionals.

The Green Book, the spirit of which these expenses claims are apparently within, states clearly that the fundamental principles underpinning the allowance regime to which MPs must adhere are based on the concepts of honesty, integrity, selflessness, accountability, openness and leadership. Claims should be above reproach, must only be for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of parliamentary duties and must not give rise or appear to give rise to improper personal financial benefit.

I admit to not being too politically smart,but I'd say they've not particularly stuck to their "fundamental principles".

[HeyWayne]

"Can anyone hold up their hands and say they wouldn't have done the same thing, given a chance? Put everything on expenses, everything you could? Put everything through the books, instead of taking "cash" ? "

Without boasting, I would not. I was a Finance Director in earlier reincarnation and control of expenses meant you lead by example...

Likewise I've had several occasions where I've been told to put things through expenses (having tried to pay for them myself). I feel guilty about "taking the mick"

[zazen999]

I can hold my head up high that when I witnessed expense account mismanagement, I wouldn't join in with it [I worked for a Quango for 7 years], and got the name as being little miss tight wad....and cut our budget for team and personal expenses to 10% of the budget and expense that I inherited [within 18 months]. Most of the expense mismanagement was because the senior management thought that they 'deserved' it....all those added extras. And that's before all the shenanigans with managers and their affairs with other managers...... and the expenses they all racked up 'on business'

I also had a finance manager who was from Yorkshire [relevant], and together we chopped, sliced, squeezed and shaped the team to be the lowest costing and highest performing team across the country, a result I am very proud of to this day.

It only takes some hard work and forethought to do things properly, I daresay the moral compass went flying through the window as their saliva started dripping when they realised how much money they could make out of us.

[bobleponge]

they haven't done anything illegal, or even against the rules.* However, they did write their own rules

I would suggest that claiming considerable sums of money for a mortgage that had been paid off 2 years earlier is both illegal and against the rules.

The vast majority of them have, exactly as you say, claimed what they are entitled to, under the rules they made themselves, but there are some that havent.
To say "it was just an oversight" wouldnt work for me in a court of law, thus nor should it for any of them who HAVE broken the laws. And yes, they should be taken to court as a common thief, as would happen to me if I had done the same thing.

[zazen999]

Oh dear - we lost Boble there.

[he came back, thank goodness]....

[rana]

Perhaps even more annoying is the fact that discredited MP's, even when forced to stand down will still be entitled to very generous pension payments, thus costing the hard-working tax-payer more dosh.

In private industry it is quite normal for employees caught fiddling to be sacked and stripped of the pension benefits provided by their employer.

[blackkitty]

I keep hoping that we'll get just one canvasser at the door
I think what gets to me is that 'they just don't get it,' yes they were allowed to claim for all sorts of things but... I query whether we should pay for their television sets but if we must don't they realise that they're taking the proverbial when they buy one that's way more expensive than most of their electorate can afford and then think they're entitled to it. People are struggling to pay bills and lots of people lost their jobs, largely due to bankers greed so obviously are very angry to see MPs living the life of riley on our taxpayers money, its greed yet again.
I will definitely be voting, its just who do you vote for? May be time to check out our local independents.

[Hilary B]

We have a Green candidate, alternatively I might vote for UKIP (since it is the EU election). Failing that sort of 'odd ball' option, I would spoil the ballot paper with 'entertaining' (and slightly rude) variations on 'none of them'.

The only downside to all of the ones 'caught out' resigning at once is, so many by-elections would probably be nearly as expensive as paying them for a few more months.....