Maria Miller, She's Resigned.

[sandyRoe]

Isn't it nice to see people eventually do the right thing?

[EDDIE51]

Not before tme!
The only thing she was worried about was getting caught.
Is she giving up as an MP or just as a minister, she is not fit to be an MP.

[murraymints]

About time too...Will she sell the tax payer funded house and repay what she's fiddled ..also illicitly gained profit from last house ?

[bibblebub]

Has she done anything more than resign as an minister? Is she going to continue as an MP? Is she going to pay any more money back?

[Frank97]

I'd prefer they do the right thing in the first place.

[treetops68]

She didn't really have a lot of choice at the end of the day despite the support from various people. It will be interesting to see what happens next but I suspect it'll be a period of exile then being brought back with all the fanfare of a new position as has happened to quite a few before her.

[mikey4444]

It was inevitable that she go eventually but what a pity that it took so long. Not sure if dave has come out of this very well, as he really hasn't shown much in the way leadership here.

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

He's already said he would like her to come back "In due course".
Not until she's paid every penny back I hope.

[sandyRoe]

Is she likely to try and do a Porfumo and redeem herself by going and doing 'good works' in somewhere like The East End?

[mikey4444]

What on earth have the East End done to deserve this self-serving woman sandy ?

[Gromit]

Her full apology to Parliament was probably her downfall. She might have been able to ride out the storm if her aplogy had been sincere and if she had not tried to dismiss her behaviour in 38 seconds. Many MPs and the public thought ot was contemptuous while the print media saw it as a great mistake with which to remove her.

The great mistake however was trying to silence newspapers running her story by reminding them that she would be implementing Levesons proposals and theatening them. After that, the press were gunning for her and she has been dealt a fatal blow to her ambitions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHb3NTKZJek&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[sandyRoe]

Good question, MIkey. They have enough on their plates without her adding to their woes.

[Gromit]

// Not sure if dave has come out of this very well, as he really hasn't shown much in the way leadership here. //

Boris will be very pleased. This has shown Cameron to be weak and dithering. He should have sacked her at the beginning, not allow her to resign. This situation has damaged the Conservative Party.

[mikey4444]

I am listening live to Gove being interviewed by The Humph on the Today program, and I must say he has gone up in my estimation. He is giving a very good and well laid-out account of this affair.

There...praise from me for a Tory Minster !. But handsome is as handsome does, in my book...well done Gove.

[Gromit]

Still no admission of guilt or apology to the public. The inclusion of the paragraph on press inteusion should also be noted.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER
9 April 2014
Dear Prime Minister,
It is with great regret that I have decided that I should tender my resignation as a member of the Cabinet.
I am very grateful to you for your personal support but it has become clear to me that the present situation has become a distraction from the vital work this Government is doing to turn our country around.
I have been a member of the Conservative Party for more than 30 years. As a working mother, educated at a South Wales Comprehensive School, I know that it is our Party that understands the importance of giving everyone the opportunity to succeed regardless of where they come from.
I am immensely proud of what my team have been able to achieve during my time in Government: ensuring that our arts and cultural institutions receive the rightful recognition that they deserve in making Britain Great; putting women front and centre of every aspect of DCMS's work; putting in place the legislation to enable all couples to have the opportunity to marry regardless of their sexuality.
Of course, implementing the recommendations made by Lord Justice Leveson on the future of media regulation, following the phone hacking scandals, would always be controversial for the press. Working together with you, I believe we struck the right balance between protecting the freedom of the press and ensuring fairness, particularly for victims of press intrusion to have a clear right of redress.
I will continue to support you and the work of the Government as you move forward. Ensuring the best future for the people of Basingstoke has been my priority throughout the last 9 years. Whether on the front or back benches of the House of Commons I will continue this work.
The only reason I was able to become an MP and indeed a Government Minister and Cabinet Minister is because of the unstinting support of my husband, my mother, my father and my three children. I owe them all a great deal.

Maria Miller

[Old_Geezer]

Can't say I've bothered following the story or concluding how bad or otherwise this 'fiddle' gate is. Politicians & expenses is old hat. But interested to see the media still dictate what goes on.

[waterboatman]

She should pay back every penny, with interest. She is robbing US! As are all the other MPs that cheat on their expenses. They get paid far too much as it is, but still want more.

[mikey4444]

The old adage that you can fool all of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all the people, all of the time, is never truer than over this affair.

Miller's job as a Cabinet Minister was well past its sell-by date last week, let alone this week. She and dave have now paid the price of faffing around for far too long. How many times in the past have we seen events similar to this, where the person concerned tries to brazen it out, but has to go eventually. Will they never learn ?

[ChillDoubt]

I'm amazed it took her so long.

[jomifl]

She has made about 1 million quid out of selling a house that was partly paid for by the tax payer. She can afford to pay back the mortgage payments and the capital gains tax and still end up with a good wedge.

[Peter Pedant]

she will only have gone as a minister

she went into the family kitchen, weeping
and her husband said - but what about the expenses forms ?

and she replied: oh them - keep on sending them out !