Editor's Blog0 min ago
So thats alright then !
26 Answers
So Jacqui Smith gets a damning report into fiddleing and lying about her "homes" and expenses but as long as she apologises everything is tiggedy-boo !.
"I didnt think i was doing anything wrong" , so ignorance is now a valid defence
Brilliant, you couldnt make it up......actually with this government..................
"I didnt think i was doing anything wrong" , so ignorance is now a valid defence
Brilliant, you couldnt make it up......actually with this government..................
Answers
Best Answer
No best answer has yet been selected by bazwillrun. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.
Tell you what - lets just pretend this is a Government issue and use it to damn Gordon Brown.
Lets just Ignore moat cleaning expenses and Duck Houses.
Let's ignore Tory MP husband and wives who have seperate main residences.
Oh but she occupies a "position of responsibility"
As opposed to George Osbourne who flipped his mortgage - and wan't us to trust him with the Country's finances.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6474725.ece
Stop trying to make party political capital it's totally transparent
Lets just Ignore moat cleaning expenses and Duck Houses.
Let's ignore Tory MP husband and wives who have seperate main residences.
Oh but she occupies a "position of responsibility"
As opposed to George Osbourne who flipped his mortgage - and wan't us to trust him with the Country's finances.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6474725.ece
Stop trying to make party political capital it's totally transparent
we had this thread yesterday - same heading and everything
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question817772.html
I suppose it was Labour wickedness that led the poor Tories astray? Yeah, right.
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question817772.html
I suppose it was Labour wickedness that led the poor Tories astray? Yeah, right.
Jake....I do sympathise with you in that baz has politicized this issue.
He is saying though:...all three Political party leaders has said, "Pay up and let's move on" but Jacqi Smith although being found guilty of basically lying by the Enquiry and she is saying "Stuff you, I'm not paying it back"
As far as I know nobody else from any other Political Party has taken that stance.
He is saying though:...all three Political party leaders has said, "Pay up and let's move on" but Jacqi Smith although being found guilty of basically lying by the Enquiry and she is saying "Stuff you, I'm not paying it back"
As far as I know nobody else from any other Political Party has taken that stance.
-- answer removed --
"Tell you what - lets just pretend this is a Government issue and use it to damn Gordon Brown."
I don't think that's what the questioner was trying to do. It's more a general question as to how there seems to be one law for MPs and another for the peasants isn't it? Try fiddling your tax return and later making amends with an apology.
You lefties are just over-sensitive about the whole expenses thing because it shattered the illusion of Labour MPs somehow being more morally sound than the grasping Tory toffs. It proved they're all pretty much as bad as each other with some notable exceptions on both sides.
I don't think that's what the questioner was trying to do. It's more a general question as to how there seems to be one law for MPs and another for the peasants isn't it? Try fiddling your tax return and later making amends with an apology.
You lefties are just over-sensitive about the whole expenses thing because it shattered the illusion of Labour MPs somehow being more morally sound than the grasping Tory toffs. It proved they're all pretty much as bad as each other with some notable exceptions on both sides.
It's very easy to jump on the media bandwaggon over this, and take the 'snouts in the trough' line because it is so easy but the facts are becoming diguised under the avalanche of self-rightiousness.
Sir Thomas Legg has actually introduced retrospective legilslation, so that an MP can have made a legitimate claim under the system in place at the time, and now find that the new rules mean the claim is bogus, and a repayment must be made.
It is important therefore to differentiate between such MP's (few as they are) who have been caught in the retrospective rule change and leave them out of the general thievery - for such it is - that has gone on, and should be rightly punishable under law.
Jacqui Smith - to address the question - has been caught out in a fraudulent theft of public money and should be prosecuted for it - along with any others who have knowlkingly claimed for monies not directly connected to their work as MP's.
She won't - and the galling thing is, instead of keeping her mouth shut and thanking her lucky stars that she is protected by a web of corruption, she has to try and justify her indefensible behaviour with such mealy-mouthed nonsense.
The term 'least said soonest mended' could have been invented for ingrates liker her.
Sir Thomas Legg has actually introduced retrospective legilslation, so that an MP can have made a legitimate claim under the system in place at the time, and now find that the new rules mean the claim is bogus, and a repayment must be made.
It is important therefore to differentiate between such MP's (few as they are) who have been caught in the retrospective rule change and leave them out of the general thievery - for such it is - that has gone on, and should be rightly punishable under law.
Jacqui Smith - to address the question - has been caught out in a fraudulent theft of public money and should be prosecuted for it - along with any others who have knowlkingly claimed for monies not directly connected to their work as MP's.
She won't - and the galling thing is, instead of keeping her mouth shut and thanking her lucky stars that she is protected by a web of corruption, she has to try and justify her indefensible behaviour with such mealy-mouthed nonsense.
The term 'least said soonest mended' could have been invented for ingrates liker her.
Jake
I have not made it a political point you have done that.
I couldnt care what party she is in, she is a crook its pretty simple really, as others have pointed out its a case of one law for her and one for others.
As usual you try and turn a pretty simple arguement into something else that suits your warped way of looking at things.
If you dont understand something or cant grasp it then stay out of it, dont try and change it to suit what you think I or others are thinking
I have not made it a political point you have done that.
I couldnt care what party she is in, she is a crook its pretty simple really, as others have pointed out its a case of one law for her and one for others.
As usual you try and turn a pretty simple arguement into something else that suits your warped way of looking at things.
If you dont understand something or cant grasp it then stay out of it, dont try and change it to suit what you think I or others are thinking
Applying new rules retrospectively could perhaps be viewed as somewhat unfair. That having been said, MPs have, for years, been using the public purse and the allowances system as a covert, tax - free salary top up and as a means of having a luxurious lifestyle, with gardening and cleaning services being paid for by the taxpayer. Any of the goods they bought on the public purse remains theirs when they leave public office too.
All those plasma TVs, silk cushions, etc. Not to mention the profits many MPs have made through tarting up a property at the public expense, having their mortgage paid at the public expense, and then selling on having made a nice fat profit - and some have elected to avoid paying tax on that profit too.
Some of these MPs should be in court on tax evasion and fraud charges, so instead they should thank their lucky stars that all they have received is a "Legg letter" and a polite request to pay money back.
They should recognise that this issue has inflicted a near mortal wound in the reputation and integrity of MPs, and that paying back overpayments, as assessed by Sir Thomas Legg, would represent only the beginning of healing that disconnect between those representing us and the public.
For those already having announced their intention to stand down at the next election, they could I suppose whinge and whine and remain defiant, since they will have little regard for any threats to their political futures - We just have to hope that some shred of decency remains and they agree to the payback schedule.
All those plasma TVs, silk cushions, etc. Not to mention the profits many MPs have made through tarting up a property at the public expense, having their mortgage paid at the public expense, and then selling on having made a nice fat profit - and some have elected to avoid paying tax on that profit too.
Some of these MPs should be in court on tax evasion and fraud charges, so instead they should thank their lucky stars that all they have received is a "Legg letter" and a polite request to pay money back.
They should recognise that this issue has inflicted a near mortal wound in the reputation and integrity of MPs, and that paying back overpayments, as assessed by Sir Thomas Legg, would represent only the beginning of healing that disconnect between those representing us and the public.
For those already having announced their intention to stand down at the next election, they could I suppose whinge and whine and remain defiant, since they will have little regard for any threats to their political futures - We just have to hope that some shred of decency remains and they agree to the payback schedule.
Sqad - perhaps the phrase "new rules" is inaccurate - new interpretation of existing rules might be more accurate. All of those whining MPs however, have for years signed off on their expenses - over the top of a clause stating that the expenses being claimed were necessary and wholly for their duties as an MP. So its just them whining really. This contains some headline exerpts from the note sent to every MP by Sir Thomas Legg.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2009/oct/13/sir-thomas-legg-note
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2009/oct/13/sir-thomas-legg-note
