General Election 2010: Hypocritical? Nick Clegg's dodgy expenses.

Nick Clegg is going for the whiter than white look by making out that the Lib Dems were somehow nothing to do with the expenses scandal. Well watch this video of Andrew Neil questioning Clegg and know the truth:

Four Lib Dem MPs are forced to repay dodgy Second Home rents.

What did Nick Clegg say at his spring conference about Lib Dems being paragons of virtue over the expenses scandal? "So don’t let them tell you we are all the same because it isn’t true."

From the BBC:

Four Lib Dem MPs have been told to apologise and repay money after breaching Commons rules over payments relating to their second homes.

They accepted one-off cash payments from the owners of an apartment block close to Parliament in return for agreeing to pay higher rent levels.

The four are: Richard Yonger-Ross John Barrett, Sandra Gidley, Paul Holmes.

The Lib Dems said their MPs acted promptly to refer their cases while MPs from other parties affected had not.

Let's get this straight: From the BBC report it sounds very much like their Landlord offered these Lib Dem MPs a wad of cash (for them to pocket) if they agreed to an increase in their rent - rent that we are paying for.

Why aren't the Police looking into this? It seems very clear to me that they took a BUNG to allow their landlord to fleece the taxpayer - nice.

Nick Clegg should sack then immediately.

Sir Nicholas Winterton should be disowned by the Conservative party.

I've just listened to Sir Nicholas Winterton on 5 Live's Steve Nolan show. The man is a complete and utter arse and I hope that David Cameron apologises for this dinosaur's comments and totally disowns the pompous fool. His comments on travelling first class on the train were shocking, as was his whole attitude to the way he claimed his expenses.

The problem here is that Winterton thinks that being an MP somehow makes you superior to the general public - a view shared with MPs of all parties. Luckily Winterton is stepping down at the election along with a load of other scroungers who are up their own backsides.

I hope that this man's idiocy does not put people off voting Tory.

Troughing Labour MPs send a message to their voters.

Why am I not surprised that the only three Labour MPs who are to face criminal charges are to claim Parliamentary Privilege?

Strip MPs of the title "Honourable" for one year.

The last year has not been a glorious period in our Parliament's history. MPs have disgraced themselves by abusing their position to line their own pockets. The fact that MPs still use the title "Honourable" in parliament to address each other makes me angry to say the least - very few warrant such a title.

I suggest that the title "Honourable" should be taken away from MPs for one year to signify the disgrace brought on by the expenses scandal. It will also provide an historical reference to this shameful period so that it is never forgotten, or repeated.

MPs Expenses: Stop your bloody whinging and pay up!

There are many MPs whining that it's "not fair" that they have to repay some of their expenses because their claims were "within the rules". Well boo bloody hoo. It is a totally false claim to say that they were working within the rules - in reality they have been able to make dodgy claims because there was nothing specific within the rules to stop them - and that is completely different. MPs have misused and abused a system that relied on the people using it to behave honourably. To say "I haven't broken the law" or "it was within the rules" is not good enough. Many MPs have claimed for expenses that would not stand up to the scrutiny of their constituents. They got hold of our money purely because the rules weren't strong enough to stop corruption.

Any MP who cannot explain his or her expense claims to their constituents should pay that money back - end of chat.

The following is from the Green Book (Parliamentary Salaries, Allowances and Pensions booklet):

Use of Parliamentary allowances

It is your responsibility to satisfy yourself when you submit a claim, or authorise payments from your staffing allowance, that any expenditure claimed from the allowances has been wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred for the purpose of performing your Parliamentary duties. The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards may investigate allegations of improper use of the allowances.

If you overspend, or mischarge something to your allowances, we reserve the right to deduct the costs from your salary or, if you are leaving the House, your resettlement grant.

Andrew Walker

Director of Finance & Administration

Many MPs have ripped the taxpayer off by working "within the rules". Those MPs should shut the hell up and think themselves very lucky to still be in our employment.

Mark France - Sacked for exercising his democratic rights.

Mark France has been sacked for campaigning to get rid of Julie Kirkbride. Mark did what he believed to be right and thought he had the right to do just that. It turns out that because he works in a job centre he has less rights than the rest of us.

The Department for Work and Pensions said Mark had broken its Civil Service Code by "speaking about politics on live national television, campaigning for signatures, making statements to the media, standing as an independent candidate in local elections without permission, and making comments on a politics website."

What a load of old crap! Mark France works in a bloody Job Centre as an admin officer - he does not work in the inner sanctums of government and what he has done in no way compromises his ability to do his job, nor does it damage the department he works for. This looks personal.

Mark said:

"I certainly didn't think that by speaking my mind in a democracy that it would lead me to lose my job. "Everybody should be free to express their opinion. I think it's an issue of human rights."

Too bloody right Mark.

Commons pay rise - this has got to stop.

From the BBC:

The House of Commons has awarded significant pay rises to its senior officials, including some of those who oversaw the MPs' expenses scandal.

Annual accounts just released show that the Clerk to the House, Malcolm Jack, received a rise of about 11%, meaning he now earns more than Gordon Brown.

Andrew Walker, who ran the Fees Office which administered expenses, received a rise of about 8%.

His salary rose from a band of £115,000 - £120,000 to £125,000 - £130,000.

Where did I put my flaming torch and effing pitchfork?

Why disgraced MPs are hanging on for General Election.

There's a good reason that those MPs caught getting inventive with our money are not stepping down immediately. If they hang on until the General election they get a nice big fat pay-off. It makes me sick. Here is a list compiled by the BBC indicating how much the troughing sods will get for hanging on:

And don't forget we are still paying them both salary and expenses for the next year.

Elliot Morely - If we could sack you, you'd be gone already.

This is how I see the Elliot Morley expense claim situation:

If for some strange reason, I had a contract with my employer stating that they would pay my mortgage for me, I would be a very lucky chap. However if I continued to take my monthly mortgage payment (£16,000 for mortgage interest over 18 months) from my employer after said mortgage was paid off (and they found out) then I would be a very sacked chap - and possibly locked up for fraud.

No amount of pleading that it was down to "sloppy accounting" would get me off the hook. Morley is another MP to be added to my list of those who should sacked immediately and sent through the doors of Westminster with a toe up their arse.

UPDATE: Archbishop Cranmer asks: How should MPs address ‘dishonourable’ members?

UPDATE 2: @ 20:18 Morely is stepping down at the General Election. Not good enough - he should be going now.

Message to MPs - You are not Untouchable - Expenses.

Yesterday saw three MPs announce that they will be stepping down at the next election. The current total of those departing Westminster under a cloud is now running at 10, and it looks more than likely to increase, they are:

Andrew MacKay, Julie Kirkbride, Douglas Hogg, Sir Peter Viggers, Anthony Steen, Sir Nicholas and Ann Winterton, Christopher Fraser, Margaret Moran, Ben Chapman.

The first point I would like to make is that none of them should be stepping down at the General Election - they should all be sacked NOW. Can you name another job where you can be found unfit to hold the position, and yet stay on for another year on full pay? I was going to say it's a joke - but it most certainly is not - these people are still taking our money when they have abused our trust. Every single one of the money grabbing sods should be leaving Westminster with a toe up their arse, not a golden handshake.

And that brings me on to the Cabinet. It is obvious that politicians still don't get it. I'm starting to feel that some MPs believe that they occupy such senior positions, that they are rendered untouchable. They are wrong. If those MPs think they can ride this storm out then they are sorely mistaken. We won't forget and we won't forgive - even after we have taken their jobs from them. We gave them our trust and they pissed on it.

My MP Sir Peter Viggers made some outlandish expense claims (duck island) and yet I'm still paying him. How the hell can this be right. My employee has squandered my money on himself and I can't sack him? This is definitely one rule for us and another for the political elite. Well I for one will not keep quiet like a good little serf. I'm going to keep pushing until those in Westminster realise that we are their equals - not their subjects.

I'm collecting for a plane ticket for Joan Smith.

Joan Smith (Guardian writer and latest squeeze of Labour MP Dennis McShane) has got to be going for the vacuous bint of the year award. What a complete and utter load of bollocks she has come out with. She most definitely does not get it. She says she is sick of her country, but I'm pretty sure that it is the other way around.

Apparently she is "sick of my country and this hysteria over MPs"

Click HERE and be amazed just how out of touch someone can be. She is getting a real and deserved kicking in the comments - how frightful it must be for her - never mind eh.

UPDATE: I had to laugh at the title of one of her books: How to End the Abuse of Money and Power in the 21st Century.

David Cameron on the Andrew Marr Show - Expenses.

Gordon Brown, watch David Cameron and learn. Labour supporters, look what you are missing. Click on the picture to watch this interview. 31mins 10secs in.

Superb. Though I believe David still has some way to go to sort out the party, I feel he still stands head and shoulders above Brown when it comes to leadership.

At a time when you would expect Andrew Marr to tear the leader of the opposition "a new one", Cameron comes out of this interview looking statesmanlike.

An MP's expenses joke.

Conservativehome are asking for MP Expenses jokes. Here's mine

Speaker Michael Martin had a unique way to keep an eye on MP's expenses. He had a clock made with extra big fingers that would tick on one minute every time a dodgy claim was submitted.

When asked where he kept the clock, Martin said "It's on my desk, I find it makes an excellent fan".

Don't forget the Conservative bloggers (and friends) get-together/p*ss-up next Saturday in Westminster.

MP's Expenses: The truffle kafuffle of 2009

In Iain Dale's new GQ article, he points out that we haven't yet got a name for the expenses scandal. I've seen "Snoutgate" mentioned. I've come up with "The (great) Truffle Kafuffle". Can you think of a more suitable name?

A message for David Cameron: Think of us.

I'm tired. I should be settling down after a long day's work. But instead I find myself having to write yet another blog post about MP's expenses.

I'm sad. I should be happy that David Cameron, the leader of my party is taking the lead on expenses. But that happiness is tainted by the fact that though David is doing the most, he is not doing enough.

I'm Angry. I should be able to trust my MP, a man knighted by the Queen. But instead I find that he has been blowing my money on leisure facilities for his ducks.

I'm frustrated. I should have the satisfaction of seeing the man who squandered my money sacked immediately. But instead he is being allowed to step down.

I'm devastated. I should have the confidence to motivate fellow party members who are feeling disillusioned. But instead all I can do is hope that their and my trust can be restored.

I'm pleading. David Cameron, please take tough and immediate action now. Do that, and the people will respect you.

My MP Peter Viggers is to step down over expenses.

Oh dear. My MP Peter Viggers has been getting creative with his expense claims. Apparently he has claimed £20,000 on gardening expenses and £1,645 for a duck island.

A duck island? You couldn't make it up.

If this is true then I'm more than glad that David Cameron told Sir Peter he faced the removal of the whip if he did not announce that he would not run again at the next election.

A duck island? Jesus.

The Expenses Song - By the Corrigan Brothers.

Hazel Blears - I won't quit.

I've just seen Hazel Blears caught on the hop by the press. She said she had no intention of quitting and that she had the full confidence of Gordon Brown. This is while one of her constituents was shouting that she was a cheat and a swindler.

Hazel may be kidding herself, but she's not kidding anyone else. When the PM says your behaviour is "totally unacceptable" then your days are numbered. I've no doubt that Hazel is paying the price for criticising Brown last week. Other Ministers have been just as dishonest, but it seems that Brown is throwing Hazel to the wolves.

Gordon Brown proves he is out of touch on expenses.

Gordon Brown proves he is out of touch on expenses. I'm not the first to write about this and I probably won't be the last. I'm a bit late to the party, but nevertheless I need to add my small voice to the throng in the hope the David Cameron will take notice.

Gordon Brown's idea to put the running of MPs expenses into the hands of an independent body is just pathetic. What he is in fact saying is "We are far too crooked to run our own system". Is that what we want from the people we trust to represent us? The rules announced by the Speaker last night were most welcome (if far too late for him) and a great start down the road to the recovery of parliament's reputation. However we don't need another Quango to check that those rules are being kept to. Now that MPs have to publish their expenses we can quickly see who is abusing the new system - and just as smartly call for their heads.

The old system was open to abuse because it was designed on trust. The new system will be similar to the ones we all operate under - it will assume that individuals can't be trusted. But that doesn't mean that Westminster can't be trusted to oversee the new system. The new system will have outside regulation - me, you and the media. Never again will they be able to line their pockets and claim that they have obeyed the rules.

So I hope Cameron sees sense and rejects Brown's plan to create yet another pointless and expensive Quango. We don't need it because WE will be watching very closely from now on.

UPDATE: I've just had an anonymous comment that I thought I should share with you:

Am I alone in being worried by MPs who say 'we can't be trusted with our expenses' but then want to spend 100's of billions and run our national debt into trillions