BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Frozen Gin (inactive)
Date: 16 May 09 - 02:43 PM

"Perhaps they have been to Argentine or Nigerian corruption courses"

"Congratulations to the Tory Press for diverting attention away from the bankers!2

This thread is definitely taking on a tone of hysteria

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 16 May 09 - 02:20 PM

"They could have turned the old LCC/GLC building opposite over the bridge into accomodation. It would have been a good place, then there would be no fiddling of this sort."

Yep, that was the place I was thinking of. But they didn't want their opportunities for thieving and scamming cut back, did they?

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: GUEST,eric the viking
Date: 16 May 09 - 02:03 PM

Now Terry......that is a great idea. I seem to think that Al Capone finally got his because they found him to be a dollar out on his taxes or something (easily checkable) So they put him away for a while, they could do that to this lot......one chewing gum packet or bar of chocolate and you're copped !!! Hanging offence as Dianne Abbott said.

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 16 May 09 - 01:56 PM

Perhaps they have been to Argentine or Nigerian corruption courses

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: GUEST,eric the viking
Date: 16 May 09 - 01:46 PM

Hey Bill. You've not been on in a long time. Quite right. A prison ship in the thames estury would be good. They could have turned the old LCC/GLC building opposite over the bridge into accomodation. It would have been a good place, then there would be no fiddling of this sort. BUT the trouble seems to be that certain MP's would find a way to fiddle something else!

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 16 May 09 - 12:50 PM

The trouble is that under our electoral system the only alternative is a government riddled with similar freeloaders and crooks.

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 16 May 09 - 12:15 PM

No, a good number of MPs have shown themselves, (if we are to believe all reported in the press, which as we all know sensationalises at the least opportunity), to be little more than thieves, and should be punished accordingly by the full wellie of the law if appropriate.

And, if this presents an opportunity to vote out this unelected rabble of a government, then a jolly good job too.

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 16 May 09 - 12:04 PM

100

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Frozen Gin (inactive)
Date: 16 May 09 - 11:50 AM

"UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough"

It just occurred to me. Since when has this been news?

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 16 May 09 - 11:41 AM

"The best two places to accomodate them would be Wormwood Scrubs and Holloway"

Great one Bill!

My understanding is that, some years ago, they had the opportunity to take over a large public property close by the Palace of Westminster to use as MP's apartments, but declined to do so. Wonder why? Clearly because they realised their opportunities for scamming the rest of us would be seriously reduced.

So, what's next? Hopefully the exercise will be repeated by the Telegraph over MEP's costs. Now that will be an eye-opener - it'll probably make this lot look like the poor relations.

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 16 May 09 - 11:01 AM

Congratulations to the Tory Press for diverting attention away from the bankers!

Although the revelations about MPs and their expense fiddling are shocking, what is more offensive to me is the fact that they have been ignoring the needs of voters and taxpayers for the past 30 years whilst, instead, supporting the interests of Big Business and the Filthy Rich. When they have finished sorting out their expenses system I wonder if they'll turn their attention to the iniquitous Lobby System? Don't hold your breath!

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: bill\sables
Date: 16 May 09 - 10:41 AM

As I see it there is a simple way to stop all this governmental fiddling. Do not allow any money for a second home in London but give MPs free accomodation and meals with total 24/7 security. The best two places to accomodate them would be Wormwood Scrubs and Holloway

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Leadfingers
Date: 16 May 09 - 10:34 AM

Wasnt it Al Capone (Another Occupant of the moral High ground) who defined an 'Honest Politician' as one who stayed Bought ?

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 16 May 09 - 10:06 AM

We're waiting, FG. Give us your intelligent pearls of wisdom, please do........

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 16 May 09 - 09:37 AM

Winston, I couldn't agree more. That man is a true shit. He hasn't done very much for Dewsbury anyway as far as I can see. Though he doesn't outwardly state extremism he has helped to develop a two tier justice system with sharia law gradually taking a place in the legal system of Britain. Not suprising (but sickening) that just down the road from him a BNP councilor (Roger Roberts) got elected in Heckmondwicke.Mind you, don't like or trust him either. Perhaps Shahid Malik should be publically stoned?

The penalty for theft
In accordance with the Qur'an and several hadith, theft is punished by imprisonment or amputation of hands or feet, depending on the number of times it was committed. Take him to court and he wouldn't have a leg to stand on !!

Bonzo3legs enjoy your polo while you can, it won't take much to get a private members bill or the european union to sort out a ban on cruelty grounds !! Haha

"No saviour from on high delivers

No faith have we in prince or peer

Our own right hand the chains must shiver

Chains of hatred, greed and fear

E'er the thieves will out with their booty [give up their booty]

And give to all a happier lot.

Each at the forge must do their duty

And we'll strike while the iron is hot."

The Internationale.

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 16 May 09 - 05:42 AM


Am I right to assume that that should be taken as heavy irony?>

No you are very very wrong. From our Polo field on Sunday and from others throughout the season, we shall all laugh at the fiasco of nodding dogs that is now the labour party, in the knowledge that they will be landslided out of office very very soon!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: GUEST,Winston
Date: 16 May 09 - 04:32 AM

I have to say the most enjoyable part of this circus was seeing Labour MP Shahid Malik, who spends most of his time campaigning against the BNP or predicting a totally Islamified Britain, has resigned in disgrace after being revealed as the biggest swindler of them all, ripping off taxpayers more than any other single member of parliament.

Mr Malik had refused to apologise, saying he had worked "by the book" and insisted he would not return any of the money to the taxpayer.
He then insultingly offered to donate the cost of his 40-inch flat screen to charity.

Mr Malik, who incredibly was also "Justice Minister" (I wonder what type of "justice"), has been exposed as claiming thousands of pounds in taxpayer allowances on his second home while renting his main home at a heavily discounted rate.

Mr Malik claimed £66,827 over three years on his house in London (£18,173 less than its original purchase price) while renting his main home in Dewsbury at a discounted rent of less than £100 a week.

Last year, he claimed £23,083 from the taxpayer for his London town house, equivalent to £443 per week. Mr Malik's arrangement means he pays below market rent for his main home while billing taxpayers thousands for his second home in London.

The MP for Dewsbury also claimed for thousands of pounds' worth of furniture and electrical equipment including £2,600 for a home cinema system - which was cut in half by the Commons Fees Office - and £730 for a massage chair.

Other items Mr Malik has claimed for include a £671 fireplace, a leather daybed sofa and a £510 fitted wardrobe. He attempted to make claims for an iPod and portable DVD player but these were rejected by the fees office as outrageous even by their already twisted standards.

Laughably, Mr Malik, who just last week took part in a coordinated media smear campaign against the BNP, defended himself by blaming the Fees Office rules.

"The expenses system is flawed," Mr Malik said in his defence. "I have not broken any rules."

Mr Malik confirmed that he had put a claim in for a home cinema system costing £2,600.

Mr Malik also faces allegations over the fact that his landlord in Dewsbury, millionaire Tahir Zaman, was fined in 2005 for letting a house to a family of five despite a council enforcement order classing the building as "uninhabitable."

Mr Zaman also received more than £4,000 a year from Mr Malik for renting out his constituency office to him. The money is funded from a separate system of parliamentary expenses.

In what is possibly one of the most incredible revelations to date, Mr Malik also claimed £65 for a court summons for council tax non-payment, making the taxpayer pick up the tab for the fines incurred by his personal unpaid debts.

Mr Malik is possibly most famous for predicting a totally Islamified Britain. At least he has given us the ability to see what type of standards we can expect once this happens.

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 16 May 09 - 02:26 AM

"ahhh...the sound of intelligent debate."

So, FG, let's hear your intelligent contribution, we're all ears....................

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 15 May 09 - 08:43 PM

The biggest problem with this thread, and with the public's reaction to these events, is that the perception has been engendered that ALL politicians, of whichever party, are involved.

This is far from being the case.

There ARE a minority of all parties who have ripped off the taxpayer, of that there is NO doubt. It is equally certain that there ARE members of all parties (including the Tories, Sorry to disappoint all the rabid antis here) who have acted in a truly honest manner, and resisted temptation.

THEY WILL ALL, UNFORTUNATELY, BE TARRED WITH THE SAME BRUSH by those who are simply looking to lash out blindly at authority figures, without regard to the facts.

One case that struck ME as justifiable, was the Labour MP who, having given over part of his house for use as a constituency office, charged rent for its use of £6000.

Regardless of where the premises were, this rent could not be regarded, IMHO, as unreasonable for an office. It is my belief that the politician in question saved the taxpayer money, as the alternative was to rent office accommodation from another landlord at considerably more than £120 per week.

I have commented on this case in particular because those who are aware of MY political affiliations will be FORCED to admit that my comments are NON-Partisan.

For Christ's sake, let's not throw the bairn out with the bathwater, and allow the likes of Nick Griffen, or the policy bereft Greens to administer the last nail in the coffin of OUR country.

Don T.

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: GUEST,eric the viking
Date: 15 May 09 - 07:03 PM

No matter what, there must be a transparent form of expenses for MP's. The abality to fiddle must be removed as far as possible. The next government should be formed from those who did not over indulge or make "mistakes" on a grand scale. I know and understand that that would disbar many of the present parliament from re-election and so it should.New candidates with fresh ideas, chosen from the local community and not foisted on us by the party. We need to get honourable people back into power and possibly at last a coillition so we get rid of party politics and the party whip. Our politicians should represent our views. They need to address the needs of the country.

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 May 09 - 06:36 PM

we can look forward to a proper Tory government.

Am I right to assume that that should be taken as heavy irony?

One thing that might be done would be to rush through legislation introducing so e kind of primary system for MPs so that a clear out of crooks could be carried out at the next election. That might sound imnpossible, but in the present climate of moral panic just about anythimg could be possible.

As for the euro elections next month, the best way to punish the big parties and scotch the BNP would be if we could all vote Green.

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: GUEST,eric the viking
Date: 15 May 09 - 05:55 PM

But not as funny as watching a pile of snotties getting drunk, wearing red coats and falling off horses as they try and keep up with a pack of dogs! Or seeing a bunch of yahoos half drowning as they fall orf daddies yacht when they hit a bridge pier and spill their champagne. But even funnier was the sight of tory MP's loosing their seats and Maggie leaving number 10 when her treacherous crew stabbed her in the back !!! NOW that WAS funny.

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 15 May 09 - 05:44 PM

But the working classes are there to be wound up - they are so funny!!

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Phot
Date: 15 May 09 - 05:22 PM

Just to bring a little bit of thread drift, if I may, but on the general thing of entitlement. At the start of this month, I was told via e-mail, that I was required to provide four different types of proof of ownership of where I live. Due to the fact that I can claim an allowance equal to two round trips, from my place of work to home every month, total about £120. Now I pay full taxes at home, and full food and accomodation rates at work(Including council tax). But because I covered up all the private information (Account details, Council tax amounts, Amount outstanding on morgage, Balance outstanding on credit card.) what I had supplied wasn't good enough, and unless I supply the full non censored, I lose my allowence! On asking about the scurity of the information, I was told, "It will be kept in a locked safe" Access of which is open to at least 30 people, this make me feel like my personal data is really safe!!

If I bugger up a travel claim, I could lose my job, and my pension, the Millitary really jump on these things. All for as little as £1.00, A great feeling after 23 years of service.

Chris

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: GUEST,eric the viking
Date: 15 May 09 - 04:09 PM

Sorry, last post was by me sans cookie on this pc.

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: GUEST
Date: 15 May 09 - 03:56 PM

"A millionaire Tory MP who owns 24 homes claimed more than £100,000 in expenses even though he does not have a mortgage.
Taxpayers' cash was mainly used for gardening and redecoration.
James Clappison, a work and pensions spokesman, bought petunias, geraniums and busy lizzies with public funds for his £375,000". Source;Daily Mail. Normally a fairly right wing paper. There you go Bonzo3legs and any other tory supporters! (Who feel that the tory party are a better class of scum than any other party)

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Frozen Gin (inactive)
Date: 15 May 09 - 03:52 PM

ahhh...the sound of intelligent debate. No name calling here is there?

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 May 09 - 03:39 PM

Spot on Eric.

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 15 May 09 - 03:38 PM

But I suppose you buffoons who vote for the Tories will keep dropping your trousers and sticking your arses in the air so that they can shaft you

I just wanted that line posted twice...

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: GUEST,eric the viking
Date: 15 May 09 - 02:31 PM

It has been stated that the only reason the tories paid their "mistakes" back so quickly is because they,generally, have a lot more money available to them. Old fatso two jags has only a mock tudor house. One tory scumbag claiming to have his moat cleaned shows the big difference. They are ALL the same.

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 May 09 - 02:08 PM

Won't make a scrap of difference, Bonzo-Dog-Doo-Dah, they're just as corrupt, crooked and criminal as the rest of them. Morally bereft.

The only difference between the Tories and Labour is that, whereas Labour at least try to pretend they respect the likes of you and me, the ordinary man, the Tories make no secret of the fact that they hold us (you included) in utter contempt. But I suppose you buffoons who vote for the Tories will keep dropping your trousers and sticking your arses in the air so that they can shaft you.

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: GUEST,eric the viking
Date: 15 May 09 - 02:04 PM

Gives a whole new meaning to "HP sauce" ! They could show a picture of a different MP who made "mistakes" every month, it would go on for years !

Bonzo3legs, what makes you think a tory government would have been so different? They had from 1979 until: disgraced, disliked and continuously distrusted ever since they were booted out, to have put this right. They enjoyed a period of sleeze like no other and have, as has been proven, done exactly the same as the rest of them. Only realy clever footwork by David Cameron scored the first try against labour by his clever first strike taking the moral high ground. I agree this lot who were going to be "whiter than white" have earned the same feeling from much if not all of the British public.

But you should remember this: Most of the freedoms you and I and the rest of us have been hard fought for by ordinary working people who have wrested these from the upper/ruling/superior classes. Do you really imagine that the self styled rulers wanted to free us from our peasent roles?

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 15 May 09 - 01:27 PM



Well, when the present unelected looney Labour farce is forced to resign, hopefully very soon, we can look forward to a proper Tory government.

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 May 09 - 12:41 PM

Q How many politicians are on the fiddle?

A All of them.

DeG

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Mr Happy
Date: 15 May 09 - 12:16 PM

However regarding the veracity of politicians in general, we really shouldn't be surprised, just heard on news O'Bama's done a u turn on Gitmo, after sayibg on his election day he was going to shut it down!

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Mr Happy
Date: 15 May 09 - 12:08 PM

Sorry I posted that vid prior to watching it - if true, that's sheer vandalism!

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Mr Happy
Date: 15 May 09 - 12:05 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOMSdH4qhaw

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 May 09 - 10:04 AM

"If Screaming Lord Sutch was still with us I reckon he'd be pulling in the votes at the moment!"

Having worked with him on a number of occasions (in my early musician-life, that is) I'd rather vote for David Sutch than any of those wankers in Westminster. At least you knew where you stood with the guy.

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 15 May 09 - 09:49 AM

Some have tried to get the system sorted out.
There have been those who campaigned for transparency.
The majority have always voted them down.
Now they all say that the system needs changing, but only since being exposed.

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Acorn4
Date: 15 May 09 - 09:27 AM

Our local MP is Patricia Hewitt. About 3 or 4 years ago she helped us sort out a problem we were having with the DWP over our autistic son's Disability Living Allowance; we seemed to have been banging our heads against a brick wall for months and she got it sorted quickly.

To show some gratitude we went out canvassing with her at election time. She went into the middle of a shopping arcade on Braunstone Estate, just about the roughest estate in Leicester with only us and three other workers, two of whom were female, on a bitterly cold winter's day. There were some very dodgy characters about very high on booze or "certain substances", and the situation was very edgy.

This was just before she became Health Secretary.

Sometimes things like this don't get recorded, and politicians aren't all bad.

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Acorn4
Date: 15 May 09 - 09:18 AM

If Screaming Lord Sutch was still with us I reckon he'd be pulling in the votes at the moment!

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 15 May 09 - 09:04 AM

As someone put it last night on question time.."If MP's are making SO MANY "mistakes" with their claims, how many mistakes are they making, have made runnning the country.?"

It just goes beyond belief that the different political parties have colluded to defraud the country out of millions of pounds for so many years. It must be collusion because each new "administration" whether tory or labour has allowed it to go on without check. It must be collusion because not one member of parliament has had the nerve or honesty in the past to publically state that there seemed to be a problem with the way expenses were dealt with or was open to abuse. The Tories could have stopped it, labour could have stopped it, the Libs could have raised the issue but none of them did anything and you can not tell me that no-one knew what was going on. This is larceny on a grand and organised scale the same as tax evasion, drug dealing, people trafficing other organised crime. They all had a chance over a long period of time to declare this but they kept silent. I can not think of one honest politician now. The lot of them morally corrupt. They disgust me.This is CRIMINAL and should result in legal proceedings against them.

I've known plenty of unfortunate people who have made a "mistake" and never got away with it why should they?

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 15 May 09 - 09:02 AM

Two eyed member?
Get it seen to mate.
There should only be one.

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 May 09 - 08:12 AM

"The creation of some of the allowances had a legitimate purpose, and teh use of them for that purpose is right. For example an MP would be reduced in the work done for constituents without an office and staff."

No-one would argue with that, Richard, but much of what's gone on goes way beyond that. Some of it is **only** morally reprehensible, but there's a substantial proportion that, should you or I behave in a similar fashion in our employment, would put us out of a job and into the dock in very quick order.

What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. We'd get nicked, so should those greedy thieving bastards.

And if I see one more crocodile tear running down the face of one of those pieces of excrement, I'll throw a brick through the f***in' telly.

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 15 May 09 - 06:49 AM

Go there: one thing. Live there: another. We know one thing from bitter experience of Adams. He will lie, lie, and lie again to protect his murdering frineds.

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: GUEST,eric the viking
Date: 15 May 09 - 06:22 AM

Sinn Fien
Claim: The Sunday Telegraph suggested five Sinn Fein MPs had claimed a total of almost £500,000 in second home expenses by renting three London properties from the same family "at above the market norm". Both party president Gerry Adams and Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness claimed £3,600 per month to rent a shared two-bedroom flat in north London. This was despite the fact the MPs refuse to take up their Commons seats.

Response: Party President Gerry Adams insisted that "no representative of Sinn Fein draws down expenses for self gain". He added: "It's entirely legitimate that we should have rented accommodation in London because we go there to do business on behalf of our constituents and will continue to do that until we have an all Ireland parliament on this island." But he accused other parties of "downright corruption" and called for reform of the system. A Sinn Fein spokesman added that the rent included parking, bills and housekeeping, which ordinary market rents did not. Source:bbc.co.uk/news.

Not bad for someone who didn't go?

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: GUEST,eric the viking
Date: 15 May 09 - 06:15 AM

The BNP have nothing to fear because they don't have a seat in parliament (AND HOPEFULLY NEVER WILL)

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 15 May 09 - 05:42 AM

There is no reason why an MPs' equivalent of student hall of residence can't be provided for those representing constituencies away from London. MPs should live in the constituencies they represent - not nominally but truly. No-one needs two homes and anyone who thinks they do should fund them themselves.

No-one forces you to be a politician. If you choose that route in life you have an absolute responsibility to have the utmost integrity, especially when spending public money. Some of their excuses for scamming and skimming have been beyond pathetic.

Anyway, better go and finish cleaning the moat...

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: GUEST,Jean
Date: 15 May 09 - 05:31 AM

And many a young lady (or boy) knows what the inside of these London flats look like !

Sooner rather than later, charges for "services" will appear on someones credit card bill.

Subject: RE: BS: UK Politicians: Noses deep in the trough
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 15 May 09 - 04:24 AM

The creation of some of the allowances had a legitimate purpose, and teh use of them for that purpose is right. For example an MP would be reduced in the work done for constituents without an office and staff.

I suspect the second housing allowance was another Thatcher gerrymander - to assist the backwoodsmen to attend when every seat in London was red. Yet I think it has merit in principle. MPs should live in their constituencies in order better to represent them, yet they also need to be near Westminster when parliament is sitting.

Plainly though, to the common man, it is the central London home that is the second home, and that should be so for all purposes. Indeed maybe an approprate allowance for that purpose should be limited to rent.

Help with maintaining the moat on the ancestral pile, or building up a property empire, or keeping one's expensive daughter is a different kettle of fish.