Carl_S Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Hello Ark. Sometimes, and this is me included in this, we complain about other people's behaviour when really it is us that is a practitioner of said behaviour. Have you ever knowingly filed a false (or slightly inflated) expense claim, or otherwise abused the time or resources of the company your worked for? It's a rhetorical question and could prove to be food for thought for some of us. I could argue that champagne on expenses is in some cases appropriate, just as new kitchens are for MPs' second homes. It's not a blanket rule though is it? Each individual MP or employee has their own different circumstances. Tax ceases to be your money at the point of collection in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl_S Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Mike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vaughany Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 I was chatting with a well to do fellow who knows/has various friends within local governent etc. Not sure if this is genuine but he had no reason to lie. * He told me that MP'S get £800 per day to spend on food/lunches etc per day. He told me that they do not have to present receipts for this. 650 MP'S x £800 per day x 365 days = £189,800,00 per year * He also said that MP'S can travel 1st class for free, however if they do not travel 1st class and decide to go economy/busibness etc. They can claim the difference back. * Finally - the shop in the house of commons is tax free, no duty, no VAT For me they should declare all expenses but if the above is true, they wont. There would be up-roar if the public found out exactly how much they get. It might be a £50k salary but it is probably a £200k bill on expenses. They are crooks! there are not 3 major parties - it is them and us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snake Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 OK, let's take that a bit further: £10,000 for a kitchen is a reasonable figure - kitchens are expensive. However, there are more than 600 MPs. 600 x 10,000 = £6,000,000 That's a $#@!load of cash to spend, but that's OK, because clearly to you free kitchens aren't personal gain, just as fraudulent expense claims apparently aren't illegal...let me tell you now, if I filed a fraudulent expense claim, I'd be fired the instant it got discovered. They get a 1k kitchen and then a relative fits it for 9k:eyebrows: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTRickeh Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 I was chatting with a well to do fellow who knows/has various friends within local governent etc. Not sure if this is genuine but he had no reason to lie. * He told me that MP'S get £800 per day to spend on food/lunches etc per day. He told me that they do not have to present receipts for this. 650 MP'S x £800 per day x 365 days = £189,800,00 per year * He also said that MP'S can travel 1st class for free, however if they do not travel 1st class and decide to go economy/busibness etc. They can claim the difference back. * Finally - the shop in the house of commons is tax free, no duty, no VAT For me they should declare all expenses but if the above is true, they wont. There would be up-roar if the public found out exactly how much they get. It might be a £50k salary but it is probably a £200k bill on expenses. They are crooks! there are not 3 major parties - it is them and us £800 a day? lol. Forgive me for being a little sceptical of that figure! That's almost £300,000 a year in food. So their food allowance is about 5 times their salary? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazboy Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Surely your mate means 'a hundred' not eight hundred. I don't see how they could even hide £200m for food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted January 24, 2009 Author Share Posted January 24, 2009 More like £400 per month food allowance without receipt, info can be found here :- http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3533609.ece This article is a little anoying, it mentions the John Lewis list from which MPs can claim upto £23,000 per year, it also mentions the £400 food allowance http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7295066.stm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl_S Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 However much they earn they can't beat the top footballers earnings. Pay them a straight 100k a year and doing without expenses could be more expensive for the public. And our level of political corruption must be small compared to Italy, China, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka. Food for thought though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazboy Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Oh well that makes it alright then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl_S Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 We are getting it right. No system is perfect. And some MP's will always file inflated claims, just like some of us would do. George Galloway has zero expenses apparently, so do we then think that he's worthy of our respect and admiration for that, more so than another sloppy expense submitting MP? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazboy Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 We are getting it right. No system is perfect. And some MP's will always file inflated claims, just like some of us would do. George Galloway has zero expenses apparently, so do we then think that he's worthy of our respect and admiration for that, more so than another sloppy expense submitting MP? Galloway is scum. We are not even close to getting it right, the amount of money our government waste is horrendous. Maybe I'm a goody two shoes but don't assume everyone esle has the same moral code as yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl_S Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Scum? You mean you have a slight dislike for some of his politics? But would not tell him to his face if you had the chance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazboy Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Scum? You mean you have a slight dislike for some of his politics? But would not tell him to his face if you had the chance? You arrange it and I'll do it. What are the stakes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl_S Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Well he happens to on the radio at the moment, which has to be the next best thing. He'll be there for another 40 mins. Call him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazboy Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Well he happens to on the radio at the moment, which has to be the next best thing. He'll be there for another 40 mins. Call him. I thought you said face to face? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl_S Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Fair enough. I can't help you there, not well connected enough. Fair play though for having the guts to tell him to his face though. I'm sure he's been called worse. For a man that works really hard, not only to defend people, and to stand up for what he believes in he certainly has my respect. I really can't see why someone would call him scum, unless its purely from a political point of view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vaughany Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 £800 a day? lol. Forgive me for being a little sceptical of that figure! That's almost £300,000 a year in food. So their food allowance is about 5 times their salary? As i said the figure seems very high but the guy has no reason to lie. With regards any allowances published regarding food, call me a sceptic but if they can lie about weopons of mass destruction, they can certaintly lie about food allowance. £800 per day, is that alot, a couple of meetings with 3 - 4 eating in some restaurants in London and I am sure you would be looking at £800. Is this so unbelieveable, did'nt Cherie Blair hairdressing bill come to £7,700k for the election campaign, who do you think paid for that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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