Wish I could steal £16k, get away with it and call it a mistake.

[davieG]

New talent show "Britain's got Expenses"

The soon-to-retire Speaker of the House of Commons has been hired by Bid Up TV to present a new talent show on television.

"Britain's Got Expenses" will very much follow the format of existing talent shows by holding heats throughout the country in Town Halls, Westminster and branches of the Royal Bank of Scotland.

The eventual finalists will be expected to present items they have charged for in relation to their working week that actually bear no relation to their job.

Although the comment has already been made that MP's and banking chief executives have an unfair advantage, it is acknowledged that the ordinary working man and woman in the street won't stand a chance at getting past the audition stage.

Ima Scrounger, MP for Duckhouse-on-the-Mold expressed confidence in being amongst the finalsts. She said she felt that her £19,500 expense for a designer TV stand - well it was designed by her husband from IKEA off-cuts that were left over from their new Splurginsop Sofa - would be hard to beat.

Meanwhile, Reginald Mean, leader of the Barkinmad County Council in Shropshire felt he stood a good chance. He explained that 14 members of his council have just returned from Gorblimee in Bulgaria having been on a council tax payer-funded trip costing £34,000 to investigate grass-growing techniques in hillside graveyards.

"What makes this a sure-fire winner is that we have no hills in Gorblimee." he added, presenting the interviewer with a bill for £92.

Another pearl!

[stez]

It's very difficult to vote for an individual around our way, as all candidates follow the party line.

you wanna stand, you could be a rebel like the beast of bolsover!

regarding the individuals thing, i (as i said before) i vote for whoever (says) they'll do best for me and mine....if they don't, they won't get my vote again.

[Guest]

you wanna stand, you could be a rebel like the beast of bolsover!

The Beast of Birstall? The Monster of Mowmacre? The Ogre of Oadby?

[Thracian]

I'm not disputing any of that, it's just a prime example of lots of people suddenly getting angry about something because the media happen to have time and space to publish more things about it. Next week we'll probably be back to swine flu again. I'm not even sure what it is specifically about media/public opinion that doesn't sit right with me, just all seems a bit Outraged of Tunbridge Wells.

Come and stand Leicester market for a day, and see what people think of the Government independent of media hype. One bloke fairly close to me had his life so wrecked by the recession that he committed suicide. Early 30's, lovely wife, young children, one of them newly born. Hanged himself.

There has always been criticism of Governments both by people and by the media according to their vested interest but today it's different to anything I've ever experienced.

There is a contempt and loathing for politicians that will take some changing but if this appalling administration would move over and let the rebuilding of respect and confidence start then at least it will be a step forward.

The whole machinery of government is now mistrusted and with good reason.

I could write chapters about what people are unhappy about and it is ironic to read of people talking contemptuously about the "racist" BNP.

Cos I've mentioned many times that I believe this Labour Government to be the most racist anti-white organisation that has ever run this country - and by a distance.

I've even accused them of calculated ethnocide and that view is only strengthened by the revelation that one in four babies born in this country are of immigrant stock.

But the anti-white and anti-male discrimination goes on with the West Midlands police blatantly declaring they will discriminate against white men by increasing "black and minority ethnic" groups by 12% and women by 42% - with those targets set to grow a further two per cent annually until 2012.

Experienced people warn that it's the wrong approach and that people should be taken on and promoted according to their ability rather than their colour or creed but the social engineers continue to fan the flames of hatred by ignoring them.

The excuse is that the police forces should reflect the communities they serve but with 2.3 million unemployed and 3 million likely by the end of the year that is yet more jobs which will not be available to the indigenous white population.

And people seriously wonder why there is seething resentment.

[Thracian]

I don't recall there being much of a challenge at the time.

Hindsight is always a great eye-opener.

I don't see much evidence of Labour supporters on here changing their tone although it's damned hard nowadays to find anyone who admits to having had anything to do with putting this government into office, let alone supporting Gordon Brown

Hindsight may be an eye-opener but fat good that is if people aren't blind in the first place and still refuse to see even when given the chance.

[Finnegan]

Come and stand Leicester market for a day and see what poeple think of the Government independent of media hype.

That's sort of impossible.

I did read the rest of your post and I do understand there are plenty of people genuinely affected by the current situation but that doesn't stop the fact that EVERYONE is influenced by media hype. Even those of us complaining about it.

I mean look at you. With all due respect you're probably the single worst potser on this forum for getting all excited and whipped up by some sensationalist news article from Yahoo! or wherever.

[Zingari]

Come and stand Leicester market for a day and see what poeple think of the Government independent of media hype. One bloke fairly close to me had his life so wrecked by the recession that he committed suicide. Early 30's, lovely wife, young children, one of them newly born. Hanged himself.

There has always been criticism of Governments both by people and by the media according to their vested interest but today it's different to anything I've ever experienced.

There is a contempt and loathing for politicians that will take some changing but if this appalling administration would move over and let the rebuilding of respect and confidence start then at least it will be a step forward.

The whole machinery of government is now mistrusted and with good reason.

very sad story indeed ,, but i don't really believe people commit suicide solely due to an economic recession , although it may be a contributing factor , and many people have committed suicide under many different governments where some element of blame can be put on the economy.

i must admit i thought at the time that Brown was an excellent chancellor ( should really be called chancer now) and was going to make a very good PM

how wrong can you be ,

[Fez of Mahrez]

That's sort of impossible.

I did read the rest of your post and I do understand there are plenty of people genuinely affected by the current situation but that doesn't stop the fact that EVERYONE is influenced by media hype. Even those of us complaining about it.

I mean look at you. With all due respect you're probably the single worst potser on this forum for getting all excited and whipped up by some sensationalist news article from Yahoo! or wherever.

Beat me to it.

Mr Muscle, loves the jobs you didn't quite get there in time to do.

[Finnegan]

Beat me to it.

Mr Muscle, loves the jobs you didn't quite get there in time to do.

And a good ol'stab at the "news" industry.

[Webbo]

You know it's a bit patronizing to assume people only get excited about things because they are told to by the media.

Sure, for a lot of national news people wouldn't know about it if the media didn't report it, but surely that's the media's job. Are you saying that we should be kept in the dark about things, what we don't know won't hurt us? Personally I think that's bad for democracy.

[Thracian]

That's sort of impossible.

I did read the rest of your post and I do understand there are plenty of people genuinely affected by the current situation but that doesn't stop the fact that EVERYONE is influenced by media hype. Even those of us complaining about it.

I mean look at you. With all due respect you're probably the single worst potser on this forum for getting all excited and whipped up by some sensationalist news article from Yahoo! or wherever.

Dismiss any media article you like from any source if you will but the majority are true in essence and, far from generating great reaction, I think people are so deadened by bad news now that it takes the exceptional to raise their hackles.

In fact it is only the passive indifference of people that has allowed this Government to continue ruling on its self-issued ticket of shame, incompetence, deceipt and disrepute.

But while I do read a broad spectrum of news items much of my own annoyance comes from another day spent with people who are not only skint but utterly without hope that their situation will improve.

There has always been people like this who are down on their luck but not in the numbers being seen today.

I am actually in a business which, perhaps uniquely, ebbs or flows according to people's circumstances and, right now people are increasingly showing signs of being desperate.

That may be reasonably good for business but the circumstances give me no pleasure at all and, purely as a layman, I cannot believe this Government are continuing down their misguided road and doing so little to help.

[Finnegan]

You know it's a bit patronizing to assume people only get excited about things because they are told to by the media.

Sure, for a lot of national news people wouldn't know about it if the media didn't report it, but surely that's the media's job. Are you saying that we should be kept in the dark about things, what we don't know won't hurt us? Personally I think that's bad for democracy.

No. I'm merely saying that there's no such thing as someone uncorrupted by media influence and it seemed Tony was suggesting that the average Joe down the market place has some sort of enlightened world view free of such distractions as newspapers or the like.

[Fez of Mahrez]

You know it's a bit patronizing to assume people only get excited about things because they are told to by the media.

Sure, for a lot of national news people wouldn't know about it if the media didn't report it, but surely that's the media's job. Are you saying that we should be kept in the dark about things, what we don't know won't hurt us? Personally I think that's bad for democracy.

Personally, I'm not saying that at all. But maybe we'd get a bit further as a society and achieve things a bit quicker if the general public took more of an overall interest in politics, particularly things like MPs expenses, without having to rely on the media pushing it at them and creating hysteria before anybody cares.

[Edmund]

Out of interest who are you voting for Thracian?

[Webbo]

No. I'm merely saying that there's no such thing as someone uncorrupted by media influence and it seemed Tony was suggesting that the average Joe down the market place has some sort of enlightened world view free of such distractions as newspapers or the like.

Personally, I'm not saying that at all. But maybe we'd get a bit further as a society and achieve things a bit quicker if the general public took more of an overall interest in politics, particularly things like MPs expenses, without having to rely on the media pushing it at them and creating hysteria before anybody cares.

I'm sure you both read the papers watch the news and yet you've both reacted differently to a lot of people on here. Personally on the expensive thing I think a lot of it is understandable if not quite in all cases forgiveable. I watch the same news, read the same papers as everyone else, that's just my interpretation. I'm no cleverer than anybody else and I don't assume that I'm one of the few who can make their own mind up.

[davieG]

Personally, I'm not saying that at all. But maybe we'd get a bit further as a society and achieve things a bit quicker if the general public took more of an overall interest in politics, particularly things like MPs expenses, without having to rely on the media pushing it at them and creating hysteria before anybody cares.

Having an overview is one thing but this expenses malarkey is totally different in that it wouldn't be in the public arena, in fact it would have remained 'top secret' without the media intervention - when it was first exposed there were certain political factions that wanted it excluded from the Freedom of Info act, even now you can only get to see it if your prepared to pay for it which your average person obviously can't justify.

I take an overall view of politics but I had no idea this was going on and I'm disgusted by it.

[Fez of Mahrez]

Fair enough. I don't feel that strongly about it, certainly not enough to bother arguing particularly vehemently on here about it. I don't know why I ever bother with these threads, they only ever serve to piss me off! Must be the end of the season. Roll on July 11th.

[Thracian]

Personally, I'm not saying that at all. But maybe we'd get a bit further as a society and achieve things a bit quicker if the general public took more of an overall interest in politics, particularly things like MPs expenses, without having to rely on the media pushing it at them and creating hysteria before anybody cares.

Were it not for the media the public would hear little about anything untoward that went on - they would only hear what the ruling Party wanted them to hear as, of course, has happened in some societies.

Indeed, did not the shamed ex-Speaker appropriately demonstrate how much he'd like the public to hear?

[l444ry]

MP who claimed costs of penis enlargement to "give it back"

The row over MP's expenses has taken a new turn as the Daily Telegraph revealed in this morning's edition that Tory MP John Thomas claimed £10,000 for the cost of a penis enlargement operation. Westminster staff apparently "chopped the claim down to £5,000" on the ground that he "didn't need such a large allowance".

The MP for Little Horwood, who has, since the surgery, campaigned for his constituency to be renamed Big Horwood, said that he didn't know what all the fuss was about, telling a reporter: "I am an upstanding member. As faw as I am concewned, I have acted within the wools. I use my Snakey Joe evewy day in my Westminstew office."

Labour MP Stephen Pound, who likes to go on the telly a lot, said that this proved that Mr. Thomas was "a bigger dick than we thought".

After consulting with Tory Leader David Cameron, Mr. Thomas announced that he would "give it back" but refused to pay any Capital Gains Tax on the transaction.

"My wuv wand is my own pwopety", he said. "The tax man can't put his gwubby hands on it."

The Chairman of the House of Commons Committee on Standards announced that he would be conducting a probe into the MP's claim, saying "We have received a complaint about a member. We will now look at this from every angle. If any rules have been broken, we will recommend a stiff admonishment."

[l444ry]

The Adam Smith institute is a right leaning, independent, widely respected think tank but if you can post a link to any other credible source which contradicts their findings I'm willing to read them.

As you didn't seem to appreciate my sarcastic wit (the Labour Press Release) in the BNP thread, her is the primary source as requested. Page 9 in the document.

http://www.ifs.org.uk/election/election_brief.pdf

[Guest Bilo]

The Beast of Birstall? The Monster of Mowmacre? The Ogre of Oadby?

The C**t of Coalville won for the BNP on Thursday so these alliterative monickers must have some effect.

[Webbo]

As you didn't seem to appreciate my sarcastic wit (the Labour Press Release) in the BNP thread, her is the primary source as requested. Page 9 in the document.

http://www.ifs.org.uk/election/election_brief.pdf

Yeah sarcasm.

Anyway I've read your new submission and I couldn't understand a word of it. If there is an accountant or financial expert on here who can read that and confirm what you say then I'll happily appologise.

[Dan]

MP who claimed costs of penis enlargement to "give it back"

The row over MP's expenses has taken a new turn as the Daily Telegraph revealed in this morning's edition that Tory MP John Thomas claimed £10,000 for the cost of a penis enlargement operation. Westminster staff apparently "chopped the claim down to £5,000" on the ground that he "didn't need such a large allowance".

The MP for Little Horwood, who has, since the surgery, campaigned for his constituency to be renamed Big Horwood, said that he didn't know what all the fuss was about, telling a reporter: "I am an upstanding member. As faw as I am concewned, I have acted within the wools. I use my Snakey Joe evewy day in my Westminstew office."

Labour MP Stephen Pound, who likes to go on the telly a lot, said that this proved that Mr. Thomas was "a bigger dick than we thought".

After consulting with Tory Leader David Cameron, Mr. Thomas announced that he would "give it back" but refused to pay any Capital Gains Tax on the transaction.

"My wuv wand is my own pwopety", he said. "The tax man can't put his gwubby hands on it."

The Chairman of the House of Commons Committee on Standards announced that he would be conducting a probe into the MP's claim, saying "We have received a complaint about a member. We will now look at this from every angle. If any rules have been broken, we will recommend a stiff admonishment."

So whats he giving back? The money or the penis

I will piss myself laughing at this but also be angry, selfish **** bet he gets none.

[Daggers]

So whats he giving back? The money or the penis

I will piss myself laughing at this but also be angry, selfish **** bet he gets none.

Oh dear.

[Edmund]

Oh dear.

l444ry strikes again