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

[Ford Super Sunday]

..................if I'm not mistaken 150,000 license holders aren't paying their salaries!

No, but licence holders expect quality and the highest service from thir money, and if the BBC judge those people to aid the corporation in delivering this remit for its payers, then so be it.

I wonder what the highest paid people in the NHS and other government run services get

[davieG]

..................if I'm not mistaken 150,000 license holders aren't paying their salaries!

No but we all pay for their salaries one way or another, nothing comes free. Even those in ITV and the like we pay for when we buy the goods or services they advertise.

[Head Honcho]

No but we all pay for their salaries one way or another, nothing comes free. Even those in ITV and the like we pay for when we buy the goods or services they advertise.

........just as long as it's not MP's aye

[Sir Fynwy]

I've nothing against a reduction in the number of MP's we currently have but this will do nothing to reduce cost. (which after all is what this thread is about) If anything you'll have more people on the periphery being paid more with absolutely no accountability whatsoever.

A concerted move to smaller government with a smaller Parliament, Civil Service and less duplication at the local level (removing many councils where there is overlap) is perfectly possible, the only reason it'll never happen is that the people deciding on the changes are the people who work in the government, civil service and councils, not many turkeys are going to vote for christmas.

[davieG]

A concerted move to smaller government with a smaller Parliament, Civil Service and less duplication at the local level (removing many councils where there is overlap) is perfectly possible, the only reason it'll never happen is that the people deciding on the changes are the people who work in the government, civil service and councils, not many turkeys are going to vote for christmas.

We need a revolution!

[stez]

We need a revolution!

as long as i don't end up near the bottom of the societal pile, i'm with you.

[davieG]

as long as i don't end up near the bottom of the societal pile, i'm with you.

I'd imagine that those of us that occupy the middle ground would still continue to do so, revolutions tend to replace one set of political pigs at the trough with another, I guess it's the nature of the beast. But it might be fun to observe it.

[stez]

I'd imagine that those of us that occupy the middle ground would still continue to do so, revolutions tend to replace one set of political pigs at the trough with another, I guess it's the nature of the beast. But it might be fun to observe it.

it's less fun when it's the working classes used to kill and die for the political masters to maintain their positions.

[davieG]

it's less fun when it's the working classes used to kill and die for the political masters to maintain their positions.

Tis true but I'm only in favour of a bloodless revolution, where the main things that suffer are false pride and piggy banks.

[Webbo]

A concerted move to smaller government with a smaller Parliament, Civil Service and less duplication at the local level (removing many councils where there is overlap) is perfectly possible, the only reason it'll never happen is that the people deciding on the changes are the people who work in the government, civil service and councils, not many turkeys are going to vote for christmas.

It may disturb you to know that I agree with every word of that.

[davieG]

Check your MP's 2008/9 claims

http://mpsallowances.parliament.uk/mpslord...lowances-by-mp/

[Guest Bilo]

Check your MP's 2008/9 claims

http://mpsallowances.parliament.uk/mpslord...lowances-by-mp/

My MP's expense form (Sir Peter Tapsell) actually isn't too long, only about 3 or 4 pages.

Another MP's however is 45 pages and includes the thick end of £200 on taxis alone.

I'll give you a few clues. He seldom turns up to Parliament, moonlights for a Middle Eastern dictatorship and has milk on his whiskas.

[Head Honcho]

My MP's expense form (Sir Peter Tapsell) actually isn't too long, only about 3 or 4 pages.

Another MP's however is 45 pages and includes the thick end of £200 on taxis alone.

I'll give you a few clues. He seldom turns up to Parliament, moonlights for a Middle Eastern dictatorship and has milk on his whiskas.

£200 on taxi's really isn't a lot of money for an MP. What? Sixty Pence a day!

[Guest Bilo]

£200 on taxi's really isn't a lot of money for an MP. What? Sixty Pence a day!

£200 a day for every day he works for the constituency.

It's the value for money issue really, such a shocking attendance record suggests he's taken the piss a bit with the taxis. That's just a snippet though, it does go on for an epic 45 pages.......

Seems to like his banners an' all, spent lots of our money on those.

[Alexikokopops]

My local MP spent £5875 on this

http://www.neopost.co.uk/index.asp?Page=2243

[stez]

quentin spent 20k on a bell tower, which, of course he 'didn't want to claim for' despite the builders' invoice going into his claims

[Guest Chocolate Teapot]

quentin spent 20k on a bell tower, which, of course he 'didn't want to claim for' despite the builders' invoice going into his claims

I think if you read the story properly mate, you will realise that the newspapers have taken it completely out of context

[stez]

I think if you read the story properly mate, you will realise that the newspapers have taken it completely out of context

i think if you've read what i put, i've not said he was claiming for the bell tower, it's just odd that he put the invoice in he expenses.

incidentally, i don't read any newspaper (except a saturday one)

unless you're doing a gag, which i've completely missed......! !

[davieG]

No wonder the bastards where getting away with their thefts when the Chairman of the Standards Committee had his trout in the trough.

Why aren't these fookers being sacked and all pension / pay privileges withdrawn!!

Conservative MP David Curry has been told to repay £28,000 and apologise to Parliament after a "serious breach" of the rules on second home expenses.

The Commons Standards and Privileges Committee found the MP claimed £38,000 for his second home in Yorkshire despite staying there "very rarely".

It upheld another complaint against Mr Curry over information registered about his role with a dairy organisation.

Mr Curry said he acted in good faith but apologised "without reservation".

Last year the MP and former minister stood down as chairman of the Standards Committee, which polices MPs' behaviour, after newspaper reports about his expenses.

The Daily Telegraph alleged Mr Curry claimed nearly £30,000 for a second home his wife had barred him from using after he had an affair.

Mr Curry, MP for Skipton and Ripon, admitted the affair but said he had not been banned from the cottage in North Yorkshire and continued to use the property to carry out his parliamentary duties.

However, his conduct has been criticised following an investigation by Parliament's standards commissioner John Lyon - to whom Mr Curry referred the case himself.

'Careless behaviour'

In his report, the commissioner said he accepted the MP had made use of the Yorkshire property during the day and evenings between 2005 and 2009 - when it was designated as his second home.

Mr Curry pointed out that the property had been inhabitable for a year during this period and he had also had to spend three nights a week in 2007-8 caring for a terminally ill relative in Leeds, limiting the amount of time he could spend there.

However, the commissioner said the MP had spent just six nights there between 2006 and 2009 and that such "limited usage" did not justify the claims made or the cost to the taxpayer.

"In the commissioner's view, Mr Curry made a serious misjudgement, resulting in a breach of both the letter and spirit of the rules," the committee noted in its ruling.

Although the MP had not sought to mislead Parliament or derive any financial benefit from his actions, it said his behaviour was "careless".

Dairy role

The committee also investigated a separate allegation that the MP failed to adequately register details of his job as chairman of Dairy UK, which represents dairy farmers and milk producers, to Parliament.

MPs must provide details of agreements with any organisations for which they provide services, including a statement that they will not be required to engage in paid advocacy against Commons rules.

The Commissioner concluded that Mr Curry broke the rules by not sufficiently demonstrating that he would not be required to participate in lobbying activities on the body's behalf.

It said this was a "serious breach" and the MP had not acted on the "clear" advice of the registrar of member's interests although it said he had not been trying to conceal anything.

In evidence to the committee, Mr Curry said: "If I have been in breach of Parliamentary rules, I apologise without reservation. I ask the committee to accept my actions have been entirely in good faith."

Mr Curry is standing down at the general election - a decision announced before the outcry over Westminster expenses began.

[FoxyPV]

I'm to go on TV next week and wondering how i can diddle my expenses

Any hints?

[davieG]

I'm to go on TV next week and wondering how i can diddle my expenses

Any hints?

A letter to your local MP seems the most promising option.

[FoxyPV]

A letter to your local MP seems the most promising option.

Good shout but my MP is a born again Christian so I don't know how much help he will be.

[davieG]

Good shout but my MP is a born again Christian so I don't know how much help he will be.

You don't think any of these cheating bastards go to church on a Sunday. Religion is no different to any other section of society full of all types, ask the Pope.

[FoxyPV]

You don't think any of these cheating bastards go to church on a Sunday. Religion is no different to any other section of society full of all types, ask the Pope.

Touche! He's a Free Presbyterian so money scams aren't his thing - it's more sex (with men )

[Fosse Boy]

HARBOROUGH MP Edward Garnier is to leave his constituency home because he can no longer afford the rent after Parliamentary expenses chiefs slashed second home allowances.

Mr Garnier, who was appointed Solicitor General following the formation of the Conservative/Lib Dem coalition Government in May, last year claimed the maximum £24,006 second home allowance to pay for the rent on Little Dalby Hall, near Melton.

But under new rules introduced by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) following last year's expenses scandal, Mr Garnier's allowance has been cut by nearly a third to £8,366, plus he can claim an extra £2,500 towards council tax and utilities bills.

Mr Garnier, who has been Harborough's MP since 1992 and has three children, aged 19, 23 and 26, has his main family home in Stockwell, London, but says the new rules mean he can no longer afford to live at the £2,000-a-month Little Dalby Hall. He can now only claim up to £697-a-month towards rent.

He told the Harborough Mail this week that he has handed in his notice to his landlord.

Mr Garnier confirmed he and his wife Anna are now looking for a new home in the area. Under consideration he says is a four-bedroom home in the next door village which has a much cheaper rent tag.

He has also expressed concerns to IPSA about the new expenses regime and the way it was brought in without notice. He said he only found out his new allowance rate by going on the internet after the General Election.

"It would be very difficult to find a family home in this part of Leicestershire for that sum (£697-a-month]," he said. "The choice I am being left with on that allowance is to live as a bachelor in my constituency at weekends and during the Parliamentary recesses.

"I think that is unreasonable. They have not applied their minds to the several different ways MPs live their lives. Some are happy to arrange their working lives as bachelors or spinsters. Others, like me, want to live with their families."

He says he will now have to top up his second home rent from his own pocket and fears the significantly-restricted second home allowance may limit the range of people who can afford to be MPs.

Appalled by reports in national newspapers which, he says, carried inaccuracies about his earnings and his homes and were based on leaked correspondence with IPSA, he candidly told the Harborough Mail he bought his London home 16 years ago, with a mortgage, for about £300,000 and not for the inflated figures three times as high which was reported in the national press.

As a full-time barrister before being elected Harborough MP in 1992, Mr Garnier earned about £200,000-a-year before tax and before taking out the expenses of having his legal chambers.

After re-joining the shadow front bench in 2005 he had to give up practising as a barrister entirely but was able to sit as a recorder, a part-time judge, earning about £10,000-a-year on top of his MP's salary.

Now, as a Government minister, he is not allowed to do another job and will earn the standard MP's salary of £65,000 plus the additional salary for being a Government law officer. Mr Garnier said it is still unclear how much that will be but expects it to be between £20,000 and £30,000.

"It really is quite difficult to live in two places with all the additional expenses that come with that," he said. "The need for a second home is not a luxury, it is an expensive necessity.

"Being an MP is a 24-hour-a-day occupation. I like to think I have become embedded in my constituency over the years.

"If I just become a commuter from London it will become a very different relationship with my constituency.

"For example, this weekend I shall be attending an evening function in Husbands Bosworth which will finish, I suppose, around 10-ish. I will then go back to do some work in my office at Little Dalby, probably until after midnight.

"Normally what happens is we all come up at weekends and live as a family at Little Dalby – although of course, it's not every weekend that all five of us are there.

"I must stress, however, that I enjoy my job. You don't go into politics for money."

Little Dalby Hall is part of the 5,600-acre Little Dalby estate near Melton, which is run by the Ernest Cook Trust and has a total of 37 let houses and cottages, including farm properties. Mr Garnier has nothing to do with other parts of the estate.

After the 1950s, much of the original hall was demolished. Mr Garnier said he lives in what is left of the main building, a large part of which is the old house's main staircase to another storey which no longer exists.

Next to it are the former stables, now converted into rented homes and a farm workshop. Mr Garnier insisted that although it may seem grandiose, he simply rents a four-bedroom family home.

My heart bleeds for him, it really does. Poor bloke.

The irony of it all is that his house is in Melton, not Harborough. Evidently there's nowhere within his own constituency that could satisfy his housing needs.