Jacqui Smith Expenses Claim

Her husband has just posted in the Music room section of the Naim Forum under 'what are you listening to now'...................... PORN TO RUN

I fully accept that MP's who live in the provinces need a London base.

Why not build an accommodation block and give them all a suite of rooms, paid for by the state? This can have all the facilities they need, even a canteen etc. When they check-in they can claim an 'overnight allowance' perhaps. All the costs would be controlled and regulated, nobody would need to submit expenses claims for a second home.

Bruce

This is one MP and one issue ... there have been and will continue to be many others. She is, however, my MP and thus I feel aggrieved that she feels the need to claim so much (I think it covers two years but stand to be corrected) to run a household in this district.

The matter of MP's expenses as a whole, not just outlandish ones like this, need to be sorted. If the general consensus running through their minds is that the basic salary is not that good and thus they need to make up the figure by claiming expenses I would refer them to the significant legislation and HM Revenue & Customs' practice on such matters: remuneration is paid for services (strictly: for a contract of service) whilst expenses claims are for legitimate (wholly, exclusively and necessarily) costs incurred in carrying out duties of employment.

Also, if the argument is that the salary isn't good enough, get that sorted. That doesn't mean, however, increasing all MP's salaries by 50% plus. We're always being told that either (a) the country can't afford it - public workers or (b) market forces apply - private sector, so let's apply those ideas here. Given the challenge for every seat there are plenty of applicants, I can't see any seats going unfilled.

I'm not advocating no/minimal payment since that leads to the old system of only the privately weathly people standing for parliament, but there has to be a balance.

In my own profession, as a young auditor, it was ingrained into us that: not only must you be independent, you must be [U]seen[/U] to be independent. I think politicians in particular and many others in authority should take this message to heart: not only should they be honest and upright, they must be [U]seen[/U] to be honest and upright, too.

Oh, and in case anyone thinks I've got it in for Ms. Smith: yes, I'd much prefer her not to be an MP. I am a Labour supporter but there being no Labour party, I've been disenfranchised these last 15 years or so.

Allegedly this favourite gramophone record, claimed for on expenses, of course, is



Does anybody remember this documentary about MPs?



Why do we pay such useless people so much - beats me, but it goes on and on ... it's surely amazing that with clowns like JS as MPs that the country is not in a complete economic mess.

Anyway to show there are no hard feeling I've selected a Moody Blues song for Jackie .. click here.

ATB Rotf

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Oh, and in case anyone thinks I've got it in for Ms. Smith: yes,

Good

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Also, if the argument is that the salary isn't good enough, get that sorted

Yes introduce performance related pay then they'd owe the public money

National level politicians are self-serving money grabbing hypocrites,
with a few notable exceptions.

On the plus side Mr. & Mrs. Smith are getting what they deserve.

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National level politicians are self-serving money grabbing hypocrites,

Definition of an MP?

What was it some one posted about the US? Some thing like serve a 4 year Senate term and pick up a $180,000 PA pension. Luverly Jubley.

with a few notable exceptions.

Until all politicians publish fully audited accounts of all expenses that assertion can only be hope rather than fact.

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Definition of an MP?

Kinda, but there are also Lords, MEPs, the PM, etc trousering vast sums, hence my turn of phrase.

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... that assertion can only be hope rather than fact

IMHO (from talking to 'em) there are a few politicians who have the interests of the general public at heart.

That's what I thought about my MP until him and his wife were exposed as dodgy house claimants. Today it has also been revealed they claimed over £110,000 expenses between them last year.

How well did you know them Bob?

She's a thief and should be taken to court.

G

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Originally posted by graham55:
She's a thief and should be taken to court.

G

I think every director of a high street bank should be in there first.

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I think every director of a high street bank should be in there first.

Most of the other MPs too no doubt, she didn't think this scam up by herself methinks.

Since the general feedback appears to be along the lines of MPs are failing to demonstate their worth (pay and expenses) I wonder what others think of the following - I believe these to be correct but will amend if anyone knows better:

- MPs have a defined benefit pension scheme which is better than the "joe public" one (i.e. it is worth either 1/40 or 1/50 of final salary unlike the standard 1/60 scheme) - though it is contributory at 10% or 6%, respectively, which may be more than the standard industry scheme.

- there is a reported deficit of approx. £51m on this fund and that this will be covered, in part, by the taxpayer and by an increase in the members' contributory rates.

- on being kicked out (i.e not elected next time) or standing down out of choice, the MP receives a payout: "MPs who lose their seat or stand down at a general election are also entitled to a "resettlement allowance" worth between 50% and 100% of their annual salary."

See: http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/M05.pdf
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/now-taxpa...ensions-1658969.html
and
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7961849.stm

Well, they are worth it ... aren't they?

'kin ell. Think I'll stand. Anyone care to vote for me?

My campaign will be along the lines of: Forget about your pensions but you can all have a CD555 + PS. Or an HDX. Or a DAC & Mac.

Is this a winner?

You'll get my vote, you seem to have a better handle on life than most of these spongers.

If I were an MP, I would of course claim everything and squeeze every penny from the cash cow but I guess the claim for the blue movies must have been a genuine mistake .

Ms Smith's expenses where in agreement with the MP expenses guide "to help her in doing her job better", a porn movie is the answer, she has "screwed" the country, so it will tell her how to do it better.

Sad to say that corruption is on your side of the pond as as is ours. Who is really honest in big government by the time you get to the top? They're all grand manipulators.

Tho I"ve never even had the benefits of healthcare or a pension in a job. I even worked 2 years for a federal dept and only accrued vacation pay. NO health bennies other than being injured on the job, which I wasn't.

Is she stupid or is she having a laugh: either way is unsavoury.
However, it is like most Government both central and local - a big con.
I expect nothing from governments or councils except a grabbing hand and somebody who you wouldn't trust to give you change from £1 note for 99p item and a voice like Ron Moody saying gimme more, more, more .... please click here for the Jaqui S philosphy of being an MP.

ATB Rotf

Though in fairness Ron M is better looking than Jacqui S - at least we know she'll never introduce a being ugly tax

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Originally posted by Wolf2:
Sad to say that corruption is on your side of the pond as as is ours.

I think it is worse here - ours are about as credible as a $9 bill.