Expenses battle goes on
Curiouser and curiouser.
The Commons authorities have now changed their minds - not once but several times it seems - so I must change my story.
Having been advised there were no legal grounds for appeal, the Committee chaired by the Speaker has now been told that, after all, they can appeal on two legal grounds - the security of MPs and the legitimate expectation of MPs that their information would be kept secret.
Thus, the battle is far from over and goes on and both the final outcome and the timetable for it cannot be predicted.
I'm 
Comments
So what have they got to hide?
Why can't they be open and honest? After all, that is why MPs have been allowed to use such an unregulated system; they are meant to live the title by which they call each other, i.e. 'Honourable Members'.
What a truely sad situation this is. Regardless of why they are trying to avoid giving out this information it will be seen as hding dirty secrets. If eventually the information is released and the spending is suspect it will do massive damage to all MP's reputations.
The fact that any figures published will be thoroughly analysed and anything even slightly luxorious will be front page news must worry them greatly.
Everyone likes an excuse to put it to an MP, regardless of whether they truely deserve it.
If you live your life in public you should have no expectation to privacy. The general public would no doubt find it easier to elect someone who does not fritter taxpayers money away on lavish lifestyles they can very ill afford themselves.
The only reason they fight this is because they are scared to be exposed. Being an MP is a job which they are paid very well to do and yet no employer would pay it's for a employee to have a new kitchen or bathroom fitted - it's ridiculous.
And they profess they they are all for restoring the respect of the public for their elected representatives and the democratic process?
Who are they taking advice from.... Robert Mugabe?
I accept that MPs addresses should not be revealed - but these can be deleted from expense information that is to be published; this should not be a reason to withhold all information regarding MPs expenses . MPs should be publicly accountable - especially when they spend our tax money to furnish their houses.
"the final outcome and the timetable cannot be predicted" I take it your being witty?
Final outcome = no change.
Timetable = as soon as they find a good bad news day to bury the outcome.
Come on MPs.
Welcome to the 21st Century where those who pay your wages and expenses want to know that you are NOT wasting what is, after all, public money.
If you REALLY want to hide these figures then you should not be an MP.
It is yet another thing to ask our current MPs come the next election. If they won't say....then they should not get re-elected!
MP's are only too happy to claim they live in the constituency when they want to be elected.
But immediately after their election they claim "privacy" or "security" to conceal their main homes.
What's required is an open and transparent regime - according to the Members Estimates Committee reviewing MP's allowances.
But when sitting as the House of Commons Commission these very same individuals repeatedly try to prevent FoI requests.
MP's have imposed so many targets and measurements on Public services.
It is only right that they should also be held to account.
They are, after all, public servants.
Let's see which ones give best value.
MP's have imposed so many targets and measurements on Public services.
It is only right that they should also be held to account.
They are, after all, public servants.
Let's see which ones give best value.
If they are spending public money, the public have a right to know how their money has been spent.
If there is any sensitive information that may compromise the safety of the MPs then this should be witheld, but I cannot see how a breakdown of amounts spent on specific items could compromise their safety.
The impression the public will develop is that once again, the motives of the MPs will be revealed to be the lining of their own pockets through the abuse of privileges those of us in the private sector could never hope to obtain.
The Parliamentary system shows us once again they have the worst record of any organisation of how to spend money effectively. The money does not belong to the Government, the Government has no money. the money it spends belongs to the public, that's me and you folks! We have a right to know how it is spent, and we should fight for that.
What a perfect opportunity for the opposition parties to disclose their expenses for this year and put some egg on the labour party! Come on honourable MPs do the right thing
Well, what a surprise. Once again our elected representatives are trying to hide behind a cloak of secrecy and using security as an excuse. What they have to hide must be really embarrassing. I wonder if I can use the same reasoning when ID Cards are made compulsory?
Are these the same MPs that keep telling us "if you've got nothing to hide then you've got nothing to worry about..."
Or does that only apply to DNA fingerprints, CCTV, ID cards..
Let's have all the dirt out now, then 650 resignations and we can start again!!!
If and when the expenses claims are published we will no doubt be shocked by the amount spent on renting, or funding the purchase of flats in London. However, I think we must bear in mind that MPs from outside the capital need accommodation while away from home on business. The alternative would be staying in a hotel. How much does a 4 star hotel charge per night? Is that better value for the tax payer?
This proves that theres one rule for us and one rule for them. I amazed that they want to hide all there bad deeds not suprised why dont they sit a three monthly interview like benefit claiments do and have to go over what they have spent they money on and what work they have done.
They don't give up do they? But what surprises me is the willingness of what (I hope)is still a majority of honourable members who are letting their colleagues destroy what little reputation they have left. Seen any Lemmings lately anyone?
Why can not the fiscal information be published with just the name and no address? Perhaps if the details are published we may all be surprised , and some disappointed, to find that against our better judgement our MPs are more honest than we are at present -on the small amount of information in the public domain- led to believe.
Said of the great Roman Empire before it fell: "The most important people in the empire had put aside the interests of the nation in place of their own."
Lets hope history repeats itself.
Isn't it strange?
These people are concerned over their security if they reveal a few spending figures and yet the very same people are trying to force through legislation which would require everyone to carry a card with even biometric/genetic information on it!!!
As the government spying on it's citizens is now the norm they are forever telling us it shouldn't bother us if we have done nothing wrong, now we want to see how they spend OUR money suddenly it's all protect their privacy and civil liberties.
I say we shake all the MPs down and reveal every single detail about everything they have done/do, after all the decisions these people make affect wether people live or die, prosper or suffer. I say let them have it!
No-one's asking for their addresses, so what's the problem?. Their pathetic attempts at keeping their second home expense accounts withheld from public knowledge, can't possibly be legal?.
If my tax money is paying for someones `marble built kitchen` or, gold-plated toilet-seat; I want to know about it. Someone should go in there and slap a few heads together.
Where's Judge Roy Bean when you need him?. He'd sort that pretentious bunch out.
Said of the great Roman Empire before it fell: "The most important people in the empire had put aside the interests of the nation in place of their own."
Lets hope history repeats itself.
NuLab is now totally reliant on the support of their massive welfare state clientele, who don't give a stuff about MP's expenses, as long as the benefits gravy train keeps rolling.
What MP's seem to have forgotten (or nervously try to ignore) is that there is still a sizable chunk of the electorate who can do basic maths and who do recognise chicanery when they see it.
The bottom line is that this is public money - yours and mine - that they're spending and they should have to properly account for every last penny of it.
I have some options to the MPs who don't want their expenses published.
1. The public don't want to know or care where you all live. All the voters want to know is that they are not being taken for a ride. So publish your expenses without your addresses.
2. If security is your issue, then the taxpayers could always build high
security accomodation in London for all MPs. I am sure the tax payer would not mind paying for them to have 24 hour guards when in London. You could all be bused to the commons together, save on congestion and improve your carbon footprint. This seems a saver option than MPs scattered all over London in houses that they/taxpayer has bought.
3 If the MPs still want to buy a 2nd home,with taxpayers help.
When they stop being an MP,the property and contents should be sold at auction,the taxpayers percentage of the sale of returned to the treasury.
If all else fails and they won't publish maybe we should all stand against these MPs at the next election.
Oh dear. How ridiculous. Can't they see how bad this looks? I understand they don't want the side-benefits of being an MP to be widely known due to fears of damage to the institution of Parliament. But trying to prolong the inevitable like this is far worse. At least us taxpayers are keeping the legal teams well fed and watered-so someone's benefiting...
Ahh, security the excuse again.
Simple, release details of the expenses but not the address to which they relate.
What is legitimate about the expectation to keep such lavish expenses secret?
This latest twist really does make it look as though there is something to hide.
Is comes as little surprise the British public have no faith in politicians ...
So the cost of an MP’s kitchen is a security issue and a public official paid from the public purse has a legitimate expectation to keep the costs of said kitchen private. Thank heavens for clever lawyers.
'... the committee chaired by the Speaker...'
That just about says it all!
When the MP's voted in the Freedom of Information Act, they never dreamt in their wildest dream's what the outcome would be, Hoist by your own Petard comes to mind.
Should the general public be surprised about the immoral and bad behaviour of teenagers. When they see the Honourable Members behaving so corruptly,dishonestly and badly as they do.
Until they just get on and do it, how can they expect to rebuild trust in Government and politics in general (if there ever was any in the first place)?
Isn't it time that MPs lived life like the rest of the electorate. The rest of us have a budget to live on and we have to arrange our life around this.
Surely it would not be rocket science to work out how much an MP needs to run their office effectively. Enough data should be available to do this. Then they should be given access to this pot (salary and all). I am sure that some MPs would then be praised for good use of these public funds,
Best Wishes
Bill Awty
Lets hope the Appeals Panel be they Judicary or The Apeals Panel themselves do not allow them to cover there tracks.
What is even more disgusting is that the Speaker is to use OUR HARD EARNED MONIES to FUND the APPEAL.
THose who wish to appeal should be made to do so at thier expence.
ROLL ON THE GENERAL ELECTION and LETS GET RID OF THE LEECHES many of whom do little or nothing for the Democracy of the Country
In response to the people saying 'what have the got to hide' I think the answer is their addresses and the addresses of family members.
Re MPs'expenses, if one ever needs proof that, whatever a person's political views, human nature and self interest will always be the most important part of the equation then look no further than the question of MP's expenses. From the Blairs down, e.g The Speaker, Prescott,Blunkett,Hain,Jowell,Abbott Harman, Falconer,Mandleson, the list is endless. Many of the above have for years berated entrepreneurial and successful people who were not 'working class /Union members' as being self serving,not interested in the community and even corupt to one degree or another. These same New Labour politicians, now they have position and power turn out to be equally as bad, if not far worse, than those they have despised for generations. From sending their offspring to Private schools to abusing their respective positions for financial and material gain they illustrate the sheer hypocrisy of the New Labour movement. Human nature does not change, just the names of Political parties. Human nature and self preservation being the underlying driving force behind everything we do means transparancy and accountability about any Public money spent by Politicians is essential, whatever their Political persuasion. Personally, I am sick and tired of hearing the Speaker came from a poor working class background. So did countless thousands of others but we still have to account for every penny that passes through our hands and MPs' should have to do the same. Particularly as it is mostly Public money. These people, particularly the present Speaker of the House, have no shame what so ever. They also have very short memories in relation to what they said in opposition.