TroughGate - Is there any good news ?

[Cyberman]

I'm starting to think there are two main points here.

Firstly is a semantic one. The word expenses is wrong and it really gets peoples backs up. Like 'I claim expenses every week and I coulnt claim THAT stuff, so why should they'. They need a more appropriate word.

Second is the moral point. They should only be able to claim for stuff that facilitates their being able to to the job as an MP.


Third, they need a rule book and a scrutineer to tell them when they cross the line on number two

.. and of course Cameron's 1,000 pounds a month to pay his mortgage from us taxpayers is perfectly legitimate.

[EternalOptimist]

.. and of course Cameron's 1,000 pounds a month to pay his mortgage from us taxpayers is perfectly legitimate.

how do you work that one out, knob-rot ?

[dang65]

So having the taxpayer pay 22,000 pounds for you to fix your rising damp in Southampton while they struggle to pay their bills and die of hypothermia is fine because you are an MP. I see.

Well, as contractors, we pay less tax and take home higher pay (if we want to) than most people in this country. We are able to do that because we take more risks than permanent workers, and we do without sick pay and various other benefits. MPs take the risk of losing their jobs every time there's an election.

If any of us took a public sector contract then we would be doing this via public funds. That would all be entirely above board, though it still upsets people when articles are published about the amount of money that is poured into public funded IT projects and the like.

The current system of allowances for MPs is not acceptable to the public and is not working, so they are going to review it. But as it stands, none of these MPs have done wrong any more than we do. We maximise our earnings, or rather minimise our tax payments, by working the way we do. When I was a permie I made sure I got every extra perk or allowance which was available - shift allowances, language allowances, higher overtime rates, allowances for covering a higher grade position etc etc. It was all legit, and I ended up on very good money while it lasted.

I certainly don't feel bad about people who work in jobs which have none of these allowances or options for reducing tax payments. That's their lookout, frankly. Maybe that sounds like I don't know the difference between good and bad, but maybe if more people had a policy of milking every allowance due to them then they wouldn't have to borrow money and the country wouldn't be in such a mess!

[BrowneIssue]

MPs take the risk of losing their jobs every time there's an election.

It is not supposed to be a 'job'. We don't recruit them. They are supposed to be our representatives.

[TheBigD]

MPs take the risk of losing their jobs every time there's an election.

Don't they also get a sizable parachute payment for a year or so once they've been voted out of office?

[ASB]

Don't they also get a sizable parachute payment for a year or so once they've been voted out of office?

it's a form of redundancy pay. Don't know how generous, but I think I can guess.

[TykeMerc]

Don't they also get a sizable parachute payment for a year or so once they've been voted out of office?

Plus of course they get a roughly 5 year contract after every election they win, get invited to all sorts of junkets, tend to get offered Directorships and writing deals and they have no actual obligation to show up or do any work.
More than a few of them are in safe seats that only ever return candidates from a single party so they have a seat for as long as they like.

I wouldn't call it a high risk occupation.

[d000hg]

What % of people in normal jobs would take advantage of similar rules?

e.g you go away on a business trip for an employer who doesn't scrutinise expenses - do you grab a quick pizza and a beer for dinner, or go somewhere you would not normally be able to afford? Do you fly economy if they will spring for business class?


I see nothing surprising or alarming about all this. The rules are obviously in need of change but Joe Public is a hypocrite to bitch about it... the builder who complains about MPs 'stealing from the taxpayer' would almost certainly accept cash-in-hand to avoid paying tax...

[Cyberman]

Breaking news.... Cameron to crack down on his erring MPs. I'm hoping that he sacks them !! Needless to say, New Lie will do nothing of the sort to their own MPs or they would have a mass of by-elections and might as well call an election.

[dang65]

Breaking news.... Cameron to crack down on his erring MPs. I'm hoping that he sacks them !!

I wouldn't call it a high risk occupation.