Reply to: TroughGate - Is there any good news ?

[Peoplesoft bloke]

It's bias based on my experience of corrupt and incompetent governments over 50 years, and Labour have always managed to hit far lower standards than the Tories.

Yeah right - and tulip is different from tulipe

[Cyberman]

Surely even someone as biased as you can't believe that for a minute.

It's bias based on my experience of corrupt and incompetent governments over 50 years, and Labour have always managed to hit far lower standards than the Tories.

[Central-Scrutiniser]

This serves as a welcome diversion from the Millions of pounds of public money donated to falied Bankers , it is imperative the pulic's mind is pre-occuped with such trivia to distract from the disturbing reality of life today within the United Kingdom.

[sunnysan]

Good news

Even the squeaky clean Lib Dems are at it.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...bolt-hole.html

However, looking at his daughter, I may be forced to take a more forgiving stance to said MP 's expense misdemeanours.

[d000hg]

Yes, but not as Tories and never to be Tories ever again. The Tories can then start looking for better candidates to stand for the next general election. All Tory expenses will be published immediately as they are claimed whereas no doubt Labour's will not. Clear and CLEAN blue water will be seen by the public.

Surely even someone as biased as you can't believe that for a minute.

[d000hg]

How exactly can he say "if MPs don't pay back expenses that were within the rules, but I think are over the top, they'll be kicked out"? Surely he's setting the party up for a huge mess of legal action the moment he tries to enforce this? In fact even naming specific people is asking to be sued for defamation of character if those involved fancy a fight as DC uses them to score a few media points...

[Gonzo]

It looks like they might be made to pay up now.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8046287.stm

Will that plug the black hole in the country's finances for Alistair Darling?

[BrowneIssue]

Another potential vote-winner for DC in the Beeb...

Do you think he'll back his words up with action? If so then fair play, even if he should have shut the stable door years before...

He can't bring himself to apologise, can he?

"I want to say sorry it has come to this and sorry for the actions of some Tory MPs "

So he's sorry he got caught.

Thieving toerags, the lot of them.

[realityhack]

Another potential vote-winner for DC in the Beeb...

Do you think he'll back his words up with action? If so then fair play, even if he should have shut the stable door years before...

[BrowneIssue]

Clear and CLEAN blue water will be seen by the public.

yellow
continue to be peed on

[Cyberman]

I would like to invent a new reality TV game called 'Expenses Challenge' where an MP and a member of the public have to do something , like a journey, then have to claim expenses. These are then revealed in the court of public opinion.

For the opening episode I would like to see Sir Fred Goodwins expenses for 2008 compared to Harriet Harmans

It may actually show up Harman for the Labour hypocrite that she really is, but I am pretty sure that most voters are now fully aware of how 'whiter than white' the New Liars are.

[ASB]

They don't even have to show up for a 3 line Whip if they have a pairing agreement in place with a member from the other side. With pairing they only vote if their pair is available to vote the other way so cancelling out the votes.

I don't think they pair any more on a 3 line because some labour MP's who were paired still voted.....

They have, I believe, never ever allowed pairing on a so called "running" 3 line whip.

[EternalOptimist]

I would like to invent a new reality TV game called 'Expenses Challenge' where an MP and a member of the public have to do something , like a journey, then have to claim expenses. These are then revealed in the court of public opinion.

For the opening episode I would like to see Sir Fred Goodwins expenses for 2008 compared to Harriet Harmans

[Cyberman]

They don't even have to show up for a 3 line Whip if they have a pairing agreement in place with a member from the other side. With pairing they only vote if their pair is available to vote the other way so cancelling out the votes.
It's one of the reasons that our democracy is an utter farce.

The area that I lived in as a child and teenager had a Conservative MP who had held his seat for over two decades and a typical majority of 20k+ votes, he only ever attended the opening of Parliament and was paired with a similar Labour MP.

There's no problem with the pairing system at all. It makes sense and allows MPs to get on with constituency business rather than turning up at Westminster unnecessarily for a vote. If the 'pairs' did turn up they would only cancel eachother out anyway.

[TykeMerc]

.... and able to continue merrily on thier way claiming for any/every thing just as before without even being badgered to vote occasionally

They don't even have to show up for a 3 line Whip if they have a pairing agreement in place with a member from the other side. With pairing they only vote if their pair is available to vote the other way so cancelling out the votes.
It's one of the reasons that our democracy is an utter farce.

The area that I lived in as a child and teenager had a Conservative MP who had held his seat for over two decades and a typical majority of 20k+ votes, he only ever attended the opening of Parliament and was paired with a similar Labour MP.