Public Accounts Commitee

[jamesbrown]

When you compare our committee hearings with the American ones that the senate runs, it's amazing the difference between the two.

Probably because senators tend to have been lawyers before becoming politicians so know how to grill people properly, whereas we have a collection of MPs who are career politicians from the day they left school to where they are now.

Yes, exactly. There are some notable exceptions, such as Stephen Phillips QC, who is excellent (and on the PAC, incidentally).

[webberg]

Anybody who thinks that the PAC is anything more than a kangaroo Court filled with second rate politicians looking to make headlines at their victims expense, is deluded.

[DotasScandal]

As with Hodge, its all about a bunch of second tier politicians who are out of their depth trying to score points and make headlines and look good on TV.

Aptly summarized.

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

Caroline Flint keeps asking questions and then just talks over the poor bloke when he reaches a part of the explanation that she doesn't understand i.e. after about 20 seconds

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

As with Hodge, its all about a bunch of second tier politicians who are out of their depth trying to score points and make headlines and look good on TV. I thought HMRC did OK. Homer looked less convincing on the area of the time it takes to close small business investigations.

Agreed - I don't know where they get off with all this - it wouldn't be so bad if they had even the vaguest clue on what they're talking about - they don't even seem to get that tax is payable on profit and not revenue

[Not Losing Any Sleep]

The chairwoman really is particularly aggressive It doesn't seem right that she's grilling the bloke over his personal salary - think I'd tell her to mind her own damn business

As with Hodge, its all about a bunch of second tier politicians who are out of their depth trying to score points and make headlines and look good on TV. I thought HMRC did OK. Homer looked less convincing on the area of the time it takes to close small business investigations.

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

The chairwoman really is particularly aggressive It doesn't seem right that she's grilling the bloke over his personal salary - think I'd tell her to mind her own damn business

[Not Losing Any Sleep]

When you compare our committee hearings with the American ones that the senate runs, it's amazing the difference between the two.

Probably because senators tend to have been lawyers before becoming politicians so know how to grill people properly, whereas we have a collection of MPs who are career politicians from the day they left school to where they are now.

MP Deidre Brock is having a go at grilling HMRC. Her background as a Home and Away actress looks to be helping!

[TheFaQQer]

When you compare our committee hearings with the American ones that the senate runs, it's amazing the difference between the two.

Probably because senators tend to have been lawyers before becoming politicians so know how to grill people properly, whereas we have a collection of MPs who are career politicians from the day they left school to where they are now.

[Not Losing Any Sleep]

Just listening to the Public Accounts Committee try and grill the Google Tax boys on their affairs. The PAC team are truly dreadful. Meg Hillier - what a disaster. About as effective as a chocolate teapot.

Now the turn of the HMRC team. Will see if they are any better.

[Not Losing Any Sleep]

Just listening to the Public Accounts Committee try and grill the Google Tax boys on their affairs. The PAC team are truly dreadful. Meg Hillier - what a disaster. About as effective as a chocolate teapot.