Archive for the 'expenses' Category
Don’t want to live with the common people? Don’t seek to represent them then!
Yazan: Sara | 18 February 2010 | 1 Comment
Categories: Conservatives, MPs, expenses
I knew that it was going to be a bad interview for Sir Nicholas Winterton, when he asserted ‘The public are wrong, yes, the public are wrong’. His comments were a reaction to public disquiet about MPs expenses, and in particular a ban on MPs travelling first class. The ensuing interview, which lasted almost an [...]
Parliamentary privilege should not mean criminal immunity
Yazan: Sara | 05 February 2010 | No Comments
Categories: MPs, crime, expenses
The news that the Messrs Chaytor, Devine, Morley and Lord Hanningfield make seek to utilise parliamentary privilege to escape prosecution under the Theft Act 1968 has dealt another blow against the reputation of Parliament. The thought that parliamentarians may try to use Article 9 of the Bill of Rights Act 1689 as a shield against [...]
LibDem MP gets own duck island
Yazan: Sara | 29 December 2009 | No Comments
Categories: MPs, expenses
A certain LibDem MP was staying with a friend of mine over Christmas. Santa thought that the MP should not have to feel inferior to their Conservative colleagues and gave them a very special present.
There ain't no justice in Watford
Yazan: sarabedford | 10 June 2009 | No Comments
Categories: Claire Ward, criminal justice, expenses
So Claire Ward has her sideways shove, from the Whips’ Office to the Ministry of Justice. Doesn’t sound like so much of a change to me – now she’s doling it out to the rest of us, rather than just her colleagues! Gushing with excitement at the move, Ms Ward said, “In essence it will [...]
Don't let the charmers break your heart
Yazan: sarabedford | 20 May 2009 | 3 Comments
Categories: Europe, UKIP, elections, expenses
My 12 year old daughter isn’t interested in boys yet, thank goodness. But I know that one day she will have her heart broken. A smooth operator will promise her undying love and attention and she’ll fall for it. She’ll believe the best of him at first, then slowly come to realise that he is not what [...]
Trade in your MP
Yazan: sarabedford | 18 May 2009 | No Comments
Categories: Claire Ward, expenses
I awake to the news that from today if your old banger has been around for more than 10 years, you can scrap them for a new one. An excellent way to remove my MP from the class of 1997 and get a shiny clean new one. I’ll even forgo my £2000 bonus to help pay for some of [...]
Have MPs finally found a way to exempt themselves from FOI?
Yazan: sarabedford | 11 May 2009 | 1 Comment
Categories: MPs, expenses
So after years of trying, have Labour MPs finally found a way to exempt their outrageous expenses claims from the disinfectant of sunlight? Yesterday’s newsthat an independent audit unit would be set up to scrutinise claims may hold a clue. Stuart Bell, the senior Labour MP who has become MP Defender-in-Chief let slip a privatising the checking [...]
The oath of allegiance – Hufflepuff or Slytherin?
Yazan: sarabedford | 08 May 2009 | No Comments
Categories: MPs, expenses
The Telegraph’s publication of the details of MPs’ more ludicrous expenses claims, has given our MPs another chance to show off their high moral standing. Maybe PMQs hasn’t quite reached the levels of Didier Drogba’s hysterical wide-eyed finger jabbing, but it’s surely not too far away. Not content with making a total idiot of herself [...]
For the sake of the MP's children
Yazan: sarabedford | 28 April 2009 | 15 Comments
Categories: Claire Ward, MPs, Watford, expenses
I’m getting increasingly worried that my MP Claire Ward is losing track of her life. Under pressure for claiming the maximum in second home allowances since at least 2002, Ms Ward has come up with a number of justifications as to why she needs the allowance, despite being just a 16 minute train journey from [...]
Blue plaques and red faces
Yazan: sarabedford | 14 April 2009 | No Comments
Categories: Jacqui Smith, expenses
I couldn’t resist this ‘blue plaque’ erected at the home of Jacqui Smith’s sister in south London over the weekend.
