Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
ALMOST all 225 MPs who left Parliament last year pocketed "golden goodbyes" of up to £65,738 among them were those who made some of the most outrageous expenses claims - including moat-owning Tory Douglas Hogg. He picked up the maximum "resettlement grant" as one of the oldest and longest serving MPs.
These cost the taxpayer more than £10million, a freedom of information request showed.
Tory Derek Conway, who was expelled from the party for falsifying claims, took home the full whack.So did five Labour MPs. But their ex-colleagues David Chaytor, Jim Devine and Elliot Morley, all convicted of expenses fraud, were denied theirs.
Labour's Harry Cohen, who was slammed by watchdogs, also left empty-handed. Rudi Vis died before he got his payout.
So much for tightening our belts and we're all in this crisis together. It's a sodding disgrace.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
they really do look after themselves, then have the brass neck to say that the rest of us should suffer in silence.
so much for setting an example.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
All peanuts, Marek, compared to city bankers' salaries and bonuses.
And a city banker handshake adds insult to injury.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
at the same time george over the road to me is getting his winter fuel allowance cut by £.100.
parallel worlds.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
Alex
Peanuts or not it's still a disgrace.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
peanuts are for monkys alex,have you a good supply.
And there was me thinking Mps were there to serve us , this proves they are in it for themselves .
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
mark
love your signature
on the MP's yes they look after themselves and like marek says its a discrase
and whole system needs rapid change
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
The Mps arent going to change the system and lose out on there money , may be the Queen should have a word .
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
queen dont get much of a say
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
May be she should , she does meet with the Pm once a week , it would be fun to watch .
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
This must be the only area where you get the sack (not re-elected) and end up pocketing an amount that is a lot more than the average person earns in a year.
They do not get a pay rise so they get increased expenses instead. There seems no end to the cushy existence of being an MP.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Well if you want people to stand in marginal seats who are not very rich then this sort of thing is essential.
If you prefer standing for election, particularly in marginals, to be a privilege for the independently wealthy then by all means stop the severance payments.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
not many jobs get guaranteed 5 years contracts like our m.p.'s, if they cannot live on 60 odd grand a year for that time maybe you should give them some of your financial advice barry.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Howard - they are not guaranteed for any period that is the point. It is a very precarious job. It is also a fact that £65k is not much of a salary for such a job either.
Candidates usually dip into their own pockets a lot as well. I was told by one Conservative candidate that they expected from the point at which they were selected through to polling day to spend about £30k...
Not all of them spend like that but all do put their hands in their pockets and not to mention the time commitment.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
barryw
iv just put my hankerchief away crying my eyes out for them
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
Like most jobs nobody forces the poor hard done by things to be MPs, I have never heard of there being a shortage of applicants.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
You miss the point.
If you want MPs all to be wealthy then by all means cut their pay and cut their severance pay as well.
Personally I prefer a cross section of society to be able to afford to stand for parliament, not just the rich.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
No I have not missed the point and nobody has suggested cutting their pay.
MPs are greedy and expect to live the high life at the tax payers expense. They could and should manage their finances better. They do not have to stay in five star hotels, they do not have to travel first class, they do not have to live in expensive houses. A lot of them seem to become "rich" once they are MPs.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
MMMMM, How many fingers in how many pies in how many countries.
Once you get a position in power, how many lures must there be to make money on the side.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.