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Post by An Fear Dubh on May 14, 2009 20:07:14 GMT
With the recent media exposure of British MP's and their false claims for expenses. We see how the very makers of the law, bend and manipulate the system for personal gain.
For myself such immoral acts should have long lasting and extremely harsh punishments. They should be stripped of office, and banned from public office or political representation for life. With no appeal.
Being ignorant of the law has never been an acceptable defense in court. So why should we the public accept that these were 'oversights'?
We often debate and talk of 'foreign immigrants' abusing the system. We have talked of working class people making false and fraudulent benefit claims. And while I accept there are those who ripping off the state. I am talking more of those who are on the poverty edge, and make claims that do not see them living lavish lifestyles but making ends meet that bit easier.
I think it is a matter of going after those who can best afford it. The business person who makes false tax returns. The corrupt politician. That is not to say that the smaller fish get away. But I think too much money is wasted trying to catch single mothers who do an early morning cleaning job for cash in hand, or such like. When the real money is getting away
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Post by earl on May 15, 2009 10:34:58 GMT
DUP couple claimed £30,000 for food
The North's First Minister Peter Robinson and his wife Iris munched their way through £30,000 (€33,500) of food claimed for in their MPs’ expenses over a four-year period, it was revealed today.
MPs are allowed to claim up to £400 a month for food and the East Belfast MP and his wife, MP for the neighbouring constituency of Strangford, claimed to the limit most months, according to the latest Daily Telegraph expose.
The newspaper also said both made claims of £1,223 (€1,370) for the same service charge on their London flat in March 2007 – Mr Robinson’s claim being rejected by the House of Commons Fees Office.
At the same time they also had claims for a total of £10,800 (€12,000) for mortgage interest rejected because no statement of mortgage interest had been submitted.
The Democratic Unionist Party leader said today he was satisfied all the money paid to him and his wife was legitimately claimed.
He defended the food claims accusing the Daily Telegraph of lumping their individual monthly claims together to arrive at a large figure.
“In reality this equates to an average of about £73 (€82) per week. The Fees Office determined that £400 (€450) each month to cover food in London is not unreasonable given the cost of buying meals in London.
“I use this facility when in London for the Parliamentary sessions or for meetings or negotiations with ministers when the House is not sitting.”
In relation to the service charge rejection he described it as an innocent mistake and the “inadvertent submission of a duplicate receipt.”
Mr Robinson said the newspaper rightly identified that the two claims had been prepared for signature by himself and his wife by the same person, that they were signed separately and submitted together in the same envelope.
“Anyone in the Fees Office would have been dealing with the claims together and inevitably would have noticed the innocent mistake. It is clear that this one duplicate entry over many years was an innocent error and happily was spotted.”
Mr Robinson said the DUP supported complete openness and transparency regarding MPs’ expenses.
“The current system is shambolic and does not command the support or confidence of the wider public.
“It must be scrapped and replaced as a matter or urgency.”
The DUP would support initiatives towards that goal and was in the process of making a number of recommendations to the Christopher Kelly review of MPs’ expenses.
He said he would be urging him to consider greater auditing of allowances and an increase in the frequency of publishing expenses online.
“If Sir Christopher does not recommend periodic online publication the DUP will make its own arrangements.”
Mr Robinson insisted: “The DUP’s MPs have at all time conducted themselves within the law and no-one has made any suggestion of illegality. Such a suggestion would be totally false and without foundation.
“Being a Member of Parliament is an honour bestowed upon very few people by the electorate and the DUP is mindful of the obligations that all elected representatives have.
“Our party has at all times conducted its affairs with honesty, openness and transparency.
“Whilst mindful that not all MPs have fully examined their expenses, we would urge the House of Commons to publish the details of allowances and expenses expeditiously.”
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Who were they feeding? Mary Harney?
That's crazy though. What's the average yearly income in NI? I can only find a figure of £17,366 from 2005. It's probably still around that figure, give or take a grand. No wonder he's a unionist. If I could claim nearly twice my constituents average annual wage for just food, nevermind any of the other expenses, I'd be singing to God to save the Queen, and I don't mean Freddy Mercury!
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Post by An Fear Dubh on May 15, 2009 14:22:22 GMT
While I can understand expense claims for additional items as a result of work. How can someone justify food, surely that is what your normal wages are for!! I do not think anyone is suggesting that such claims are outside of the law, but they are an abuse of a system. And as leaders of our society example should be coming from politicians on acceptable behaviour.
If it is to entertain a client, then that is an entertainment claim not a food claim. If they have a London residence, then you can make sandwiches and packed lunches. There are pleny of microwave dinners you do not have to eat out. I often work long hours and so does my wife, but I am not able to claim extra for food, as eating out would be less stressful.
I think you are right Earl with that average wage figure give or take a grand.
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Post by Jim on May 15, 2009 15:10:24 GMT
Come on AFD do you really expect our beloved honest MPs to be eating 20p baked beans?! The poor souls need their matured steaks and fine wines to get on with the job.
Unbelievable at how much money these cunts claim, they get paid way above the normal wage and can claim even more for doing the square root of fuck all.
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Post by earl on May 15, 2009 15:51:40 GMT
Peter Robinson is a tea totaller from what I hear. Just fancy cakes for him and the missus.
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Post by Jim on May 15, 2009 16:01:52 GMT
Peter Robinson is a tea totaller from what I hear. Just fancy cakes for him and the missus. If he's a tea totaller then I'm a bag head. You'd need to be on a good whiskey to come out with the shite he does. |
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Post by An Fear Dubh on May 15, 2009 21:34:09 GMT
Of course it is niave of me to expect politicians to actually hold some moral principles.
Which is why I am very dissappointed with Sinn Fein. The excuse that they are within the rules and everyone else does it does not wash with me! Nor do I accept the arguement that this is from the British Treasury so we are entitled to get the arm in.
At what point do your socialist principles kick-in. What is your price? Nor does it matter that money/wages is collected and redistributed among the party collective. Where is the principled leadership?
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Post by Wasp on May 15, 2009 21:41:52 GMT
I think all the politicians have behaved immorally and to me they broke the law by milking the system. Its disgusting that sf dont even take their Westminster seats yet look at the claims they have made which makes it all the even more distasteful. These political parties claim they are there to help all people especially the needy, sf claim to do this, the dupers claim it, the tories claim it, labour claims it yet they all abused the system for their own selfish and greedy needs. If a single mum or dad cannot get work and there life is a struggle providing for their families day in day out and then are offered a cash in hand job a few hours a week which gives them much added help even if it is only a few pounds. Well if they are caught claiming benefits while earning a few extra pound for their family what happens to them?  Yet these so called politicans have claimed hundreds of thousands of pounds and what I want to know is what will happen to them considering they are already well off. Shame on them all. |
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Post by earl on May 18, 2009 12:38:13 GMT
Indeed WASP. One rule for them, a different set for the rest of us.
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Post by Wasp on May 18, 2009 16:54:17 GMT
What is equally sickening is the fact they try to defend themselves by saying we didnt claim all that we could have claimed, as if that makes a flamin difference.
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Post by An Fear Dubh on May 18, 2009 17:07:23 GMT
I agree whole heartedly Wasp. I was amazed at that Justice Minister in England, that was bullish and said he had nothing to apologize for, then got sacked. Glad to see it, how can you be a Justice minister but make fraudulant claims then have the brass neck to pretend you are right to do so!
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Post by Wasp on May 18, 2009 21:25:11 GMT
Setanta why are you trying to defend it then???All parties that I am aware of have staff to pay. Adam's tried to defend the undefencable this morning on the radio and used the term Irish to difflect from the issue. The fact is your party paid alot more than what the value was for property along with other expenses. If the pup or whoever wouldnt take their seats in Dublin yet claimed hundreds of thousands of pounds there would be uproar and I beleive your party would lead the uproar from the highest rooftops and sf claiming vast amounts really pisses me off.
But this isnt only about sinn fein, this is about all the politicians or at least the vast majority of them who are nothing less than a shower of money grabbing bastards while the people that voted them in struggle in the real world. A girl I know is a single mother with 2 kids and she took up a part time job to help her and the kids, the job one week could have been 20quid ontop of her benefits, the next week nothing and the next 30quid. Just a wee cleaning job to help and she got caught doing the double.
She had to pay the whole lot back, she now has a record and she had to do unpaid work to pay for her 'crime'. Yet these politicians have robbed the public while the public suffer and I hope everyone of them is kicked out to fuck. If there is 1 thing that will unite people it is all this, people regardless of background, race, faith etc etc are united in this and I hope all these scumbags get what they deserve.
Gregory Campbell claimed 700 quid for a tv and he tried to defend the undefencable stating that politicians have to eat when in London. Well I have to fucking eat when I goto work and I travel quite a bit throughout N.Irelans and I pay for my own food, also dont forget much of my work is voluntary where I dont get paid at all.
Your last comment is equally sickening with the they just shouldnt do it again attitude. They need kicked from office, they need to pay back most of what they claimed, and they must look around them and see the people they represent and how they are living and then think aboutn what they flamin well claimed. Your party leader is bleating on about those who lost their jobs yet defended the claims made by your party so your party is no different in all this than anyother thieving party.
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Post by Wasp on May 18, 2009 21:27:25 GMT
I agree whole heartedly Wasp. I was amazed at that Justice Minister in England, that was bullish and said he had nothing to apologize for, then got sacked. Glad to see it, how can you be a Justice minister but make fraudulant claims then have the brass neck to pretend you are right to do so! He like most of them make me sick. I am the first to condemn those who are fit to work but are nothing more than lay abouts taking whatever benefits they can to rip off the system and live off other people, but these politicans are worse than them because they are meant to be for the people and represent the people, not fucking rob the people. |
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Post by earl on May 19, 2009 8:48:12 GMT
But this isnt only about sinn fein, this is about all the politicians or at least the vast majority of them who are nothing less than a shower of money grabbing bastards while the people that voted them in struggle in the real world. Indeed, and it's not just in one country. It's every feckin' country! God only knows what was happening in that Fianna Fáil tent at the Galway races. |
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Post by An Fear Dubh on May 19, 2009 20:13:09 GMT
I think it is good leadership that Sinn Fein ensure that all party members get the average industrial wage. But I know Gerry Adams got his teeth done some time back and I work and get an industrial wage but could not afford the denist bill that Gerry paid. I also see some suits that are not 'off the peg' and are not affordable on an average industrial wage. These book sales must be very profitable.
There are lies being told and excuses being made. And saying sorry is not going to wash. Those caught are not fit for public office ever, and that should be enforced, by party leadership, or the law. Those tarnished but no case proven should also have sanctions placed against them.
There are no excuses allowed.
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Yet these so called politicans have claimed hundreds of thousands of pounds and what I want to know is what will happen to them considering they are already well off.