The expenses scandal
May. 18th, 2009 08:37 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
[Poll #1401674]
And while we're at it, I'll point you towards today's Matt:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/matt/
And while we're at it, I'll point you towards today's Matt:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/matt/
no subject
Date: 2009-05-18 09:37 am (UTC)This has happened because the party leaders - and this is on Labour's watch, which makes it more their fault - have been reluctant to raise MPs pay to what would be the going rate for the job, They have therefore brought in a series of nudge-nudge wink-wink expense allowances.
Most people fiddle expenses at some stage of their lives, even if it is only a couple of quid. I, for one, am perfectly willing to forgive small and silly errors, whether they were actually errors (or can be blamed on an accountant or the scrutineers, or not.) What I cannot forgive is the 'switching'.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-18 12:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-18 12:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-18 12:35 pm (UTC)Some MPs could do a real-world job that paid as much or perhaps considerably more than they get as MPs, but I suspect that many would not manage to do any other job nearly as well paid as their present one. In that sense, pay lots more than peanuts, and still get monkeys.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-18 12:51 pm (UTC)On the other hand, there has been strong feeling against anyone holding another job outside parliament. You pays your money, you takes your choice.
I am really, really scared that we will go down the anti-intellectual American route.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-21 10:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-18 02:23 pm (UTC)