Jackqui Smith Down

Both me and my honourable friend from the Midlands deny this.

 

Is that the one where Griffin sat behind a desk looking very
Hitleresque, then they used imagery of that well known Conservative
prime minister Mr Churchill, and re-wrote history so only English
people died in WWII fighting against imigration or some such fiction?

 

heh. YKWIM!

 

<AONTL>

 

And quite right that it should be dealt with.

But do you think that the (in reality) few cases of fiddling, followed by
lies and cover ups, mean that every MP of any major party, should be
tarred with the same brush?

Does it need the entire output of all the major news media in the UK to
spend all day every day on it? No.

It's a smoke screen. Don't say I didn't warn you when UKIP stroll into
Brussels and make us all look like idiots.

 

that's the one - I loved the little touches like having an open bible
on the desk lecturn, sporting trophies in a cabinet, war memorabilia
etc. Very English - you can see what they're trying to pull.

 

When it comes around again I'll join in.

Pay 'em a proper wage, stop the second income scams of directorships,
change the allowances to expenses and get receipts then let's see how it
goes eh?

You're saying they should avoid geographically testing jobs aren't you?
Perhaps shelf filling in Asda of an evening would give them a chance to
meet some of their constituents.

 

It is - especially if you find it under a stone. But if you need to
appear to be a fairly we set up member of society to do your job and to
stand any chance in the popularity polls it aint much.

I think we deserve a hug too.

 

Is it "tilting at windmills" to expect our elected representatives to be
intelligent and competent as well as honest?

 

Oh definitely, I just hope enough people can see past the polished
wood veneer to the cheap and nasty chipboard underneath.

 

No, that's called dreaming.

 

I was going to make a fatuous comment regarding our /household/ income
but then it occurred to me that surely many MP's spouses must also
work (sometimes for the MP) - they're not having to live on just their
own £60K in many cases, I expect.

 

Indeed. The trouble was, it should have been dealt with by Brown
quickly and effectively, but it wasn't.

No. But also, at this point in time, I'm not sure how many "few cases"
there actually are.

I think that the main parties needed a kick up the arse and their
attitude to this[1], the recession[2], etc. means that the minor
parties are going to benefit. If that makes "us all look like idiots"
then so be it.

[1] "It's within the rules"[3]
[2] "It's the US's fault"[3]
[2] "It's not *our* fault".

 

I can help you there. Instead of voting for the party that your mum and
dad voted for, vote for the candidate who is intelligent, cares for the
people in the constituency and can do the job.

Tell your friends.

 

Part of the 'expenses' row is about them paying family members...

 

Um...none of the above?

 

Which is what the Additional Cost Allowance would seem to be for, yes.

Given that Parliament only sits for about 85 days a year, I'd challenge
ANYBODY in the public or private sector to put gardening or whatever on
their business expenses and not get it picked up - either by the internal
finance bods or by the Revenue as a benefit-in-kind.

But that's not what I'm referring to here. What I'm referring to is the
suggestion that the Additional Costs Allowance is somehow backdoor salary
to make up for their getting poor pay.

Oh, and let's not forget that the cost of providing their pension is only
taxed as a £13k/year benefit-in-kind, but is actually worth around £30k/
year.

 

yes, yes, yes - but even the ones not doing that may well have a
second source of household income.

Anyway, the absolutely best taking the piss aspect of the whole thing
is the Sinn Féin members paying rent (to an Irish landlord,
coincidentally) for 2nd homes that they never used because the boycott
Westminster - it's so far beyond satire that Armondo Iannuci must be
considering a career change.

 

And _I_ get accused of "dreaming"...

 

....and the ill fitting suit, dont forget the suit.

You gotta just love that ex-con dressed for a wedding look.