MPs expenses made public

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Permalink Reply by Nigel Lupton (luptonn) on June 18, 2009 at 13:19

I found these via the feature that the Gruaniad have today (http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jun/18/mps-expenses-publish...) and have two observations:
- Perhaps we could find David a better price plan for his mobile as he goes way over his bundled minutes every month.
- Jaffacakes are a firm fave in the Lammy office

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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on June 18, 2009 at 14:34

Re: cellphone, I agree. I feel that a new iPhone tomorrow would be a good start, 1200 mins at 45 pounds a month and free data, perfect. Also, I bet someone will come up with an expenses app where you just take a photo of your invoice and it files it for you. This might cut down on all the work claiming for the jaffa cakes.

Is it just me or is this not obviously a means of recompensing MPs for their crappy salaries? Expenses in the city are notoriously strict and they take months to pay them back. These are not expenses, they are living costs.

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Permalink Reply by Danzigger on June 18, 2009 at 14:45

Of course it is recompense for crappy salaries!
Successive administrations have avoided the embarrassment of 'whopping' pay rises for MPs by gradually loosening any real control over "expenses" - politically, it has been the easiest thing to do.
MPs pay is high compared to average earnings, but low compared to, doctors, lawyers, senior civil servants and equivalent professions.

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Permalink Reply by Nigel Lupton (luptonn) on June 18, 2009 at 22:56

I've been thinking about this and I should probably clarify my thoughts.

I don't mind my MP having a mobile phone - as the advert used to say "it's good to talk"; but if Mr Lammy was a small businessman he would look to get the best deal he could, and here's an idea, as someone who works for a big corporate, why do the houses of parliament not have a corporate phone policy ? Day one after being elected - get your HoP blackberry and then no need to claim for a mobile phone ever again.

As for the Jaffacakes - I don't begrudge tea and biscuits, but perhaps they could have been paid for out of petty cash.

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Permalink Reply by Birdy_Too on June 18, 2009 at 15:40

There is fury in less affluent midland and northern constituencies as MPs usually get around three to four times the average salary (not including the expenses and costs) and have urinated over their core support, predominately Labour – and they wonder why the BNP got so much support in these areas.

The main three, especially the centralist Labour government we have now, needs to retrace it’s family tree and get in touch with it’s long lost supporters from the working classes as well as trying to keep the neuvo middle classes they have gained in tow.

Until we have anything other than see-saw governments in this country who have vested interests in their own well being and financial security opinions of the electorate will not change. That’s why the two most powerful parties in this country discourage PR as it doesn’t benefit either and keeps out their competitors, cosey!

Sack the lot and have an election based on PR.

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