Forum Topic

How much taxpayers' money do you need to change an MP's light bulbs?

The revelations of the past week have demonstrated why our MP's typically work a 60 hour week.It goes like this:-1) 10 hours for Parliament and constituency work2) 10 hours socialising with colleagues in the bars and restaurants at Westminster3) 40 hours networking and sharing experiences to find new and original ways to spend the allowances taxpayers unwittingly financeIf this is the Mother of Parliaments the the present incumbants all appear to be fatherless.

John Connelly ● 6386d3 Comments

Does it serve the interests of democracy to slag off the entire Parliament on the basis of the behavious of some - not a tiny handful admittedly - of their number?The Weimar republic fell and Hitler came to power not least because there was a steady drip,drip,drip of abuse of its politicians. All should be aware that when the main parties are abused non-stop, extremists benefit.

Dan Filson ● 6386d

The problem at present is that maximising expenses, employing close relatives, and other dubious practices are prevalent because MP's voted themselves this system.When an MP can claim that a property is her second home, avoid Capital Gains Tax by stating to the Inland Revenue that it was her main residence, and then pay the tax when the truth comes out in the open, it beggars belief that her boss (Gordon Brown) has not summarily sacked her and called in the police to investigate whether fraud has occurred.When the opposition fails to make this demand the logical conclusion is not that there are a few bad eggs in the house. Rather, it would appear that truly Honourable Members are in the minority.

John Connelly ● 6386d

A problem that I can see is that 'normal' decent people will no longer want to stand as MPs, since they will be assumed to be out for everything they can get. This means that we get more and more greedy, worthless MPs.

Susan Kelly ● 6385d