Question Time

If anyone missed it this week, it's worth hitting iplayer or thebox for
a download.

The opening shot of the three MPs on the panel was amazing - I've never
seen three politicians look quite so petrified in my life.

 

The sooner we have another general election and I get a chance to rid
that pompous no-chinned she-troll Margaret Beckett of her seat for
Derby South the better.

 

While I think that some of the 'trotters in the trough' mentality of our
governors (I refuse to call them 'rulers') was a bit unpleasant, the
baying of the mob was just as nasty, if not more so.

So do I. As I get older I find myself getting more radical. Surely it
should be the other way about?

 

Well, the BBC is obliged to go up north occasionally.

I'm truly baffled here. Double standards?

Insight and intelligence is not a requirement for voting (or being an
MP), so I don't see why it should be expected in a TV audience.

Indeed. Fancy letting the public express their feelings in front of
their betters. Shameful.

 

I notice Jack Straw was "too busy" to check whether he'd claimed 100%
or 50% of his council tax back, but not too busy to get the value of
the 100% right every year.

How in the name of all that's holy can you forget that you've paid off
your mortgage?

You try "legitimately forgetting to do things or to check things
properly" when filling in your tax return, and see how far you get.

He would have more to offer on the creation of political dynasties,
and the parachuting of candidates into constituencies.

 

It's annoying me slightly that all this expense stuff seems to be
overlooking the fact that MPs can put expenses in for anything under 250
quid and not even bother with a receipt. This seems by far the most
likely form of abuse, there's no way on earth any company I've worked
for would implement the same system - I wish!

I caught a bit of the show, bit crummy but if nothing else politicians
should be aware that very occasionally they do have to account for
themselves to the electorate.

 

Or that an *£8000* TV is not required to be an MP, or any one of about
(it appears) a thousand other things that were 'within the rules'

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 145 2.0 Cloverleaf 156 V6 2.5 S2
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

Shower of bastards & should be gutted like fish & left to drain out.

--


Nige,

BMW K1200S
Range Rover Vogue
Aprilia RSV Mille

 

We had something along those lines at the BBC, though the limit was
iirc) 50 quid.

Quite. It gave them a direct view of the degree of public anger, rather
than the filtered view they get from reading the press. Beckett in
particular didn't acquit herself particularly well.

 

She never does IME, and given she's bee a strong supporter of the Iraq
war, a strong supporter of the anti-terrorism laws, and strong
supporter of ID cards, her political position is somewhat sucky too,
IMHO.

 

Chinless bag of sheeps guts.,

--


Nige,

BMW K1200S
Range Rover Vogue
Aprilia RSV Mille

 

They still don't seem to get it though, they're still blaming "the
rules"

nothing to do with their fraud / theft of our money

 

Ummm... Surely if you're going to do a bit of troughing then you would
employ someone to stop you getting caught?

--
Malc

Rusted and ropy.
Dog-eared old copy.
Vintage and classic,
or just plain Jurassic:
all words to describe me.

 

Let us not forget that the commons spent four years trying to stop this
information getting out, taking it as far as the high court. And
continued to fiddle the whole time. The Telegraph just struck lucky with
nicked information.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/may/15/mps-expenses-heather-
brooke-foi

 

Perhaps as Dr Richard Taylor[1], suggests the first step should be
changing the subtitle of the expenses guideline manual from "A guide to
members' allowances" to "A guide to members' expenses". "To me,
allowances imply a right," he said, "whereas expenses have to be
justified and claimed."

[As reported by Marina Hyde in today's Guardian]

[1] Independent MP for Kidderminster. Expenses ranked 640th out of 645.

--
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest * 2 Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

 

OK, I'm pissed, but are you aiming this explicitly at me (in which case
I'll have to come back in the morning, cos I can't see how it applies
*to me*) or making a general point (in which case I think I agree).

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 145 2.0 Cloverleaf 156 V6 2.5 S2
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

He as always seemed to me to the most self centered smug one of the
lot and completely useless.

IMHO.

Hj

 

That's what actually astounds me most. Out of all these people that are
the 'pinnacle of the democratic process', not one of them seems to be
able to acquit themselves with any kind of demonstration of what should
make them fit for office.

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 145 2.0 Cloverleaf 156 V6 2.5 S2
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

Tam Dalyall must come a close second.


--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 145 2.0 Cloverleaf 156 V6 2.5 S2
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

Eh? Tony Benn smug? He's one of my absolute heroes. Have you ever
actually seen him speak, in person?

As it happens, I believe Hillary Benn has one of the lowest expense
claims of the whole bunch. Which is nice, even if he does have a girl's
name.