MPs list of exes for sale for £300,000

jaysay · 31-03-2009, 10:04

Its been on all the news channels this morning that a comprehensive list of all MPs exes have been put up for sale for £300,000. Would you pay that kind of money if you were a Newspaper Editor

entwisi · 31-03-2009, 10:51

its mostly coming out under Freedom of Information, what makes it juicy is that the MPs can apply to have some of it 'hidden' under certain rules, its this that attracts the value.

IMHO I think its scandalous that they can rack up expenses each YEAR of > 100K.

Simply the Gov should buy a hotel and run the rooms on a non profit basis for any visiting MPs who live more than commutable distance. They all have offices anyway for 'business'.

I have no issues with commuting costs but these should be using budget routes where possible, You can fly Manchester to London City for less than 100 quid return so why are we paying 500 quid a turn for train fares(example quoted from one MPs expenses this morning on the radio for her partner visiting!)?

jaysay · 31-03-2009, 10:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by entwisi

its mostly coming out under Freedom of Information, what makes it juicy is that the MPs can apply to have some of it 'hidden' under certain rules, its this that attracts the value.

IMHO I think its scandalous that they can rack up expenses each YEAR of > 100K.

Simply the Gov should buy a hotel and run the rooms on a non profit basis for any visiting MPs who live more than commutable distance. They all have offices anyway for 'business'.

I have no issues with commuting costs but these should be using budget routes where possible, You can fly Manchester to London City for less than 100 quid return so why are we paying 500 quid a turn for train fares(example quoted from one MPs expenses this morning on the radio for her partner visiting!)?

Things may have changed entwisi, but when Ken Hargreaves was Hyndburns MP, they used Travel Warrants for both Train and Plane and there were a lot of fixed expenses for such as trips to the Manchester Airport, Preston Station and Manchester Piccadilly (Ken didn't drive)but whether this is still in operation I don't know, maybe Greg could enlighten us

lancsdave · 31-03-2009, 16:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by entwisi

Simply the Gov should buy a hotel and run the rooms on a non profit basis for any visiting MPs who live more than commutable distance. They all have offices anyway for 'business'.

I was also thinking that last night

Would be even cheaper if they fitted video conferencing in all the constituency offices. When you watch some of the commons stuff it's either nearly empty or some of them are asleep, or both

Tealeaf · 31-03-2009, 16:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by lancsdave

I was also thinking that last night

Would be even cheaper if they fitted video conferencing in all the constituency offices. When you watch some of the commons stuff it's either nearly empty or some of them are asleep, or both

They're in their offices, watching porn films, tab picked up by the taxpayer.

Greg Pope · 01-04-2009, 09:40

Just on Jaysay's point about the travel warrants. These were abolished a couple of years ago and replaced with a travel card with which MPs can buy tickets for trains or planes (this is obviously restricted to trains from Accrington to London and flights from Manchester to either Heathrow or London City). Buying advanced train tickets, which are cheaper, is often difficult as the times which MPs are required to be in Parliament are often unpredictable. Whilst it is true that cheap flights can sometimes be had to City Airport, on some days (Mondays for example) the appropriate flight time isn't available. I'm using City Airport this week and the total return cost including taxes if £189.66.

Maybe we should take a leaf out of President Obama's book and buy a Greg Force One!

LYNX1 · 01-04-2009, 09:44

We could always start a collection to pay for it

jaysay · 01-04-2009, 09:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Pope

Just on Jaysay's point about the travel warrants. These were abolished a couple of years ago and replaced with a travel card with which MPs can buy tickets for trains or planes (this is obviously restricted to trains from Accrington to London and flights from Manchester to either Heathrow or London City). Buying advanced train tickets, which are cheaper, is often difficult as the times which MPs are required to be in Parliament are often unpredictable. Whilst it is true that cheap flights can sometimes be had to City Airport, on some days (Mondays for example) the appropriate flight time isn't available. I'm using City Airport this week and the total return cost including taxes if £189.66.

Maybe we should take a leaf out of President Obama's book and buy a Greg Force One!

Only when you become Prime Minister Greg