Comments on: Expenses reform: Clegg pushes ahead despite Labour and Conservative opposition http://www.libdemvoice.org/expenses-reform-clegg-pushes-ahead-despite-labour-and-conservative-opposition-2970.html Our place to talk - an independent website for supporters of the Liberal Democrat party in the UK. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:55:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: RM http://www.libdemvoice.org/expenses-reform-clegg-pushes-ahead-despite-labour-and-conservative-opposition-2970.html#comment-55181 RM Sat, 05 Jul 2008 11:33:11 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=2970#comment-55181 Good that LibDems are going for accountability, but, as another commenter questioned, since MPs' expenses is such a burning issue why did not all LibDems vote on it? Either way, I won't be voting for a LibDem candidate in a general election since they abstained from voting for an EU Referendum, despite it being in their manifesto. Neither will I be voting Conservative as my local MP - who I normally vote for - abstained on the expenses vote. Possibly 'None of the above'? Good that LibDems are going for accountability, but, as another commenter questioned, since MPs’ expenses is such a burning issue why did not all LibDems vote on it? Either way, I won’t be voting for a LibDem candidate in a general election since they abstained from voting for an EU Referendum, despite it being in their manifesto. Neither will I be voting Conservative as my local MP – who I normally vote for – abstained on the expenses vote. Possibly ‘None of the above’?

]]> By: crewegwyn http://www.libdemvoice.org/expenses-reform-clegg-pushes-ahead-despite-labour-and-conservative-opposition-2970.html#comment-55174 crewegwyn Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:12:53 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=2970#comment-55174 An observation - We keep being told that MPs need a home in the constituency and a London home. The (late) MP for Crewe & Nantwich had her constituency home repossessed many years ago. She subsequently lived her life solely from her London flat, with no constituency home. When she came down to "do her surgeries" she stayed in a hotel (or possibly with friends on occasion). When she died she was lauded as a fine constituency MP. So do MPs REALLY need two homes ??? An observation -

We keep being told that MPs need a home in the constituency and a London home.

The (late) MP for Crewe & Nantwich had her constituency home repossessed many years ago. She subsequently lived her life solely from her London flat, with no constituency home. When she came down to “do her surgeries” she stayed in a hotel (or possibly with friends on occasion).

When she died she was lauded as a fine constituency MP.

So do MPs REALLY need two homes ???

]]> By: THE ESSEX BOYS http://www.libdemvoice.org/expenses-reform-clegg-pushes-ahead-despite-labour-and-conservative-opposition-2970.html#comment-55165 THE ESSEX BOYS Sat, 05 Jul 2008 07:10:50 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=2970#comment-55165 Well said Andrew & Anonymous. The capital gains aspect sticks in the public's craw. Nobody objects to direct business expenses being repaid given proper paperwork but if an MP chooses to buy a property in London he should be able to claim only the equivalent of modest B&B accom and only for the nights he has to sleep there for business reasons. Mortgages and furnishing are his responsibility and any capital gain is his therefore. We also want to know the full perameters on overseas jaunts. Tele-conferencing and internet research can achieve most objectives and if a trip is necessary why not 2 members reporting back to the rest of the would-be hangers-on? Also we want a spec on how many days an MP is required to be in Westminster and his constituency and a published summary when he is elsewhere. We also must know the detail of other business interests of which there should be a defined limit and we want a total ban on taking positions for 5 years after leaving Parliament with any potential lobby group or beneficiary company. Autobiographies should have a similar time scale. We don't object to a higher salary for MPs - £75000 is not unreasonable - but they must conform to the rest of the package simultaneously and stop running their constituencies as though they were 'family business bases' for outside interests. WE happen to have an excellent MP totally alien to the description above but he is in a minority in our view. C'mon the rest of you or we shall rise and unseat you. You are OUR employees and please don't forget it! Well said Andrew & Anonymous. The capital gains aspect sticks in the public’s craw. Nobody objects to direct business expenses being repaid given proper paperwork but if an MP chooses to buy a property in London he should be able to claim only the equivalent of modest B&B accom and only for the nights he has to sleep there for business reasons. Mortgages and furnishing are his responsibility and any capital gain is his therefore.
We also want to know the full perameters on overseas jaunts. Tele-conferencing and internet research can achieve most objectives and if a trip is necessary why not 2 members reporting back to the rest of the would-be hangers-on?
Also we want a spec on how many days an MP is required to be in Westminster and his constituency and a published summary when he is elsewhere.
We also must know the detail of other business interests of which there should be a defined limit and we want a total ban on taking positions for 5 years after leaving Parliament with any potential lobby group or beneficiary company. Autobiographies should have a similar time scale.
We don’t object to a higher salary for MPs – £75000 is not unreasonable – but they must conform to the rest of the package simultaneously and stop running their constituencies as though they were ‘family business bases’ for outside interests.
WE happen to have an excellent MP totally alien to the description above but he is in a minority in our view.
C’mon the rest of you or we shall rise and unseat you. You are OUR employees and please don’t forget it!

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.libdemvoice.org/expenses-reform-clegg-pushes-ahead-despite-labour-and-conservative-opposition-2970.html#comment-55133 Anonymous Fri, 04 Jul 2008 23:48:51 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=2970#comment-55133 I still don't quite understand why - if this is such a burning issue - 20 Lib Dem front-benchers, including Clegg himself, didn't bother to vote on this. I still don’t quite understand why – if this is such a burning issue – 20 Lib Dem front-benchers, including Clegg himself, didn’t bother to vote on this.

]]> By: Andrew Duffield http://www.libdemvoice.org/expenses-reform-clegg-pushes-ahead-despite-labour-and-conservative-opposition-2970.html#comment-55103 Andrew Duffield Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:09:37 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=2970#comment-55103 Good show Nick - although full and transparent accountability over the John Lewis list is mere chicken feed compared to the main Westminster snout scam. The question remains, will Lib Dem MPs also commit to repaying 100% of the unearned gain from any property they have purchased using public monies? (18% capital gains tax just ain't good enough I'm afraid). That is the real test of our MPs integrity - as well as being a genuinely principled and distinctive benchmark for the other parties to match. Will our honourable members be honourable enough to trot that extra mile? Good show Nick – although full and transparent accountability over the John Lewis list is mere chicken feed compared to the main Westminster snout scam.

The question remains, will Lib Dem MPs also commit to repaying 100% of the unearned gain from any property they have purchased using public monies?
(18% capital gains tax just ain’t good enough I’m afraid).

That is the real test of our MPs integrity – as well as being a genuinely principled and distinctive benchmark for the other parties to match.

Will our honourable members be honourable enough to trot that extra mile?

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