Comments on: How Conservative MPs sunk expenses reform http://www.libdemvoice.org/how-conservative-mps-sunk-expenses-reform-2968.html Our place to talk - an independent website for supporters of the Liberal Democrat party in the UK. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:35:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Hywel Morgan http://www.libdemvoice.org/how-conservative-mps-sunk-expenses-reform-2968.html#comment-56670 Hywel Morgan Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:46:03 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=2968#comment-56670 Mark - it is suggested by the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers that the HoC refreshment department has a subsidy of £5.5 million http://www.order-order.com/2008/07/how-will-mps-cope-with-76-days-of.html Mark – it is suggested by the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers that the HoC refreshment department has a subsidy of £5.5 million
http://www.order-order.com/2008/07/how-will-mps-cope-with-76-days-of.html

]]> By: Hywel Morgan http://www.libdemvoice.org/how-conservative-mps-sunk-expenses-reform-2968.html#comment-55300 Hywel Morgan Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:37:31 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=2968#comment-55300 Charles - my weekly shop this week came to £27 with a few bits that will last for 2-3 weeks or longer However, even if my estimate is well out and my actual spending is £50pw then I'm still spending half what MPs get as an allowance to buy food ON TOP of their salaries and an allowance for a second home. I've no issue with MPs salaries or the second home allowance (if something takes into account the capital gain aspect). What I can't see is the justification for an extra food allowance (especially if this is untaxed which has been suggested) I suspect the problem with these allowances stem from the unwillingness to get political unpopularty by increasing salaries. Charles – my weekly shop this week came to £27 with a few bits that will last for 2-3 weeks or longer

However, even if my estimate is well out and my actual spending is £50pw then I’m still spending half what MPs get as an allowance to buy food ON TOP of their salaries and an allowance for a second home.

I’ve no issue with MPs salaries or the second home allowance (if something takes into account the capital gain aspect). What I can’t see is the justification for an extra food allowance (especially if this is untaxed which has been suggested)

I suspect the problem with these allowances stem from the unwillingness to get political unpopularty by increasing salaries.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.libdemvoice.org/how-conservative-mps-sunk-expenses-reform-2968.html#comment-55081 Anonymous Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:01:45 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=2968#comment-55081 And the Lib Dems who didn't vote: John Barrett Edinburgh West LDem (front bench) absent Tom Brake Carshalton & Wallington LDem (front bench) absent Colin Breed South East Cornwall LDem (front bench) absent Jeremy Browne Taunton LDem (front bench) absent Lorely Burt Solihull LDem (front bench) absent Menzies Campbell Fife North East LDem absent Nicholas Clegg Sheffield, Hallam LDem (front bench) absent Tim Farron Westmorland & Lonsdale LDem absent Lynne Featherstone Hornsey & Wood Green LDem (front bench) absent Sandra Gidley Romsey LDem (front bench) absent David Heath Somerton & Frome LDem absent John Hemming Birmingham, Yardley LDem absent Charles Kennedy Ross, Skye & Lochaber LDem absent David Laws Yeovil LDem (front bench) absent John Leech Manchester, Withington LDem (front bench) absent Michael Moore Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk LDem (front bench) absent Mark Oaten Winchester LDem absent Lembit Öpik Montgomeryshire LDem (front bench) absent John Pugh Southport LDem (front bench) absent Willie Rennie Dunfermline & Fife West LDem (front bench) absent Daniel Rogerson North Cornwall LDem (front bench) absent Paul Rowen Rochdale LDem (front bench) absent Adrian Sanders Torbay LDem (front bench) absent Jo Swinson East Dunbartonshire LDem (front bench) absent John Thurso Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross LDem absent Steve Webb Northavon LDem (front bench) absent Richard Younger-Ross Teignbridge LDem (front bench) absent And the Lib Dems who didn’t vote:

John Barrett Edinburgh West LDem (front bench) absent
Tom Brake Carshalton & Wallington LDem (front bench) absent
Colin Breed South East Cornwall LDem (front bench) absent
Jeremy Browne Taunton LDem (front bench) absent
Lorely Burt Solihull LDem (front bench) absent
Menzies Campbell Fife North East LDem absent
Nicholas Clegg Sheffield, Hallam LDem (front bench) absent
Tim Farron Westmorland & Lonsdale LDem absent
Lynne Featherstone Hornsey & Wood Green LDem (front bench) absent
Sandra Gidley Romsey LDem (front bench) absent
David Heath Somerton & Frome LDem absent
John Hemming Birmingham, Yardley LDem absent
Charles Kennedy Ross, Skye & Lochaber LDem absent
David Laws Yeovil LDem (front bench) absent
John Leech Manchester, Withington LDem (front bench) absent
Michael Moore Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk LDem (front bench) absent
Mark Oaten Winchester LDem absent
Lembit Öpik Montgomeryshire LDem (front bench) absent
John Pugh Southport LDem (front bench) absent
Willie Rennie Dunfermline & Fife West LDem (front bench) absent
Daniel Rogerson North Cornwall LDem (front bench) absent
Paul Rowen Rochdale LDem (front bench) absent
Adrian Sanders Torbay LDem (front bench) absent
Jo Swinson East Dunbartonshire LDem (front bench) absent
John Thurso Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross LDem absent
Steve Webb Northavon LDem (front bench) absent
Richard Younger-Ross Teignbridge LDem (front bench) absent

]]> By: Mouse http://www.libdemvoice.org/how-conservative-mps-sunk-expenses-reform-2968.html#comment-55026 Mouse Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:13:27 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=2968#comment-55026 according to the daily mail - voting to keep their generous expenses were Conservative: David Amess (Southend West), James Arbuthnot (Hampshire North East), Henry Bellingham (Norfolk North West), Brian Binley (Northampton South), Sir John Butterfill (Bournemouth West), Christopher Chope (Christchurch), John Greenway (Ryedale), Gerald Howarth (Aldershot), Bernard Jenkin (Essex North), Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove), Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest), Anne McIntosh (Vale of York), Andrew Mackay (Bracknell), Andrew Rosindell (Romford), Hugo Swire (Devon East), Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth & Horncastle), Angela Watkinson (Upminster), Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone & The Weald), David Wilshire (Spelthorne), Lady Ann Winterton (Congleton), Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield) Independent: Dai Davies (Blaenau Gwent), Robert Wareing (Liverpool West Derby) according to the daily mail – voting to keep their generous expenses were

Conservative:
David Amess (Southend West),
James Arbuthnot (Hampshire North East),
Henry Bellingham (Norfolk North West),
Brian Binley (Northampton South),
Sir John Butterfill (Bournemouth West),
Christopher Chope (Christchurch),
John Greenway (Ryedale),
Gerald Howarth (Aldershot),
Bernard Jenkin (Essex North),
Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove),
Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest),
Anne McIntosh (Vale of York),
Andrew Mackay (Bracknell),
Andrew Rosindell (Romford),
Hugo Swire (Devon East),
Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth & Horncastle),
Angela Watkinson (Upminster),
Ann Widdecombe (Maidstone & The Weald),
David Wilshire (Spelthorne),
Lady Ann Winterton (Congleton),
Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield)

Independent:
Dai Davies (Blaenau Gwent),
Robert Wareing (Liverpool West Derby)

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.libdemvoice.org/how-conservative-mps-sunk-expenses-reform-2968.html#comment-55025 Anonymous Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:12:49 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=2968#comment-55025 Grammar Police: "Who are the Tories that voted this way on expenses reform?" http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2008-07-03&number=253 Grammar Police:
“Who are the Tories that voted this way on expenses reform?”

http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2008-07-03&number=253

]]> By: Mark Valladares http://www.libdemvoice.org/how-conservative-mps-sunk-expenses-reform-2968.html#comment-55016 Mark Valladares Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:08:38 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=2968#comment-55016 Simon, My understanding is that the food in the various restaurants isn't subsidised. It isn't run for profit, which keeps costs down. Those employers who keep a staff canteen, particularly in the public sector, do likewise. Simon,

My understanding is that the food in the various restaurants isn’t subsidised. It isn’t run for profit, which keeps costs down. Those employers who keep a staff canteen, particularly in the public sector, do likewise.

]]> By: Grammar Police http://www.libdemvoice.org/how-conservative-mps-sunk-expenses-reform-2968.html#comment-55015 Grammar Police Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:06:49 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=2968#comment-55015 Who are the Tories that voted this way on expenses reform? Who are the Tories that voted this way on expenses reform?

]]> By: Simon http://www.libdemvoice.org/how-conservative-mps-sunk-expenses-reform-2968.html#comment-55011 Simon Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:48:47 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=2968#comment-55011 "What didn’t seem to be addressed is the MPs food allowance" Well said Hywel. MPs already have probably the best subsidiesed food in the county at the Palace of Westminster as it is. If the rest of us want to eat during the working day we have to pay for it out of our salary. “What didn’t seem to be addressed is the MPs food allowance”

Well said Hywel. MPs already have probably the best subsidiesed food in the county at the Palace of Westminster as it is. If the rest of us want to eat during the working day we have to pay for it out of our salary.

]]> By: Hywel Morgan http://www.libdemvoice.org/how-conservative-mps-sunk-expenses-reform-2968.html#comment-55007 Hywel Morgan Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:14:32 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=2968#comment-55007 Well that's my last months supermarket spending. Maybe I just had a lot of stuff in so been living off "reserves" but I hadn't particularly noticed! Well that’s my last months supermarket spending. Maybe I just had a lot of stuff in so been living off “reserves” but I hadn’t particularly noticed!

]]> By: Charles http://www.libdemvoice.org/how-conservative-mps-sunk-expenses-reform-2968.html#comment-54998 Charles Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:28:05 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=2968#comment-54998 Does Hywel Moragn really feed himself on £25 a week? I'd dearly like to know how he manages that! Does Hywel Moragn really feed himself on £25 a week? I’d dearly like to know how he manages that!

]]> By: Mouse http://www.libdemvoice.org/how-conservative-mps-sunk-expenses-reform-2968.html#comment-54996 Mouse Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:15:07 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=2968#comment-54996 Why doesn't a Lib Dem resign and fight a by-election on the issue of taking the snouts out of the through? They really would ahve a popular issue and Mps would struggle not to adopt a 10 point action plan to clean up westminster sleeze Why doesn’t a Lib Dem resign and fight a by-election on the issue of taking the snouts out of the through? They really would ahve a popular issue and Mps would struggle not to adopt a 10 point action plan to clean up westminster sleeze

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.libdemvoice.org/how-conservative-mps-sunk-expenses-reform-2968.html#comment-54995 Anonymous Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:37:29 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=2968#comment-54995 "... for Gordon Brown to stay away, was another example of a lack of judgement." I hope Nick Clegg had a good reason for not voting. “… for Gordon Brown to stay away, was another example of a lack of judgement.”

I hope Nick Clegg had a good reason for not voting.

]]> By: Hywel Morgan http://www.libdemvoice.org/how-conservative-mps-sunk-expenses-reform-2968.html#comment-54991 Hywel Morgan Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:28:51 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=2968#comment-54991 "For those MPs who need to have a place to stay in London - whats wrong with them being given a rental allowance for a furnished flat?" It's probably a more efficient use of taxpayers money for MPs to be able to buy properties. There should be some provision regarding enrichment though that may be addressed by Capital Gains. What didn't seem to be addressed is the MPs food allowance which I can't see any justification for. It would be reasonable if they were staying in hotels and had no cooking facilities but a second home means that isn't the case. £400 a month for food is a helluva lot for one person - my supermarket spend is probably 1/4 of that. At the risk of being contentious - how much of this is a reflection of the growing number of MPs coming from a background only of work within politics - especially within Parliament and seeing such an approach as normal. “For those MPs who need to have a place to stay in London – whats wrong with them being given a rental allowance for a furnished flat?”

It’s probably a more efficient use of taxpayers money for MPs to be able to buy properties. There should be some provision regarding enrichment though that may be addressed by Capital Gains.

What didn’t seem to be addressed is the MPs food allowance which I can’t see any justification for. It would be reasonable if they were staying in hotels and had no cooking facilities but a second home means that isn’t the case. £400 a month for food is a helluva lot for one person – my supermarket spend is probably 1/4 of that.

At the risk of being contentious – how much of this is a reflection of the growing number of MPs coming from a background only of work within politics – especially within Parliament and seeing such an approach as normal.

]]> By: Meral http://www.libdemvoice.org/how-conservative-mps-sunk-expenses-reform-2968.html#comment-54990 Meral Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:09:28 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=2968#comment-54990 Its a disgrace that 33 Labour Ministers voted against this, and for Gordon Brown to stay away, was another example of a lack of judgement. For those MPs who need to have a place to stay in London - whats wrong with them being given a rental allowance for a furnished flat? Oh, yes... they wouldn't get to keep a valuable property that the tax payer has subsidised, once they step down! Next time one of them starts bleating about the low turnout in elections, they should look to themselves. Its a disgrace that 33 Labour Ministers voted against this, and for Gordon Brown to stay away, was another example of a lack of judgement.
For those MPs who need to have a place to stay in London – whats wrong with them being given a rental allowance for a furnished flat? Oh, yes… they wouldn’t get to keep a valuable property that the tax payer has subsidised, once they step down!
Next time one of them starts bleating about the low turnout in elections, they should look to themselves.

]]> By: Hywel Morgan http://www.libdemvoice.org/how-conservative-mps-sunk-expenses-reform-2968.html#comment-54988 Hywel Morgan Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:00:29 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=2968#comment-54988 I thought of the options available they all meant that the same amount of cash would be available just that the system of auditing would be more transparent. Nick Harvey (who I'm not always complimentary about!) was very good on this. As for Peter Kilfoyle who claims he is self-employed - if that is so has he registered with HMRC as self-employed? I thought of the options available they all meant that the same amount of cash would be available just that the system of auditing would be more transparent.

Nick Harvey (who I’m not always complimentary about!) was very good on this. As for Peter Kilfoyle who claims he is self-employed – if that is so has he registered with HMRC as self-employed?

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