Comments on: The Telegraph should apologise to Andrew George and Alan Reid http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-telegraph-should-apologise-to-andrew-george-and-alan-reid-14471.html Our place to talk - an independent website for supporters of the Liberal Democrat party in the UK. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:46:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Alix Mortimer http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-telegraph-should-apologise-to-andrew-george-and-alan-reid-14471.html#comment-90720 Alix Mortimer Wed, 20 May 2009 18:06:16 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=14471#comment-90720 @Donald, don't apologise, it's a perfectly good point. I can't edit the map (well, I could, but only with big splodgy hand-drawn arrows) cos it's off Wikipedia, but I will include Alan in a "possible questions outstanding" post either tomorrow or Friday. The delay is that we don't know how the party machine intends to investigate the allegations against Lib Dem MPs, but some decisions are expected (not before time) on Friday. @Donald, don’t apologise, it’s a perfectly good point.

I can’t edit the map (well, I could, but only with big splodgy hand-drawn arrows) cos it’s off Wikipedia, but I will include Alan in a “possible questions outstanding” post either tomorrow or Friday. The delay is that we don’t know how the party machine intends to investigate the allegations against Lib Dem MPs, but some decisions are expected (not before time) on Friday.

]]> By: coldcomfort http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-telegraph-should-apologise-to-andrew-george-and-alan-reid-14471.html#comment-90717 coldcomfort Wed, 20 May 2009 17:32:27 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=14471#comment-90717 Let's face it. The ethos of the Telegraph has been to dish the dirt on Labour and promote the Conservatives. The LibDems can be ignored unless they might just possibly attract some support. This so called 'newspaper' has had this political stance for all 50yrs of my adult life.It will NEVER give the LibDems what my Aussie friends call 'a fair go'. We are doing the right thing by using technology to appeal to the electorate over the heads of main stream media but we just need to be careful not to drown them in too big a torrent of words. Let’s face it. The ethos of the Telegraph has been to dish the dirt on Labour and promote the Conservatives. The LibDems can be ignored unless they might just possibly attract some support. This so called ‘newspaper’ has had this political stance for all 50yrs of my adult life.It will NEVER give the LibDems what my Aussie friends call ‘a fair go’. We are doing the right thing by using technology to appeal to the electorate over the heads of main stream media but we just need to be careful not to drown them in too big a torrent of words.

]]> By: edward drummond http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-telegraph-should-apologise-to-andrew-george-and-alan-reid-14471.html#comment-90540 edward drummond Tue, 19 May 2009 11:07:53 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=14471#comment-90540 I can understand why alan reid would require to live somewhere when in London when at his work, but why is he allowed to have a home in Dunoon (as reported in the local paper) and a second home in Cardross for which he claims 2nd home allowance and is also claiming hotel bills for when in London. B & B's in a constituancy like Argyll & Bute are understandable but a second home in Cardross which as the crow flies can't be any more than 12 miles from Dunoon. Admitedly if in Dunoon to reach the airport it is easier to cross the Clyde by ferry but is possible to drive by road, and the distance from Glasgow Airport to Cardross is comparable to the distance from the airport to the ferry terminal and the ferries run until 11.30pm. Instead of claiming for a 2nd home in Cardross which he states he uses when he cannot get back to Dunoon it would be much cheaper to stay in an Hotel on these odd occassions. I can understand why alan reid would require to live somewhere when in London when at his work, but why is he allowed to have a home in Dunoon (as reported in the local paper) and a second home in Cardross for which he claims 2nd home allowance and is also claiming hotel bills for when in London. B & B’s in a constituancy like Argyll & Bute are understandable but a second home in Cardross which as the crow flies can’t be any more than 12 miles from Dunoon. Admitedly if in Dunoon to reach the airport it is easier to cross the Clyde by ferry but is possible to drive by road, and the distance from Glasgow Airport to Cardross is comparable to the distance from the airport to the ferry terminal and the ferries run until 11.30pm. Instead of claiming for a 2nd home in Cardross which he states he uses when he cannot get back to Dunoon it would be much cheaper to stay in an Hotel on these odd occassions.

]]> By: Donald http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-telegraph-should-apologise-to-andrew-george-and-alan-reid-14471.html#comment-90308 Donald Sat, 16 May 2009 16:36:17 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=14471#comment-90308 sorry to rant on but bring up your map and mark on the second home at cardross and list some points on the justification of the location sorry to rant on but bring up your map and mark on the second home at cardross
and list some points on the justification of the location

]]> By: Donald http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-telegraph-should-apologise-to-andrew-george-and-alan-reid-14471.html#comment-90304 Donald Sat, 16 May 2009 15:37:22 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=14471#comment-90304 And Alix you make a good argument for the Telegraph people why is he claming all the b and b costs if he has a second home to prevent this OR why has he a second home (in his constituency ( i have no problems if he had one in westminster)) when he is able to justly claim b and b costs And Alix you make a good argument for the Telegraph people why is he claming all the b and b costs if he has a second home to prevent this OR why has he a second home (in his constituency ( i have no problems if he had one in westminster)) when he is able to justly claim b and b costs

]]> By: Donald http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-telegraph-should-apologise-to-andrew-george-and-alan-reid-14471.html#comment-90303 Donald Sat, 16 May 2009 15:23:45 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=14471#comment-90303 KL you ask whether it would be wise to drive for over three hours following an evening meeting in Campbeltown? i totally agree why drive past the dunoon road end to drive a total of 8 miles further to his second house (maybee to bump up milage allowance you see i work in Argyll last night i drove from campbeltown to Lochgilphead at 5am after being called out at 11pm to 60 houses in southend after a lightning strike maybe the electricty company should give me a second home and charge it to the bill payers to save me getting a b and b or driving these terrible roads KL you ask whether it would be wise to drive for over three hours following an evening meeting in Campbeltown?
i totally agree why drive past the dunoon road end to drive a total of 8 miles further to his second house (maybee to bump up milage allowance
you see i work in Argyll last night i drove from campbeltown to Lochgilphead at 5am after being called out at 11pm to 60 houses in southend after a lightning strike maybe the electricty company should give me a second home and charge it to the bill payers to save me getting a b and b or driving these terrible roads

]]> By: Donald http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-telegraph-should-apologise-to-andrew-george-and-alan-reid-14471.html#comment-90302 Donald Sat, 16 May 2009 15:07:28 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=14471#comment-90302 "I don’t think there’s anything necessarily wrong with having a second home in the same constituency - provided it was purchased to minimise the cost of B&Bs. Are you suggesting this is not the case" Yes i am sugesting this is not the case i am sugesting this house is a nestegg picked for its location near the golf course why not a flat in oban (the gateway to the isles) to save the two hour drive home after coming off the late ferry or after a surgery in one of Argylls largest towns “I don’t think there’s anything necessarily wrong with having a second home in the same constituency – provided it was purchased to minimise the cost of B&Bs. Are you suggesting this is not the case”
Yes i am sugesting this is not the case i am sugesting this house is a nestegg
picked for its location near the golf course
why not a flat in oban (the gateway to the isles) to save the two hour drive home after coming off the late ferry

or after a surgery in one of Argylls largest towns

]]> By: M. Lidbury http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-telegraph-should-apologise-to-andrew-george-and-alan-reid-14471.html#comment-90262 M. Lidbury Sat, 16 May 2009 08:03:49 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=14471#comment-90262 Andrew George Liberal Democrat MP for St.Ives & Helston in Cornwall is so dis-connected, he just does NOT understand how very ANGRY the British people are over the MP's expenses claim scandal! Especially some people, like the former 15yr old homeless gay youth, who lived rough on the streets of Helston, Cornwall, but would Andrew George MP help when the lad wrote to Andrew George BEGGING for help....NO! Andrew George MP was too busy filling in his own expense claims form it would seem! Search youtube for the video "NO HELP for homeless gay teenage boy" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKRJjFOeKMA Andrew George Liberal Democrat MP for St.Ives & Helston in Cornwall is so dis-connected, he just does NOT understand how very ANGRY the British people are over the MP’s expenses claim scandal!

Especially some people, like the former 15yr old homeless gay youth, who lived rough on the streets of Helston, Cornwall, but would Andrew George MP help when the lad wrote to Andrew George BEGGING for help….NO!

Andrew George MP was too busy filling in his own expense claims form it would seem!

Search youtube for the video “NO HELP for homeless gay teenage boy”

]]> By: Alix Mortimer http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-telegraph-should-apologise-to-andrew-george-and-alan-reid-14471.html#comment-90231 Alix Mortimer Fri, 15 May 2009 20:51:37 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=14471#comment-90231 Strange, you know, I could have sworn those paras are new in that article. I don't think I'd have missed that - can anyone else who took this up confirm? Strange, you know, I could have sworn those paras are new in that article. I don’t think I’d have missed that – can anyone else who took this up confirm?

]]> By: Alix Mortimer http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-telegraph-should-apologise-to-andrew-george-and-alan-reid-14471.html#comment-90229 Alix Mortimer Fri, 15 May 2009 20:47:58 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=14471#comment-90229 Ah, no fair enough, he later designated another home in his constituency as a second one. I don't think there's anything necessarily wrong with having a second home in the same constituency - provided it was purchased to minimise the cost of B&Bs. Are you suggesting this is not the case? Ah, no fair enough, he later designated another home in his constituency as a second one. I don’t think there’s anything necessarily wrong with having a second home in the same constituency – provided it was purchased to minimise the cost of B&Bs. Are you suggesting this is not the case?

]]> By: Alix Mortimer http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-telegraph-should-apologise-to-andrew-george-and-alan-reid-14471.html#comment-90228 Alix Mortimer Fri, 15 May 2009 20:45:46 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=14471#comment-90228 Donald, this is copied and pasted from the Telegraph article on Alan Reid: "in 2004-05 Mr Reid lived in Dunoon, within his constituency, and did not claim for a second home." If he does have a second home near his main home as you say, he doesn't appear to be claiming for it. Donald, this is copied and pasted from the Telegraph article on Alan Reid:

“in 2004-05 Mr Reid lived in Dunoon, within his constituency, and did not claim for a second home.”

If he does have a second home near his main home as you say, he doesn’t appear to be claiming for it.

]]> By: Martin Kinsella http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-telegraph-should-apologise-to-andrew-george-and-alan-reid-14471.html#comment-90226 Martin Kinsella Fri, 15 May 2009 19:53:49 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=14471#comment-90226 George owes us an apology. The Telegraph owes no one nothing. Anonymous1, the Hoggmeister General made some stupid statement to the effect that the moat clearing had not been excluded. That's alright then !!!! George owes us an apology. The Telegraph owes no one nothing.

Anonymous1, the Hoggmeister General made some stupid statement to the effect that the moat clearing had not been excluded.

That’s alright then !!!!

]]> By: Anonymous1 http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-telegraph-should-apologise-to-andrew-george-and-alan-reid-14471.html#comment-90223 Anonymous1 Fri, 15 May 2009 19:46:08 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=14471#comment-90223 "Except he’s paying back the money for the moat now." Are you sure? I thought the story was that he hadn't claimed for the moat in the first place. “Except he’s paying back the money for the moat now.”

Are you sure? I thought the story was that he hadn’t claimed for the moat in the first place.

]]> By: Donald http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-telegraph-should-apologise-to-andrew-george-and-alan-reid-14471.html#comment-90219 Donald Fri, 15 May 2009 18:36:21 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=14471#comment-90219 no problems with him staying overnight on the isles my hart bleeds for him driving on the third world roads of Argyll with the rest of us with the £1.o3 per litre(he understands this i beleve) diesel and the almost necessity of a 4x4 but why am i paying him to have a second home 30 miles away using the gourock ferry 62 miles by road by the way giga is no problem for day visits from almost anywhere in mainland Argyll so dont use this stick to Mull Islay Jura and such like no problems with him staying overnight on the isles my hart bleeds for him driving on the third world roads of Argyll with the rest of us with the £1.o3 per litre(he understands this i beleve) diesel and the almost necessity of a 4×4
but why am i paying him to have a second home 30 miles away using the gourock ferry 62 miles by road
by the way giga is no problem for day visits from almost anywhere in mainland Argyll so dont use this
stick to Mull Islay Jura and such like

]]> By: KL http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-telegraph-should-apologise-to-andrew-george-and-alan-reid-14471.html#comment-90169 KL Fri, 15 May 2009 11:32:43 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=14471#comment-90169 "he has a second home at cardross an hours drive from his own home in dunoon so he wont have to get the calmac ferry 20min from Glasgow airport or spend the nighgt in the hotel at the airport if hes on a late flight o by the way its near a good golf course" OK, according to the AA it's 1 3/4 hrs from Dunoon to Cardross, but more to the point it's on highland roads (from memory, single track at some points, definately single carriageway and not roads you'd want to drive at night.) But the point the Torygraph was making is that he was using B&Bs while on a constituency tour. Perhaps, donald, you might be able to tell me how you would get from Mull or Gigha to Cardross if a meeting ran on past the time the last ferry sailed? Or, for that matter, whether it would be wise to drive for over three hours following an evening meeting in Campbeltown? Craig Murray, in his blog, described the Torygraph journalists who wrote that particular piece as "English idiots" - not sure I quite like the unintended undertones of that phrase, but I do agree with Alix's assessment that the assumptions were made because of the London-centric world of the Torygraph. “he has a second home at cardross an hours drive from his own home in dunoon so he wont have to get the calmac ferry 20min from Glasgow airport or spend the nighgt in the hotel at the airport if hes on a late flight o by the way its near a good golf course”

OK, according to the AA it’s 1 3/4 hrs from Dunoon to Cardross, but more to the point it’s on highland roads (from memory, single track at some points, definately single carriageway and not roads you’d want to drive at night.)

But the point the Torygraph was making is that he was using B&Bs while on a constituency tour. Perhaps, donald, you might be able to tell me how you would get from Mull or Gigha to Cardross if a meeting ran on past the time the last ferry sailed? Or, for that matter, whether it would be wise to drive for over three hours following an evening meeting in Campbeltown? Craig Murray, in his blog, described the Torygraph journalists who wrote that particular piece as “English idiots” – not sure I quite like the unintended undertones of that phrase, but I do agree with Alix’s assessment that the assumptions were made because of the London-centric world of the Torygraph.

]]> By: Ryan Cullen http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-telegraph-should-apologise-to-andrew-george-and-alan-reid-14471.html#comment-90157 Ryan Cullen Fri, 15 May 2009 09:17:47 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=14471#comment-90157 Alix: "Well, no, we don’t know enough details of the cases - but I’m sure some of them were. I understand the moat thing may not actually be true, for a start." Except he's paying back the money for the moat now. Alix: “Well, no, we don’t know enough details of the cases – but I’m sure some of them were. I understand the moat thing may not actually be true, for a start.”

Except he’s paying back the money for the moat now.

]]> By: curacoa http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-telegraph-should-apologise-to-andrew-george-and-alan-reid-14471.html#comment-90156 curacoa Fri, 15 May 2009 09:07:50 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=14471#comment-90156 This is the Andrew George story yesterday in the local paper, the Cornishman. http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/latestnews/MP-s-mistake-revealed-amid-expenses-row/article-989526-detail/article.html This is the Andrew George story yesterday in the local paper, the Cornishman.

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/latestnews/MP-s-mistake-revealed-amid-expenses-row/article-989526-detail/article.html

]]> By: Rob Parsons http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-telegraph-should-apologise-to-andrew-george-and-alan-reid-14471.html#comment-90126 Rob Parsons Thu, 14 May 2009 21:36:09 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=14471#comment-90126 "Mark Williams Says: 14th May 2009 at 11:10 am Meanwhile it seems Norman Baker is paying himself rent for his constituency office. http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/4366718.Expenses_claims_of_outspoken_Lewes_MP/" Actually not so. The story in short is that he rented the office/shop first, then when the house above it came up for sale, he bought it. He could have rented out the shop as a shop but chose to maintain the office there. The full explanation is in the Worthing Herald - http://www.worthingherald.co.uk/lewes-district-news/Lewes-MP-Norman-Baker-issues.5270120.jp. I think the Argus has chosen not to publish the truth behind the allegation because they dislike Norman because of his opposition to the choice of Falmer as the site for the new Brighton and Hove Albion stadium. “Mark Williams Says:
14th May 2009 at 11:10 am
Meanwhile it seems Norman Baker is paying himself rent for his constituency office.

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/4366718.Expenses_claims_of_outspoken_Lewes_MP/”

Actually not so. The story in short is that he rented the office/shop first, then when the house above it came up for sale, he bought it. He could have rented out the shop as a shop but chose to maintain the office there. The full explanation is in the Worthing Herald – http://www.worthingherald.co.uk/lewes-district-news/Lewes-MP-Norman-Baker-issues.5270120.jp. I think the Argus has chosen not to publish the truth behind the allegation because they dislike Norman because of his opposition to the choice of Falmer as the site for the new Brighton and Hove Albion stadium.

]]> By: Bernard Salmon http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-telegraph-should-apologise-to-andrew-george-and-alan-reid-14471.html#comment-90123 Bernard Salmon Thu, 14 May 2009 21:16:05 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=14471#comment-90123 "Well, no, we don’t know enough details of the cases - but I’m sure some of them were." Indeed, and some of them seem to have been as unfair as Alan Reid's case. I think the criticism of Oliver Letwin for being required to repair a pipe under his tennis court (note, not the tennis court itself) was unwarranted, for instance. “Well, no, we don’t know enough details of the cases – but I’m sure some of them were.”

Indeed, and some of them seem to have been as unfair as Alan Reid’s case. I think the criticism of Oliver Letwin for being required to repair a pipe under his tennis court (note, not the tennis court itself) was unwarranted, for instance.

]]> By: Bernard Salmon http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-telegraph-should-apologise-to-andrew-george-and-alan-reid-14471.html#comment-90122 Bernard Salmon Thu, 14 May 2009 21:10:31 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=14471#comment-90122 "Mr Salmon seems to agree with me that Mr Cable did not know the precise problems." Mr Salmon is disagreeing with your assertion that Mr Cable did not foresee economic problems caused by the unsustainable level of debt in the UK economy, which is demonstrably false. “Mr Salmon seems to agree with me that Mr Cable did not know the precise problems.”

Mr Salmon is disagreeing with your assertion that Mr Cable did not foresee economic problems caused by the unsustainable level of debt in the UK economy, which is demonstrably false.

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