pron on the UK taxpayer

By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics and access other forums reserved for members. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today by clicking here.

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 3:48 pm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/mar/29/jacqui-smith-expenses-film

After so many recent exposes of MP's (of both sides) less than acceptable expenses claims, it is hilarious that a senior Government Minister's husband has put his pron films on her expenses claim. He is being paid, out of taxpayer's money, to act as her aid to submit her claims. I doubt we can sack him either.

You couldn't make it up.

Rolling Eyes

Master of Master Baiters Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 720

No doubt he was watching the pron for research purposes, on how to shaft the British tax payer better.

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 5:40 pm

I read that it wasn't pron.
It was Oceans Thirteen and some other crap called Surf's Up.

As much as I hate the bitch (and believe me, she is the only MP I actually do well and truly hate), I think this is just sensationalist media bullshit.
I'm not gonna whine about £7. It's the £120,000 that she claimed on her "second home" that pisses me off.

And that's just for starters.

Now I'm outta here. 'Cos this is definitely "Politics".

Adamu's soulmate Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 337

I just saw his "humble " apology on Sky news...too funny. Apparently his wife is barely speaking to him. Laughing

Cant comment any further as way too politcial

train boi Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 697

Maybe he thought "Gordon does Soho" is a Documentary about Gordon Brown and his daily work and not the Gay porn it really was

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 8:09 pm

What gets me is that in doing this he wasn't acting as husband, he was hired to do a job at the taxpayer's expense, so including his own pron on his employer's expenses, is a little more than just a mistake.

In the real world, anyone doing that would consider themselves lucky only to get sacked, and a visit from the police would not be out of the question.

It's a shame we lost 'Screaming Lord Sutch' - he'd have got my vote.

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 2628

Give the guy some slack, he was sitting at "home " twiddling his thumbs, watching tv and accessed x rated channels and Oceans 13 ( twice )
OK so his wife claims an allowance for that home.
His wife was at her London home( sister's spare room ) for which she also collects an allowance

SHE was the one that submitted the claim for the whole cable bill, not just the phone or internet
Any charges for films, premium channels etc are printed on it in black and white
SHE chose to ignore this or didn't read it

So some questions are raised

1) how much attention she pays to other matters if an error like that can be made?
2) Does no one scutinise MPs claims when submitted?
3) Who had access to these claims and leaked them to the press?
4) How many more of those on this particluar gravy train are doing the same?
5) Are the claims submitted with Calvary greeting and paid out via Western Union in exchange for a trunk box?

Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:34 am

This MPs pay and 'expenses' business is a farce that only we could contrive. Cool

This story is just a load of hot air. When we have one of our newspapers that is actually owned by a rampant pornographer calling for her resignation, you know it's all codswallop.

This is more symptomatic of how unprofessional our political class (of all colours) are though. If they can't even sort out their own pay structure in a fair, open and equitable way, what chance have the rest of us got with them running our lives? Rolling Eyes

More tea Vicar?

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 2628

Nicely put, Windy.

Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 8:37 am

At the next election any party wanting my vote will have to pay for it.

It's a principle most parties embrace already. Very Happy

The pron aspect is just an amusing aside, and the husband is at fault as he takes a wage from the taxpayer as his wife's aide to manage her expenses claims, so he is twice guilty.

It's another thing that will be deferred until after the next election. The lucky party will be the one that loses.

Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 8:40 am

What gets me is he had to watch Oceans' 13 twice.

Is he so dim he didn't understand it the first time?

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 2628

@ Gomer but he was at home watching the tv, albiet employed by his wife at taxpayers expense, but she was the one that submitted the bill.
Those bills are easy enough to check
Unless of course he was the one submitting the bill on her behalf but even then ...

Ah, if only my dad had smoozed more of the party faithful he would have been selected for that safe seat all those years ago, then he could have employed me to look at George Clooney then claimed my utility room as his constiuency address and claim the campervan I want to buy as his weekend holiday retreat.

@ Sunshine perhaps he has a thing for Brad Pitt, George Clooney or suchlike ar was watching for ideas as to how to gain a fortune by deceit hmmmmm

Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 6:45 pm

Agreed. I dont know how "expense" are worked out, but I would deem that it would only be used fro things required for their job (perhaps a fuel allowance, or for an overnight stay somewhere) but among the things she claimed for were...

a £460 dining room table, £704 sofa bed, £1,000 antique fireplace, £399 cooker, £189 tumble dryer, two washing machines together worth nearly £550, £1,100 TV and DVD equipment, a £550 stone sink and an 88p BATH PLUG

Now, I own alot of those items (albeit less expensive versions and I decided to stick with the sink that was in my flat when I moved in, and one washing machine has done the trick) but my work wouldnt even refund the 50p that the vending machine in the canteen swallowed let alone the above items.

MP's should be like everyone else. Pay for things out of your salary, dont just shaft taxpayers who pay your already extortionate wage.

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 3123

I have no wish to get banned here, so I'll stay away from the politics of the situation.

I find it hilarious that she even knowingly let the guy do that, and still stand by him Laughing

Adamu's soulmate Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 337

For the record her husband submitted the claim in his capacity as her assistant - for which he receives £24k pa

Doubtless the media will whip this up but there is a real issue about public confidence in MPs ( across all parties) integrity - fuelled by the likes of this claim which also included 80p for a bath plug.

Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 10:15 pm

It's on Newsnight that a whole list of expenses is up for sale to the media for £300k. I bet that's juicy.

A member of the Public Accounts Committee made some sensible points.

1 - Whether MP's are underpaid or not, is irrelevant. It is not acceptable to use expenses as a way to get a salary increase you have not been awarded.

2 - MP's are among the top 10% UK salary earners.

3 - MP's should claim against a nightly allowance for time spent away from home against hotel receipts, the same way every other company in the UK does it.

Simple 'ennit ?

Adamu's soulmate Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 337

Gomer I agree its so simple - therefore I doubt they would adopt it!!!

I wrote to my MP tonight challenging him on his use of expenses. I will await his reply with interest

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:53 am

I find it incredible that a public servant, is allowed to keep his expenses from the public eye... Shocked

There is absolutely no need for privacy, because all legitimate expenses claimed should be pertinent to carrying out his role in public office.

Clearly this is not the reality though.
It seems that an MPs expense allowance, gives him carte blanche to charge absolutely anything to his account.

There is absolutely no other job that would allow you to do that.

How do they claim for domestic items without being charged with fraud...??