Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008
MPs part in the property boom to be exposed
Guardian: Information tribunal rules that MPs should disclose details of expenses for second homes
MPs have lost a battle to block the detailed disclosure of expenses covering their second homes, power and telephone bills, and the furniture they buy... It should be released within 28 days, according to the ruling by an information appeal tribunal... The allowance - called the additional costs allowance (ACA) - entitles MPs to an additional £22,110 a year to cover the costs of setting up a second home if they live away from London... But MPs' addresses can be disclosed, unless there are specific security concerns, and the names of landlords and mortgage lenders would be released... John Spellar... said last night: "This decision is absurd and ridiculous. It will end with people writing about how much MPs are paying for a pint of milk." Does he pay ridiculous amounts for milk?!?!?
12 Comments
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1. Letthemfall said...
Wonder how this might affect that double act Cooper and Balls. They worked the allowance system to their advantage by declaring their home in Balls's constituency as their main, despite spending the week in London. It used to be the other way round until the rules changed, at which point they switched to gain the financial advantage. Still, I'm sure we all feel they deserve it, given their contribution to the excellent government of our country.
2. Alex228 said...
about high fecking time... we might be in for a big "surprise" !
3. paul said...
"This decision is absurd and ridiculous. It will end with people writing about how much MPs are paying for a pint of milk."
To use this as an argument to exempt MPs from the same scrutiny that every privately employed person in the land is subject to under UK tax law is jaw-droppingly arrogant.
Another example of one rule for the rabble, another law for the lawmakers.
4. Alex228 said...
this country needs a few show court-martials. either this or sharia law. Public floggings, beheadings and stuff
would do wonders to morality and public order
5. A Saver said...
Well it's been blindingly obvious that MPs have a vested interest in property values continuing to rise, which must surely create a conflict of interest situation when voting on CGT etc.
6. Rainbow said...
And lets not forget, Mr Spellar is one of the MPs appointed by the speaker to look into
"abuse of privileges"
7. Yoss said...
Anyone see the TV clip where they pass the ammendment on MP expenses. Basically fudged through on a Friday evening at the last minute, normally everything proposed gets objected by default, exploting a loop hole to get things aired in parliment. basically they pay someone to say object...Object...Object to everything.
Then MP expenses comes up, "We would like thr RIGHT to claim un-realistic and un-reportable expenses"...The Silence was deafening.
Anyone know if thier is a youtube clip? well worth saving the link and sending a copy out to everyone you know before the next election.
And the speaker...The guy put in charge of the enquiry... was fecking there, I bet thats the only loop holed ammendment to make it through in the last 20 years.
I don't think they should lose thier jobs though, just make the robbing gits pay it all back + interest!
Perhaps we could get an 'Non Whipped' MP to propose a private members bill on a friday evening that all MP's expenses that could be deemed as excessive should be paid back + interest + any gains made on London property made through living allowances redemed to the tax payers that funded them.
No wonder they slam up fuel duty and council tax, they get all thiers sodding paid for! and its not even a taxable PERK!
8. Plato said...
What Mr Spellar means is : We make the Laws and Balls to you all from Ed.
9. hpwatcher said...
Let the MP's fry!
I bet they curse the folks who broke the story i.e. the press!
10. yoyo1 said...
Other than our chancellor, how many MPs acquired these second homes with the aid of Northern Rock!
11. wiltshire said...
"It will end with people writing about how much MPs are paying for a pint of milk."
Too right mate, especially as it's OUR ******* money!!!!
12. voiceofreason said...
About time we exposed the MPs as the vested interests that they have been made through this £22K pa of Housing Allowance.
If the gov is paying the mortgage, then the Treasury should keep the capital gains.
Maybe they would be less keen to inflate the housing bubble next time.