The Expenses Scandal

[poliphilo]

Stephen Fry is right; the expenses scandal is trivial. It isn't like faking the evidence for a war or buggering up an economy. Besides, everyone fiddles on their expenses, don't they? If we're getting so aerated about it, it's not because we're really so shocked by these particular infringements but because those other, badder things have happened.  The intensity of the furore is a sign of how deep into injury time this government now is. Early on in the history of Nu-Labour Tony Blair could (and should) have been kicked out over the Bernie Ecclestone affair- you know, exempting Formula One from the ban on tobacco advertising at just the time that Ecclestone was making a million pound donation to party funds; that was much worse than this- but we let him get away with it because he still carried our hopes for renewal and reform. Now, it's a decade or more later, we're sick to death of these people- and we'll beat them with any stick or switch that falls into our hands. 

Comments

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

I think that some of the specifics that are being raked up are trivial - but not all of them.

But the really scandalous thing is that MPs - who are now paid a very decent salary, and who are no longer expected to be in the Chamber at all hours of the night - seem to think it's all right tomake rules for themselves which are quite unlike the rules they make for the rest of us.

It's apparently too much to expect an MP who gets free rail travel to commute from outer London to Westminster - do you think someone on JSA would be allowed to turn down a job because 'that's too far to commute'?

I think MPs have known all along that their expenses are disgraceful, which is why they have tried so hard to exempt themselves from the Freedom of Information Act. You're quite right that the fuss shouldn't make us forget all the other things, but this isn't about a few people 'fiddling their expenses', this is about deciding that if you make the laws, you can make yourself a special case.

- It's OK, I've stopped now.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I don't disagree :)

The Daily Telegraph has saved the worst until last- and the cases it has unloaded on us today include ones where a criminal prosecution may well follow.

Gordon Brown doesn't seem to get it- and is dithering over his response- as we've come to expect of him. This is a government at the end of its rope. It seems almost inconceivable that it can limp on into next year.

[jfs.livejournal.com]

I live in Zone 4, and commute to Zone 1 each day.

My MP, making much the same journey, claimed £22,000 last year for his additional living allowance. And then claimed £3000 or so on travel costs.

I'm fuming over that.

[arielstarshadow.livejournal.com]

You should send him a bill.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

He was within the rules, I guess- but the rules suck.