Changing the rules

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So finally we have the usual pathetic shadows of apologies that we’ve come to expect from Gordon and Dave. Neither seems particularly sorry about what their MPs have been doing over the years so much as that they’ve been caught. Of course still they carry on with the “within the rules” nonsense, the rules it would seem state:

“Claims must only be made for expenditure that it was necessary for a Member to incur to ensure that he or she could properly perform his or her parliamentary duties”

As Anna Raccoon observes in the case of Phil Woolas shoes, comics jumpers etc. can hardly fall under that definition. Which seems to be the case with a substantial number of the claims published so far. So what is the point of our glorious leaders promising to change the rules when they’re already not keeping to the rules. I do think that changing the rules is probably vital, but there is no point in changing rules unless the rules are actually enforced. As it is it seems like just another knee jerk make more laws and don’t worry about enforcement because just making the law makes everything so type response that is so beloved of our current parliament.

As Old Holborn observes, sorry isn’t good enough. Fraudulent claims have been made it isn’t sufficient that some token amount be repaid, it isn’t even sufficient if every last ill gotten penny is repaid. There must be criminal proceeding brought with appropriate penalties for those found guilty, exactly the same as the rest of us can expect if we make mistakes on tax returns or benefit claims. Where it is uncertain how much has been claimed then the same yard stick must be used on them as on us, they must prove it was legitimately gained or lose it, the provision of the Proceeds of Crime act “Property: general provisions” would to my laymans eye seem particularly handy.

Once every single member has been investigated and charged as appropriate, once every member who’s made a dodgy claim has been kicked out of their seat for bringing parliament into dishonor then maybe these apologies will carry some weight. In the meantime there’s nothing to stop any of our elected representatives taking matters into their own hands and if they’re so sure that their claims are justified publish them unredacted in full for their constituents to see. Greg hands MP has done it, what’s stopping the other 645? After all if they’ve nothing to hide they’ve nothing to fear? Right?

Or perhaps all that is left is for her Majesties subjects to petition her Majesty to remove the corrupt parasites currently occupy her parliament and to allow us to give voice and pass verdict on the lot of them in the government convened court of public opinion.

They suggested it over a different matter but I begin to suspect that the BNP have a good point. (One shouldn’t ignore the message merely due to the messenger).

Update: Constantly Furious has a good suggestion for those MPs that are genuinely sorry, and Anna Raccoon a suggestion for who should watch the claims in future.

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Within the rules?

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The scandal of of MPs expenses is being covered remarkably well all over the place and you now it’s bad when even Alistair Campbell is expressing dismay (hat tip http://plato-says.blogspot.com/2009/05/is-tomorrow-sucide-sunday.html”>Plato). Having spent the day in the garden I’m not going to let that stop me giving my tuppence worth (possibly now twenty pence worth after seasonal adjustment and inflation of two pounds if being claimed on an MP’s expenses). First off a huge tip of the tifter to Heather Brooke who as Anna Raccoon relates so well is the person that dragged the whole seconds homes thing out into the open.

What puzzles me most is the way that it seems generally accepted that this profligate abuse of the systems was actually “within the rules” and the subsequent calls for the system to be reformed. When looking at some of the most
blatant examples, they would appear to be well out side of the rules if not out right fraud and should have been refused if there had been decent enforcement. Of course that’s tricky if the person responsible for enforcing the rules is on the take as well. So the rules if kept should largely have sufficed it’s only due to our representatives doing what they could not what they should that has caused the problems, and trotting out the most pathetic of excuses whilst doing so.

Looking at which MPs have commented so far … very few. Tom Harris MP completely fails to get it – suggesting that “no-one in any line of work, would welcome the retrospective publication and critique of their expenses claims“, not realising that for the rest of us it would be no big deal as:
a) usually all expenses must have a receipt
b) Have to be purely for business reasons
c) Watched very carefully lest the tax man consider them a benefit in kind.
So really apart from people knowing that when working in some place I tend to eat the same lunch day after day and have equally dull habits abroad I really couldn’t care. But at least he acknowledges that “within the rules” is a really poor excuse.

However there are some good ‘uns out there Greg Hands MP is making all of his receipts available to inspection to his constituents at his surgery or on request (Hat tip Behind Blue Eye). Likewise Kate Hoey MP is standing up to condemn the actions of her fellow parliamentarians as is Kerry McCarthy MP. Still just the chirping of crickets from the opposition.

Meanwhile as the HMRC start to investigate MPs as they would rest of us to see if they’ve received benefits in kind, the corrupt troughers that occupy parliament have called in the police to investigate the leak/whistle blower. Fortunately it seems that some public spirited person has seen fit to report Mr McNulty to the police for having “obtained pecuniary advantage by deception’ prompting an investigation there at least. But at least we can all rest happy knowing that in this difficult time the great and ‘good’ have now got a special help line to help them deal with us being miffed at discovering just how much they’ve been stealing from us. Strangely though it seems Tony’s receipts and such have gone missing.

Given that the news of the screws is running a contest to live like an MP I think it’s safe to say that this at least will reach the general consciousness even if the general curtailment of our liberties and other matters haven’t. And whilst we can’t recall our MP’s voices within the realm political are starting to call for the current corrupt abusive mass to be dissolved (I’d favour a strong acid bath for the lot of them , followed by a deep pit and quick lime). It must surely be time for the all to go, but at least if Gordon publishes their outside interests as as well we’ll know who to vote for.

Just on the off chance you’ve not seen it already guido has a decent round up, and another excellent analysis from Andrew Rawnsley (Via Plato)

Update: It seems that Kelvin Hopkins MP is another good ‘un (Hat tip: Ranting Penguin)

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