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Is s man fit for office?
I know it could apply to numerous politicians, but this one seems to have largely slipped under the radr and was a blatant fraud.
David Laws has been appointed to work as a Schools Minister under Michael Gove at education. Laws was the LibDem MP who claimed roughy £100,000 to fund a flat for his lover. He also paid his lover £950 a month and claimed for electric, gas and the likes without submitting receipts. When the expenses amnesty was offered he made no attempt to pay any money back.
It later came out that his lover was another man and that he was "trying to protect his privacy as he didn't want his sexuality made public". Surely he could have better done that by claiming for nothing?
Anyway, he was forced to resign but didn't face charges. I really can't see what Jim Devine did that Laws didn't, but Devine served time, as many, many MPs should.
Irrespective of that, it is the way these people sneak back into positions of power that gets me angry, especially after such huge betrayals of trust. I would be interested in other people's opinions on this, but only if they are on his deeds, not his sexuality. That is irrelevant in this case, other than for the fact he tried to use it to cover up his fraud. I expect people with such low morals, and I mean MP's not homosexuals, would use anything to excuse their "foibles".
David Laws has been appointed to work as a Schools Minister under Michael Gove at education. Laws was the LibDem MP who claimed roughy £100,000 to fund a flat for his lover. He also paid his lover £950 a month and claimed for electric, gas and the likes without submitting receipts. When the expenses amnesty was offered he made no attempt to pay any money back.
It later came out that his lover was another man and that he was "trying to protect his privacy as he didn't want his sexuality made public". Surely he could have better done that by claiming for nothing?
Anyway, he was forced to resign but didn't face charges. I really can't see what Jim Devine did that Laws didn't, but Devine served time, as many, many MPs should.
Irrespective of that, it is the way these people sneak back into positions of power that gets me angry, especially after such huge betrayals of trust. I would be interested in other people's opinions on this, but only if they are on his deeds, not his sexuality. That is irrelevant in this case, other than for the fact he tried to use it to cover up his fraud. I expect people with such low morals, and I mean MP's not homosexuals, would use anything to excuse their "foibles".
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I would agree with your general sentiment Duncer. The revelation of what the MPs had been up to for years,with the majority overclaiming to the tune of thousands per year, the lax audit process, the assumption that because they were an MP they would be "honorable" - all this privilege, all this income that was untaxed - absolutely disgusting.
And you are right - a few sacrificial lambs were staked out, put on trial, but by and large they were let off with a slap on the wrist. Examples of such bad behaviour being rewarded can be seen in successive governments, with people like Mandelson flitting in and out of cabinet.
There is another scandal bubbling under as well, regarding Michael Mates MP. Currently running for election in Hampshire as a Police Commissioner, he was the lucky recipient of around an estimated £80,000 - this from the purchase of a flat he was renting - a flat that offered preferential rents for MPs in the first place, and of course that rent paid via expenses by the tax payer. The flats were put on sale, and the new owners, keen to get the MPs out, offered a big cash bonus if they were to leave.
So he trousers £80K, having lived at the taxpayers expense in a swanky flat in central london - and nothing is done.
And their expenses are virtually back to the levels they were at prior to the scandal - £90 million or so annually, split between the 650 or so MPs.....
And you are right - a few sacrificial lambs were staked out, put on trial, but by and large they were let off with a slap on the wrist. Examples of such bad behaviour being rewarded can be seen in successive governments, with people like Mandelson flitting in and out of cabinet.
There is another scandal bubbling under as well, regarding Michael Mates MP. Currently running for election in Hampshire as a Police Commissioner, he was the lucky recipient of around an estimated £80,000 - this from the purchase of a flat he was renting - a flat that offered preferential rents for MPs in the first place, and of course that rent paid via expenses by the tax payer. The flats were put on sale, and the new owners, keen to get the MPs out, offered a big cash bonus if they were to leave.
So he trousers £80K, having lived at the taxpayers expense in a swanky flat in central london - and nothing is done.
And their expenses are virtually back to the levels they were at prior to the scandal - £90 million or so annually, split between the 650 or so MPs.....
Just returned and saw this story. It's something I noticed too last week when it was announced the Laws, with full approval of Cameron and Clegg, was welcomed back into the fold with open arms.
His crime amounted to an admitted appropriation of 40K of taxpayers' money and his defence was to the effect that he didn't want it to come out that he was homosexual. What a load of old 'pony'.
Anyway, he apparently repaid the money which is the only possible reason I can think of which prevented him perhaps facing a criminal prosecution and probable imprisonment? How many ordinary folk would be allowed to do the same instead of being prosecuted anyway?
It is still, however, a total disgrace because he only came clean in the first place because the Telegraph were about to out him(not in the homosexual sense) the following day, so he resigned before the s**t hit the fan. His so called 'punishment' had amounted to not being able to attend Parliament for a while - wow, how severe was that? Still drawing full salary in the meantime, though.
The most galling thing, of course,is the fact that it's not the electorate who have cleared the way for him to essentially be forgiven and more or less be brought into the Cabinet, it's other MPs, the very bu**ers involved in the expenses scandal in the frst place!
What's that saying? Ah, yes: "Crime doesn't pay".
His crime amounted to an admitted appropriation of 40K of taxpayers' money and his defence was to the effect that he didn't want it to come out that he was homosexual. What a load of old 'pony'.
Anyway, he apparently repaid the money which is the only possible reason I can think of which prevented him perhaps facing a criminal prosecution and probable imprisonment? How many ordinary folk would be allowed to do the same instead of being prosecuted anyway?
It is still, however, a total disgrace because he only came clean in the first place because the Telegraph were about to out him(not in the homosexual sense) the following day, so he resigned before the s**t hit the fan. His so called 'punishment' had amounted to not being able to attend Parliament for a while - wow, how severe was that? Still drawing full salary in the meantime, though.
The most galling thing, of course,is the fact that it's not the electorate who have cleared the way for him to essentially be forgiven and more or less be brought into the Cabinet, it's other MPs, the very bu**ers involved in the expenses scandal in the frst place!
What's that saying? Ah, yes: "Crime doesn't pay".
I hate to appear to stick up for any MP involved in any alleged shady deals, but I saw Michael Mates's name mentioned. Anyway, he actually stepped down as MP in 2010 before the last Gen Election (Draw your own conclusions), and according to reports he 'only' trousered 40K, not 80, but refuses to answer questions about it. Mmmmmmmmhhhhhhhhhhhh.....
But now that I'm on a roll, here's another 'Honourable Member' to consider:
Chris Grayling - Currently flying high and an obvious favourite of Mr Cameron judging from the posts he has held in the last couple of years.
Currently Justice Minister, previously Works+Pensions Minister, he had claimed many thousands of pounds in expenses over an 8 year period for a London flat despite the fact that his home was only about 15 miles away. It also emerged that he had claimed thousands as well for decoration to said flat after alleged flooding.
The same man, immediately prior to the 2010 GE, outraged the Gay lobby by alleged homophobic comments regarding the well publicised case of the elderly Christian B+B couple who refused to allow two homosexuals to rent a room. Mr Grayling mysteriously went to ground and was incommunicado until after the GE before slithering out from under an unidentified stone back into the public glare. Again....mmmmmmmmhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Food for thought, huh?
But now that I'm on a roll, here's another 'Honourable Member' to consider:
Chris Grayling - Currently flying high and an obvious favourite of Mr Cameron judging from the posts he has held in the last couple of years.
Currently Justice Minister, previously Works+Pensions Minister, he had claimed many thousands of pounds in expenses over an 8 year period for a London flat despite the fact that his home was only about 15 miles away. It also emerged that he had claimed thousands as well for decoration to said flat after alleged flooding.
The same man, immediately prior to the 2010 GE, outraged the Gay lobby by alleged homophobic comments regarding the well publicised case of the elderly Christian B+B couple who refused to allow two homosexuals to rent a room. Mr Grayling mysteriously went to ground and was incommunicado until after the GE before slithering out from under an unidentified stone back into the public glare. Again....mmmmmmmmhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Food for thought, huh?
Has it not yet dawned upon some people here that the most heinous, libellous offence is to suggest that those who have for some reason or other a prediliction for raising the inner nether garments of those to whom they are attracted (aka the elevation of the shirt), are somewhat different from the rest of mankind? Fortunately our beloved Prime Minister thinks otherwise.
@ kerosene - thanks for the correction. 80K was a bit excessive :)
And of course, even if he had resigned as MP, it doesnt alter the facts of the case = that he was able to profit enormously, for no risk, simply because of where he had the good fortune to live - and the rent he paid was entirely subsidised by the taxpayer through the MP expenses system.
Certainly does not seem a fit candidate for a potential Police Commissioner :)
And of course, even if he had resigned as MP, it doesnt alter the facts of the case = that he was able to profit enormously, for no risk, simply because of where he had the good fortune to live - and the rent he paid was entirely subsidised by the taxpayer through the MP expenses system.
Certainly does not seem a fit candidate for a potential Police Commissioner :)
@mike - sorry, not sure I understand your point from your post. You said
"the most heinous, libellous offence is to suggest that those who have for some reason or other a prediliction for raising the inner nether garments of those to whom they are attracted (aka the elevation of the shirt), are somewhat different from the rest of mankind"
What was your meaning?
"the most heinous, libellous offence is to suggest that those who have for some reason or other a prediliction for raising the inner nether garments of those to whom they are attracted (aka the elevation of the shirt), are somewhat different from the rest of mankind"
What was your meaning?
LazyGun,
No problem. I guess that we, 'Joe Public', will never discover the true extent of deceit by our 'Honourable Members', and I must admit to being deeply disappointed that so many, including Mr Mates, were simply allowed to stand down prior to the last General Election basically without impunity or any meaningful investigation into their alleged crimes.
Re Mike's post you referred to, I guess he was using an well known epithet attributed to homosexuals, i.e. "shirt lifters"?
No problem. I guess that we, 'Joe Public', will never discover the true extent of deceit by our 'Honourable Members', and I must admit to being deeply disappointed that so many, including Mr Mates, were simply allowed to stand down prior to the last General Election basically without impunity or any meaningful investigation into their alleged crimes.
Re Mike's post you referred to, I guess he was using an well known epithet attributed to homosexuals, i.e. "shirt lifters"?
"I must admit to being deeply disappointed that so many, including Mr Mates, were simply allowed to stand down prior to the last General Election basically without impunity or any meaningful investigation into their alleged crimes."
Is this not endemic of the general apathy in the UK? We should have driven an agenda that saw ALL of them prosecuted.
Is this not endemic of the general apathy in the UK? We should have driven an agenda that saw ALL of them prosecuted.
I think political apathy is a big problem in the UK. This lack of engagement in the democratic process is really quite dangerous.
Read of an interesting attempt to re-connect the public with the political class the other day - I think its a tad naive, but interesting all the same...
http://
Read of an interesting attempt to re-connect the public with the political class the other day - I think its a tad naive, but interesting all the same...
http://
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