It's All Right For Some !

[tonyav]

Can this be right considering what the energy companies are doing to Joe Public.
http://news.uk.msn.com/uk/mps-attacked-over-energy-expenses

[Sqad]

Is claiming for heating bills a legitimate expense for MP's?

Yes.

So claim them.......I would.....wouldn't you?

[humbersloop]

//electricity and heating oil for his estate in Warwickshire//

estate For Funks Sake!!

[tonyav]

sqad, imo it should be changed so that it's not a legitimate expense.

[Baldric]

"We are all in this together"

Aren't YOU?

[Sqad]

tony...that is fair enough.......but at the moment it IS legitimate.

[tonyav]

Baldric
Mark as Best Answer

"We are all in this together"

Looks like the answer is no, Baldric.

[sir.prize]

Nearly £6,000 for his energy bills! A millionaire too.

Most of us have an income of some kind, ie wage, pension or perhaps benefits. From this we pay our way including energy costs, water charges, telephone bills, pet food, tv licence and in fact replacing a television. Why don't MP's do the same? What exactly do they do with their £66,000 ish every year?

We use our income to live - they use their expense account. OK the argument may be they can and they do - but why should it be allowed? £66K should cover all.

[lady-janine]

i'm going to send my fuel bills to DC pointing out that we are in this together and perhaps he would like to help out in the spirit of togetherness. i will, of course, inform the fuel suppliers what i have done and suggest they ask him for payment.

[Baldric]

tony,

I think that's what the 2nd line of my post suggests.

[tonyav]

I know, Baldric.

[tonyav]

So it would appear that Joe Public pays two lots of energy bills, their own and MP,s to.

[Gromit]

If energy bills are a legitimate expense then we cannot criticise anyone from claiming it.

However, if the average UK bill is £1300 and some are claiming £4500 then something is wrong.

Perhaps the expense should be capped at £1300 and if the MP is fortunate enough to live in a mansion, they should be able to afford the difference themselves.

[anneasquith]

why cant they just put another jumper on ?

[lady-janine]

they could always put another jumper on.

[tonyav]

Great idea lj. I'm sure 'Dave' would help you out !.

[tonyav]

However, if the average UK bill is £1300 and some are claiming £4500 then something is wrong.

To bloody right there's something wrong, Gromit.

[Gromit]

Of course the scandal is not that they are getting their energy costs paid by the taxpayer, it is that they are also the people regulating the energy industry and making the laws.

[humbersloop]

sqad, of course they're as entitled to work the system as anyone else, but you'd think after the expenses scandal a little more pragmatism might be in order

[lady-janine]

rather think tony that it would take a considerable number of people doing it to make him take any notice. a whole swathe of people across the country but i can't see that happening.
i know they can claim it legitimately but that does not make it ethical. but then i don't think the word ethical is in their vocabulary.