£172 On A Journey Of Less Than A Mile.

[tonyav]

Having a commons speaker is expensive isn't it.
http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/john-bercow-spent-%C2%A3172-on-a-journey-of-less-than-a-mile-receipts-reveal-costly-travel-arrangements-of-commons-speaker/ar-AAdqelv

[bazwillrun]

Just another parasitic freeloader who still doesnt get it...well he does get it...expenses that is !

[maggiebee]

What are his legs for? Parasite!

[Zacs-Master]

I'd like to know whether the drivers were on duty and being paid, whether they were being used by Bercow or not. If they were (which i suspect) then the figures are completely inaccurate.

[tonyav]

"This money doesn't grow on trees - it comes straight out of taxpayers' pockets, and it must be treated with more respect."


Little chance of that, I think.

[EDDIE51]

Most if not all of thee were in the 'official car' that is available 24/7 if it is used or not.

[maggiebee]

ZM, feel that makes it even worse. Why are drivers on standby to drive lazy gits such a short distance? So the taxpayer ends up paying for Bercow, petrol, car upkeep and driver wages?

[agchristie]

Well he does like to shout 'Order!,Order! ;)

[Zacs-Master]

Exactly Eddie. The story should really be about how much we pay for the chauffeurs to be on stand by and not being used.

[Bazile]

Are the cabinet ministers any better ?

[tonyav]

I doubt it, Bazile.

[Retrochic]

He's no worse than the folks you see on benefits getting taxi's home from shopping at Aldi.

[fiction-factory]

I don't get that, retrochic. Someone on benefits getting teh taxi from Aldi doesn't claim back their expenses. I can't be sure whose on benefits or not anyway when I see them queueuing ouside Asda

[fiction-factory]

Okay, Aldi

[Svejk]

good point, ff. ;)

[fiction-factory]

who's not whose , I know

[Zacs-Master]

FF, it's not his expenses. It's just the cost incurred.

[Ellipsis]

> John Bercow spent £172 on a journey of less than a mile, figures released by the House of Commons have revealed.

Strange article. It tells you about lots of journeys, but not the actual 0.7 mile journey that cost £172. I wonder what it was.

[Zacs-Master]

Elllipsis:
'John Bercow spent £172 on a journey of less than a mile, figures released by the House of Commons have revealed.

The cost of the 0.7 mile journey was disclosed in receipts published following a Freedom of Information request that expose the remarkable cost to the taxpayer of the Speaker’s travel arrangements'

what more do you need to know?

[EDDIE51]

This is a Non Story , all the cars used are part of the fleet owned by the Government car service
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-car-service
Ministers are allowed to use an official car for government business If you read the link it explains that use of these cars is mandatory to ensure safety.
They have trained drivers who are also bodyguards ,and the cars have high security locks to stop anyone getting at the ministers, some are bulletproof. Can you imagine the fuss if a government minister was attacked or killed by terrorists due to walking or taking public transport?