The Perils Of Privatisation - Part X
News2 mins ago
377 M Ps Had Their Credit Card Suspended...
...and then that disgraceful fact was hushed up by the expenses watchdog.
// The parliamentary expenses watchdog tried to cover up data showing 377 MPs, including nine cabinet ministers, have had their credit cards suspended for wrong, incomplete or late claims. //
In other words, more that half of all MPs were caught making bogus, fraudulent or misleading expenses claims on their credit card purchases., and had their cards suspended.
And the system where MPs police themselves through a watchdog of MPs, was in collusion to keep that information secret from the voting public.
https:/
// The parliamentary expenses watchdog tried to cover up data showing 377 MPs, including nine cabinet ministers, have had their credit cards suspended for wrong, incomplete or late claims. //
In other words, more that half of all MPs were caught making bogus, fraudulent or misleading expenses claims on their credit card purchases., and had their cards suspended.
And the system where MPs police themselves through a watchdog of MPs, was in collusion to keep that information secret from the voting public.
https:/
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"In other words, more that half of all MPs were caught making bogus, fraudulent or misleading expenses claims on their credit card purchases., and had their cards suspended.
And the system where MPs police themselves through a watchdog of MPs, was in collusion to keep that information secret from the voting public.
"
It's an ongoing issue that has been happening for ages. With power comes responsibility.. I think they've proven they can't handle these responsibilities especially the financial ones.
And the system where MPs police themselves through a watchdog of MPs, was in collusion to keep that information secret from the voting public.
"
It's an ongoing issue that has been happening for ages. With power comes responsibility.. I think they've proven they can't handle these responsibilities especially the financial ones.
It does appear that the MP's in question are all on the take, but I suspect the reality is somewhat different.
Office staff, rather than the MP's are usually responsible for monitoring and claiming expenses, and often claims can be made in all innocence that are unsuitable, which may trigger an automatic card suspension.
On the same principle that on an individual tax return, you claim for every single thing you can think of, and then let the IR allow or deny it according to regulations - if you adopt that same principle, then this is the result.
When you approach it from that angle, the notion of deliberate fraud and chicanery receedes, and the notion of a system that appears to indicate other than the truth is what emerges.
Office staff, rather than the MP's are usually responsible for monitoring and claiming expenses, and often claims can be made in all innocence that are unsuitable, which may trigger an automatic card suspension.
On the same principle that on an individual tax return, you claim for every single thing you can think of, and then let the IR allow or deny it according to regulations - if you adopt that same principle, then this is the result.
When you approach it from that angle, the notion of deliberate fraud and chicanery receedes, and the notion of a system that appears to indicate other than the truth is what emerges.
"And the system where MPs police themselves through a watchdog of MPs..."
IPSA, by definition, is not MPs policing themselves.
http://
IPSA, by definition, is not MPs policing themselves.
http://
It just got worse...
// An investigation by the Telegraph a decade years on from its original investigation into MPs’ expenses, found there have been 1,114 suspensions of MPs’ parliamentary credit cards since the 2015 election.
Documents released under the Freedom of Information Act show Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd had her card suspended five times, while Tory backbencher Damian Collins, Brexit minister James Cleverly and Cabinet Office minister Chloe Smith are also among the repeat offenders who have been rapped more than ten times.
Energy minister Claire Perry even used her official credit card to pay for her Amazon Prime subscription, accordiing to the paper. Jeremy Corbyn was revealed to have his card suspended twice.
// An investigation by the Telegraph a decade years on from its original investigation into MPs’ expenses, found there have been 1,114 suspensions of MPs’ parliamentary credit cards since the 2015 election.
Documents released under the Freedom of Information Act show Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd had her card suspended five times, while Tory backbencher Damian Collins, Brexit minister James Cleverly and Cabinet Office minister Chloe Smith are also among the repeat offenders who have been rapped more than ten times.
Energy minister Claire Perry even used her official credit card to pay for her Amazon Prime subscription, accordiing to the paper. Jeremy Corbyn was revealed to have his card suspended twice.
Given the way in which the media have slanted this story to make it appear that the MP's involved have all be scamming the system, it's hardly surprising that the organisation that runs the expenses system was keen to keep its processes quiet!
I worked as a PA for a number of senior managers in BT, and regularly submitted expenses on their company credit cards.
An average of three of any five claims would be bounced back for one minor issue or another, not apparent at the time of claiming, and if each manager had had his or her card suspended each and every time that happened, they would have looked like a rich bunch of Fagins!
The truth is often simpler and less juicy that the media want it to be - but that doesn't stop them tilting it to fit the public's dubious perceptions.
I happily concede that those dubious perceptions are the result of previous malpractice, but you can't tar everyone with the same brush.
I worked as a PA for a number of senior managers in BT, and regularly submitted expenses on their company credit cards.
An average of three of any five claims would be bounced back for one minor issue or another, not apparent at the time of claiming, and if each manager had had his or her card suspended each and every time that happened, they would have looked like a rich bunch of Fagins!
The truth is often simpler and less juicy that the media want it to be - but that doesn't stop them tilting it to fit the public's dubious perceptions.
I happily concede that those dubious perceptions are the result of previous malpractice, but you can't tar everyone with the same brush.
ABerrant, as I understand it, any initial investigation is carried out by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. This person is appointed by the Commons. Those who carry out their job with undue vigour don't seem to last long.
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Ipsa, it appears, only take over once the commissioner has found a breach of the rules. So MPs appear still to play a significant part in monitoring themselves.
https:/
Ipsa, it appears, only take over once the commissioner has found a breach of the rules. So MPs appear still to play a significant part in monitoring themselves.
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