Self-serving MPs

[richard p]

if any self employed person got caught evading capital gains tax on the sale of a house by claiming it was their main residence when it wasnt they would have to pay the evaded tax, plus interest. get prosecuted and fined, and then have an indepth investigation by the the revenue, going back through every business expense for the last 7 years having to prove each and every one was legit. they dont mess arround, the revenue assume everything is a fiddle unless you can prove otherwise.
i'll bet we dont see any mp prosecuted .

[Johnboy]

Hi Geoff,
You seem to be rightly attacked for your comments regarding self-employed people.
You as an employed person got far more with regards to the welfare state than any self employed person did. Long holidays without any worries and what is more you only had to put your hand out on a Friday for the money to be put into your hand.
Self-employed people have to work for their money whereas employed people only have to turn up every working day Mon-Fri.
Try being self employed with everything that comes with it, staff problems, VAT collection and Government forms, Local Authorities and all their nonsense, the Tax Man breathing down your neck all the time.
If you knew how much red tape that self employed people have to endure before or after their daily work you would not have made such a foolhardy comment!
Thankfully I am now retired but the bloody taxman never gives up!
JB.

[The Mouse]

Sorry in advance if what I'm about to say embarrasses any of you bashful gentlemen

About five years ago I had to go to the gynae department at the local hospital. In the middle of the examination, probably to take my mind off the discomfort, the assisting nurse asked me what I did for a living. When I told her I give French and Spanish lessons, her instant reaction was: 'Wow, you must be rolling in it - people charge a fortune for private lessons!'
Believe me, I wasn't in a position (literally) to argue with her.
What made the situation funny was the consultant's reaction. She was clearly embarassed by her assistant's frankness, and started trying to exuse her, and explain to her that she perhaps wasn't seeing the whole picture. I just took it lying down I didn't like to tell the young nurse that if you divided my 'hourly' charge by the actual hours of work I did, my real hourly rate would be well below hers - I doubt she would have believed it anyway!

Shortly afterwards, I had an op. It was done under general anaesthetic, but as a day-care patient I was sent home at teatime with strict instructions to do nothing for the next forty-eight hours, not even to boil the kettle myself until the following day. Needless to say, as a self employed person, I was working as usual an hour after I got home - I simply couldn't afford not to !

Apologies again for any unpleasant images this story might have caused

[Shallot Man]

As I see it the MP's only had ONE RULE, anything goes.

[The Mouse]

The following, from the Telegraph, just about sums it up, I think!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5318810/MPs-expenses-20-most-bizarre-claims.html?image=2

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Caz, i found your tale most interesting.

[macmac]

on a simple note why do these people think its ok to say they have made a "mistake" and they'll give the money back.
if i went to my local supermarket and STOLE a loaf of bread and when i got caught said i'd made a "mistake" could i just give it back no more to be said??? i dont think so

[Elaine]

It really is about time rules and thinking regarding MP's expenses was totally reformed to exclude money making opportunities..It is beyond my comprehension how they even have the audacity to submit some of the claims....John Prescott's loo seats for instance, not to mention his food bills. His house is just down the road from here and I wonder how often he is there and how much he claims against it's upkeep. Absolutely appalling when you think of pensioners, to name but one element of our communities, who struggle to keep their heads above water.

[alan refail]

Tory MP gets new garden feature - for FREE

Click for video

[Chantal]

Here's the pitifully short list of the "good guys".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8048215.stm

I'm hoarse with shouting at the TV and radio each time another revelation is aired, I can't listen to much more, how much worse can it get?

[The Mouse]

Morning, Chantal

Thanks for posting that link - it is exactly what I was hoping someone would be able to come up with when I started this thread

At least it confirms my belief that there must at least be some decent people representing us.

[richard p]

then we get the justice minister claiming for the fine he got for not paying his council tax....

[alan refail]

Our three Aelodau Seneddol from Plaid Cymruseem to have slipped beneath the radar so far.

Mind you our Hywel is fairly expensive.

[Chantal]

I heard on the news ealier today that Julie Kirkbride (MP for Bromsgrove) had people throwing bricks through the windows of her constituency office.
Considering that she and her MP husband have been claiming for TWO second homes and he's now resigned, I'm surprised it's just bricks that her electorate are hurling and at the office and not her home. The only problem is that we'll be paying for the repairs too!

I didn't watch the evening news, I feared for my blood pressure.

[Shallot Man]

The best one has got to be the MP claiming the only house she owns. Al Capone would be proud of this lot.