[Archived] Gordon Brown

[stuwilky]

It's all very well saying the system's at fault, but who designed the system? MP's did, that's bloody who. Meanwhile the Speaker has apparently said he didn't come into politices not to take what is due to him, and has pulled out all the stops to prevent expenses being made public.

It's quite clear to me that these MP's have no thoughts as to public service, and instead just think of ways they can feather their own bloody nests.

How can the UK government now participate in the closing down of offshore tax havens when they're participating in an onshore tax haven. how can they lecture people on benefits scropunging when they're ripping off teh tax-payer left right and centre?

It's all bloody wrong and it needs a bloody strong wind of change blowing through the whole thing.

This.

In the meantime the Tories are trying to effectively abolish the minimum wage!

[jim mk2]

In the meantime the Tories are trying to effectively abolish the minimum wage!

Showing their true colours at last.

The expenses racket has also brought to the light the privileged world of the Conservative party such as tax claims for trimming the hedge to the helipads, new chandeliers, clearing the moat (!!) and repairs to tennis courts and swimming pools.

And Blackburn folk actually identify with and vote for these people ?

[broadsword]

How about the privileged world of the New Labour party Jim, you don't appear sp vocal about that?

[thenodrog]

How about the privileged world of the New Labour party Jim, you don't appear sp vocal about that?

Silly old sod really is attempting to defend the indefensible! They all p1ss in the same pot. As Biggus Laddus said have the tories had us pay for any porn yet like the Home Sec has? This morning saw Hazel Blears waving a cheque aloft like a latter day Neville Chamberlain and informing the country that she has made out to repay the 5 grand......... that she blagged! Odd how they all admit to defrauding us out of much money yet are falling over themselves to pay it all back whilst claiming that whilst they knew it was wrong they did not break the rules! btw Admin......... Have we a smiley for puking?

Tell you what should come of this. 4 swift measures...

1. Expenses should be outlawed on the shameful grounds that our 'honourable' members cannot be trusted to keep their fingers out of the till.

2. MP's salaries should be doubled.

3. The numbers of sitting MP's should be halved.

4. Once this is in place nobody should be allowed to sit in parliament under 45 years of age and then only with a minimum of 20 years working in the private sector.

Hopefully that will provide a lasting legacy, and provide a warning to future generations. They really are the lowest of the law.

[dave birch]

Good God! Gordon's offered a solution rather than a whinge!

Sorry, I was so overcome with surprise, I forgot the first para.

[JAL]

Tell you what should come of this.

All MP's over the past twelve years should have their pensions ...HALVED!

A league table based on performance of all MP'S

The right to allocate one of their a spare bedrooms to a Gurka

A free holiday home for all MP's in Iraq for services to the crown

[pg]

I think thenodrog's ideas have merits.

Pay them more to hopefully attract better people, and also make them less susceptible to bribery.

Whilst at the same time, remove avenues where they can rort the system.

[thenodrog]

I think thenodrog's ideas have merits.

Pay them more to hopefully attract better people, and also make them less susceptible to bribery.

Whilst at the same time, remove avenues where they can rort the system.

You'll upset Dave Birch if you aren't careful pg.

btw cutting numbers in half is logical given that over the past 40 years most other sectors have seen a reduction in manpower. Also more importantly more than half of Westminsters work is now undertaken in Brussels.

[dave birch]

You'll upset Dave Birch if you aren't careful pg.

btw cutting numbers in half is logical given that over the past 40 years most other sectors have seen a reduction in manpower. Also more importantly more than half of Westminsters work is now undertaken in Brussels.

Theno, my reply earlier was meant as a back handed compliment, in that you offered a solution.

As it turns out, on the issues you raised, I'm in complete agreement.

Additionally, I can't believe that a nation has divested itself of part of it's mandate and allowed outsiders to dictate how things are done. Why, for heavens sake, add another tier of government. Seems nonsensical to me.

[broadsword]

I think thenodrog's ideas have merits.

Pay them more to hopefully attract better people, and also make them less susceptible to bribery.

Whilst at the same time, remove avenues where they can rort the system.

I think the problem is, greed has no bounds.

they're getting paid an enormous whack already, how much more do they need. it's indefensible.

I would back reducing the number of MP's. It's a shame that some people would vote for a chimp if they had a red rossette on, as it undoubtedly leads to people getting in on an easy ride. They know they'll get voted in time and again. It's a cushy life.

Increased accountability, expenses system should be abolished and replaced by a flat rate allowance, and there should be publication of the number days each MP has attended teh house, and the number of times they've actually raised a point in the house.

It's all very well getting rid of hereditary peers in the Upper House (and replacing them with cronies, so it's one set of time-servers replaces another), but it's teh Lower House we should be more concerned with.

The whole things rotten. there's too many dead votes for a start.

[JAL]

All MP's over the past twelve years should have their pensions ...HALVED!

/quote]

Joking aside, does nobody else think that to hit an MP hard is to halve his or hers parlimentary pension, for me this is the least that they should have to pay for the successive scandals of taking us into an illegal war, taking us into unacceptable levels of national debt and the erosion of many a final salary pension scheme.

They all stand accused, never in history has parliament wholly been accused as it finds itself now.

[thenodrog]

Greedy pair of barstewards! Never mind rules, make no mistake him and his missus are crooks and should be treated as such. If Cameron's best effort is to be advised by this bloke who is by admission prone to 'mistakes' then he's a fool too.

http://news.aol.co.uk/tory-aide-apologises...405360545304738

1 down about 650 still to go.

[Tris]

For the record I don't think either response has been particularly convincing and to paint the two responses as utter polar opposites is entirely in keeping with your usual drivel.

jim must be loving the fact you latch onto his every word like a starstruck teenage girl on fruit gums.

With his amazing "night before" sleaze-busting exclusives, it's surprising that jim failed to share with us the leading article from his own beloved newspaper yesterday. That's right - despite their main rival breaking all this stuff, the #'s own Times has joined the party and said exactly what I said about the respective merits of Brown and Cameron earlier in this thread.

LEADING BY EXAMPLE - The House of Commons has been rudderless since the furore over MPs' expenses erupted. David Cameron took command of the situation yesterday.

They’re all the same, they’re all on the take. This is the complaint that rings out from a thousand radio phone-ins to a million kitchen tables. Yesterday David Cameron took the first, confident step towards tackling this public anger against MPs.

Gordon Brown had a chance to salvage the reputation of the Commons. He blew it. With one bizarre YouTube performance he sabotaged himself. He should clean house (or get his brother to do it). Instead, as is typical of him when disaster strikes, Mr Brown, apart from a clumsy apology, has retreated into his “business as usual” default mode, letting the furore crash on around him.

Mr Cameron filled that leadership vacuum yesterday with a self-assured, articulate announcement.

[thenodrog]

Today reveals that the country is still blighted by the Malik family. His dad was an odious individiual and now Shahid who famously refused to wash blood off his face whilst involved in the thick of the Burnley riots now cannot wait to wash his hands of his expenses scam.

Clare Short, David Milliband, Ed Balls, Yvette Cooper and husband and wife double act Mr and Mrs Kean also being amongst todays declared bunch of leeches.

Credit where credit is due I see the Daily Mail is challenging the police to prosecute and if they are unwilling to proceed the DM is promising to instigate private prosecutions. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/index.html

I think lefties like Jimski Mk2 and quite a few others on here might have to take out a subscription to help pay for and support such commendable action! I find that one of the benefits of being apolitical is that I suffer no political dogma's instilled from childhood by neither embittered parents suffering severe luddite mentality, nor limp wristed veggie, pacifist OK Yah wimps, nor Hooray Henry pompous prigs etc. Jimski etc should try the balanced, independent thinking approach... I can recommend it.

Nice to see too the delightful Margaret Beckett being roundly boooed on Question Time last night. Some credit must go to her for having the balls to stick her head over the parapet...... Ed must not have had the Balls for it!

Also nice to see that my recommendation of fewer MP's is gaining support. I've been banging about this for years now but I never thought the powers that be would ever consider it as an option. Turkeys voting for Christmas and all that.

[jim mk2]

s own Times has joined the party and said exactly what I said about the respective merits of Brown and Cameron earlier in this thread.

.[/url]

Congratulations to the message board's very own chocolate soldier.

You're obviously wasted working in a brewery and should be setting the national media's news agenda.

And I notice Gordon's joined in too - the insight of you folk is truly staggering. Where the BRFC.com leads, Westminster and the world follow.

Returning to topic, according to reports the Torygraph is saving the best of the revelations till last, presumably in the weekend papers.

Torygraph circulation has been boosted by 100,000 a day since they began running the revelations, showing that good old fashioned scoops continue to sell newspapers.

I think lefties like Jimski Mk2 and quite a few others on here might have to take out a subscription to help pay for and support such commendable action! I find that one of the benefits of being apolitical is that I suffer no political dogma's instilled from childhood by neither embittered parents suffering severe luddite mentality, nor limp wristed veggie, pacifist OK Yah wimps, nor Hooray Henry pompous prigs etc. Jimski etc should try the balanced, independent thinking approach... I can recommend it.

I'm very flattered that you continue to be obsessed with my posts but this is getting very worrying. Have you considered seeing a psychiatrist ?

[thenodrog]

I'm very flattered that you continue to be obsessed with my posts but this is getting very worrying. Have you considered seeing a psychiatrist ?

Hey I'm glad your up. A wet bed must be better than any alarm clock eh? Anyway it's unusual for me to get pm's but I've just had one in support from a member (no name necessary) who tells me that he has two people on here on ignore..... you and waggy. You must have a similar antagonistic and literary style I guess. Thing is waggy has only just developed his as opposed to you of course Jimski...........

Just a thought (cos I bet I'm high on the list ) but how about a league table somewhere of members on ignore! It'd be fun and basically harmless.

[yoda]

Hey I'm glad your up. A wet bed must be better than any alarm clock eh? Anyway it's unusual for me to get pm's but I've just had one in support from a member (no name necessary) who tells me that he has two people on here on ignore..... you and waggy. You must have a similar antagonistic and literary style I guess. Thing is waggy has only just developed his as opposed to you of course Jimski...........

Just a thought (cos I bet I'm high on the list ) but how about a league table somewhere of members on ignore! It'd be fun and basically harmless.

I have said it before, best way to reduce the number of MP's is to to shoot one a week until they get their act together

[broadsword]

I don't have Jim on ignore, but I think he has me on ignore. if so, I'm very flattered.

[thenodrog]

Now it's 3 down.

http://news.aol.co.uk/malik-stepping-down-...045004201561111

Malik is stepping down as (get this) Justice Minister pending investigation of his fraudulent claims. He says that he wont actually hand any money back but rather give some o deserving cases in his constituency!!!! Err but it's not actually yours to give away is it cock?

Paul Stevenson is chucking an investigation by the Met and the CPS into the pot so it might be a case of 'stuff your needy cases just give us a cheque!'

Is it too much to ask that if proven guilty these people are thrown out of their respective parties and thrown out of office asap?

[Anti Euro Smiths Fan]

Malik is stepping down as (get this) Justice Minister pending investigation of his fraudulent claims.

You might be interested to read further details of Mr Malik's relationship with landlord Tahir Zaman in today's front-page article in the Daily Telegraph at the link below:

Shahid Malik's expenses

From the link above: "Malik submitted a bill for £2,100 for a Sony 40in flatscreen TV, only to be told that the maximum allowable claim for televisions was £750. He told the fees office that he was "very upset" at their stance, saying that no one had told him there was a limit on what he could spend. Internal emails between officials in the fees office show that civil servants were taken aback."

What a greedy bugger. At a time when the country is up to it's knees in debt and there's over 2 million unemployed, why should taxpayers have to fork out so much for Malik's top-of-the-range TV, home cinema system and hi-fi speakers?

"An epidemic threatening to destroy British democracy"

Earlier this month six men were jailed for using ghost voters to help the Conservatives to win a local election in Slough. There wasn't a huge amount of coverage in the national news of these jail sentences - I don't recall it being reported on the BBC news - but prosecutors described the case in Slough as part of "an epidemic that attacks, affects and corrodes the roots of our democracy."

At a number of houses up to 19 names, all Asian, had registered in the run-up to the election at the same address, then opted to vote by post. The plot was hatched when the Asians realised the lack of requirements to prove identification when registering for a postal vote.

The prosecution said: "The system for voting would disgrace a banana republic."

Link: Six men jailed for vote-rigging

[thenodrog]

Dont want to sound like a mod but be careful what you say from now on Smithy. Certain criticisms are no longer very safe.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/c...icle6295795.ece

[colin]

I think lefties like Jimski Mk2 and quite a few others on here might have to take out a subscription to help pay for and support such commendable action! I find that one of the benefits of being apolitical is that I suffer no political dogma's instilled from childhood by neither embittered parents suffering severe luddite mentality, nor limp wristed veggie, pacifist OK Yah wimps, nor Hooray Henry pompous prigs etc. Jimski etc should try the balanced, independent thinking approach... I can recommend it.

Goodness me Gordon. That's the least apolitical comment I could describe. "Limp wristed, veggie pacifist?"

Mark Thomas

is bringing in the lawyers too.

My favourite are the married MPs. One claims a second house allowance one one of their homes: the other does the same on the other.

Gordon.

I find that one of the benefits of being apolitical is that I suffer no political dogma's

Apart from there being no apostrophe in "dogma's"

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Pause for breath

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

[jim mk2]

I don't have Jim on ignore, but I think he has me on ignore. if so, I'm very flattered.

Not at all ; I like your posts, always original and amusing if not always complimentary !

Thenodrug on the other hand seems to have an obsession with my every post and gives the impression of having a personality disorder.

As a fellow Rover I am not without compassion however and have found the link below where he might find help.

http://www.privatehealth.co.uk/hospitaltre...2=25959&p=6

Of course if that fails he could end up here with other seriously damaged individuals.

http://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.u...mpton-hospital/

Moving on, The Torygraph reported tonight that Tory Anthony Steen, the MP for Totnes, claimed tens of thousands of pounds for looking after a "country mansion'' including work on 500 trees.

Cotswolds MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the shadow minister for international development, claimed for a mortgage on a £2.75 million house.

And Labour politician Tam Dalyell was reported to have submitted a claim for £18,000 for bookcases two months before retiring as an MP in 2005.

As for me, I'm taking my lead from the Tories and cleaning the moat round the nursing home this weekend - but without any help from the taxpayer.

Toodle pip.

[broadsword]

There's some great MP's out there. Norman Baker for one.

Unfortunately I think they're few and far between.

I certainly wouldn't class Dennis Skinner as one, he's more of a class warrior bore than naything else.

I struggle for words to describe how bad this is ... it's really appalling and a really bad day for democracy in this country.

I think we need a white riot, but are we too chicken? at the very least we should be kicking them hard in the ballots.

[Tris]

You're obviously wasted working in a brewery and should be setting the national media's news agenda.

Laughable post from the former brewery worker who clearly has yeast between his ears.

Just a minor point obnoxious grandad, but 4 years ago you were gleefully telling the MB community I'd been made redundant ...

You were wrong about everything back then, and you still are now ... ... ... and quite clearly jealous after a life wasted as a failed pen pusher