Gordon Brown at Downing Street this Morning
Gordon Brown has called for a vote, as early as next week, about MPs expenses. He suggests that the second home allowance be scrapped along with the John Lewis list and MPs should be paid for turning up every day instead. MPs have previously suggested a daily fee of £170 which would see then make £25,500 - £2,500 more than they do under the current system.
Details of his announcement were seen prematurely after Communities Secretary Hazel Blears walked into Downing Street with them under her arm. According to the Daily Mail she appeared oblivious to the fact that the document - in easily legible large print - was on show. Of course this was no accident, it was intended it would be seen. Does Gordon Brown really think the public are silly enough to think she wasn't aware? Really it's all rather sad their behaviour these days. It was intended as a distraction from tomorrow's budget which will be another show of upmarket spin, until we see the small print of course.
It's far from certain whether the measure would get through the Commons as many MPs with large mortgages may fight tooth and nail against them and it appears backbenchers may have a free vote.
The speed of this U-turn leaves more questions than answers. Is it an attempt to bring Westminster into line with MEPs who receive a daily fee for attending. They don't have to attend anything, just sign in.
I'm suspicious of Gordon Brown's reason for this sudden change which gives other parties little time for discussion. Then again, perhaps that is his reason, to deny opposition MPs any time for thought.
Posts
22 comments:
So we pay them now to turn up to rip us off. Hoons the lot of them.
Exactly Fido. Wonder how the vote will go though ...
subrosa
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/audio/2009/apr/20/david-smith-rorkes-drift-africa
Have a listen to this..how the British army treats their heroes
Is this going to upset me Niko?
we said fido. and i would add they are a bunch of troughing assholes too.
OB I left that out because I just knew you would make your usual eloquent comment. :)
subrosa,
You're making it difficult to get at you again, you little tease.
I wonder if this announcement by the great Gordon is in anyway designed to divert attention from the forth-coming need for all MPs to bring their expense claims into the open.
If this is voted through Gordon is probably hoping that if there are further revelations similar to the Smiths the Government can say we've already taken action.
Sorry about that Brownlie, just waiting while the serious software is checked over before I take the moderation off.
Of course it's a side show, what else would it be?
Your last paragraph sums it up.
Hazel Blears reminds me of one of your wee red squirrels Rosie. A very demented one. I bet she has plenty nuts hidden away.
KW dinnae insult ma squirrels. They're lovely. This dame's so thick skinned...
Subrosa...first no need for apologies..you need to protect your virtues against cyberspace terrorists...
Second, thank you for visiting and inquiring about me today...kinda been under "Low" for the last 2 weeks...getting better though..truly appreciate your concern for you're proving to be a good friend.
Third... seems like we all agree, even from across the big pond,...they're all crooks... Fidothedog expresed it so well...it can be an internationally published opinion...we're paynig them to rip us off and to rape us when not looking...Politicians have certainly perfected the head game. In fact, so much so, it seems seamless...and we tend to say...Thank you so much for screwing us...we realy enjoyed this many nights stand. Can we do it again sometime REAL soon...I CAN'T WAIT FOR ANOTHER GOOD HARD SCREW
They really think that we are Sheeple.
A Primary School Teacher could see through this lot.
This lot beggars belief.
Gordon really is a Moron
Well I too am very suspicious of this U TURN because that's what it is, I see he's talking with the other party leaders today.
The shame of it, being paid twice to serve your countries, what a flippin disgrace.
Time gun laws were relaxed in this joke for a Union! Only joking who needs a gun when we can hang them or wring their necks with our bare hawns?!
CD
I thought at long last someone was going to cut off the gravy train for MP,s but no i was wrong. MP,s will always have it good.
Thousands of Scots work down in London every week yet i dont see them getting all the perks our MP,s recive at our expence.
Everone in the media are talking about heads will roll when the MP,s expences are published later but Labour will come out of it clean becouse all they have to say is " well we are not the only ones "
Morning Baron, glad you're doing ok. When you think about it Baron haven't we allowed our politicians to screw us? Of course we've trusted them to get on with the job the same way we get on with ours, but they haven't carried out their part of the bargain.
Time the public watched far more carefully.
FC, calling him a moron is rather too kind I think.
So, in response to public concern that MP's were ripping the proverbial with their expenses claims, Brown's solution is to guarantee them even more money than they were originally limited to, without the inconvenience of having those claims scrutinised.
sigh! When's the election, where we get a government by the people for the people?
Jim
CD don't speak about strangulation this morning. There are few I could think of this morning as well as politicians!
Spook, we vote them in though. What do we do, vote for the person or the party? I wonder how our political scene would look if we started to vote for the person, you know the one who promised not to defraud is with expenses, instead of the party. Could be interesting.
If voters asked candidates in the next election about how much they would claim, that may be a start.
Jim, do you think the people are finally waking up? Still seems to be many lifelong labour supporters out there.
Subrosa, I suppose some people may be waking up, but what bothers me immensely is the way that they analyse the problem (ie Labour good, Tory Bad, SNP - Evil incarnate) then set about trying to convince everyone that they are victims of American circumstance and only blind faith with Labour will resolve the issues we face.
Labour have been too long in power and need to spend some time on the opposition benches learning to live in the modern world rather then living on past glories (and I don't mean anything that they think they've achieved in this latest 12 years of power either!)
Despite his roots as a son of the manse, Brown has built his house of cards on sand and we're now watching the 7 skinny cows devour the last of the fat ones.
It's truly excruciating to watch him clinging to power though.
Jim
I don't feel sorry for Gordon Brown Jim mainly because I think he's convinced himself he's the saviour of the world. My worry is the further damage he's doing to the country before he's given the heave-ho. A prime example was the increase in tax today of those earning £150,000 and over. According to the number crunchers this won't bring in much at all and will alienate people who have strived for success by taking risks.
Stupid move to try to intimidate the tories and I do hope they vote it down and take the 'rich man' jibes.
Post a Comment