Comments on: Clegg Horrifies MPs With Reform Proposals :MPs Would Have 3 Years to Sell Homes

By: John Bullock

John Bullock — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:32:52 +0000

Nick Clegg said this week that he didn’t want our MPs to join “THE BRUSSELS GRAVY TRAIN ! ”

I thought this man, and his party, are dedicated and enthusiastic EU Federation supporters.

By: Ricardo

Ricardo — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 15:07:48 +0000

There’s a simple solution to the problem of MPs expense allowances.

MP’s allowances should be the same as those allowed by Revenue and Customs for any taxpayer who has two places of work. If the taxman allows normal taxpayers to claim an item against tax, then MP’s would be reimbursed; if the taxman doesn’t allow it then MP’s should pay out of their own pockets like ordinary taxpayers.

Advantages:

1) Its fair. What’s good enough for the taxpayer should be good enough for MP’s.

2) There’s no need to invent a new set of allowances for MP’s. These allowances have been developed over a long period and can be adopted immediately. Lots of people have more than one place of work: MP’s aren’t a special case in this respect.

3) If MP’s don’t like the Revenue and Customs rules, they can change them – bearing in mind that ordinary taxpayers will benefit from any changes.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 14:49:32 +0000

With regard to the housing issue for Mp’s why dont they build a block of flats with enough room to house all of those necessary thn they wont have to woorry about paying expenses there will be ready made flats for whichever seat is filled in the house.
And they have the basics installed too so they dont have to be given money for furnishings.
Then all we’d have to pay would be the cost of maintianing it and protecting it which I’m sure would still be a damn site cheaper than the free for all that currently goes on.

By: Peter Bray

Peter Bray — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 23:04:36 +0000

Yet more evidence – as if we needed more – that our politicians are incapable of accepting democracy. And they wonder why the percentage of voters has fallen even to the extent of asking what they should do about it!!

Get rid of all advisers and other staff, party lags et al and make do with one secretary would be a start. Then instead of being out of touch they could actually go and talk to their constituents to find out what we think about them and what they are doing and why we won’t vote for them.

When any party needs a ‘McBride’ it should be clear that they have lost the plot. But that always seems to be the labour way; they don’t know what to do or how to do it so they treat their civil servants like lackys, scream and bawl at their staff, and wonder why so many things go wrong and just how so much of that gets into the public domain. I know all the parties get up to some of this but labour is always way out in front. John Major, that pallid cardboard cutout, promised no slease; Blair did the same; a lot of hot air by those who made no effort to control it.

Sack the lot of them. Let’s have lots of independent MPs!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 22:09:47 +0000

Brilliant journalism, Guido. Watch out for the hubris that is taking down the evil ones. We need you.

By: nosecondhome

nosecondhome — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 21:15:10 +0000

Are we assuming that all secretaries are female? Will they appear in Guido’s Top Totty section? Try not to willy-wave and start taking women in politics seriously. The tone of many of these replies is pathetically boys-own, and i hear male MPs still tell new female recruits “we are mentally undressing you everytime you speak.” Plus ca change. Tories are no better than labour in this respect.
Hope Clegg gets somewhere and we can finally lose the second homes. In these days of email and webcams they’re just unnecessary.

By: Dual Citizen

Dual Citizen — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 06:48:37 +0000

Actually a very good starting point (pretty much exactly what I suggested on Dale’s blog). “Rentals only” will get rid of the claims on new kitchens, bathrooms and plugs. Also need to make sure the second home is either IN the constituency or in central London. Three years to sort out the second mortgage isn’t bad; I’d have gone for two.

By: denverthen

denverthen — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 23:43:23 +0000

Clegg’s talking out of his arse. As usual.

By: Lochduart

Lochduart — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 23:36:42 +0000

3 Years ? Does Cleggy know something ? Is he assuming that Paw Broon has postponed the General Election until 2012. Or is he counting his bawbees until then.

By: David Tucker

David Tucker — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:32:53 +0000

What happened to the pig ratings? Guido did you run out of pigs?