MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

For info in case anyone hasn't seen it

Name Party Constituency 2nd home allowance, London supp, Office Staffing, Central Stationary, Staionary, IT, Staff Cover , Comms, Travel, Total

Pope, Mr Greg LAB Hyndburn 22,211 0 24,662 86,275 353 1,282 1,350 0 6,666 18,889 161,688

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

I think the weeks revelations have mainly focused on receipts rather than totals. It's how the totals are comprised that really anger people. I think Greg and every other MP should just go ahead and publish them now rather than waiting. They have access to their expenses on the parliamentary Intranet, with the 'personal' details which will be blacked out once they're eventually released to us, in a shade of grey.

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

And to be honest I can't make head nor tail of those figs Entwisi, can you put them in a more idiot friendly form?:confused:

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/a...1&d=1242245089

That is what is currently available, but a full list of receipts will be available at some point in the next few months (unless the Telegraph or the MP's themselves release them earlier).

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

That makes a lot more sense, fairly cheap to run then Our Greg, compared to some!:)

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

yup ... it does kinda look that way ... and now, the million dollar ... oops, the million pound question: who ranks number one:confused: Who is the spendthrift leader in your House of Commons?

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

The part time cleaner I should imagine. :tongueout

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

I wonder what Additional Cost Provision and Incidental Expenditure Provision covers?

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

The Additional Costs Allowance (cost of staying away from main home/ACA) is paid to reimburse Members for necessary costs incurred when staying overnight away from their main home for the purpose of performing parliamentary duties. Inner London Members do not receive this allowance.

2007/08 ACA Maximum of £23,083

and

The Incidental Expenses Provision (IEP) can be used to meet the cost of: accommodation for office or surgery use; equipment and supplies for office or surgery; work commissioned or other services; and certain travel and communications. The Staffing Allowance is paid to enable Members to employ staff. Staff salaries are paid directly to staff by the House of Commons Department of Resources. The IEP can also be used to cover certain staff related costs.

2007/08 IEP maximum of £21,339

2007/08 Staffing Allowance maximum of £90,505

More info at: UK Parliament - House of Commons: Members' Allowance Expenditure 2007-2008

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

no sense in any of that...basic story is that most MP's are taking the pee..I feel sorry for the Mp's that are not gonna get any respect for the fact that they have not "conned" the system.

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

I don't agree there Mancie, If an MP has done nothing wrong then he/she has every right to shout it from the hilltops and say don't class me with that shower of thieving scumbags :rolleyes:

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

Me too:)

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

I agree with all that has been said. I am fed up with waiting for the House of Commons to publish my receipts and have just been told that it may be another month before they do so. My intention is to publish myself every receipt relating to my Additional Costs Allowance on the internet within a week.

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

Fair play Greg:mosher:

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

Very admirable Greg. Good work :thumbsup:

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

absolutely Greg, I'm sure that teh honest ones amongst your colleagues are as sick of all teh smoke and mirrors that seems to be in play as teh rest of us.

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

I would bet that there will be no extortionate bill for "moat clearing" amongst the receipts too!:)

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

That was one of the more outragious claims to my mind Lindsay, the guy is as rich as anything, lives in a mansion house, in a field, with a moat around it, and then expects the common man to pay to clean the moat! It smacks of the rich looking after themselves whilst standing on the poor who pay them to be there.

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

Mick's got a moat out the back I believe:D:D

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

matters not, he don't claim expenses fer Less to clean it.:D

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

And I think we've got to try to remember that the good honest ones are the majority and that it's only a few that have been outrageous. The papers have made a big deal about it, and rightly so, but even so we need to remember that most MPs are there for the right reason and do consider their constituents and the public purse.

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

absolutely, but clowns will always be brainwashed by the media,not a lot we can do about that, a dummy is a dummy.:rolleyes:

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

How do you know that? I very much doubt that the Telegraph is going to go through all 600-and-odd MPs one by one - the story will lose its news value long before then. For all we know, the "good, honest ones" might be in the minority!

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

thats possible wynonie, though its summat i doubt very much. its like anything, i knew some real bad/dishonest policemen way back, but most were sound.:)

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

The best is yet to come when we find out who signed in and then truanted and became directors of large company's.Still claiming that they were working for the good of the country and their constituents.

Should they be in Parliament or Strangeways???

Some get caught and some do not.

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

nah be fair pete, Risley on Remand.:D

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

[quote=cashman;714535]nah be fair pete, Risley on Remand.:D

Have a heart Cashy.Break them in gently.Then hang 'em.:theband:

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

No, they won't pick on them one by one but they would have printed a table of everything if they'd all been at it.

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

I think they will - just to keep them all running like headless chickens wondering if they wil be next. It also sells more papers

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

Why would they do that? It would totally destroy the "scoop" element of exposing them a few at a time. As Margaret says, that's what sells newspapers. Personally, I think you're being far too generous by saying it's just "a few", but I'm just a cynical old sod! ;)

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

Got to agree Wynonie, its now getting monotonous, I don't bother listening now just turn the telly down and keep reading the paper:(

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

does > 500 quid for some abstract painting not sound equally frivilous then?
Also, it appears that Greg wilst promising to publish within a week was exposed by a national paper. not only that the receipt was non letterheaded, i.e. hand written........

So Greg, in your quote in the Observor you stated that you realised it was a mistake. so why when on this thread did you not mention to having made such. Instead it appears whilst there was no public scandal you were happy to keep it under your hat.

so much for open and honest..............

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

Ah! That old chestnut! :eek:

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

If MPs make so many "mistakes" when claiming their expenses, how many "mistakes" are they admitting to having made during this Government's tenure?

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

'Mmmmm, perhaps that cut glass decanter from John Lewis was a bit naff, and I really shouldn't have put in on expenses.'

:rolleyes:

'Mmmmm, perhaps we were misinformed about the weapons of mass destruction, and shouldn't have invaded Iraq, and entered a war costing billions of pound, and causing so much blood shed.'

:rolleyes:

'Hey ho, it's only other people's money and lives, and we'll probably never be held accountable.'

:rolleyes:

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

Has never voted on a transparent Parliament.

Voted very strongly for the Iraq war.

Greg Pope MP, Hyndburn (TheyWorkForYou.com)

:rolleyes:

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

you won't find many MP's that voted for a transparent Parliment, and the war on Iraq was passed by a massive majority....checked out your link Garinda and looks to me like Greg's voting pattern is in line with the party he represents.

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

I know, I've mentioned it many times, also that the majority of them have blocked any attempt at bringing about a more transparent parliament, especially when it comes to their expenses.

Odd that.

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

brilliant link i can use that info...:D on other mps up here..ohh im going to have some fun..

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

Just wonder how this will affect Gregs standing locally, not much being said about that angle:confused:

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

just think, your local mp could be coming to a job centre near you!!!

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

It does not affect his standing with me at all. If it was within the rules then it is ok with me. If the rules need changing then change them.

If he has broken the rules or made fraudulent claims then I want him out and in court if fraudulent.

Has he broken the rules or made a fraudulent claim?

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

I agree.

Though not breaking rules you know to be flawed, to say the least, and not attempting to change them, does remind me of the lame excuses many Germans came up with post 1945, after following the rules of the democratically elected Nazi Party.

'Ve vere only following de orders'.

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

Are the rules flawed or were they made like that intentionally to supplement MP's pay to try and cover up how much money MP's get?

Read Me

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

Either way, that makes them flawed, at least by my rule book.

...and let's not forget the expenses system was put in place by MPs themselves, who then repeatedly blocked attempts to make the whole system more transparent.

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

One thing that annoys me is that MP's have second homes in London when their own homes are close to Westminster anyway.

There should be a minimum distance before they can claim for a second home.

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

Well then there was clearly no need to apologies on the front page of the Observer:rolleyes:

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

what beats me wi that link rindy, is how can ya vote "Strongly","Very Strongly",or "Moderatly"???:confused: yer either for or against in my book.

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

I've said that I think each constituency more than 60 miles from London should have to purchase a 3 bed house within 60 miles. Then whatever party or MP is representing that constituency uses that house for teh period of their service. It would have to be decorated in neutral colours and when a new occupant takes over they get a new bed and 3 piece suite, all other contebst are replaced when broken or worn out out of a central gov pot with 'standard' options, i.e. no huge american fridges/50 " plasmas etc

Then there would be no claims of profittering from subsidised mortgages, etc.

The simple fact is if I took a contract in London I would have to pay my own accomodation out of my salary, why doe MPs not, its not like they don't know where the job is now is it? To be given free use of a property would be a very generous offer IMHO.

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

Don't they get less Neil if they are within a certain distance of Westminster ?

I still have no objection to M.P's spending their expenses on furnishing their second home myself .. they spend a lot of their time down there and should be comfortable tantamount to some of the comforts they have at home.

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

I suppose voting patterns of MPs aren't always consistent. On equal rights for example, an MP might vote in favour of some, and not others, hence the grading system.

According to the site Greg Pope has never voted on issues concerned with a more transparent parliament, because on those ten times he's been absent.

http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpid=1650&dmp=996

I've been informed, by a third party, that his staff refute the claims made in the Observer.

Personally if that is true, rather than silence, I'd be using every possibe medium at my disposal to clarify the matter, and pacify the many very disappointed constituents here in Hyndburn.

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

Well if they refute the claims why did he apologies, must have thought he had a case to answer

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

When I think about these MP's who do aplogise I can't help wondering if they are doing it because they think they did wrong or because the public expect them too.

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

Well if I thought I'd done nout wrong wild horses wouldn't get me to apologies, irrespective of what the public think, the apology would be window dressing and nothing else

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

Greg's expenses have now been released to the public. You can view them here UK Parliament - Allowances by MP - Greg Pope

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

Unfortunatly, there is not much to view - the censors got there first. Unless you have a pair of those magic X-Ray specs, you won't be able to see through all the black paint that has been liberally applied over the gritty detail.

From what can be seen, Greg's expenses don't look too bad, certainly in comparison to that of the Dingle's MP, Mrs "Fill Up My Kitty" Usher. When the poor sods in Burnley get a good look at that lot I doubt if she will be welcome in the town again.

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

There is still too much misty grey surrounding all of this, either they were working within the rules, and the rules should be changed, in which case nobody need resign, or pay back, but if it is fraudulent, then I'm with Neil, there should be sackings for gross misconduct, payback plus interests and all related costs, and a heavy fine/prison. As it is, the rules are pathetic, and as such, could you then rob a bank, using the excuse 'they provide loans. I didnt realise you had to apply, I thought you could just take it'!

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

Well I only looked at the first link, think I quit while I'm winning, £200 for food seemed a quite regular expense. I don't know about you lot but £200 a month for grub at the tax payers expense seems a bit rich to me,

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

If beer can be classified as food, then this seems quite reasonable to me, given that a pint of bitter is now three quid or more in the capital.

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

But why should the tax payer pay for food Tealeaf, be it bear or anything else, we both have to eat to sustain life and we don't get to claim on expenses. I don't have a problem with mortgage payments, travel etc, but come on food is taking the P***

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

Well, most companies will allow employees working away from home to claim for food either on an actual expense or on a per diem basis. The interesting question - given that all MP's appear to have claimed lump sum food expenses - is why were those country MP's who flipped their main home to London allowed to claim?

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

Ya their on double bubble Tealeaf, but to me at most an MP is away 20 days every month, £200 for food, don't think many firms pay that out on top of accommodation exes too

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

I agree with you Jaysay....I'm just trying to get inside an MP's head to work out how they justified what they did. Anyway, looks like Usher is also quitting as an MP...."in order to spend more time with her family". You would have thought that by now one of 'em would have come up with a different excuse for going. Wouldn't it be refreshing for one of 'em to just own up and say "I'm quitting because I'm guilty of thieving from the taxpayer".

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

I don't remember you saying that when the local Conservative councillors recently voted to award themselves massively increased food allowances, whilst on overnight council business.

I have no beef with anyone claiming justified expenses, whilst carrying out the work of public office, though it should be open to public scrutiny, and those expenses should be set by an independent body.
Which they were in the case of H.B.C., but were then superciliously ignored by the ruling council group.

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

Why do MP's need to spend so much time in London in this media savvy, technological age?? Surely most of their "London business" could be done in a couple of days per week. Most of their time should be spent in their consituencies, doing the work they've been elected for. There would be no need whatsoever then for second homes, and a more "normal" expenses system could be set up, as in the business community. Parliament needs a radical reform to reflect the times and the abilities of being able to effectively communicate and debate without the need for people to be all in the same location. All MP's should live in their constituencies for at least their parliamentory lives. The main effect that spending so much time in London seems to have had on our MP's, is that they are concentrating more on issue's that are of benefit to themselves and their individual party rather than of the people who made it possible for them to be there!

Best Regards - Taggy

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

To get away from their wives.

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

Massive £10 to £25 Rindi, you've got to remember that MPs have their own homes in the capital, well Greg seemed to have he was claiming for a mortgage, they won't be eating out every night or shouldn't be that's the all purpose of having a home, if you're in London for one night it hard to find a descent meal, it was okay for you whilst you were living there you find these things out, but even so do you think its right to claim £200 a month for food, that's £10,000 bloody pound a year for gods sake, nice work if you can get it

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

You can say that about every country in the world Taggy, they all have a parliament were they do business, we have local councillors and country councillors to attend to local issues Westminster is about running the country, I now we ain't seen much of that over the last few years but that's the way it was meant to be

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

When people, whose income and expenses aren't funded from the public purse, are settling for pay cuts, in order to try and safeguard their jobs, then pecentage wise those figures do equate to a massive increase, in all but an idiot's eyes, or those totally blinded by party political allegiance.

The most amusing, if it wasn't so sickening, of the recent half publications of expenses, surely has to be from George Osborne, the Conservative Shadow Chancellor.

'A trawl through the receipts published today revealed that the shadow chancellor, George Osborne, claimed £47 for two copies of a DVD of his own speech on value for taxpayers' money in 2005.'

David Cameron to repay wrongly claimed expenses | Politics | guardian.co.uk

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

No that is wrong. They should pay for food from their wages. Food while on business in hotels etc if different and should be receipted, but normal everyday is wrong.

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

Odd you should be so dismissive about the massively increased expenses we've seen voted in at local government level, against the recommendations of an independent body, when I remember you agreeing with me, in another thread re: the expenses scandal, that what is fuelling the public's anger isn't so much the actual amount of money, but the principle of doing the right thing, or not, as witnessed in so many cases.

Surely we should expect highly principled politicans locally, just as we do nationally?

Otherwise it would be easy to label someone guilty of gross hypocrisy.

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

At local level there was just an upper limit set for overnight expenses and meal allowances which to my knowledge has not been met or is likely to, but its there as a safe guard. Unlike down in Westminster where they have nearly all climbed the maximum for accommodation around £22,000 a year. I've just spent 1 hour looking through these expense accounts and the mind really does boggle, I think the best one really was made by Lib/Dem Lemsip who claimed £19-95 for a super duper wig

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

The bad news is that the pay review body yesterday reported that MP's were underpaid by 10-15% and that a pay rise of this magnitude would now be in order.

The good news is that come the election, few of the buggars will be around to receive it.

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

Buggars Tealeaf, shouldn't that be buggers:tongueout:tongueout:tongueout
A £10,000 rise is in the offing, so its a case of screw the system and get a huge big increase, this just don't happen in the real world only on Planet Westminster:(

Re: MP expenses - Our Greg's
 

Is Hyndburn not in the real world?

Or is the 20% increase in our council leader's allowances, which some councillors voted to award him, too much to comprehend?

Expenses rise sparks fury in council chamber - News - Accrington Observer