SubJeff on 23/5/2009 at 07:56
Why don't they say the c word? Over the past 2 weeks British politicians have finally shown, without doubt and this time (accusations about this type of thing have just been denied) undeniably, that corruption is rife.
So far it seems Labour are the worst offenders (SD must be loving this) and some of the fraud, for that is what it is, amazes. So why has our news not called it what it is - corruption and fraud? If it were happening in any other country they'd be there in a flash.
And just wtf is this crap about "oooh, its causing a lot of stress, its affecting their families"? Same thing happens to cocaine dealers when they are caught breaking the law because that's what happens when you are a nabbed crim my friends. Can't do the time don't do tha crime.
Time for an election I reckon.
Fingernail on 23/5/2009 at 09:49
I dunno, much as the whole thing is one giant clusterfuck, I sort of support the point Ben Bradshaw made on Question Time, namely that we should wait until the inquiry gives its report and we can really decide who is a serious offender, otherwise we risk having a snap election where people vote very emotively, and possibly (worringly) for parties like the BNP.
This kind of thing brings a lot of things into focus, actually, the very fact that some people are even talking about voting for the BNP is rather worrying - it's only too easy to see how people in 1933, disillusioned with Weimar politics turned to vote Nazi. We're a fair few steps away, obviously, but honestly, the BNP? UKIP?
Ulukai on 23/5/2009 at 10:36
The BNP still conjures up images of skinheads beating the shit out of anyone not quite pasty enough, and UKIP of Robert Kilroy Silk in a shimmering suit - Share or Shaft? So, no they can both still fuck off.
However, Gordon Brown needs to GTFO, the Lib Dems still flail around impotently and there's still a few to many Tory Boys "I have a very large house and you're jealous" in the Conservative party for my liking although I'm leaning towards voting for Cameron.
Whilst none of them should have been claiming expenses to have their moats cleaned really, that's only slightly naughty given that fell within the (very broad) guidelines.
Those who were blatantly playing the system - i.e. claiming for two second homes, making false declarations etc. should be punished the most severely.
SubJeff on 23/5/2009 at 13:25
I'm leaning towards Tory now too. There are some MPs who "forgot" they had already paid their mortgages off and were "accidentally" still claiming £1000s of pounds a year for it. "Genuine" mistakes apparently. pfffffft.
R Soul on 23/5/2009 at 23:36
The point of the expenses should be to support those MPs for whom funding a second home would be quite a financial drain. Cameron claimed for money to fix a chimney (I believe a wisteria was involved) but he and his wife have a fortune of tens of millions, so in that case it may not have been fraudulent or against the rules, but he was still taking public money for no good reason.
I also find it funny (relatively speaking) that MPs, when caught out, say that they're "devastated" to have brought such embarrassment on their parties. Well, don't make fraudulent expenses claims!
Toxicfluff on 24/5/2009 at 02:12
Quote Posted by Ulukai
claiming expenses to have their moats cleaned
I bloody loved that. In the midst of all this Obama riffing "change" stuff that the blues are spouting, nothing could be more iconic of old-school Tory.
This pondering of growing favour for UKIP or BNP in the media isn't hurting their chances. I wish they'd just shut up about it, rather than give public countenance to the idea. Ever seen the research about an increase in suicides after a prominent story does the rounds?
But the system allowed it, you know. They should be out on their arses. The sort of people who need a bloody system to tell them right from wrong are precisely the sort of people I
don't want running my government.
Nicker on 24/5/2009 at 05:50
Look on the bright side - this has broken down the bipartisan wall in parliament. MPs reaching across the aisle to share the trough.
driver on 24/5/2009 at 14:09
It really boils my piss that MPs can say, straight faced, that Sir Fred shouldn't have his pension then turn around and say 'Well, I was within the rules'.
Balls to deselecting, sack the fuckers. This is embezzling. In the private sector you'd be out on your arse before you could blink with court action lined up next week. That they did it with public funds makes it worse.
Sorry, I'm just a little bit :mad:
R Soul on 24/5/2009 at 14:53
No need to apologise, :mad: is quite appropriate.
