Originally Posted by All_I_Want

Originally Posted by Scabster_Mooch

Sven, are you defending MPs expenses?

On what basis is claiming for food, tv licences, etc justifiable? As well, why are taxpayers paying for their 2nd homes? I

Of course he is defending them.
Why do you think he wants to get elected?

You are sh1t n the sole of my shoe. Fuck off and die, tw@t

Oh Sven, where do I begin? My understanding is that MPs expenses are there to cover their out-of-pocket spending – not provide a luxury life style. If they want the high life they should pay for it – basic accommodation and traveling arrangements should be covered in the same way the services handle them – you get the very basics – you want more? You pay for it your self.

Why was I paid LOA for my six years in Germany?

You were posted away from your own country and occurred sundry additional expenses
‘our’ MPs are resident in the UK, so don’t qualify – or need extra money

Why was I given money for travelling home on leave?

If you mean warrants they’ve just about disappeared though I’d be happy for MPs to get a Rail Card (at their own cost to cover admin of course)

Why was I given paid leave for playing soldiers in Canada.

You were on duty

Why did I get extra pay for being in London?

It’s called London Allowance and from my time in MoD main building everyone within the catchment area civilian or military gets a small additional payment – I’d be happy for MPs to get the same levels we were getting – i.e. next to nothing – unless you can prove that MPs get charged more than the rest of us in retail and food outlets?

Why was I given free accommodation when I was away from my parent unit for short periods of time.

Happy for MPs to live in shi!e transit blocks – no need for hotels surely unless they can produce a MoD form 75 equivalent saying there is no other accommodation available. And you’ll find that you’ll be charged food and accommodation if you are temporarily detached these days

Oh, and I seem to remember getting free travel for when I had to visit some area outside of walking distance.

Did you? Four tonners all round for our glorious MPs them! I’m assuming it was public transport?

This includes visiting the South of France, climbing in various locations - I even got given travel expenses for going grape picking. Why?

Adventure trading and team bonding – is it in the same league as a three week ‘fact finding’ mission to Tahiti to examine the tourist industry when you represent Dunny-on-the-Wold?

Televisions are a tool, giving out news with immediacy - whilst one can have it on in the background. Any MP worth his salt will watch the current affairs programmes, and at least one major news programme a day. Since He or She is not in the capital for the good of their health or for a jolly they should be provided with the wherewithal to do their job

So when I was working TAC Int and glued to the TV news when at home I should have claimed for a free license? I’d have been told to feck-off by the licensing body as a chancer

No, sorry Sven, you're trying to defend the indefencable, they get a good wage –and let’s not go down the path of comparing MPs with the big wheels of industry. MPs supposedly wanted to serve the people, not take huge sums of money off the already overburdened tax payer. Let them pay for their luxury lifestyles.

The endless well of goodwill, patience, oh, and taxpayer's money is going to run dry, very soon.

When we are all struggling with council tax, gas, petrol, electricity, ever-increasing stealth taxes, not to mention paying for a bank with a bad gambling habit (Northern Rock) at the behest of it's favourite customers - Labliar, we get just a teensy weensy bit WET BEHIND THE FCUKING EARS at the thought of payingo for their council tax, telly and soft furnishings for the SECOND home of a politician earning anywhere between 80k to 160k per year ON TOP OF THEIR ALLOWANCE.

No bast@rd wonder they wanted to vote themselves out of the FOI.

Sven, you are just as contemptable and pathetic an oik as those whose ranks you wish to join.

You defend the indefensible; you lie, cheat, prevaricate and bluster just like they do - you make me want to hurl, despite your support for Grays Lane - or was that just another publicity stunt?

I wonder how many rehabiliation centres these 'perks' and 'allowances' would have paid for if it was all added up . . .

Originally Posted by Biped

The endless well of goodwill, patience, oh, and taxpayer's money is going to run dry, very soon.

When we are all struggling with council tax, gas, petrol, electricity, ever-increasing stealth taxes, not to mention paying for a bank with a bad gambling habit (Northern Rock) at the behest of it's favourite customers - Labliar, we get just a teensy weensy bit WET BEHIND THE FCUKING EARS at the thought of payingo for their council tax, telly and soft furnishings for the SECOND home of a politician earning anywhere between 80k to 160k per year ON TOP OF THEIR ALLOWANCE.

No bast@rd wonder they wanted to vote themselves out of the FOI.

Sven, you are just as contemptable and pathetic an oik as those whose ranks you wish to join.

You defend the indefensible; you lie, cheat, prevaricate and bluster just like they do - you make me want to hurl, despite your support for Grays Lane - or was that just another publicity stunt?

I wonder how many rehabiliation centres these 'perks' and 'allowances' would have paid for if it was all added up . . .

So, I went down to Ashtead for the publlicity - how come the only people who know about my contribution are on ARRSE. You are a kn0bhead of the first order Biped. Tell me, is Ashtead the only thing I have done - or do You, even with the lack of imagination You demonstrate so regularly, think that I might have done one or two other things, behind the scenes?

As for MPs being 'contemptable, pathetic oiks', this would of course include thel ikes of Airey Neave and other ex servicemen - or in Your tiny brain do You discount their inclusion because they didn't draw expenses?

Maple

Oh where, in turn, do I start? Luxury life style, really?

£750 for a TV set - You can get real gucci kit for that, £10,000 for a fitted kitchen (which includes labour) - yep, just about the average paid out in Sloan Square (I think not). A hi-fi for £750 - it might JUST buy one piece in a decent Hi-Fi, perhaps the cables.

Now, lets get on with equivicating forces perks.

LOA. - True, I wa out of country, but it was hardly the wilds of Borneo. As I remember it LOA allowed me to buy cheaoer Grouse, cheaper cars, cheaper electrical goods etc etc. I don't think that there were any 'sundry expenses' over that of being a soldier anywhere. I didn't need a German interpreter, personal servants weren't allowed in my barracks.

Leave travel - Not just warrants. MMA, Motor Mileage Allowance was offered either from unit to coast or from the point of landing in the UK to the address on Your leave form. If You served in Hong Kong You were given several hundred pounds a year to travel . . . . . anywhere!!!

Canada Rand R - On duty? so are MPs.

Accomodation - Transit blocks, on courses? Usually I got exactly the same accomodation as those in the barracks I stayed in. Several times I was given the same accomodation as officers would receive if they came to the same unit. (Church House, BFG Youth service to name but two)

Transport. Not always 4 tonners - Land Rovers, Escort estates, Chevettes and once a Cavalier. Mainly to do an A level in the local university.

I don't think I did too badly, as I said - the South of France, The Italian Allps - some got to travel world wide on the Air Corps yacht. Yes, much better than having to work.

I am not saying that these expences were not viable, they were - just as in the same way MPs expences are.

Now if You asked me if MPs should properly account for ALL expences incurred, then yes they should.

Because for the majority of them it's cheaper than running up hotel bills for extended periods when they are down from their constituencies. I think it's bloody cheeky for those within an hours commute of London to do so though.

No real comparison on the travelling expense Sven. We don't travel first class, and there are lower restrictions on mileage for the rest of us (though it's the only expense I make money on!)

As far as all the crap about TVs, etc. I take the view that they don't need fancy ones for the London pad. They get paid a fancy amount for being in the House for extended periods, not for sipping something nice in front of the HDTV.

If I wanted to work in a £60k job at the other end of the country again I would have to pay for all of my travel and accom from a very small allowance, possibly as low as the £9k they paid me last time. Now If I had to do that why cant they? I got bu&&er all in the way of tax relief on anything spent beyond the £9k such as maintaining my own vehicle to drive in on a moday the 200 miles from home!
Sod them they get a salary and thats it, if they want extras they can have a job that pays more. Why should the humungous amounts of tax I pay be wasted on those bottom feeders.
Do you know who works out what they can and cant claim and for how much?
Thats right they do!
Bananas, yellow, bent and come in bunches.
I'm struggling to find a time when anyone of them did a decent days work!

Originally Posted by Sven

Originally Posted by Scabster_Mooch

Sven, are you defending MPs expenses?

On what basis is claiming for food, tv licences, etc justifiable? As well, why are taxpayers paying for their 2nd homes? I

Why was I paid LOA for my six years in Germany? Why was I given money for travelling home on leave? Why was I given paid leave for playing soldiers in Canada. Why did I get extra pay for being in London? Why was I given free accomodation when I was away from my parent unit for short periods of time. Oh, and I seem to remember getting free travel for when I had to visit some area outside of walking distance. This includes visiting the South of France, climbing in various locations - I even got given travel expences for going grape picking. Why?

What did MikeMcc say about Him getting expences for being away from home - and incidentally I take His view in regard to second homes.

Televisions are a tool, giving out news with immediacy - whilst one can have it on in the background. Any MP worth his salt will watch the current affairs programmes, and at least one major news programme a day. Since He or She is not in the capital for the good of their health or for a jolly they should be provided with the wherewithal to do their job

If MPs do not have these expenses, they will lay claim to greater and greater salaries - either that or parliament will once again become the domain of the rich.

you do have a point they need to be able to claim expenses.. but 4000 a year for food. surley we pay them enough to pay their own food!

Originally Posted by MikeMcc

Because for the majority of them it's cheaper than running up hotel bills for extended periods when they are down from their constituencies. I think it's bloody cheeky for those within an hours commute of London to do so though.

No real comparison on the travelling expense Sven. We don't travel first class, and there are lower restrictions on mileage for the rest of us (though it's the only expense I make money on!)

As far as all the crap about TVs, etc. I take the view that they don't need fancy ones for the London pad. They get paid a fancy amount for being in the House for extended periods, not for sipping something nice in front of the HDTV.

I agree that those so close to parliament are having a laugh claiming second homes expences etc, though I still don't understand where people think that 700 quid can buy a top of the range gogglebox. It may buy a LCD screen but the picture is at best mediocre.

Originally Posted by pvtePile

Originally Posted by Sven

Originally Posted by Scabster_Mooch

Sven, are you defending MPs expenses?

On what basis is claiming for food, tv licences, etc justifiable? As well, why are taxpayers paying for their 2nd homes? I

Why was I paid LOA for my six years in Germany? Why was I given money for travelling home on leave? Why was I given paid leave for playing soldiers in Canada. Why did I get extra pay for being in London? Why was I given free accomodation when I was away from my parent unit for short periods of time. Oh, and I seem to remember getting free travel for when I had to visit some area outside of walking distance. This includes visiting the South of France, climbing in various locations - I even got given travel expences for going grape picking. Why?

What did MikeMcc say about Him getting expences for being away from home - and incidentally I take His view in regard to second homes.

Televisions are a tool, giving out news with immediacy - whilst one can have it on in the background. Any MP worth his salt will watch the current affairs programmes, and at least one major news programme a day. Since He or She is not in the capital for the good of their health or for a jolly they should be provided with the wherewithal to do their job

If MPs do not have these expenses, they will lay claim to greater and greater salaries - either that or parliament will once again become the domain of the rich.

you do have a point they need to be able to claim expenses.. but 4000 a year for food. surley we pay them enough to pay their own food!

Have You entertained Heads of Government then - beans on toast is not the thing to serve foreign (or home grown) VIPs. Just like those visiting our Very Senior Officers, a certain standard is expected by those visiting our government, failure to meet those expectations can add to tensions in negotiation.