Thursday, February 4, 2010

Sir Thomas Legg provided people with the biggest bargain in history, £1.3 million to discover the extent of politically corrupt Britain, it's cheap











Dear All

The expenses scandal rumbles on, MPs should repay £1.12m of their second home expenses after an audit of their claims dating back to 2004.

Sir Thomas Legg has really stuck the boot in by recommended that 390 MPs past and present should repay money.

In truth Westminister arrogance some MPs have turned on him and described the work in his audit as “sloppy”, since some have had their appeals upheld and aren’t paying anything back.

The expenses system was set up to be flawed with the rules kept vague as the MPs right across the chamber wanted a sure fire way to claw money that is why they introduced self certification of their claims.

It was a road to institutional corruption and the ‘honourable’ members didn’t think twice because previously they had secrecy as a cloak.

By saying an MP in their declaration "that I incurred these costs wholly, exclusively and necessarily to enable me to stay overnight away from my only or main home for the purpose of performing my duties as a Member of Parliament".

And with a dysfunctional Fees Office with cowed staff, they were free to loot the public funds.

One of the ‘stars’ who is asked to cough up is Labour junior minister Barbara Follett, she is tagged for £42,458, so far she has stumped up £32,976.

Tories like greed and married couple, MPs Andrew MacKay and Julie Kirkbride get a £60,000.

Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox is hit for £24,878 but has an appeal pending, he doesn’t want to pay a penny back without a fight.

No doubt brushing up his defensive skills!

If an MP is unhappy and let’s face it; paying back thousands would make anyone miffed, they have the right of appeal to a judge, Sir Paul Kennedy, he is looking at each case "on its own merits".

Ex-Conservative minister Peter Lilley had his demand for £41,057 overturned entirely on appeal.

Close call that boy!

Sitting MPs have until 22 February to repay the amounts requested or else things turn nasty.

If they don’t cough the loot then, Commons leader Harriet Harman said;

"All repayments will have to be made or firm arrangements entered into, otherwise the recovery process from pay or allowances will start after the 22nd of this month. So everything that should be paid back, will be paid back."

Rather like how ordinary members of the public are treated by the state.

Although the money, £1.3 million is important to be sure, it was cheap, it was cheap because the public found out that so many people of the political elite are corrupt.

We actually got a bargain although most don’t realise it.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

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