Yes getting paid to lobby parliament is apparently legal, of course it is, MP's make those rules.
But it is so, so wrong, we elect MPs to lobby parliament for the things to make this Nation better, that is what they are paid to do and they should do it because they believe it to be the best course of action, it is bad enough that they sometimes do it because it is party policy even when they disagree with it, but to lobby for whatever pays the highest fee is almost criminal, it should be a criminal offence.
Wasting taxpayers money lobbying for Fiji and making money out it is so morally wrong when there is so much that does need to be debated that would be a benefit to us.
Is this why we may be about to supply weapons to Al Quaeda in Syria, because some MP's made a lot of money out of lobbying for it ?
It is so legal he "stood aside to save the party the embarrassment" why would the party be embarrassed by an MP doing something legal and moral ? unless of course they know it shouldn't be legal and is not moral.
Kickbacks, expense claims, Directorships of Companies who just need the name of an MP, lobbying fees and even earn a Million a year as a Dentist when your being paid to work as an MP, where will it end ? The fact is it won't end because they make the laws and even when they break them they are rarely prosecuted for it, a couple of scapegoats on the blatant expense claims thefts.
I have never had an MP come to my door at election time or any other but I would struggle to refrain myself from spitting on most of them.
Sad when the people who make the laws that invariably put people in Prison should also be in Prison - rant over ....... for now
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MPs still on the fiddle
Sex God
Totally agree Jed !!!
John
John
Sex God
nothing unexpected mids
just the usual! human greed
just the usual! human greed
Sex God
Quote by Skyndave
Humans are quite greedy aren't they, everyone has a greed........
its human nature sky
not wishing to be picky but the recent cases of "cash for questions" scandal involved Lord's.. of the un-elected 2nd chamber.. and in one case Jack Cunningham, former Minister in the Blair Government, his father was found with his hands in the honey jar too.. to think MPs are above the law or even law abiding is naïve.. anyone and I mean anyone can stand for election in a democracy and find themselves in a position where they make law for the country and constituents they represent.. whilst yes, you would like to think they are law abiding citizens devoting themselves to public service but alas the are like every other regular person with their very own issues.. I personally wouldn't want it any other way as the alternative is unthinkable.. to live in a totalitarian regime would be a complete nightmare..
I am a lobbyist and I can honestly say I have never paid an MP or has one ever asked for any.. we support MPs that support our cause and we will do everything to keep those MPs in position.. that is until they are caught in a scandal that would harm our causes.. BTW one of the MPs I deal with is a swinger!!!
So, in a nutshell I suppose what i'm saying is.. our political system isn't perfect but it is ours and if we don't like what we see and hear we do have an option.. unlike some countries..
great thread though well done for posting it... love it..
I am a lobbyist and I can honestly say I have never paid an MP or has one ever asked for any.. we support MPs that support our cause and we will do everything to keep those MPs in position.. that is until they are caught in a scandal that would harm our causes.. BTW one of the MPs I deal with is a swinger!!!
So, in a nutshell I suppose what i'm saying is.. our political system isn't perfect but it is ours and if we don't like what we see and hear we do have an option.. unlike some countries..
great thread though well done for posting it... love it..
But they are above the law on so many occasions, albeit that sometimes it is because they have made a ruling that they are above the law.
For example, they can legally smoke in some bars in the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
They do not have to pay for a TV licence.
They do not have to pay road tax for the car they use for constituency work.
They continue to flount the Rules of the Houses of Parliament and Lords not signing the book declaring their interests in things not connected with their work as an MP but which could be affected by their position.
Many still abuse their expenses claims and in so doing also break UK Tax laws.
Yes it is better to have a democracy but that does not give them the right to be above the law when it suits them.
Take the MP convicted of drink driving but not given any punishment because he was "taking his wife home from a party because she felt ill"
If any of us used that excuse we would be laughed at and probably given a more severe penalty.
Being bribed to do things within your employment is the worst thing you can do, MP's take a job where they have to be above bribery or fear of blackmail, we insist on that of many of our armed forces and civil servants who are "Positive Vetted" for certain jobs and an army Private accepts that responsibility for a lot less salary and benefits than an MP does.
If that was a football manager, player, sportsman, jockey etc the penalties are severe, why not MPs.
The reason they get away with it seems apparent by this thread, people don't care, people just accept it, brainwashed by the very people that do the crime.
so many sheep, so many sheep.
For example, they can legally smoke in some bars in the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
They do not have to pay for a TV licence.
They do not have to pay road tax for the car they use for constituency work.
They continue to flount the Rules of the Houses of Parliament and Lords not signing the book declaring their interests in things not connected with their work as an MP but which could be affected by their position.
Many still abuse their expenses claims and in so doing also break UK Tax laws.
Yes it is better to have a democracy but that does not give them the right to be above the law when it suits them.
Take the MP convicted of drink driving but not given any punishment because he was "taking his wife home from a party because she felt ill"
If any of us used that excuse we would be laughed at and probably given a more severe penalty.
Being bribed to do things within your employment is the worst thing you can do, MP's take a job where they have to be above bribery or fear of blackmail, we insist on that of many of our armed forces and civil servants who are "Positive Vetted" for certain jobs and an army Private accepts that responsibility for a lot less salary and benefits than an MP does.
If that was a football manager, player, sportsman, jockey etc the penalties are severe, why not MPs.
The reason they get away with it seems apparent by this thread, people don't care, people just accept it, brainwashed by the very people that do the crime.
so many sheep, so many sheep.
Quote by MidsCouple24
But they are above the law on so many occasions, albeit that sometimes it is because they have made a ruling that they are above the law.
For example, they can legally smoke in some bars in the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
They do not have to pay for a TV licence.
They do not have to pay road tax for the car they use for constituency work.
They continue to flount the Rules of the Houses of Parliament and Lords not signing the book declaring their interests in things not connected with their work as an MP but which could be affected by their position.
Many still abuse their expenses claims and in so doing also break UK Tax laws.
Yes it is better to have a democracy but that does not give them the right to be above the law when it suits them.
Take the MP convicted of drink driving but not given any punishment because he was "taking his wife home from a party because she felt ill"
If any of us used that excuse we would be laughed at and probably given a more severe penalty.
Being bribed to do things within your employment is the worst thing you can do, MP's take a job where they have to be above bribery or fear of blackmail, we insist on that of many of our armed forces and civil servants who are "Positive Vetted" for certain jobs and an army Private accepts that responsibility for a lot less salary and benefits than an MP does.
If that was a football manager, player, sportsman, jockey etc the penalties are severe, why not MPs.
The reason they get away with it seems apparent by this thread, people don't care, people just accept it, brainwashed by the very people that do the crime.
so many sheep, so many sheep.
Are you sure you have your facts right regarding smoking in the Houses of Parliament, MPs not paying VED ( no one pays Road Tax) or for their TV Licences?
Quote by starlightcouple
Yes, but according to IPSA, if in rented accommodation, they can claim the cost of the licence.
All that money for a part time job with " extra's ". In today's world a disgrace, in fact in any world a disgrace.
I can in my job, aswell as rail fares, air fare, food, drink, car travel, ship passage, electricity, gas, water rates, community charge and a sky tv subscription...so what????
They are legitimate expenses for when people work away and are able to be either reimbursed in full with a BIK value or offset against tax liabilities.
Quote by starlightcouple
All that money for a part time job with " extra's ". In today's world a disgrace, in fact in any world a disgrace.
Quote by Rogue_Trader
I can in my job, aswell as rail fares, air fare, food, drink, car travel, ship passage, electricity, gas, water rates, community charge and a sky tv subscription...so what????
They are legitimate expenses for when people work away and are able to be either reimbursed in full with a BIK value or offset against tax liabilities.
Next you will be denying that several MP's fiddled their expense sheets and that none of them went to prison.
You say working away as well, but many MP's have second homes that are virtually within walking distance of the House of Commons...hardly working away is it?
Quote by GnV
Some of the others though do take the piss, I would agree.
Well the ones that went to prison yes they really did take the fucking piss, the rest just took the piss.
What about a salary of 80 grand with no other expenses at all, and have to work a 38 hour week every week, with 5 weeks off paid holiday? 65 grand a year and another 65 grand plus on expenses and second home fiddles etc, and then around 20 weeks off on holiday, and the opportunity to do second high paid jobs. Is it on that basis any wonder we have the kinds of people representing us that we do???
Quote by starlightcouple
All that money for a part time job with " extra's ". In today's world a disgrace, in fact in any world a disgrace.
Quote by Rogue_Trader
I can in my job, aswell as rail fares, air fare, food, drink, car travel, ship passage, electricity, gas, water rates, community charge and a sky tv subscription...so what????
They are legitimate expenses for when people work away and are able to be either reimbursed in full with a BIK value or offset against tax liabilities.
Next you will be denying that several MP's fiddled their expense sheets and that none of them went to prison.
You say working away as well, but many MP's have second homes that are virtually within walking distance of the House of Commons...hardly working away is it?
As GNV stated some do take the piss but the majority don't and 60K aint that much.
But if you're up in rms about it so much, do something about it.
So the MP for Westminster who used his "2nd home interest and tax benefits" to buy a home in Devon, obviously not needing a second one in Westminster, what do we class him as ?
When I was working for Texas Homecare in Milton Keynes they paid the rent on my house and that was all they paid over and above the basic salary, my home and family were in Telford, no complaints, I took the job willingly and was happy with my basic salary, some employers pay more of the "working away" costs some don't and some employees milk it and some don't.
When I was working for Texas Homecare in Milton Keynes they paid the rent on my house and that was all they paid over and above the basic salary, my home and family were in Telford, no complaints, I took the job willingly and was happy with my basic salary, some employers pay more of the "working away" costs some don't and some employees milk it and some don't.
Quote by starlightcouple
But if you're up in rms about it so much, do something about it.
Like? Come on Rogue inform me how I can become an MP.
1. Pick a party you can identify with
2. Join as one of the party faithful
3. Attend meetings /volunteer as a leaflet distributor/door to door pollster etc
4. Be a very active member and maybe just maybe you might get invited to stand
5. keep standing until eventually the place where you live decide that you're a good egg and you get in
6. once in, a) do good and have only one term b) fiddle the country blind and become a lord
easy done Star...but the list to do this is long
There is no party I could possibly ally myself with, and I certainly couldn't finance my own Independant stand.
That said, let's say I could allign myself to a party, how would that change things, how long would I last as a candidate if my aim was to stop the corruption of my colleagues, stop the crime within the party and other parties, bring an end to the fraud and theft of public funds and stop the outrageous "perks" that they get such as being allowed to hold down full time employment elsewhere other than their full time job as an MP ?
That said, let's say I could allign myself to a party, how would that change things, how long would I last as a candidate if my aim was to stop the corruption of my colleagues, stop the crime within the party and other parties, bring an end to the fraud and theft of public funds and stop the outrageous "perks" that they get such as being allowed to hold down full time employment elsewhere other than their full time job as an MP ?
Quote by MidsCouple24
There is no party I could possibly ally myself with, and I certainly couldn't finance my own Independant stand.
That said, let's say I could allign myself to a party, how would that change things, how long would I last as a candidate if my aim was to stop the corruption of my colleagues, stop the crime within the party and other parties, bring an end to the fraud and theft of public funds and stop the outrageous "perks" that they get such as being allowed to hold down full time employment elsewhere other than their full time job as an MP ?
Errrrr...
Like Martin Bell at Tatton
Quote by MidsCouple24
Not aware of the tatton scenario/situation so still none the wiser
It was the 'original' cash for questions debacle involving the disgraced MP for Tatton, Neil Hamilton (he now of UKIP grace and favour) who was ousted at the (then) next general election by Martin Bell - ex war reporter and he of the whiter than white lounge suit.
Blair, at the suggestion of his henchman Alastair Campbell, withdrew Labour candidature for the election of the very safe Tory seat in order to give Bell a clear run at the seat on an anti-corruption ticket.
The ploy worked and Bell was returned with a significant majority trouncing Hamilton completely.
As to how this is significant to your posting, After election, Bell spoke so infrequently in the house as to make people wonder why they put him there in the first place and he made not a jot of difference to sleeze allegations of the continuance of cash for payments, as just recently evidenced in the upper chamber.
Bell left Parliament not having achieved anything and went back to his reporting career.
The rest they say is history. The seat went back to the Tories with significant majorities ever since, now proudly represented by non other than the Right Honourable George Osborne, the present Chancellor of the Exchequer.
I hope that improves your knowledge on this issue since you had no idea why you raised it in the first pace
Quote by GnV
Not aware of the tatton scenario/situation so still none the wiser
It was the 'original' cash for questions debacle involving the disgraced MP for Tatton, Neil Hamilton (he now of UKIP grace and favour) who was ousted at the (then) next general election by Martin Bell - ex war reporter and he of the whiter than white lounge suit.
Blair, at the suggestion of his henchman Alastair Campbell, withdrew Labour candidature for the election of the very safe Tory seat in order to give Bell a clear run at the seat on an anti-corruption ticket.
The ploy worked and Bell was returned with a significant majority trouncing Hamilton completely.
As to how this is significant to your posting, After election, Bell spoke so infrequently in the house as to make people wonder why they put him there in the first place and he made not a jot of difference to sleeze allegations of the continuance of cash for payments, as just recently evidenced in the upper chamber.
Bell left Parliament not having achieved anything and went back to his reporting career.
The rest they say is history. The seat went back to the Tories with significant majorities ever since, now proudly represented by non other than the Right Honourable George Osborne, the present Chancellor of the Exchequer.
I hope that improves your knowledge on this issue since you had no idea why you raised it in the first pace
Now thats not true, specifics I may not know and I am greatfull for that informative reply but the basics were there, corruption did and still does exist in the cash for questions debacle.
But that said Bell appears to have been a waste of space, getting elected in the obious hopes he would help clean up parliament and then seemingly not bothering to do so.
Could that be that even as an MP he found the task impossible for so few against so many ? He did however show that it is important to voters.
Sex God
Yet another senior Tory is implicated as well, though Conservative MP Tim Yeo has rejected claims he used his position as chairman of a Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee to help a private company influence Parliament.
Here is an idea for saving money in the current financial climate, let's stop paying MPs expenses, not just the fraudulent ones, not the "iffy" ones and not even the legitimate ones, let them bear the costs themselves from their salaries or go without the things they need to do their jobs and let's cut their numbers by half and make the ones that are left take care of twice as much work 
after all that is what they expect of the armed forces, Hospitals, schools and the like.
after all that is what they expect of the armed forces, Hospitals, schools and the like. 