What do they know?
Have you ever wanted to make a freedom of information request ( FOI ) and get answers to questions from your home address, but haven't done so, for fear of reprisals from the organisation you contact?
Well why not hop, skip and jump over to http://www.whatdotheyknow.com
You can create an account and make a FOI through their website for free without fear of reprisals or any negative outcome.
I have made a couple of requests for information to the HMRC ( Revenue and Customs ) and the House of Commons in relation to Mps expenses.
I will be making further requests to other organisations and will post the outcomes and responses to my questions when I get them!
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...Peter Hain calls for Nick Griffin to be banned from Question Time.
Peter Hain, in his column in the guardian on Sunday ( 11th October 2009 ), tried to put forward reasons why he thought that Nick Griffin ( the Leader of the BNP ) shouldn't be allowed to appear on the BBC's Question Time.
He says, and I quote in the first paragraph: " It flies in the face of all the BBC's core values as the world's most respected broadcaster: to promote diversity in the UK, tolerance, fairness and our parliamentary democracy " when talking about the BBC letting Nick Griffin's party represent itself.
< shouting very loudly > Peter Hain, promoting " fairness and parliamentary democracy " is EXACTLY why the BBC have invited Nick Griffin onto Question Time! They have every right to be represented as a legitimate political party with elected representatives.
He goes on to say " In June, at the European election that triggered this BBC decision, many voted for the BNP as a protest against the mainstream parties at the height of the MPs' expenses scandal. "
Yes Peter Hain, you would be VERY familiar with the MPs expenses scandal and other serious improprieties, having to resign from the cabinet in the face of campaign donation irregularities in 2008!
I think to be honest, people would rather see a genuine and open racist being challenged in a debate, than a dishonest, untrustworthy and seriously amoral MP dancing his way round the questions of immigration, public finances, expenses and salaries for " fat cats "? I KNOW I WOULD!
If the day comes, when the current government can dictate which other political parties are allowed to appear/be represented in the media, that'll be the day that democracy dies and we lose the right to free speech.
I think that the current " main stream " political parties are scared of the BNP because they appeal to the lost and forgotten working classes that Labour left behind 12 years ago. They're all scared that the BNP MIGHT actually get more votes and gain popularity and eventually become a main stream party themselves!
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...MPs want more pay and increased holidays.
MPs are often demanding more pay for their work and this has been going on regularly through the Blair and Brown years.
It was only three years ago that MPs were demanding a 66% pay increase from their then £60,277 pa - Read more here ...
Then again a year later, MPs were asking for an increase to £100,000 for their annual salary - Read more here ...
Once again in 2008, they wanted to scrap the maximum £22,110pa 2nd home allowance and give themselves a £25,000 pay rise, which would have been a salary increase of 42%.
These attempts to MASSIVELY increase their salaries came in the same 3 year period that the police had to fight MPs and even go to court for a pay rise of 2.5% and ended up only being worth 1.9% after Jacqui Smith ( Porno movie and house flipping fame ) only backdated pay to December instead of September as originally expected.
PLUS . . . . I think that MPs seem to be forgetting their hugely extravagant annual holiday allowance. It breaks down as:
Xmas - December 18 until January 12 - 24 days
Parliament's half-term - 12 February until 23 February - 11 days
17 days at Easter
10 days for Whitsun
82 days over the summer
Frankly, I'm surprised they've got any time left to govern the country with 144 days or just about 5 months of annual holiday!!!
MPs need to remember, that's the reason they only get paid £65,000pa - they only work for half the year!
Do they only work half the year to give themselves time to develop their property portfolios at the tax payers expense?
Do they only work half the year as their excessive pay and perks mean that they don't have to worry about the other 5 months?
Do they only work half the year because they're working so hard for the public that 7 months work wears them out?
Do they only work half the year because most haven't got it in them to carry out a " proper full time job "?
Do they only work half the year so it gives them time to work for other companies and in other jobs?
Do they only work half the year because they set their own holidays and can get away with it?
YES TO ALL OF THE ABOVE
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...House of Lords not to be outdone by the Commons!
Millionaire peer and deputy speaker of the House of Lords, Lord Paul, is currently under investigation into his expense claims for his " designated home " ( The peer apparently named a one-bedroom flat at a three-star hotel in Chesterton, Oxfordshire, as his main address, despite it being occupied by one of his hotel managers ).
Despite insisting that he had followed the rules, he did admit to never actually sleeping there!
When challenged further about his home designation he stated - " I gave the flat as my address, because I have it as a place to stay. The question is, what are the rules? ". I guess to a mere layman such as myself, when having to declare your actual home as your primary residence, it would appear quite clear cut - not the case obviously when you're a multi-millionaire peer with a whole host of properties to pick from!
I guess it's lucky for Lord Paul that he's being investigated by the Clerk of the Parliaments, in his capacity as the House of Lords' accounting officer. Nothing like keeping it in the family - god forbid someone should actually request an independent investigation into expenses in an effort to clear away the stench or corruption and greed from the House of Lords.
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Just watched Harriet Harman on Straight Talk on BBC Parliament.
Whilst flicking through the TV channels last night, I came across Andrew Neil interviewing Harriet Harman on the Straight Talk programme on BBC Parliament.
I never knew she was the Minister for Women and Equality! Does that mean she's able to fiddle her expenses just as well as any man can do and look good doing it?
View it now as it's only available for the next 6 days!
I've never seen someone blink so much in all my life . . . . WOW. The harder the questions, and the more she tries NOT to answer them, watch her blink rate increase as she gets more uncomfortable in answering awkward questions!
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...HMRC investigating 27 MPs
The HM Revenue and Customs has confirmed that it is investigating the tax affairs of 27 MPs. The HMRC will not reveal the names of the MPs it's investigating but this follows a warning in July 2009 from the head of the HMRC Dave Hartnett. He said that MPs would be placed under extra scrutiny in light of revelations about expenses claims.
A spokeswoman said: "Inquiries are an integral part of HMRC's work, ensuring that everyone pays the right tax."
She added: "An inquiry does not necessarily mean that there is a problem. Most inquiries are quickly closed."
This current investigation into MPs tax affairs follows
The Committee on Standards in Public Life, which is examining proposed future reforms to the expenses system, will publish its report on 4 November this year.
The current " investigation " comes after a previous investigation in May this year when Alistair Darling and 40 other MPs were investigated by HMRC over expenses claim on accountancy fees.
It also follows the Hazel Blears debacle from May this year when she was informed by the same Dave Hartnett that she was NOT liable for any Capital Gains Tax despite the " flipping " of her designated residence and despite no full and proper investigation ever taking place!
As the top tax man in the country, it would appear that Dave Hartnett has already set a president to NOT undertake a full and proper investigation into MPs tax affairs ( after Hazel Blears ), to selectively let off those MPs that he feels haven't committed any type of fraud or tax evasion and brush his investigations under the carpet after a few weeks when people have hopefully forgotten about the scandal!!
How can we objectively rely on this man to carry out a full and thorough investigation of the MPs expenses when he's quite happy to just let off those MPs that have quite obviously avoided tax through manipulation of their home designation?
WE CAN'T is the answer I'm afraid, but we have no choice in the matter!!
The HMRC are like pit-bulls, and having family that work in accountancy, I occasionally hear stories of the HMRC's unfair and aggressive pursuance of people incorrectly, for really insignificant amounts ( I'm talking less than £100 ). They drag out investigations for months ( at the tax payers expense I might add ) and end up clawing back a pittance ( I'm talking less than £100 ). It costs the individual investigated hundreds or even thousands of pounds in added and unnecessary accountancy fees!
Now they have a chance to really claw back some decent money from a bunch of professional tax dodgers, but what will they do . . . . . very little as in Hazel Blears case I would imagine 
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Strange link between MPs expenses and HMRC New Disclosure Opportunity.
Is it me or does anyone else think that it's strange that while all the scandal of MPs expenses has been going on this year and lots of " new income " and " undeclared assets " have come to light, that the HMRC ( HM Revenue and Customs ) have implemented a New Disclosure Opportunity.
I'm afraid that it stinks of manipulation and interference from the government for me with a new " cover our backs " ticket!
What better way to protect the MPs from prosecution for fraud and tax evasion than bringing in a new regulation to " cover all sins " by allowing new declarations up to the 30th November 2009; just the right timing to coincide with the end of the Legg investigation!
MPs that have " flipped " second homes have blatantly committed tax fraud and no-one seems to be actively prosecuting these people. They MUST be subject to the law of the land and they need an example to be made of them to show other MPs that this practice is completely illegal and action will be taken.
HMRC - what are you doing about the the flipped homes and the hundreds or even millions of pounds of lost revenue from Capital Gains Tax that could go back into the coffers?
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...David Wilshire working on the minimum wage apparently!
David Wilshire has this week complained that he " works dangerously close to working for the minimum wage "!
Is he referring to a comparison to his even more corrupt colleagues in the House of Commons, or is he so devoid of any understanding of the real world that he actually thinks he's working for the minimum wage?
This is a man with no scruples and no morals who happily channels over £100,000 of taxpayers expenses into a " company " that he uses for " office services " that is owned and run by himself and his partner but never registers the company of ever files a tax return with Companies House.
I'd like to see him working for the minimum wage for a few months - give him a touch of reality and bring him down to earth a bit.
All these MPs up in their ivory tower are cushioned and sheltered from the real world with their massive expenses packages, big salaries, at least 2 homes and over 3 months of paid holidays a year and their golden pension funds.
They are so far removed from reality in their day to day lives that I doubt most of them would even know what the minimum wage is ( £5.80 at the moment )?
I personally find it very insulting to hear things like this from MPs ( and he's not the only one complaining of working for near the minimum wage either! ) when the country is in a terrible state with massive unemployment.
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...David Wilshire to stand down at the next election.
Tory MP David Wilshire has announced that he will stand down at the next election after a meeting with Tory chief whip Patrick McLoughlin.
He still maintains he's " done nothing wrong " and is confident that the Commissioner will clear his name.
In a a statement he said " In the circumstances I have reluctantly concluded that it is sensible for me not to seek re-election next year. " Could it be that he's been given his marching orders by David Cameron who doesn't want the bad smell and scandal of the MPs expenses following him through the upcoming election next year??
Gordon Brown talking about David Wilshire is seen in the video below stating that " there has got to be an inquiry into this " and " we've got to end the discredited old system " ( the discredited old system that was self-implemented, self-monitored and self-maintained by MPs! )
All the time you've got 50 Labour MPs meeting up with Harriet Harman to seek advice about their own expenses claims being investigated by Thomas Legg - how are you going to end the discredited system?? Gordon Brown needs to get his own house in order before he starts demanding investigations into other MPs expenses.
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Jacqui Smith still doesn’t think she’s done anything wrong?
Poor old Jacqui Smith having been forced to apologise to the House of Commons for her outrageous expenses claims makes a half hearted effort and " really doesn't think she's done anything wrong anyway! ".
That's right . . . next time I'm working away and staying in a hotel, I must remember to claim for a few porn flicks!
It's very sad that after everything that has happened this year, she still thinks she's in the right . . . . . really?
I can see her being a sacrificial goat for Gordon Brown in the coming months unless she plays her cards right!!
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Pages
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