Labour MPs whinging about their Parliamentary Rights.
MPs are attempting to legally block a police probe into their expenses. Scotland Yard have been warned that a police probe would breach their " right of parliamentary privilege ". ( Is that the privilege that specifies expense fraud, tax evasion and " flipping " to avoid paying Capital Gains Tax? )
Once again, it's Labour MPs attempting to avoid paying back money from amoral and excessive expense claims, by trying to utilise a potentially ancient loophole in parliamentary legislation. WHEN WILL THEY LEARN?
Gordon Brown and David Cameron should make it clear right now - if any MP refuses to pay back money for excessive expense claims after the Thomas Legg investigation, they should be removed as an MP and removed from that political party altogether!
This isn't about what the " rules and regulations " stated; this is about what is morally right and just for the tax payer and the public coffers. An independent inquiry has found that the expense system ( self-administered and self-regulated by the same corrupt MPs of course ) was fundamentally flawed and not " fit for purpose " - so just pay up and shut up!
Trying to use the same system that let you abuse public money and trust, is not going to allow you to wriggle your way out of paying back what you should never have been allowed in the first place.
All this comes on the same day that Sir Paul Stephenson ( head of Scotland Yard ) has warned that MORE MPs will face scrutiny over their expenses and that a number of MPs can expect to end up in court - that number may rise yet as investigations are still ongoing.
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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 ...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 ...Will we ever see justice prevail?
I guess like many people I can't help but comment on the current situation in politics. I am not a political person really and I have no affiliation to any political party ( to be absolutely honest, I'm a thirty-something that's never voted because I really can't say that I've ever wanted any party in power! ). Rather than being politically motivated to discuss parliament and MPs, I'm far more concerned about the current state of the economy, the lack of honesty among our elected representatives, the laws that MPs seemed to be exempt from ( most of them as I can see!! ) and the lack of prosecutions for blatant fraud and tax evasion that is ripe within all political parties as all levels.
I find it personally alarming that one group of people in a democratic society can be seen to have immunity from prosecution from almost all our laws.
" Flipping " ( changing which property is designated as a second home ) - it would appear that MPs can exclusively change their home designation for purposes of tax evasion without fear of prosecution or financial punishment ( unless they get found out of course ).
In the last 10 years, many MPs have bought homes, done them up with tax payers money and sold them on for a very healthy profit ( not declared to the taxman for Capital Gains Tax as they " flip " their second home designation to avoid this! )
I guess that I'm sooooo sick of all the corruption and lies that I can't help but voice my opinion in this new blog ( better late than never ).
I am thinking of starting a new charity to raise funds to organise private prosecutions of MPs that are obviously guilty of breaking the law. They regularly are seen to say or quoted saying " we were not aware of any impropriety in our claim/actions ". I was recently informed ( by Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council ) when I had my car clamped in London and had to pay £130 to get it released - " ignorance of the law is not an acceptable excuse! "
I think that as the corrupt, dishonest and unaccountable MPs need to take note - the public will tolerate no more of your shinanakins and if the HMRC, the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service will not take action against you, then the public are left with no choice but to band together and take action ourselves to see justice served to the masses
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