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Appeal threat over MPs' expenses bid

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Published Date: 17 May 2008
By Gerri Peev
HOUSE of Commons managers are considering whether to launch an appeal after losing a High Court battle to keep secret details of MPs' expenses.
Three senior judges ruled yesterday that the Information Tribunal acted within its powers when it demanded that a detailed breakdown of MPs' additional costs allowances (ACA) must be provided under the Freedom of Information Act.

Sir Igor Judge (P
resident of the Queen's Bench Division), Lord Justice Latham and Mr Justice Blake, also ruled that the addresses of MPs' second homes should be disclosed.

In what was hailed by information seekers as "a victory for democracy", they said full disclosure was necessary because the tribunal had concluded that the ACA system was "deeply flawed" and lacked accountability.

Judges agreed that "public confidence in our system at its very pinnacle, the House of Commons itself" had been at stake.

They dismissed fears that it would lead to security risks and said that exemptions could be made "in the most pressing cases" if that was to occur. But Julian Lewis, a shadow defence minister, has asked for judges' addresses to be published in retaliation.

The prime minister's spokesman said that Mr Brown was "relaxed" about publication of his expenses details.





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1

CRAGman,

17/05/2008 02:52:56
I've no problem with expenses being revealed but I don't think they should publish the London addresses of MPs - that's would be to invite any nutter to to cause them grief or worse. I wouldn't expect my work to give out my home address, etc. to anyone who asked for it.
2

puskas,

East kilbride 17/05/2008 07:08:46
Hi Cragman,

Anybodies address is easy to find whether given out by freedom of info or not...

If a nutter is desperate to commit a crime on you that would be the easy part. FINDING YOU..

MPs would be easy to find with the info already available...

3

roughrider,

Glasgow 17/05/2008 07:19:09
The greedy selfserving pigs dont like being put under scrutiny.
If these parasites get caught making false claims they should be charged with fraud,remember Andy Kerr he thinks the taxpayer should foot the bill for repairs to his garden wall,greed pig.
4

FedUpTaxPayer,

Edinburgh 17/05/2008 08:39:44
I'm with #1 in that the addesses don't need to be published. #2 might be right in that its all available anyway, but I dont see the need to make it too easy.

However, the actual expenses should definately be published. And I trust any MP who was basically 'at it' should be thrown out of their party immediately.
5

,

17/05/2008 09:39:54
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
6

puskas,

East kilbride 17/05/2008 09:42:29
No5 FUTP..

Hi,

Addresses and telephone Numbers are published .

Infact my local newspaper lists them weekly...

I respect no1 and your own point of view which can be unusual on comment boards.

A stalling tactic in my opinion. I can see a mad scramble behind the scenes to evade the info that would make each politician go before committee to explain misdeeds..

As most of us are aware each inquiry by the Liebour Party has only been a whitewash.

7

Rasco,

Inverness 17/05/2008 09:51:12
A man who cheated on his child credit of nearly £80,000 over 3 yrs was jailed for 13 months (should be longer)if any MP has been found doing the cheating should get the same treatment never mind hiding behind the rules they made,one MP I see was claiming for a property that did no exist,if that is not fraud what is,he should be named and lose his seat and have no pension rights and no pay off.I don't care what party they come from if found abusing the system jail them and make them pay back all the money they have received.
8

Guga II,

Rockall 17/05/2008 13:05:17
Gorbals Mick and the rest of the New Labour Sleaze and Corruption Party should remember that they are, in fact, our employees. We, the taxpayers pay their wages, as well as all the money they manage to con out of us for their so-called expenses.

That man using our money to try and prevent us, the employers, from finding out just how much money they are stealing from us is a total and utter disgrace.

I, for one, am sick to death of forking out a fortune to pay for things like taxi fares for their wives to go shopping; paying for their utility bills; paying for their television licences; paying for make-up; paying for them to profiteer on second house - even when in some cases, the second house they are claiming for is provided by us, the taxpayer, free gratis and for nothing; and paying for the many other irrelevancies they steal our money for.

Our MP's are liars, charlatans and thieves, and are freeloading on the public. They are already paid far too much for all the good they do, and their large and protected pension scheme is little other than a rip-off of our money. It's time to clamp down on these benefits cheats.

The sooner Scotland is independent, the sooner we can stop subsidising these freeloaders in Westminster.

9

yolanda,

17/05/2008 15:58:54
I'm not sure that making their addresses available to the public is necessary, but making them accountable with regard to how much they are taking from the public purse in expenses is absolutely vital!

Instead of publishing their addresses, an inspector should be employed to randomly visit each of their homes periodically to ensure the are not misusing this perk, by renting the property out etc. They should also make sure that each of the items for which we have been ripped off are in fact there.

As long as they are monitored, and accountable, and immediately sacked and charged with fraud or theft if they have taken more than they are entitled to, I don't particularly care WHERE they stay!

10

yoric,

17/05/2008 20:57:30
The Westminster Government, (the Scottish and Welsh assemblies should do the same) should purchase housing in Cardiff Edinbrugh and London.
This housing would be owned by the state and would be used as accomodation for MPs when in Parliament and away from home.
When they left office it would pass to their successor, if they wanted second homes they would buy them out of their salarys, like the rest of us.
No more expenses for this that or the other, a car could also be provided by the state, this also would pass on with the property.
11

Foulkes Off the CyberNat,

Edinburgh 17/05/2008 21:38:33
MPs are doing everything in their power to gain as much information about us as they can yet when it comes to putting them under any kind of scutiny suddenly its not justifiable?? not constitutional??
They want us to live under a microscope but remain hidden under a rock themselves.
Dont do as we do do as we say or else.
Another Union dividend.
12

truthsleuth,

18/05/2008 02:33:22
#Guga II,Rockal
...Our MP's are liars, charlatans and thieves, and are freeloading on the public....

Don't be so mean

You missed the 'S' from the MP's

To help you it goes after the 'M' and before the 'P'

I once had to sack a man because he had returned home one night but claimed for staying in a hotel
Now he had committed the offence
However he could have gone the same distance in the opposite direction stayed with a girlfriend and he would not have committed the offence.

I had to apply the rule precisely MPs (and no doubt MSPs) get awat with noyhing short of murder (note the speakers wife has been 'cleared')



13

Firozali A.Mulla MBA PhD,

Dar-Es-Salaam 10/05/2009 09:18:48
A handwritten receipt also showed that she had claimed for an 85p bath plug. A PLUG!!!!!
David Cameron: I'll pull the plug on Brown. A handwritten receipt also showed that she had claimed for an 85p bath plug. A PLUG!!!!!
Mr. Cameron. When I can shoot a bird with the peanut, I do not go for the .22
The Tory leader says he wants to engage with people, one by one, in train seats or marginal seats. If Mr Cameron wins in a year's time, he will find himself in a bubble of security and officials, and this easy contact will be gone.
They revealed that Ms Smith had used Commons expenses to reclaim the cost of two pornographic films watched by her husband as part of a £67 Virgin media bill. A handwritten receipt also showed that she had claimed for an 85p bath plug. A PLUG!!!!!! Harriet Harman today insisted that there were “no circumstances” in which she would run for the Labour leadership, even if the Prime Minister were to go. David Cameron holds Gordon Brown’s political life in his hands after the Prime Minister’s decision to risk a Commons defeat over the Royal Mail sell-off next month, senior government figures believe. Easy access to buy-to-let mortgages over the past decade has meant that the number of private landlords has risen to about one million in England and Wales, and ministers are worried that a growing number of unscrupulous property owners are exploiting tenants. All private landlords would have to be registered before letting residential property under government plans to curb abuses in the growing rental market, David Cameron and George Osborne are now well ahead as the better team, on 42 per cent. This compares with 35 per cent on Budget night itself. The Tory team is, however, still slightly below its 45 per cent rating on the weekend before the Budget David Cameron holds Gordon Brown’s political life in his hands after the Prime Minister’s decision to risk a Commons defeat over the Royal Mail sell-off next month, senior government figures believe.
14

Firozali A.Mulla MBA PhD,

Dar-Es-Salaam 10/05/2009 09:23:20
Prime Minister’s decision to risk a Commons defeat over the Royal Mail sell-off next month, senior government figures believe. Downing Street insisted last night that Mr Brown was determined to press ahead, despite weekend reports that he was preparing to shelve reforms championed by Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary.
Promises seem to grow on the trees daily.
Will you stop this tomorrow; I mean the theft or do we wait until we are dry totally?
I thank you
Firozali A.Mulla.

 

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