Politicians Tsk Tsk

Came across an article in BBC.com about UK cabinet members who used £11,000 of taxpayers' money to pay for personal accountancy advice.

Wreath

The newspaper said it had been unable to reach him for a comment.

In other expenses allegations, the paper says Schools Secretary Ed Balls claimed for a Remembrance Day poppy wreath.

Mr Balls responded by insisting that it was a mistake by a member of his staff, and publishing the correspondence between himself and the Telegraph on his website.

The newspaper also claims several ministers claimed for gadgets such as digital cameras and camcorders.

Of the total £11,000 for all nine ministers, Mr Darling's accountancy bills came to £1,400 over two years.

The chancellor said he had paid an accountant to prepare tax returns "to ensure... the correct amount of tax was paid in respect of my office costs".

Position 'untenable'

A spokesman for Ms Blears said she had been advised to obtain accountancy advice when she became an MP because she would have to deal with both personal taxation and office accounts.

"She has used this firm ever since and claims for their fees in accordance with paragraph 2.3.3.2 of the Green Book on page 29," the spokesman said.

Responding to Sunday night's Telegraph claims, the Labour source told the BBC: "The fees office Green Book - which sets out the rules and advice on behalf of the parliamentary authorities - states specifically that professional advice, for example from accountants or solicitors, is an allowable expense.

"In order that MPs comply fully with all the relevant requirements relating to tax, and to ensure they are properly meeting all their tax liabilities, many rightly seek professional assistance and advice where this relates specifically to their role as members of Parliament."

Matthew Elliot, from the Taxpayers' Alliance, said the latest revelations made the chancellor's position "completely untenable".

"What you'll get is thousands of businesses around the country saying why can't we claim similar accountancy advice and expenses and you can't have these double standards," he added.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8066452.stm

Cheapskate ministers. They even expect the country to pay for their electrical gadgets?!?! If we can't trust our own government, who can we trust then? What's the point of having a government who steals money from their own countrymen? In a commoner lifestyle, this warrants jail time! Ok, while I think its still ok to claim for professional advice, I still think making the country pay for your camcorders, digital camera, swimming pool, food bills and a house that is neither in the constituency or in London, is a huge fucking crime! Where's your sense of responsibility?!!?!?!!

SO, WHAT HAVE THEY BEEN CLAIMING FOR?

The most eye-catching claims include ones for clearing a moat, maintaining swimming pools, a £1,645 "duck island" and a claim to fit mock Tudor beams to the front of a house. One MP claimed for a house that was neither in London, nor her constituency. Two MPs continued to claim for mortgage interest payments, after the mortgages had been paid off - they blamed that on accounting errors. Claims for small items have also been ridiculed - including a trouser press, a bath plug and some Hob Nob biscuits. And there is some annoyance at large food bills - some charged even when Parliament was in recess.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8039590.stm

And to further piss you off, look at their ludicrous claims!

VERA BAIRD QC

Claim: The Solicitor General - one of the government's top legal advisers - was refused a £268 claim for Christmas decorations.

Response: Ms Baird insists she has broken no rules.


RUTH KELLY

Claim: The Daily Telegraph alleged that the former cabinet minister claimed £31,000 of taxpayers' money for flood damage to her second home, even though she had a building insurance policy at the time.

Ms Kelly also tried to claim £3,600 for a sofa and chairs, £2,355 for a dining table and chairs, and £2,000 for a plasma screen television but they were reduced by the fees office for being excessive.

Response: Ms Kelly insisted that she made an entirely legitimate claim after flooding at her constituency home. She told the BBC that "my claim was neither ludicrous claim nor a phantom claim", unlike others featured in the Telegraph. She argued that the furniture which she claimed to replace was "worthless" since it was 30 years old having been inherited from her parents - and so could not have been claimed on insurance. She says that the rebuilding work was handled in her absence whilst she was juggling being a minister and the mother of four young children. She concedes that she did not explore whether she could have claimed on her building insurance.


NATASCHA ENGEL

Claim: The North East Derbyshire MP spent £1,800 on a television, £2,900 on a sofa and £1,950 on a bed within months of being elected. She also claimed for 12 wine glasses and six champagne flutes at £30 each. After contacting the fees office to say she was aware her claims were over the maximum permissible, her allowance was docked accordingly. She received £750 each for the television and the bed plus £2,000 for the sofa.

Response: Ms Engel said she had put her expenses with explanatory notes on her website.


SARAH MCCARTHY-FRY

Claim: The junior education minister submitted a receipt for a £100 pair of hair straighteners. But she was told she would not be reimbursed because the fees office was "unable to allow costs relating to personal items, in this case hair stylers".

Response: Ms McCarthy-Fry, who is also MP for Portsmouth North, told the Daily Telegraph: "I fully accept this was a personal item that was claimed in error and was correctly rejected by the fees office."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8039273.stm

Why spend so much on a television? How big do you need your television to be?! Or how grand do you want your sofa and dining table to be?! You are no celebrity who makes money by selling your image! These people spend their money because of their own hard work. But you are just an MP. If you're not elected, you won't have such luxury!


Cheapskates.