MP's snouts in the trough again..whats the answer
Discussion
ralphrj said:
In Zoon's defence I think that prior to the expenses scandal there was a way for MPs to exploit the mortgage/rent claim.
If an MP rented a second home in London they could claim the rent.
If an MP bought a second home in London they could claim the mortgage interest.
However, if an MP already owned a second home outright then they couldn't claim anything.
In order to get around this some MPs were:
1. Re-mortgaging second homes they already owned outright, claiming the mortgage interest on expenses and using the equity released to buy a third house which they then rented out.
2. Let out the second home and bought or rented a third, then claimed the mortgage interest/rent on expenses.
This is then similar to my scenario 2.If an MP rented a second home in London they could claim the rent.
If an MP bought a second home in London they could claim the mortgage interest.
However, if an MP already owned a second home outright then they couldn't claim anything.
In order to get around this some MPs were:
1. Re-mortgaging second homes they already owned outright, claiming the mortgage interest on expenses and using the equity released to buy a third house which they then rented out.
2. Let out the second home and bought or rented a third, then claimed the mortgage interest/rent on expenses.
An MP owning his home outright and not being able to claim some sort of compensation is blatantly unfair.
His colleagues who rent get accommodation for free while he is bearing the full cost (in this case the opportunity cost of having his savings tied up in a house).
That is complete madness.
It would be stupid for an MP NOT to do an equity release in that case.
And once they have done the equity release - why on earth should anyone else have ANY say about what he/she does with the capital - investing it into property, gold or hookers and coke is 100% up to him.
Again imagine your employer paying your colleague's rent but telling you to stuff it.
Utterly bonkers.
Lots of the whinging appeared to be driven by the fact that London prices went mental while this was going on.
That is just pure luck.
If the housing market had collapsed and MPs ended up in negative equity, the government weren't going to bail them out.
So those MPs who chose to own their property took a big gamble and won.
Again - that seems absolutely fine to me.
That is just pure luck.
If the housing market had collapsed and MPs ended up in negative equity, the government weren't going to bail them out.
So those MPs who chose to own their property took a big gamble and won.
Again - that seems absolutely fine to me.
BlackLabel said:
Bloody Cartridge Pen Socialists!article said:
Police are investigating two MPs over their taxpayer-funded expenses.
A Met Police spokesman has confirmed that it is investigating two cases referred to it by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) - which oversees MPs' expenses - in March this year.
Scotland Yard has said the two cases involve sitting MPs on the suspicion that they have committed criminal offences, according to the Evening Standard.
The Met Police said a third case was also referred to it in March, which resulted in a 33-year-old woman, an MP's aide, receiving a caution for fraud by false representation.
No further details have been given about the MPs or their identities by the police or IPSA.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/two-mps-being-investigated-in-criminal-expenses-inquiry-a6760241.htmlA Met Police spokesman has confirmed that it is investigating two cases referred to it by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) - which oversees MPs' expenses - in March this year.
Scotland Yard has said the two cases involve sitting MPs on the suspicion that they have committed criminal offences, according to the Evening Standard.
The Met Police said a third case was also referred to it in March, which resulted in a 33-year-old woman, an MP's aide, receiving a caution for fraud by false representation.
No further details have been given about the MPs or their identities by the police or IPSA.
mail said:
Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk has been reported to both the police and the parliamentary standards commissioner over thousands of pounds worth of 'fraudulent' expenses claims.
The backbencher is accused of claiming more than £25,000 in extra accommodation allowances since 2011 for his children, despite none of them living with him in London.
The embattled MP, who was suspended from the Labour party over allegations he had been sexting with a teenager, said he had not read the rules in detail.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3416056/La...
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
The backbencher is accused of claiming more than £25,000 in extra accommodation allowances since 2011 for his children, despite none of them living with him in London.
The embattled MP, who was suspended from the Labour party over allegations he had been sexting with a teenager, said he had not read the rules in detail.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3416056/La...
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
PugwasHDJ80 said:
66k is bugger all in London- and to boot most council executives get paid more than that.
its ridiculous that you have council leaders on more than the PM! and is one of the main reason why only rich people end up running the government
Perhaps - but I think the 'celebrity' status of MPs is downplayed or even ignored when talking about salary. Looking at the lifestyle some MPs live - there is no way they rely solely on their £66k salary. its ridiculous that you have council leaders on more than the PM! and is one of the main reason why only rich people end up running the government
Being an MP must open a lot of very lucrative doors - doors that simply arent there for public and private sector employees earning a similar salary.
Edited by Moonhawk on Tuesday 26th January 06:54
MP forgets to declare £400,000 in extra earnings. However he didn't forget to claim, during the same period, for the items below:
article said:
Between June and August last year, however, Mr Cox submitted claims for a 49p bottle of milk, £2 worth of tea bags and £4.99 for “weedkiller for space in front of the constituency office”. All were rejected by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa).
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/geoffrey-cox-tory-mp-failed-to-declare-400000-in-extra-earnings-forced-to-apologise-a6853806.html
twitter said:
Michael Blackley @Mike_Blackley 22 mins22 minutes ago
IPSA begins investigation into claims Phil Boswell used Commons expenses to promote the SNP. Original MoS story:
IPSA begins investigation into claims Phil Boswell used Commons expenses to promote the SNP. Original MoS story:
thesun said:
New SNP member Phil Boswell claimed £450 for a promotional video about himself.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/6862501/MPs-caught-milking-expenses-system-again.htmlarticle said:
SNP member Phil Boswell, who IPSA is already probing after he blew £450 on videos of himself, failed in his bid to buy a £59 shirt after his luggage got lost.
IPSA rejected three claims for clothes worth £137 by the MP less than a week after he won his seat from Labour last May.
He went shopping at Next and TM Lewin after his luggage went missing - but the watchdog said taxpayers should not fund his new wardrobe.
IPSA rejected three claims for clothes worth £137 by the MP less than a week after he won his seat from Labour last May.
He went shopping at Next and TM Lewin after his luggage went missing - but the watchdog said taxpayers should not fund his new wardrobe.
article said:
Tory MP has billed 45p in expenses for a one-mile car journey - to start a MARATHON.
Anne Marie Morris waved runners across the starting line at a 26-mile race through idyllic countryside on the edge of Dartmoor.
But instead of joining the fun, the 58-year-old drove her own car on the short trip to launch the Dartmoor Vale Races on October 25.
That was not the only miniscule journey by the Newton Abbott MP, who billed another 45p for a trip to the Devon town's Cheese and Onion Fayre a month earlier.
Anne Marie Morris waved runners across the starting line at a 26-mile race through idyllic countryside on the edge of Dartmoor.
But instead of joining the fun, the 58-year-old drove her own car on the short trip to launch the Dartmoor Vale Races on October 25.
That was not the only miniscule journey by the Newton Abbott MP, who billed another 45p for a trip to the Devon town's Cheese and Onion Fayre a month earlier.
article said:
Ben Howlett claimed just 9p in petrol for a car journey of 300 metres - a five-minute walk.
The Bath MP billed taxpayers for his journey from Hayesfield Girls' School to Oldfield Park Baptist Church on September 19.
And Conservative member for North Dorset Simon Hoare made five mileage claims each under 30p, including two for trips of 600 metres costing 17p each.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tory-mp-bills-45p-expenses-7532142The Bath MP billed taxpayers for his journey from Hayesfield Girls' School to Oldfield Park Baptist Church on September 19.
And Conservative member for North Dorset Simon Hoare made five mileage claims each under 30p, including two for trips of 600 metres costing 17p each.
BlackLabel said:
article said:
SNP member Phil Boswell, who IPSA is already probing after he blew £450 on videos of himself, failed in his bid to buy a £59 shirt after his luggage got lost.
IPSA rejected three claims for clothes worth £137 by the MP less than a week after he won his seat from Labour last May.
He went shopping at Next and TM Lewin after his luggage went missing - but the watchdog said taxpayers should not fund his new wardrobe.
IPSA rejected three claims for clothes worth £137 by the MP less than a week after he won his seat from Labour last May.
He went shopping at Next and TM Lewin after his luggage went missing - but the watchdog said taxpayers should not fund his new wardrobe.
article said:
Tory MP has billed 45p in expenses for a one-mile car journey - to start a MARATHON.
Anne Marie Morris waved runners across the starting line at a 26-mile race through idyllic countryside on the edge of Dartmoor.
But instead of joining the fun, the 58-year-old drove her own car on the short trip to launch the Dartmoor Vale Races on October 25.
That was not the only miniscule journey by the Newton Abbott MP, who billed another 45p for a trip to the Devon town's Cheese and Onion Fayre a month earlier.
Anne Marie Morris waved runners across the starting line at a 26-mile race through idyllic countryside on the edge of Dartmoor.
But instead of joining the fun, the 58-year-old drove her own car on the short trip to launch the Dartmoor Vale Races on October 25.
That was not the only miniscule journey by the Newton Abbott MP, who billed another 45p for a trip to the Devon town's Cheese and Onion Fayre a month earlier.
article said:
Ben Howlett claimed just 9p in petrol for a car journey of 300 metres - a five-minute walk.
The Bath MP billed taxpayers for his journey from Hayesfield Girls' School to Oldfield Park Baptist Church on September 19.
And Conservative member for North Dorset Simon Hoare made five mileage claims each under 30p, including two for trips of 600 metres costing 17p each.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tory-mp-bills-45p-expenses-7532142The Bath MP billed taxpayers for his journey from Hayesfield Girls' School to Oldfield Park Baptist Church on September 19.
And Conservative member for North Dorset Simon Hoare made five mileage claims each under 30p, including two for trips of 600 metres costing 17p each.
Osborne exempts politicians from money laundering checks.
http://order-order.com/2016/04/19/osborne-exempts-...
http://order-order.com/2016/04/19/osborne-exempts-...
BlackLabel said:
Osborne exempts politicians from money laundering checks.
http://order-order.com/2016/04/19/osborne-exempts-...
Qu'elle surprisehttp://order-order.com/2016/04/19/osborne-exempts-...
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