New MPs Expenses Rules announced

[Catzsy]

Main points here:

Under the new rules, which will be introduced immediately after the election:

• The second-home allowance will be scrapped, meaning MPs will only be allowed to claim for rented properties. There will be a two-year transition period, after which Ipsa will claw back any capital gains on properties during that period. MPs will be expected to rent only one-bedroom flats up to the cost of £1,450 a month.

• MPs with children up to the age of five (up to 21 for single parents) and those with dependent relatives with a disability will qualify for an additional payment, but Kennedy said it was expected that children would reside in either the MPs' constituency home or their London property and be separated from their parent for parts of the week. This was opposed by MPs in the consultation who claimed it would prevent those with families, or on lower incomes, standing for parliament.

• MPs will only be able to claim for rent if they live 20 miles from Westminster or more than 60 minutes' travelling time. A total of 128 constituencies would be exempted – more than had previously been suggested. They will be allowed to claim for the running costs of their second home but not for cleaning or gardening bills.

• First-class travel will be scrapped; MPs will only be reimbursed for standard tickets unless they can pre-book a first class ticket for less than the standard class fare.

• The one-off "resettlement allowance" is to be abolished and replaced with two months' "winding-down" pay. The announcement could trigger the retirement of more MPs before this election because they will qualify for the "golden goodbye" £64,000 payment at the end of this parliament but not again.

Full article here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2...l-mps-expenses

Alternative article here:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...relatives.html

Looks like a move in the right direction. At least they won't be able to claim for second homes where in the past they have really made a killing on sale.

[-:Undertaker:-]

It makes little difference, they have already risen their wages and plan no doubt to continue to raise it. Anyone involved in expenses needs to be criminally investigated and if found to be in breach of rules needs to be thrown out of parliament and if worse, needs to be put on trial for fiddling expenses as if you did what they did with expenses in a private company, it would most likely take you to court.

[Catzsy]

It makes little difference, they have already risen their wages and plan no doubt to continue to raise it. Anyone involved in expenses needs to be criminally investigated and if found to be in breach of rules needs to be thrown out of parliament and if worse, needs to be put on trial for fiddling expenses as if you did what they did with expenses in a private company, it would most likely take you to court.

So whats your view on Nigel Farage costing the tax payer over a million pound a year for a seat that he isn't really interested in holding trying to get himself suspended from the EU to fight the general election.

[-:Undertaker:-]

So whats your view on Nigel Farage costing the tax payer over a million pound a year for a seat that he isn't really interested in holding trying to get himself suspended from the EU to fight the general election.

I find it quite honourable because unlike the main parties Mr Farage and the other UKIP MEPs are fighting for the whole wasteful system to come down and to effectively end their own jobs. I'm afraid whether you and the left like it or not, UKIP were elected to fight that very system in a fair and free PR election. I would rather people fighting Britains cause in Brussels than have Labour, Tory and Liberal Democrat MEPs doing whatever the hell the Commission wants, most of which is totally against what the people of Europe and Britain want which is no European Union.

I dont know how to make it much more clear; we do not want European Union.

[Catzsy]

I find it quite honourable because unlike the main parties Mr Farage and the other UKIP MEPs are fighting for the whole wasteful system to come down and to effectively end their own jobs. I'm afraid whether you and the left like it or not, UKIP were elected to fight that very system in a fair and free PR election. I would rather people fighting Britains cause in Brussels than have Labour, Tory and Liberal Democrat MEPs doing whatever the hell the Commission wants, most of which is totally against what the people of Europe and Britain want which is no European Union.

I dont know how to make it much more clear; we do not want European Union.

But he isn't really it's like a sort of protest vote that costs the taxpayer over a million a year. What's your view on him costing all that money from the taxpayer as you are so down on the new expenses rules for the UK which can only be an improvement and what you have been saying should happen? Do you think he is worth all that? Honourable is maybe but is he value for money?

[-:Undertaker:-]

But he isn't really it's like a sort of protest vote that costs the taxpayer over a million a year. What's your view on him costing all that money from the taxpayer as you are so down on the new expenses rules for the UK which can only be an improvement and what you have been saying should happen? Do you think he is worth all that? Honourable is maybe but is he value for money?

If he was not in that job (actually defending Britain in Brussels) then another MEP would be (of a Lib/Lab/Con variety) and would not be defending Britains interests in Brussels - hence why I would rather have Farage. He is not worth the money and none of them are, and thats why he and UKIP are fighting to scrap that very system of which none of the vast majority of the British public asked for or want.

[Catzsy]

If he was not in that job (actually defending Britain in Brussels) then another MEP would be (of a Lib/Lab/Con variety) and would not be defending Britains interests in Brussels - hence why I would rather have Farage. He is not worth the money and none of them are, and thats why he and UKIP are fighting to scrap that very system of which none of the vast majority of the British public asked for or want.

Yes I agree with you - none of them are worth the money. Why then do you dismiss the tightening up of the expenses rules when you are the one saying that so much taxpayers money is wasted. It is not a good policy to tighten up on them, then?

[-:Undertaker:-]

Yes I agree with you - none of them are worth the money. Why then do you dismiss the tightening up of the expenses rules when you are the one saying that so much taxpayers money is wasted. It is not a good policy to tighten up on them, then?

I have not dismissed it, well to be fair I have because of a very simple and clear reason; I have pointed out that they are putting up their wages anyway so they are still effectively recieving taxpayers money. In effect, nothing has changed.

[Catzsy]

I have not dismissed it, well to be fair I have because of a very simple and clear reason; I have pointed out that they are putting up their wages anyway so they are still effectively recieving taxpayers money. In effect, nothing has changed.

Well MEPS and MPs receive taxpayers money. Not being able to claim for a second home and only being able to claim for a one bedroomed flat? Don't you think that is an improvement. That one thing is not going to be made up with an increase in wages. Come on for a change - agree it is an improvement even if you think it is not going far enough.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Well MEPS and MPs receive taxpayers money. Not being able to claim for a second home and only being able to claim for a one bedroomed flat? Don't you think that is an improvement. That one thing is not going to be made up with an increase in wages. Come on for a change - agree it is an improvement even if you think it is not going far enough.

Yes its marginally better, but not by that much because;

a) the ones who fixed their expenses are still there.
b) they are recieving some of that money still anyway through wage increases.

In conclusion; they are still as rotten as ever.