Friday 29 October 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament - 59!

I am back in business! Thanks to the A and E team in Cornwall who confirmed the detached retina in my left eye back in July and the surgical team at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral, who drilled a number of holes into my eye, inserted the pincers and the laser and welded the retina back in place!
Thanks also to my daughter, Juliet, who drove me to the hospital in Cornwall and then continued on a seven hour drive back to the Wirral! Thanks also to her fiance, Neil! Sorry I spoiled the engagement week!

Thanks especially to my wife, Tina, who has looked after me and nursed me back to health ....... again!

Now.... where have that shower in The Fraudsters' Parliament been hiding in my absence, .... what have they been up to ..... and are the judicial representatives in this country still playing the Three Wise Monkeys and seeing no fraud, hearing about no fraud and speaking about no fraud in relation to MPs?

Check out thiis article in The Guardian from a while ago .......:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/26/britain-corrupt-mps-expenses-scandal

And those rogues really thought that it would all blow over!

Sunday 11 July 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament! - 58

Check out the link below for the latest 'wheeze' by MPs to part the taxpaying citizen voter in the UK from their hard earned money!

It's easy really!

Invent a rule which states that if a debate lasts longer than 1.00a.m. any MP, (including those with second homes nearby!) any MP gets £130+ !!

Then toddle off the the taxpaying citizen subsided bar and get drunk!

The stagger back to the House of Cons as late as possible ensuring that the debate is delayed as long as possible!

(Optional) Slur speech and any questions to drag out the debate as long as possible! (Don't want the hardworking taxpaying citizen voter to spot the con, do we? HIC!)

Trouser the proceeds!

The Sheeple will never spot it!

WRONG!

Check out the story by clicking on the link below to take you to a Telegraph article;-

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/7883204/MPs-gain-130-expenses-by-talking-until-1am.html

Thursday 8 July 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament? - 57

They are at it again!!!!!!!

Trying to rubbish IPSA!

Trying to claim 'it is all too too much!!!'

Trying to get their snouts back in the trough while the taxpaying citizen voters of the UK have to tighten their belts and endure a reduction in services!

Back to the old tagline for the Fraudsters' Parliament:-

'Citizens Burn While MPs Fiddle!'

UK MPs are trying once again to get their noses in the trough and fiddletaxpayers' monies.

Check the link:- http://gu.com/p/2t822/tw

Monday 21 June 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament? - 56

Those nice folks in New Zealand continue to have problems with their MPs and one or two dubious expenses! - It's nice, in a way, to know that it is not JUST our lot who can't be trusted! The difference is that, in New Zealand, at least one politician is trying to do something about it! Surprise! Surprise! He is having problems from other politicians! One of the politicians in the New Zealand parliament had, according to one comment left for the article, been in the UK parliament for two years!!! - If this is true ........ enough said!!

I picked up this article on the http://www.3news.co.nz/ website. As usual, I felt the need to leave a comment!

Read the artice by clicking on the link below:-

http://www.3news.co.nz/Default.aspx?TabId=419&articleID=161801&ce2663=1#comment
y

Meanwhile....................... back at the ranch in the UK..................... one of those from the Fraudsters' Parliament is trying to sue The Telegraph for defamation! ....... Wait for it! ..... he is claiming that, because of  a Telegraph story concerning  the MPs' fiddles.... OOOPs!.... I mean the MPs' expenses story...., his 'reputation' has been;-

'..gravely injured, and that he has been embarrassed and upset, and been brought into public scandal, odium and contempt.'

Public scandal!.................  Odium! ............................. Contempt!.......................

Should not, then, ever single MP in The Fraudsters' Parliament be suing at least 3-400 other MPs in that once august body for their actions since said actions have led to  .....Public scandal!................. Odium! ............................. Contempt!.......................?

And what about that wicked individual (whoever he is!) who has suggested that the definition of The Fraudsters' Parliament could (allegedly) be:-

The largest single concentration of shysters, con artists and fraudsters this side of prison bars!'

Find out more about the article by clicking on the link below which will take you to the appropriate page in the http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/ website. (Please note: for some reason,  unknown to man nor beast , there is a lot of blank space at the top of the page for this article! Just scroll down the page and you will find the headline and the article!)

http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=45609&c=1

Wednesday 16 June 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament - 55

Check out the latest from Mark Darcy's blog on the rantings of those MPs who are trying to neuter IPSA and thus get their fingers back in the till and their seats reserved back on the parliamentary gravy train?....

Am I just a little cynical about their breast beating, tearing out of hair etc.... etc .... etc..... relating to the bogeypersons at IPSA? ('Bogeypersons' - how PC is that?)



http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/markdarcy/2010/06/anger_among_disgruntled_mps.html

The Fraudsters' Parliament - 54

Someone has commented on my comment on a comment made by in his blog on the BBC website!

.... And I thought I was nothing more that the voice of one, crying in the political wilderness!!! (Note to self! - The person commenting on my comment on the comment on the BBC blog did not like my random use of exclamation maarks!!!!!! - Don't understand what they mean!!

Click on the link below to check this out:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/markdarcy/2010/06/gripes_and_grumbles.html#comments


And thank you, El_Fidge, for taking the ttime to read my comment and comment on it!

Tuesday 15 June 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament - 53

The BBC's Mark Darcy has been taking my name in vain! He writes about what goes on in the chambers and committee rooms at Westminster. NO!..... It is not ALL about fiddling expenses, you know!

 I commented on one of his blog entries about MPs moaning that IPSA are apparently delaying MPs from getting their fingers back in the till. He read the comment and later referred to it in a post!

Check out his BBC blog below. Better be quick! The BBC comments section is reactively moderated so as soon as some MP, of some MP's crony, complains about me using words such as 'Fraudsters' and 'Parliament', my comment will probably be removed!

They're a bit touchy down at the old BBC about MPs being referred to in such terms, so I left an apology to the moderators at the BBC within the post. It doesn't cost to be polite, after all!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/markdarcy/2010/06/gripes_and_grumbles.html

Sunday 13 June 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament? - 52

Up to their old tricks?!?

Apparently the Director of IPSA is leaving early because of the stress caused by MPs who reason that - now that the dust has died down re: MPs' expenses' frauds - they should be allowed to throw out the new regulatory system and get down to ssome serious 'hand in the till' fiddles!!

Read the story from a blog on the online version of the New Statesman by clicking on the link below;-

http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/mehdi-hasan/2010/06/alan-johnson-david-davis-quit



'Why else does one con the 'sheeple' into voting for one in an election? Would do the these taxpaying citizen voters  expect - some sort of public service!'

'Are the sheeple SO stupid that they have not learned why WE go into politics!'

As you know, if you have read the 'about me' bit of this blog, I am a teacher in the real world!

Some sums!-


646 (The number of MPs in the last Fraudsters' Parliament)    MINUS 226 (The number of 'new' MPs less a number of previous lobbyists, party lackies, party clones, party official etc. who cannot really be said to have known nothing of the parliamentary frauds) EQUALS 420 (MPs who somehow survived - all power to their 'conning' credentials - from the old Fraudsters' Parliament still in Westminster)
Thus the probabability that the new parliament will morph into The Fraudsters' Parliament - Part Deux exceeds 50%!
Q.E.D

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION NEWS!

Heather Brooke has won another award! This time it is the IRE (Investigative Reporters and Editors) Awards in the USA. She has been awarded a medal in the Freedom of Information Section - rightly deserved too is the opinion of this taxpaying citizen voter! No mention of course in the recent UK honours announcements ....... I wonder why?

Click on the link below for more information;_

http://www.ire.org/resourcecenter/contest/#FOI

Sunday 6 June 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament? - 51

Found an article in the Independent newspaper's archive. It gives an account of the treatment of Elizabeth Filkin, the parliamentary official who was turfed out of the House of Fraudsters for trying ..... too hard.... to curb the fraudulent actions of MPs! This article names one or two of those who might (allegedly) have been behind the putsch to get rid of her.  I wonder how many of THEM should now be behind bars for stealing taxpayers' monies? I will try to do a little digging to see if I can find the minutes of any meetings etc. or was it all 'knife in the back' stuff with no records kept!

Three questions come to mind.

1). Wouldn't it be interesting to check out some of the names of those involved with her removal  with the list of those who were discovered to have been stealing taxpayers' monies?

2).Is it not time for her heroic attempts to clean up the fraudulent practices of MPs to be recognised?

3). Is it not time for those who removed this lady so that that they, their families and their cronies could carry on stealing taxpayers' monies had their reputations rubbished?

Check out the article in the Independent's archive  by clicking on the link below:-


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/elizabeth-filkin-a-woman-scorned-616334.html

Thursday 3 June 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament? Would still appear so! - 50

A week, as they say in politics is a long time!  Last week I was cautiously (very cautiously!) optimistic! But now we see they are still at it!

Saturday 15 May 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament? -49

Notice the slight change in post title for this post? I decided to cast aside my normal somewhat cynical approach to politicians in the UK Parliament (Having difficulty now using the pronoun 'my'!) in view of the new governement.

Who am I to assume that any consignment of fraudsters and thieves (many of whom managed to hold onto the seats and are still in parliament) cannot have a 'road to Dasmascus' moment and vow meaningfully never again to steal a single penny piece from the taxpaying citizens of the UK?

In this heady atmosphere of bonhommie and general backslapping (makes a change from back stabbing!) I have only five questions;-
1). What news of the 'minnows' and their trial?
2). What news of of IPSA?
3). Anyone know where we misplaced the Fraud Act?
4). Any idea if the new Prime Minister and the new Chancellor will be claiming for a second (or third) home to be near parliament... now that we also pay for them to stay in Downing Street and one or two other 'grace and favour homes'?
5). When will we, the taxpaying citizen voters of the UK, hear the slamming of cell doors behind ALL those politicians who have stolen public monies?

News from Canada!

Those nice people the Canadians are having trouble getting information on the fiddles practised by their MPs...... OOOps! I done it again.... I mean the expenses details of their MPs!

Nothing to worry about though.... Their MPs assert that all is well and therefore there is no need for an independent audit!..... Sounds familiar?

Check out an artice by clicking on the link below;-

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/mps-deny-auditor-general-access-to-expense-accounts-93839254.html

Sunday 9 May 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament - 48

I haved just picked up on a story in The Telegraph which may be of interest.
If the article is correct, the Wikipedia entries for a number of MPs (upto 10 so far) have been altered to erase any reference to their expenses claims plus one or two 'inconvenient' pieces of information.
One Chris Grayling, expecting to be our new Home Secretary, is one of them. Is there something in the job decscription for the Home Secretary of our banana republic which states that any candidate NEEDS to be willing to fiddle taxpayers' money?

Nothing unusual in the alteration of a Wikipedia entry.... they are editable by their very nature...... it is just that the IP addresses of the computers used to change some of the entries suggest that parliamentary computer was used!

Read the aricle by clicking on the link below;-

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/7696484/MPs-accused-of-Wikipedia-expenses-cover-up.html

As my old Irish Uncle used to say.... "Sure 'tis a miracle!"

Alleged Fraudster to  Squeaky Clean Politician with a few key strokes on a keyboard!

Saturday 8 May 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament-47

In an earlier post (The Fraudsters' Parliament-44) I suggested that a banana republic could be defined using a number of criteria applicable to the current political system in the UK!

1). Large scale plundering of taxpayers' monies by those in political power!



2). Politicians feel free to sell their influence to the highest bidder as 'cabs for hire'!


3) A judicial system which is 'bent' in favour of any politician caught with his/her hand in the till.( No charges to be brought, if at all possible with a bunch of cronies claiming to be 'dealing' with any potentially criminal activity! ....... if that doesn't work, only a sample of politically unimportant patsies to be charged.... and even for them, nothing that would suggest parity with a taxpaying citizen such as standing in the dock , for example!)


4). Legislation , such as THE FRAUD ACT 2006, which applies to all citizens but is 'mysteriously' disapplied to any member of the political class caught breaking the law!

We can now add another feature which was identified during the last election:-


5). Citizens prevented from gaining access to the place of voting and/or the voting procedure!


As my two children used to say on long car journeys............'Are we THERE yet?

Monday 26 April 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament - 46

I decided to do a little research on how my MP in my constituency voted in parliament in the various votes on matters of transparency particular in relation to MPs and their financial arrangements in parliament!

Thanks to  the kind people at http://www.democracyclub.org.uk/

They have sent out questionnaires to as many parliamentary candidates as they could. They have an interesting bar chart showing the number of prospective MPs who have replied. Not ALL parties seem to want to tell us what theey think on certain key matters!


They provided the link so that I could find the voting record of my MP on matters of parliamentary transparency which will take you to http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/.

Click on the link below to be taken to the site. To find out how your candidate voted.... or made themselves scarce... click on the link and put in your postcode in the appropriate box.

http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpid=1569&dmp=996

Sunday 18 April 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament - 45

Blast from the Past!

Here is the text of one of my earliest emails concerning the MPs' fraud scandal and the reply from 10 Downing St.  It dates from February 2008. I had sent a letter of complaint to the Metropolitan Police and followed it up with the email below to Downing Street.
This was their reply!
I had expected some sort of action! ......... but, remember this was BEFORE we knew just how widespread the scams practised by MPs was!
'Dear Mr Bell

Thank you for your message to the Prime Minister which you sent through the Downing Street website (www.number-10.gov.uk ).




We need to confirm that we have your correct details and that the message shown at the bottom of this email is from you.




Click on the link below to confirm your message.




http://pm.gov.uk/Output/page8514.asp?MessageGUID=83B5987E-CE73-47DB-B604-CC1B35E6DA72




If you did not send this message, please contact the Downing Street web team at mailto:webmaster@pmo.gov.uk.






Once you have confirmed your email, your message will be passed to Downing Street staff to read. Although the PM is unable to answer emails personally, all your messages are read and the PM is given a report on the issues raised, along with a selection of messages.






Thanks,


The Number 10 Web Team










Here is the text we received:




RE: Aleged embezzlement by one or more MPs


Dear Sir/Madam,


Re; alleged embezzlement of pulic funds.


As a tax paying UK citizen, I am contacting your office to request that an immediate investigation be initiated, by the appropriate police authorities, into the recent allegations of alleged embezzlement by one or more MPs.


If your office is unable to initiate this action, I will take the necessary steps to initiate such an investigation as a private citizen.


Yours sincerely,


John L. Bell '

Wednesday 14 April 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament - 44

I don't know if there is an official way of determining what it is that determines whether a state is a 'banana republic!







I would, however, suggest that the following 'benchmarks' might help in the definition;-






1). Large scale plundering of taxpayers' monies by those in political power!





2). Politicians feel free to sell their influence to the highest bidder as 'cabs for hire'!




3) A judicial system which is 'bent' in favour of any politician caught with his/her hand in the till.( No charges to be brought, if at all possible with a bunch of cronies claiming to be 'dealing' with any potentially criminal activity! ....... if that doesn't work, only a sample of politically unimportant patsies to be charged.... and even for them, nothing that would suggest parity with a taxpaying citizen such as standing in the dock , for example!)




4). Legislation , such as THE FRAUD ACT 2006, which applies to all citizens but is 'mysteriously' disapplied to any member of the political class caught breaking the law!





As my two children used to say on long car journeys............'Are we THERE yet?'


Newsflash!
Someone is following my blog! Thank you.... whoever you are!

Sunday 11 April 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament 43

This article from the online of The Hindu Magazine in India, gives an interesting  viewpoint on the current state of politics in Britain.








Check it out by clicking on the link below:-


http://www.hindu.com/mag/2010/04/11/stories/2010041150190400.htm


By the way!

I had a nice email from someone at The Times asking if they could print an edited version of one of my comments on their online version. You can read the printed letter plus the original article and my full comment by clicking on the link below;-

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/letters/article7094391.ece



Friday 9 April 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament - 42

I picked up this very interesting article about the current political situation in the UK on a online edition of The Australian!
The article has an interesting slant on the role of the smaller parties in the electoral race!

Check out the article by clicking on the link below:-

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/smaller-parties-may-be-labours-best-chance-to-cling-to-power/story-e6frg6so-1225851997372

Wednesday 7 April 2010

This Fraudsters' Parliament -41

Blast From The Past!

Click on the link below to go back in time to The Daily Mail April 7th 2007 - Three years ago!

This link reminds us how THREE YEARS AGO those in this Fraudsters' Parliament tried to exclude themselves from the Freedom of Information Act to hide their fraudulent claims from public scrutiny:-

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-455877/MPs-freedom-information-cover-dark-day-democracy.html


As a taxpaying citizen you might want to ask yourselves a number of questions;-

1). Is my MP on the list of those who voted back then to exclude MPs expenses from the Freedom of Information Act and keep their scams and fraudulent claims away from public scrutiny?

2). Is my MP one of those who voted against Maclean's amendment?

3). Was my MP one of those who chose to be elsewhere when the vote was taken - in the hope perhaps that it would be passed without them having to come out of hiding!

4). How many of the names on the list of MPs who tried to exclude themselves from the Freedom of Information Act should be behind bars for fraud?

If you are a member of this Fraudsters' Parliament who tried to get this amendment passed, you may want to ask yourself two questions:-

1). How in creation did I expect to get away with it?

2). How can I stop the electorate in my constituency from seeing that my name is on the list?

More 'Blasts from the Past' to come!

Tuesday 6 April 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament - 40

I have just picked up a link to an entry on a blog in New Zealand giving a view of the possible effects of the general election on the state of politics in the UK!

Click on the following link to read the blog:-

http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/uk-general-election-promises-dramatic-change-whoever-wins/1273/44044#comment-11436

As usual, I left a comment!

Sunday 4 April 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament -39

Do you want to know what they think of the UK MPs' expenses scandal in Africa?

Click on the link below to access the online edition of an African publication 234Next.com based in Nigeria with a story about the UK MPs' expenses scandal:-

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/World/5549457-146/story.csp?CSPCHD=0000000100003141cTy0000000NVJ_x44R71sZIvP3sHYaug--

Saturday 3 April 2010

This Fraudsters' Parliament - 38

RE: 'I do not accept that I 'fiddled' my expenses. I believed that I was entitled to make the claims because of what I had been told by the chief whip and other peers. '

The speaker was a member of the House of Lords explaining how he had pocketed taxpayers' monies for overnight stays in London wheen he was at home! There will be no charges brought  'through lack of evidence'!

Let's make a drama out of the expenses crisis!



Imagine!

Scene: Any Crown Court in the land



Dramatis Personae: Any FULL taxpaying citizen voter (defendant), Judge, CPS official, Senior police officer, Pet shop Owner



Taxpayer: (Looking sheepish in a slightly practised sort of way) I admit I robbed the bank, your honour, but my mates and other cronies down the pub explained that it was alright because, at some time in the future, and taking into account my state of good health, that over the next fifty years or so, I MIGHT have made enough deposits into said bank to cover the 'withdrawal'. They also explained that the sawn off shotgun and rather fetching ladies stocking could merely be defined as 'fashion accessories!



Representative of the CPS: That sounds fine to me M'Lud! I mean.... we don't have any REAL evidence he meant to rob the bank!.... and his mates and cronies did give him permission!



Senior Police Officer: I agree, M'Lud!  (Thinks: Now about the recommendation for a knighthood I was promised!... The missus will be pleased!)



Judge: Well... That's alright, then! Just say sorry and that will be fine! ..(Don't forget you owe me a favour, Archie!!'... You pay for the next round at the golf club!)



Judge: Next case!....



(Enter Pet Shop Owner)



Judge: Ahh! Yes! This disgraceful case of  the scoundrel selling a goldfish to an under 16 year old! ........



ONLY IN THE CLOUD CUCKOO LAND THAT IS THIS FRAUDSTERS' PARLIAMENT!


One piece of good news:- I received my copy of  'The Silent State' by Heather Brooke.

Now.... let me see ......... what else don't they want me to find out!

Thursday 1 April 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament - 37

The following link will take you to the thisisexeter.co.uk.news website with a story about a LibDem MP who has been showing us it is not just Conservative and Labour MPs who have had their hand in the till in this Fraudsters' Parliament!

Yet another MP given a gentle slap on the wrist by his cronies in The Fraudsters' Parliament when any ordinary FULL taxpaying citizen voter would be expecting a stay in one of HM penal establishments!


http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/news/Teign-MP-apology-expenses-scandal/article-1962868-detail/article.html

I could not help making a comment!

Wednesday 31 March 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament -36

I read an article in The Guardian today. I couldn't help but comment!

This is the text of my comment;-

Re: ' ... the scandal over MPs' expenses is just the tip of an iceberg and shows that a culture of entitlement has developed in Westminster..'




Are you not being rather polite here? Instead of the term 'culture of entitlement', I ( a mere FULL taxpaying citizen voter!) would have used the more accurate 'propensity to commit fraud'!

To read the article for yourself please click on the link below;-




Re: 'Only then will we truly have a clean break from the past.'






Again, speaking as a taxpaying citizen voter, the full and proper break with the past will only come AFTER I have heard the slamming of cell doors behind ALL in this Fraudsters' Parliament who have stolen public monies irrespective of political party or seniority within that party!






Why has the Fraud Act 2006 apparently been suspended in respect to the frauds committed by MPs and their cronies?






Now..... if they had not stolen tens of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money ... but tried to sell a goldfish to someone under 18, we could have expected the full force of the law to have swung into action!!






Remind me....Exactly which banana republic am I a citizen of?'

To read the article for yourself please click on the link below:-

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/mar/31/ian-kennedy-report-mps-expenses

Monday 29 March 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament - 35

I have just found an interesting story about the MPs' expenses scandal posted by the London coresspondent of a Canadian newspaper, The Montreal Gazette. You can read the story on their online edition by clicking on the link below;-

http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/SCANDAL+VOTERS+MINDS/2737651/story.html




Tuesday 30th March - update



I have just picked up a story in The Guardian concerning the sending of yet another file about MPs' expenses being sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Check out the story  by clicking on the link below;-

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/mar/30/new-parliamentary-expenses-file-passed-cps


Are the police finally getting their act together?  No name has been given yet! I wonder if it will be another of the 'minnows' or one of the many in this Fraudsters' Parliament who should be behind bars?

Sunday 21 March 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament - 34

Well...... They've done it! Those in this Fraudsters' Parliament have made me speechless!

Apparently several have been caught in a 'sting' where they were offered 'consultancy' fees ('bribes' to you and me!) for using their 'influence' with other cronies in this Fraudsters' Parliament!

As I've said, I'm speechless!

Feel free to check out the various slants on the story from the online newspaper websites shown on this blog.

Reuters have the story going global! - What a shower this lot are!

Apparently a lot of 'members' of  The Fraudsters' Parliament are indignant that these people have been up to what they have been...... possibly because they had been left off this particular gravy train?

Apparently one of the MPs caught in the stings claims;-

"I am confident that any investigation from the standards commissioner will confirm that I have always fully complied with the MPs' code of conduct."

Going on the past performance of the parliamentary watchpoodle and the committee of parliamentary cronies who have 'supervised' MPs behaviour in the past, he is probably not far wrong! Do they ALL have a different concept of  'fully', 'complied' and 'code of conduct' not shared by the rest of us?

Apparently a lot of 'members' of The Fraudsters' Parliament are indignant that these people have been up to what they have been...... possibly because they had been left off this particular gravy train?



Or is it that they are playing some sort of perverse game of their own making where they attempt to 'trump' the previous scandal!

One pays offspring large sums of taxpayers' money for 'work' for which there is no formal record!

He is trumped by MP who gets house occupied by parents paid for by the taxpaying citizens of the UK!

He, in turn, is trumped by MP who is told claims were wrong and still walks away with £100,000!

Does every MP in this Fraudsters' Parliament intend to include a paragraph in their post-election CV beginning with;

'And while I was an MP I got away with ....(insert approriate text here).... and was able to bamboozle the parliamentary authorities by ..... (insert appropriate text here).... although it was not difficult because my cronies on the investigating body were ...... (insert appropriate text here)!

Sunday 14 March 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament - 33

I read this article in The Times today!

.......and you think the title of my posts  is a little harsh!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/leading_article/article7060987.ece

I commented on the article in their online edition! It may.... or may not.....be published! Check it out for me someone!

Saturday 13 March 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament - 32

I was reading the Scunthorpe Telegraph on Friday. They were reporting on the trial of those MPs who have been charged with 'false accounting'.
Scunthorpe is Elliot Morley's constituency.
 I think it is fair to say that the voters in the area are not best pleased! 
This guy is one of the 'small fry' in the story of this Fraudsters' Parliament. I read today that Mr and Mrs Expenses have been been asked to repay a token amount by a committee of cronies! They seriously believe that a group of cronies can overturn the law or disapply the law of the land with regard to their frauds!
Wait a moment! ..................... wasn't there a Home Secretary who was allowed to keep a large amount of misclaimed  taxpayers' monies recently?

Sunday 7 March 2010

Fraudsters' Parliament - 31

Is is just me? ...... When does one REEEEEAAAAAALLY know when one is making a valid point?

I suggest it is when  a comment on a story concerning the state of politics in the UK by a taxpaying citizen voter of the UK falls foul of the BBC 'Have Your Say' comment board monitors!

Perhaps it is because there may be a snap election extremely soon and the powers that be at the Beeb are a bit wary about who their political masters will soon be! (I call this the 'Kremlin Syndrome').........

Perhaps it is because my comment was ssssoooooooo outrageous, misinformed and wide of the mark as not to be worthy of darkening the comment boards of the national broadcaster............!

I will let you decide. Please feel free to comment on my comment.... or on the BBC comment about my comment on their comment board.......

Their comment on my comment on their comment board was;-

'Thank you for contributing to a Have Your Say debate. Unfortunately we've had to remove your content below







Posts to the BBC website will be removed if they contain material that considers to be potentially defamatory. For more information, please visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/messageboards/newguide/house_rules2.shtml#libel






Please note that anyone who seriously or repeatedly breaks the House Rules may have action taken against their account.'

I know! ....... I know!......... You want to know what was my comment on their comment board which prompted such a comment from the BBC!

Well here it is!

'Subject:



Does it matter if politicians have 'non-dom' tax status?






Posting:


Re: 'The Electoral Commission has said £5.1m of donations to the Tories from a firm belonging to Lord Ashcroft were legal.'






How does this match up with the definition of 'dishonesty' given in the official advice on the Deployment of The Fraud Act 2006.






The explanatory notes accompanying the Act include the following text;






'Section 2: Fraud by false representation






10. Section 2 makes it an offence to commit fraud by false representation. Subsection (1)(a) makes clear that the representation must be made dishonestly. This test applies also to sections 3 and 4. The current definition of dishonesty was established in R v Ghosh [1982] Q.B.1053. That judgment sets a two-stage test. The first question is whether a defendant's behaviour would be regarded as dishonest by the ordinary standards of reasonable and honest people. If answered positively, the second question is whether the defendant was aware that his conduct was dishonest and would be regarded as dishonest by reasonable and honest people.'






Are we, 'reasonable and honest people' really to believe that the money coming from a company belonging to him is not ... how shall a put this?..... a little 'dodgy'!






When will we honest and reasonable, FULL taxpaying citizen voters' be consulted on this...... and the MPs' fraudulent claims, tax avoidance, lining of pockets and general parliamentary fiddles?'


Note: I have just reviewed this last post and  come to the conclusion that it differs somewhat from my usual reasonable, well thought out approach and style! It is more in the style of current Prime Ministers' Questions! You know....... when the politicians have various tantrums and throw their dummies, rattles and teddy bears out of their cots at each other  !

...... but I am going to post it anyway! Have a great week!

P.S. Let me know what you think of my comment...... or the BBC's comment ..... or feel free to comment yourself!

Tuesday 2 March 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament - 30

I have a piece of news to make us all feel better about the scams practised by those in this Fraudsters' Parliament..... It is not really their fault!  Wasting taxpayers' monies is obviously a necessary part of a politician's core mission statement!

Politicians in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada do it too! I picked up an article  on the feed to my blog about the concerns of ordinary citizens in Nova Scotia relating to how THEIR politicians make fast and loose with THEIR claims and personal expenses.

Check out the story by clicking on the link below;

http://www.halifaxnewsnet.ca/index.cfm?sid=330620&sc=612&comments=verify#commentsview

Monday 1 March 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament - 29

The local independent candidate asked to put my email thanking him for his leaflet on his website together with a link to my blog!...... and after I agreed... he did it!   Is this a politician who delivers what he promises?

A short time after I arrived home from work tonight the door bell rang! It was a very personable Conservative candidate trying to transform the ire felt by taxpaying citizen voters into votes for the Conservative Party! ... Talk about trying to transform water into wine! -this guy has an uphill struggle!

Part of the fallout from the expenses scandal is the blighting of the careers of young would-be candidates affiliated to the major parties, who will be deprived of a chance to improve the lives of UK citizens by the dishonesty of those in this Fraudsters' Parliament!

I explained that I would not be voting for any of the major parties, but will be voting for an independent candidate at the next election. The look on his face suggested that it was a message that he had heard from others in the street! I spared him from my usual tirade about 'The Fraudsters' Parliament'! I must be getting soft in my old age!

What a task this chap had!... trying to drum up support for the Conservatives on the day when the truth about The Conservative Party Chairperson's 'non-dom' status is forced into the public arena after a Freedom of Information Tribunal ruling! It is obviously business as usual at main party headquarters! They really have learned not a jot about winning the taxpaying citizen voters trust!

But don't worry! Mr  Cameron is glad Ashcroft has 'decided' to confirm his tax status! Oh Yes! He was really going to do this.... EVEN if he was not being forced to do it.... ten years after promising to do it upon being given a peerage!!!!!  They really do still believe that we will swallow this pigswill .... sorry...information!

Just why has it taken the Tories a decade to get this information into the public arena? ..... and when will the Labour Party clear up its own cluster of non-doms! I only ask as a taxpaying citizen voter of the UK!

Saturday 27 February 2010

Fraudsters' Parliament - 28

I received an electoral leaflet from an independent candidate in the forthcoming general election.
He is a candidate who was born in the constituency - now there's a novelty in the UK political system!
He also makes a number of pledges - (Yes..... I know they ALL do!) but check these out;-

'I will donate 10% of my parliamentary income to local charity for the duration of my term as a Member of Parliament for Ellesmere Port and Neston.

I will not employ any member of my family in the constituency office locally or at Westminster.

I will act solely in the public interest as specified within the seven principles of public life in spirit and compliance (Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty and Leadership).

I will not gain personal benefit or gifts in kind other than those which are intended to be passed over in their entirety to the benefit of the community with no gain to myself, family or friends.

I will provide regular and open access to the people I serve to make full use of  my services and to hold me to account by regular and confidential surgeries, public forums and by other electronic means to meet the needs of the people served.

I will uphold the principles of freedom of  information  and openness at all times and encourage others to scrutinise inappropriate activities of public concern.

I will protect and uphold the principles of the rule of law, respect for all people, valuing and protecting their human rights, property, freedom of expression and democracy'


Should these not apply to EVERY  MP in what is becoming known as this 'Fraudsters' Parliament'?
You know how cynical I am concerning politicians but this person is probably getting my vote in the next General Election. I do not believe that a parliament full of  'Independents' is the answer to the UK's problems in the long term but current MPs need to be given an unmistakeable lesson .......... and they need it now!

Check out the website;-

http://www.jonathanstarkey.co.uk/


How does this candidate compare to your local candidate. Let me know in the comments section of my blog.

Update:  28th February 2010

Received a reply to my email thanking this candidate for his leaflet...... within 24 hours! ...Yes I know I usually state that politicians don't listen! ...... let alone take the time to reply!!

Coming Soon!
As there appear to be no FURTHER disclosures re: MPs' expenses claims in the pipeline, I intend to upload some of the documentation I have sent/received re:  the MPs' expenses scandal. I will try to get the first 'instalment' uploaded by Friday! So, if you are interested in how a humble citizen can ask questions of the great and the good (spelled  'F..R..A..U..D..U..L..E..N..T') ... (or if you are just interested in what other people and/or institutions write to each other!) .. keep visiting this blog!

Have a great week!

Sunday 21 February 2010

Fraudsters' Parliament 27

The BBC programme 'On Expenses' is in BBC4 on Tuesday at 9.00p.m.
I wonder how many MPs will be choosing to watch it!.... Possibly only those expecting to be turfed out at the next disinfecting election .... that will be at least several hundred, then?

The Sunday Express have an article about the programme on their online edition at;

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/159550/MPs-to-relive-expenses-scandal-with-BBC-drama



On this paper's 'comment'  site a reader gave a link to a interesting account of the making of the programme including an  video interview with Tony Saint, the writer of 'On Expenses'.

This website is one of The University of Nottingham blog sites.

The link to the site is;-

http://electionblog2010.blogspot.com/2010/02/fiction-and-british-politics-test.html


I have to admit I preferred the earlier working title 'Bringing Down The House'.

Friday 19 February 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament - 26

If you are looking for a timeline to help get an overview of the MPs' expenses scandal The Independent online has a suitable one at the following link;-

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/mps-expenses-scandal-the-timeline-1888349.html

What is missing in this timeline, of course, is the many and various attempts by the MPs' in this Fraudsters' Parliament  to hide their fraudulent claims and the fact that these 'honourable members' were brought kicking and screaming into the full glare of public gaze through the efforts of Heather Brooke and the journalists of the Daily Telegraph!

P.S. Please don't forget to vote in the poll shown on the right hand column of this blog! Thanks!

Wednesday 17 February 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament - 25

Someone asked me recently how annoyed I was over the widespread trousering of public monies by those in this Fraudsters' Parliament!
I replied that on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being 'Not at all concerned!' and 10 being 'Incandescent with anger!', I was at number 13........... 'On the cusp of  turning thermo-nuclear with rage!'

Then I discovered the following website:-

http://www.youve-been-cromwelled.org/

Now, while still being at number 13,  I can, at least chuckle about the responses that Ollie gives to some of those in this Fraudsters' Parliament who really have not grasped, even now, that the game is up!

Have a look at the website to lower your blood pressure! Read about the site and click on the responses from MPs and 'Ollie's responses! Pure magic!

Tuesday 16 February 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament- 24

I had an email from the House of Commons Information Office earlier today following my question about the lack of information about Harriet Harman!
Doh! She did not have pay back any expenses because she is an Inner London MP and therefore not eligible for the claims made by MPs' outside of London.
One black mark against John for not realising this, but a merit point for the parliamentary information team for their speedy response which was well within the 10 day limit!

Might I suggest that this team take over overview of any future payments to MPs?....... those MPs who are still in post after the election, and still this side of prison bars when the full deployment of the Fraud Act 2006 has been made, that is!

I picked up on an interesting article in The Guardian re. MPs and their 'flipping' ('fraudulent  claiming on multiple houses' to we taxpaying citizen voters!)
It is about getting back the profit that has been made by MPs on the houses bought with my, and your, tax money!
Click on the link below to read the article;-

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/feb/16/mps-repay-profits-second-homes

Sunday 14 February 2010

The Fraudster's Parliament- 23

As promised (although rather late!), I have had a chance to have a look at the Legg Report witth special reference to the those on the committee responsible for its publication. I was able to find the references to any overpayments or repayments by these people....... with the exception of Harriet Harman, the Leader of the House! Perhaps, this is because her position as Leader of the House means she does not get any expenses! I shall enquire of the committee.

I searched the list of MPs several times but couldn't find any listing for Harriet Harman! Is she known by some other name? If you can help with the information, please let me know.(PLEASE SEE THE UPDATE BELOW!)

This is what I found;-

Rt Hon John Bercow MP, Speaker


'Mr Speaker was overpaid by £978.51 for mortgage interest in 2008-09.


Total repayment recommended: £978.51


Total repayments received since 1 April 2009: £978.51


Balance recommended to be repaid: £0.00'



Sir Stuart Bell MP

'Rt Hon Sir Stuart Bell MP


Middlesbrough


Sir Stuart has no issues.'


Rt Hon Harriet Harman MP, Leader of the House

(My note: I could find no listing but I will re-check)

(UPDATE: 16th February 2010 - I received this clarification from the Information Office at the House of Commons;-

'As an inner London MP, Ms Harman was not eligible to claim for ACA and so would not have featured in the review of ACA allowances by Sir Thomas Legg.')




Nick Harvey MP

'Mr Nicholas Harvey MP


North Devon


Mr Harvey has no issues.'



Rt Hon David Maclean MP

'Rt Hon David MacLean MP


Penrith & The Border


Mr MacLean has no issues.'


Rt Hon Sir George Young MP, Shadow Leader of the House

'Rt Hon Sir George Young Bt MP

North West Hampshire


Sir George was overpaid by a total of £104.48 for electricity costs for the period


April 2005 to September 2005.


Total repayment recommended: £769.50


Reduced on appeal by:£769.50'

Sunday 7 February 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament - 22

This article was flagged on my blog. It was found on Cherwell Online which  is the independent student newspaper of Oxford University, England so can, of course, be considered to represent the point of view of the ordinary citizen in the street!

 It is rather different from the other articles I have seen in that it is rather understanding of the fraudulent practices of MPs of late. I couldn't resist leaving a comment! I wonder if it is published on their online newspaper?

The publication can be read at;

http://www.cherwell.org/content/9814

Saturday 6 February 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament - 21

I have just read an interesting article in The Wall Street Journal re: the MPs' expenses scandal. You will find the article at the address below;-

http://blogs.wsj.com/iainmartin/2010/02/06/how-the-rotten-parliament-sold-our-birthright/



I couldn't help but make a comment in their comments section! I don't know if it will appear on their online edition! The web address of the comments section for this article can be accessed from the article or directly from the link below;-

http://blogs.wsj.com/iainmartin/2010/02/06/how-the-rotten-parliament-sold-our-birthright/tab/comments/#comment-2530

I have quite a busy day today. I don't have £40000 of public money to pay my lovely wife to do my admin, you see!  I am a simple taxpaying citizen voter and so don't accept bribes....Ooooop! ... donations from lobby groups! I aim to get  the details of the repayments claimed from the Member's Estimates Committee, as promised in my last post, this evening.
Now, ..... let's be fair..... that is  IF any of them have 'erroneously' overclaimed and pocketed my, and yours, tax revenues!

Friday 5 February 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament- 20

Does it not strike anyone else as strange that the report by Legg covering the expenses scandal by the MPs' is listed as co-authored by;

'Review of past ACA payments: first report of session 2009-10 report, together with formal minutes


House of Commons papers 348 2009-10

Corporate Author: Great Britain Parliament House of Commons Members Estimate Committee

Author: John Bercow (Speaker, chairman of MEC), Sir Thomas Legg, Sir Paul Kennedy '
 
 and is published under the auspices of the:

Members Estimate Committee

The Members Estimate Committee has the same Members as the House of Commons Commission:

Rt Hon John Bercow MP, Speaker


Sir Stuart Bell MP


Rt Hon Harriet Harman MP, Leader of the House


Nick Harvey MP


Rt Hon David Maclean MP


Rt Hon Sir George Young MP, Shadow Leader of the House

I shall spend an interesting half hour tomorrow checking out how many members of this august body have overclaimed from taxpaying citizen voters' monies and hope to publish the details on this blog! If any of them have..... should they not have been relieved of their post on the committee?

I am no legal expert, but wonder why The Theft Act  has been deployed against the small number of 'minnows' announced today!

Could it possibly be that the deployment of Sections 2-4 of The Fraud Act 2006, which could have been written especially to deal with MPs' fraud, would have ensnared a much larger number of those 340 MPs named and shamed today?

The Fraudsters' Parliament - 19

Thanks to Angela who emailed  the following information to me re: the MPs expenses scandal with a link to the BBC online site so that you can register for an email of daily news;-


** MPs told to repay £1.1m expenses **


MPs have been told to repay £1.1m of second homes expenses claimed between 2004 and 2008 after an audit of claim




http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8496729.stm


If you want to download a copy of the Legg Report for yourself for viewing on your computer try this link which was provided by Commons information Office after my search through the house of commons website proved fruitless! :-

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmmemest.htm






Another link from Angela;

** BBC Daily E-mail **

Choose the news and sport headlines you want - when you want them, all

in one daily e-mail;-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/email

Tuesday 2 February 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament 17

I have just picked up this story in The Yorshire Star in the feed to my blog!

I have been impressed how the local and regional newspapers have taken an interest in the MPs' expenses scandal. In many respects they can bring more pressure to bear on any local MP who has been pocketing public monies.
Check out the story about one of their local MPs by clicking on the link below;-

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/MP-challenges-demands-to-repay.6033487.jp#4890591

If you know of any other local or regional newspapers' views on the MPs' expenses scandal, please email me the link and I will put it on this blog.

My email address is:-

johnlbellblog@googlemail.com

Thanks!

Monday 1 February 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament - 16

Had an email from the Sydney Morning Herald today!
They have agreed to me having a link on the blog so that readers can access any articles in that newspaper's online edition. I note that the latest parliamentary body tasked with overseeing MPs' expenses and remuneration claim to be comparing  the USA and Australian systems with the UK!.
This new link will to The Sydney Morning Herald will, at least, give any reader of my blog the chance to see how the fraudulent claims by MPs are reported in the Australian newspapers.

If  you are interested how the expenses scandal is being reported in an Australian newspaper, click on the link above and, when the online edition of the Sydney Morning Herald appears, type in MPs' expenses in the search box. keep visiting for the forthccoming updates on the MPs' expenses scandal which refuses to go away!

I hope to receive the OK from a leading US newspaper so that we can see how the scandal is being reported in US newspapers in the run up to the long awaited General Election.... hopeffully a 'disinfecting' General Election which sees the removal of all those in parliament and their cronies who have been involved in the fraudulent claiming of vast amounts of taxpayers' monies!

Friday 29 January 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament - 15

I have just checked the updates from the blogs I follow. Heather Brooke has finished her latest book  The Silent State which is due for publication in April of this year. Check out her updates on;-

http://www.yrtk.org/

I have pre-ordered a copy. It should make rather interesting reading during this election year! You can order through the YRTK website or from Amazon.

Sunday 24 January 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament -14

I checked my email this morning. Someone had commented on my comment on the online edition of The Independent. The article was about another ......... yes......yet another....... MP who had been caught with his fingers in the till!

Someone had taken the time to comment on my comment! Thank you, 'maalliii', whoever and wherever you are, for taking the time to read and comment on my musings!

The article can be found at the link below. You will need to scroll down the list of comments below the article;-

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-mps-breach-of-rules-costs-him-16365000-1876407.html

There was an earlier article in the same newspaper where one reader came up with a fantastic tagline which, I would imagine, just about sums  up many taxpaying citizen voters' views at the moment;-


'Corruption runs through Westminster like the lettering in Blackpool rock!'

Nice one, notsonobleserf, whoever and wherever you are!

You can read this article and the comments made about it at:-

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/expenses-breach-mp-harry-cohen-to-forfeit-resettlement-grant-1875940.html

If you have time, feel free to comment on their article. You will need to signup first but the process is an easy one.

And, of course, feel free to comment on any post on this blog!

Friday 22 January 2010

The Fraudsters' Parliament - 13

Friday 22nd  January 2009

I have just put down the telephone! A young and very earnest party worker is obviously phoning around the constituency  prior to the removal of large numbers of MPs in the next election.

Note: to local party managers of all the major political parties!

1). Whose idea was it to train your party activists to phone around at the end of a long working week....... on a Friday evening? ...... at 8:00p.m?

 Only in that Cloud Cuckoo Land that is this Fraudsters' Parliament would that seem a good way of contacting would-be electors!

2). Whose idea was it to then ask the important question :-

"And what do you think is the most important question in British Politics today?"

"It's funny you should ask me that........!" was my initial reply........followed by;

"My particular concern is, and has been since the Conway Case hit the headlines, the fact that something well in excess of fifty MPs in what has become known as 'This Fraudster's Parliament', have fallen foul of Sections 2-4 of The Fraud Act 2006!......... should be serving time in gaol of between 1 and 10 years......... fulfils several of the factors for prosecution outlined in the current Crown Prosecution Service Manual of Prosecution........... etc..... etc.... etc!"

(nervous silence from the other end of the phone.....!)

"Yes....!.   Yes!......." is the tentative response when I pause for breath! "The problem with expenses has been a concern!...."

"Problem with expenses!"  I interrupt, "Do you mean the wide-scale theft of public monies by those in this Fraudster's Parliament?!"

At which point I am asked,  "So you will not be voting in the next general election?"

"You misunderstand!" I immediately reply....."I will MOST certainly be voting! I am a taxpaying citizen voter of the UK!.......... I just won't be voting for anyone in the Labour or Conservative Parties! The jury is still out re: the Lib Dems..... Although it is safe to assume, at this stage, that I will be voting for an independent!"


At which point we wished each other mutual best wishes and hung up!

I am sitting here by the telephone,.... like a hungry cat next to a mouse hole..... waiting for a similar call from the other major parties!!!!!!      Watch this space!


COMPETITION TIME!

This is not really the 'best' picture to go with this article!! For one thing the cat does not have a beard!........ or spectacles..... and there is no sign of a mouse residence!!
If you would like to 'edit' the picture to include these features and email me your 'improved' version for the blog, I will replace the above picture with yours! If there is more than one entry (I have always been an optimistic person!) I will choose the best one and send off a copy of one of the books pictured on the site?
Blog Editor's decision will be final! (I've always wanted to write that!)
The competition closes at midnight (GMT) on Friday 29th January 2010.

Monday 18 January 2010

This Fraudsters' Parliament -12

There is hope for the future of parliamentary democracy in the UK! I have just read an article in the Coventry Telegraph which reported on a 14 year old querying Estelle Morris on her expenses claims!


Surely I cannot be the only taxpaying citizen voter in the UK who wonders why a 14 year old citizen is asking such necessary questions when the parliamentary authorities charged with protecting us from fraudulent MPs appear to prefer to adopt the role of the traditional three wise monkeys;-


Hearing no talk of fraud by MPs!
Seeing no fraud by MPs!
Speaking of no fraud be MPS!


Check out the article yourself  by clicking on the link below;


http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2010/01/18/baroness-estelle-morris-quizzed-over-expenses-by-coventry-kids-92746-25625883/2/#sitelife-commentsWidget-bottom


The young person concerned may well enter politics in the future! Let us hope that by then we, as taxpaying citizen voters, have taught ALL our politicians, irrespective of political party or seniority, that their role is to work for the benefit of the taxpaying citizen voters of this country and not for the benefit of their personal bank accounts. It will be a necessary lesson - long overdue!

I thought you would be interested in the 'Seven Principles of Public Life' which, believe it or not, applies to ALL MPs in this parliament. I found the text on the parliamentary standards website!!!


'THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC LIFE




SELFLESSNESS


Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends.






INTEGRITY


Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their official duties.






OBJECTIVITY


In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.






ACCOUNTABILITY


Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.






OPENNESS


Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.






HONESTY


Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.






LEADERSHIP


Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.






These principles apply to all aspects of public life. The Committee(Standards -my note!) has set them out here for the benefit of all who serve the public in any way.'

My question is:

Has anyone told MPs about these principles? Can any of those MPs now claim that their fiddles, scams and frauds were 'within the rules'?

Feel free to comment!