The Fraudsters' Parliament - The Sequel! (Bribes Optional!) 63



Life after the Conway Scandal and it's aftermath!

Have the politicians learned anything?

Let's check the papers!

Ho Hum!

A number of those involved in the Atlantic Bridge Tax Dodging 'Educational' Charity (yes! The one that had its 'charitable status' withdrawn by the Charity Commission!) are NOW to be found sitting around the Tory dominated  Cabinet table at the head of our particular banana republic!

Only today yet ANOTHER Tory politician was found to be on the payroll of an 'interested party' who paid him ALMOST the same as his parliamentary salary as a 'consultant'!

Yes! I know it looks, ..... to me and you, .........  like a bribe to ask the 'right' questions! But we are merely full taxpaying citizen voters, not privy to the heady and somewhat strange view of 'political ethics' that predominate in Westmidden-Upon-The-Fiddle and the neighbouring hamlet of Much Fiddling-Beneath-The-Ermine!

By the bye!

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Westmidden-Upon-The-Fiddle is currently facing several charges of rape and sexual assault!!!!!!

Hands up all those thinking .....'We DO appear to be living in a banana republic!'!!!!!!!!

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

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

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

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 '

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!

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

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!

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--

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!

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?

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!

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

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!

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!

The Fraudsters' Parliament -9

As promised, please find below the text of my comment to the The Herald/Sunday Herald website;


Dear heraldscotland,



Unlike Mr Darling, and many of those in what has become more widely known as the Westminster Fraudsters' Parliament, I am not a lawyer. As a taxpaying, voting citizen of the UK, I have read the Fraud Act 2006 which came into force in England in January 2007 and have come to the conclusion that it COULD have been written to deal specifically with those in this parliament who have been trousering taxpayers' monies!
The following text from the Act may cover the situation;


'1 Fraud
(1) A person is guilty of fraud if he is in breach of any of the sections listed in subsection (2) (which provide for different ways of committing the offence).


(2) The sections are-


(a) section 2 (fraud by false representation),
(b) section 3 (fraud by failing to disclose information), and
(c) section 4 (fraud by abuse of position).


(3) A person who is guilty of fraud is liable-
(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or to both);
(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or to a fine (or to both).


(4) Subsection (3)(a) applies in relation to Northern Ireland as if the reference to 12 months were a reference to 6 months.


2 Fraud by false representation


(1) A person is in breach of this section if he-
(a) dishonestly makes a false representation, and
(b) intends, by making the representation-
(i) to make a gain for himself or another, or
(ii) to cause loss to another or to expose another to a risk of loss.


(2) A representation is false if-
(a) it is untrue or misleading, and
(b) the person making it knows that it is, or might be, untrue or misleading.


(3) "Representation" means any representation as to fact or law, including a representation as to the state of mind of-
(a) the person making the representation, or
(b) any other person.


(4) A representation may be express or implied.'




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.'


I would suggest that the many and various attempts by MPs to change, obscure, conceal and ignore attempts to 'flush out ' these practices must be held as evidence that those concerned were aware that their actions were dishonest and that their behaviour would be regarded by dishonest by reasonable and honest people.

I note that this case fulfills at least two of the common public interest factors contained in Section 5.9 of the current Prosecution Manual which is used to determine whether or not the Crown Prosecution Service will instigate a prosecution namely:-


5.9
a). a conviction is likely to result in a significant sentence;
e). the defendant was in a position of trust;
o.) there are grounds for believing that the offence is likely to be continued or repeated, for example, by a history of recurring conduct;


As I mentioned earlier, I am not a lawyer... just a taxpaying citizen voter of the UK..... but am I the only one who is asking why this law has not been deployed against those MPs in the Westminster  Parliament who have 'misappropriated' public monies, irrespective of their political party or their level of seniority in that political party?


If the law DOES apply to MPs, as it applies to all of us in England (I am not sure of the situation in Scotland), when can I, a taxpaying citizen voter, expect to hear the slamming of cell doors behind the guilty?


Yours faithfully,


John L Bell
http://johnlbell.blogspot.com/

The web address of the website is;

http://www.heraldscotland.com/

The address of the article which prompted the comment is;

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/politics/chancellor-quits-law-body-as-expenses-inquiry-begins-1.997379

The Fraudsters' Parliament - 4

I was determined not to let the matter rest. On the 11th March 2008 I sent off a request for further information to the Committee on Standards and Privileges at the House of Commons. I still wasn't particular good at this! I would compose these letters when I had finished other work at home and often late in the evening.
I had also decided to have some sort of recorded delivery of these letters--- not only had MPs misappropriated taxpayers' monies, it was now costing me money to bring it to someone's attention. Note also that only a vague reference is made yet to the Freedom of Information Act!
The text of my letter was;

Committee on Standards and Privileges
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA





11th March 2008

Subject: Alleged embezzlement of public funds by an MP

Dear Sir/Madam,
As a tax paying UK citizen, I note that no official request for a police investigation has been made by parliamentary authorities into the recent alleged embezzlement of public funds by an MP.

I note that a recent request for clarification from the Metropolitan Police Commissioner has not resulted in a request, by parliamentary authorities, for a police investigation by any police authority.

As a tax paying citizen, I have today made a formal request that such a police investigation into this matter be initiated.

I am requesting any information, minutes of any meetings etc. relating to the decision not to request a police investigation into this matter under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act(s).



Yours faithfully,



John L. Bell



It was at this time that I opened a folder on my computer entitled 'Parliamentary Embezzlement'.

I did not realise then how full this folder was to become!