Snouts in the Trough[UK Style]

[Ivan]

In another thread adriatica focused on the venality of Italian politicians. For those of you in the UK or those who retain links with home and hearth go to TheyWorkForYou.com: Are your MPs and Peers working for you in the UK's Parliament? and enter your UK post-code. This will give you the name of your MP and you can call up their expense claims. They make very distressing reading! A storm is brewing in the UK also.

In 2006-7 645 Mps claimed £87 million, a rise of double the rate of inflation on the previous year. I have the misfortune to be represented by one Joan Ryan, the most expensive lady in the UK!! She claimed a staggering £173,691[I like the 1!!!] on top of her salary. Her stationery and postage claim was over £24,000. Just think of the number of letters you could write for that. Another striking example are the Ballses [I kid you not!]: Education and Housing ministers with fancy titles. They have trousered over £300,000 in expenses.

The Evening Standard is focusing in on London MPs who live between 24 and 46 minutes from Westminster by public transport but who claim massive sums for second homes in Central London. Joan Ryan has pocketed £21,971 for this. Oh, and they've all voted themselves a new £10,000 allowance for communications so they can produce glossy newsheets on how wonderfully they're looking after us.

They prate about the poor and vulnerable, but they sure are neither of these things. So don't worry, Italians, we are doing our best to catch you up. It makes me want to sit down and weep.

[Gala Placidia]

Ivan, I'm afraid that you are talking about a highly contagious, endemic disease, which does not recognize international borders. It is also incurable and no effective vaccine is available... Prevention campaigns have not worked either... Perhaps we could quarantine all politicians and save some money....

[deborahandricky]

Originally Posted by Gala Placidia

Ivan, I'm afraid that you are talking about a highly contagious, endemic disease, which does not recognize international borders. It is also incurable and no effective vaccine is available... Prevention campaigns have not worked either... Perhaps we could quarantine all politicians and save some money....

Quarantine or Cull .......thats a tough one !

[Ivan]

Originally Posted by Gala Placidia

Ivan, I'm afraid that you are talking about a highly contagious, endemic disease, which does not recognize international borders. It is also incurable and no effective vaccine is available... Prevention campaigns have not worked either... Perhaps we could quarantine all politicians and save some money....

You hit the nail on the head, Gala Placidia. The threat of the ballot box doesn't seem to do much good!!

Today we learned that Nicholas Sarkozy has been awarded/has awarded himself a 140% pay rise less than 6 months after becoming President of France and whilst seeking to trim public sector pay and pensions. Can you notice a certain discrepancy? He needed to be paid at least as much as his Prime Minister so that's two on £171,000!! Amongst world leaders apparently only Vladimir Putin is paid less. The average salary in France is around £13,000 per annum!!

Heigh Ho!! Who cleaned out the Augean stables? Please do it again as things are a little dirty once more.