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On the MP's expenses drama
May. 17th, 2009 02:33 amI have actually managed not to be especially outraged. Actually I’ve been kind of irritated by the overwhelming level of outrage. This has largely been because of the death of Ian Tomlinson. Frankly no amount of dodgy expenses or outright fraud and embezzlement by MPs is going to compare to the horror and outrage I feel about the fact the police killed a man and covered it up. That level of outrage just eclipses financial mismanagement, I’m afraid.
However, lacking outrage, I have managed to look at proceedings with a sort of rueful amusement and vague depression.
On the first part, I’m not an idealist. Where their are expense accounts there is going to be abuse. It is known. It was probably happening back in the Middle Ages when verily yon seneschal was asked to preserve thine receipts. In fact, I am most shocked by Alan Johnson, MP for West Hull who has not only NOT cheated on his expenses, but HASN’T claimed for things he’s entitled to. I’m kind of in awe. I want to get a microscope and poke him and say things like “good lord, an honest politician! We should have him stuffed and preserved for the ages!” Certainly a shock.
But the rest has been a debacle. Mps stalling and fudging about changing the system was generally expected and greeted with a cynical disdain as one expected. But what amused me was watching Cameron chase Brown and use expenses to hound Labour. I watched and kept thinking “do you REALLY want to go there? Seriously? Reallllly?” And when the scandal first broke and the Tories began throwing stones and howling with glee, again I thought “Y’know you should stop throwing things and start checking your glass houses. Really.”
And lo, it broke among the Tories as well and, GASP, it seems the Tories werem if anything, even MORE extreme in their abuse of expense accounts. SHOCK HORROR! I boggle - seriously Cameron, what did you EXPECT?
I’m actually kind of in awe of some of the expense claims. I mean, fiddling a few expenses are all par the course - but some of these claims took great big brass balls to make. I don’t mean the porn movies or the IPODs - bad though they were - but claiming for NANNIES and House Keepers? Claiming for POOL repairs? And, my favourite of all - PAYING TO HAVE YOUR MOAT DREDGED. That’s right, paying to maintain the guy’s CASTLE. I think that matches the MP who claimed for a mortgage he didn’t even have!
Let’s face it, a lot of people fiddle expense accounts now and then - but when you fiddle by £250,000 or more? Damn, that takes gall. I am actually impressed.
I think Cameron and his Tories weathered the storm better. Despite the fact that the claims by the Tories were, IMO, more flagrant than Labour, Cameron’s swift leadership and uncompromising stance on the issue after the scandal broke was impressive and noteworthy. His handling of the aftermath eclipsed Brown’s.
I think the Tories also benefit from lower expectations. The Tories are expected to be extravagant, indulgent and care little of the cost to the little people. The Tories are the party of big business and fat cats - of course they diddle the expense accounts. Of course they cheat us. Labour is the party of the people. Labour takes more flak when they screw the people over because - even though it hasn’t been the case for a long time (if it ever was) they’re supposed to be on the people’s side.
No-one got out clean from this - but I think the Tories won out. Both were splattered with mud, but the Tories cleaned it off and polished it well, while Brown just kind of wallowed around stinking - even though he was less covered in filth.
As for the minority parties (UKIP and BNP are both singing that they’ll win massively from this). Meh, I doubt it. No matter what most people say - when push comes to shove they don’t vote for fringe parties. Maybe for European elections (which British people don’t take seriously - I know I know, more fool us, but it’s true) and local council elections (which are farcical anyway) but not where it counts.
However, lacking outrage, I have managed to look at proceedings with a sort of rueful amusement and vague depression.
On the first part, I’m not an idealist. Where their are expense accounts there is going to be abuse. It is known. It was probably happening back in the Middle Ages when verily yon seneschal was asked to preserve thine receipts. In fact, I am most shocked by Alan Johnson, MP for West Hull who has not only NOT cheated on his expenses, but HASN’T claimed for things he’s entitled to. I’m kind of in awe. I want to get a microscope and poke him and say things like “good lord, an honest politician! We should have him stuffed and preserved for the ages!” Certainly a shock.
But the rest has been a debacle. Mps stalling and fudging about changing the system was generally expected and greeted with a cynical disdain as one expected. But what amused me was watching Cameron chase Brown and use expenses to hound Labour. I watched and kept thinking “do you REALLY want to go there? Seriously? Reallllly?” And when the scandal first broke and the Tories began throwing stones and howling with glee, again I thought “Y’know you should stop throwing things and start checking your glass houses. Really.”
And lo, it broke among the Tories as well and, GASP, it seems the Tories werem if anything, even MORE extreme in their abuse of expense accounts. SHOCK HORROR! I boggle - seriously Cameron, what did you EXPECT?
I’m actually kind of in awe of some of the expense claims. I mean, fiddling a few expenses are all par the course - but some of these claims took great big brass balls to make. I don’t mean the porn movies or the IPODs - bad though they were - but claiming for NANNIES and House Keepers? Claiming for POOL repairs? And, my favourite of all - PAYING TO HAVE YOUR MOAT DREDGED. That’s right, paying to maintain the guy’s CASTLE. I think that matches the MP who claimed for a mortgage he didn’t even have!
Let’s face it, a lot of people fiddle expense accounts now and then - but when you fiddle by £250,000 or more? Damn, that takes gall. I am actually impressed.
I think Cameron and his Tories weathered the storm better. Despite the fact that the claims by the Tories were, IMO, more flagrant than Labour, Cameron’s swift leadership and uncompromising stance on the issue after the scandal broke was impressive and noteworthy. His handling of the aftermath eclipsed Brown’s.
I think the Tories also benefit from lower expectations. The Tories are expected to be extravagant, indulgent and care little of the cost to the little people. The Tories are the party of big business and fat cats - of course they diddle the expense accounts. Of course they cheat us. Labour is the party of the people. Labour takes more flak when they screw the people over because - even though it hasn’t been the case for a long time (if it ever was) they’re supposed to be on the people’s side.
No-one got out clean from this - but I think the Tories won out. Both were splattered with mud, but the Tories cleaned it off and polished it well, while Brown just kind of wallowed around stinking - even though he was less covered in filth.
As for the minority parties (UKIP and BNP are both singing that they’ll win massively from this). Meh, I doubt it. No matter what most people say - when push comes to shove they don’t vote for fringe parties. Maybe for European elections (which British people don’t take seriously - I know I know, more fool us, but it’s true) and local council elections (which are farcical anyway) but not where it counts.