In this article we can see a number of
politicians “named and shamed” for not paying their outstanding
debts, public money that they had spent on themselves and refused to
pay back. After the release of their names to the media a number of
them paid their debts or provided information clearing their names
whilst others have not. What gets me is that these expenses were
being written off! The naming and shaming was the last action to be
taken against them because it was not cost effective to pursue
them further. This was after each MP was contacted at least four
times. If the act of naming and shaming them had not been taken I'm
quite sure not a single one of them would have taken any notice of
the letters asking them to make repayments other than to feed them
into a paper shredder.
Now lets bring this into context. If
this had been myself in debt or any other 'pleb'
we would not be having our debts written off because previous
attempts to contact us had failed. Instead we would have bailiffs,
police and a lock smith coming to pay us a visit and breaking into
our homes to help themselves to our property to settle our debts by
'legal theft?'
It's not about the money so much as the
principal, this shows a clear divide between the people running the
country and people just living here, people who dream up the laws and
the people who have to live under them. I'm not saying that
politicians are 'above' the law but at times it does seem that it
looks the other way whilst politicians line their pockets with public
money, more so in the past rather than now thanks to the media
exposing them!
“The
United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal was a major political
scandal, first
hinted at as details of the Conway Scandal leaked into the public
domain, prior to further leaked evidence of malpractice, triggered by
the leak and subsequent publication by the Telegraph
Group in 2009 of expense claims made by members of the United
Kingdom
Parliament over several years. Public outrage was caused by
disclosure of widespread actual and alleged misuse of the permitted
allowances
and expenses claimed
by Members
of Parliament (MP's), following failed attempts by parliament to
prevent disclosure under Freedom of Information legislation. The
scandal aroused widespread anger among the UK public against MP's and
a loss of confidence in politics. It resulted in a large number of
resignations, sackings, de-selections and retirement announcements,
together with public apologies and the repayment of expenses. Several
members or former members of the House of Commons, and members of the
House of Lords, were prosecuted and sentenced to terms of
imprisonment. The scandal also created pressure for political reform
extending well beyond the issue of expenses and led to the parliament elected in 2005
being referred to as the 'Rotten Parliament'
I'm
quite sure if the facts had not been leaked to the press MP's would of
found a suitably large rug to sweep them under and they would still
be lining their pockets with large amounts of public money today!
The only thing it seems that changed is the amount of
money being 'stolen?'
It
would be nice if politicians were treated like workers in a private
business, if your incompetent your fired, if you steal or fiddle your
expenses your fired and the police are called. If you don't do your
job your fired! We might start getting politicians who are worth
their salary then!
I like aal the article, but specially "It would be nice if politicians were treated like workers in a private business, if your incompetent your fired, if you steal or fiddle your expenses your fired and the police are called. If you don't do your job your fired! We might start getting politicians who are worth their salary then!"
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