I'm getting perplexed that on Lib Dem expenses day the Telegraph appear to have dug up not so much sleaze but MPs seeking advise about their expenses. Norman Baker asked before putting in a claim for a bicycle and home computer. Vince Cable also rather than seeking to gain an advantage missed out on the Additional Costs Allowance (ACA) he could have claimed for a couple of years he again asked if this could be backdated. In both instances these MPs requests were turned down, but at least they had asked first rather than claim first ask questions later as seems to be the trend of recent revelations.
It is somewhat ironic but also heartening that in order to fill out the space set aside for what would appear through lack of anything more juicy to be the only day of Lib Dem exposés, claims of seeking advise from the Fees Office fill up some of the pages.
Wednesday, 13 May 2009
The 'Lie' of the Land
Hat Tip to Andrew Reeves
I see that Michael Beckford in complaining about Alan Reid MP for Argyll and Bute expenses for his summer tour around his constituency. Until she was recently made redundant on her return from her maternity leave my ex-fiancee used to work for the company that trained CalMac in their computer systems. She undertook her first tour of islands shortly after getting her job in 2005 and it wasn't cheap. For her to do all the CalMac bases in the west was something like £3-4000, before she claimed for petrol. Also for some of the islands the service (and don't forget she was working on behalf of the company providing the ferries) necessitated she had to stay overnight in one port after an day's training before leaving on the first Ferry out to go to another port for training.
Yes the distances as the crow flies may be less than what is covered by the London underground network. But in many of these cases going outward and onward is more expedient than doubling back. Indeed by booking B&Bs and staying overnight and booking a circular roving route Alan Reid is actually saving the tax payer money rather than booking a whole series of returns to visit the outlying parts and constituents.
I don't mind the Telegraph digging up waste and extravagance, but trying to show a hard working MP serving his constituents in a conscientious way shows a great misunderstanding of the geography, transport difficulties and workings of some of the more rural parts of our country. Indeed it is a ridiculous untruth to put this down as wastage and shows a lack on indepth journalism and merely looking at the headline figures without working out just what they are for.
I see that Michael Beckford in complaining about Alan Reid MP for Argyll and Bute expenses for his summer tour around his constituency. Until she was recently made redundant on her return from her maternity leave my ex-fiancee used to work for the company that trained CalMac in their computer systems. She undertook her first tour of islands shortly after getting her job in 2005 and it wasn't cheap. For her to do all the CalMac bases in the west was something like £3-4000, before she claimed for petrol. Also for some of the islands the service (and don't forget she was working on behalf of the company providing the ferries) necessitated she had to stay overnight in one port after an day's training before leaving on the first Ferry out to go to another port for training.
Yes the distances as the crow flies may be less than what is covered by the London underground network. But in many of these cases going outward and onward is more expedient than doubling back. Indeed by booking B&Bs and staying overnight and booking a circular roving route Alan Reid is actually saving the tax payer money rather than booking a whole series of returns to visit the outlying parts and constituents.
I don't mind the Telegraph digging up waste and extravagance, but trying to show a hard working MP serving his constituents in a conscientious way shows a great misunderstanding of the geography, transport difficulties and workings of some of the more rural parts of our country. Indeed it is a ridiculous untruth to put this down as wastage and shows a lack on indepth journalism and merely looking at the headline figures without working out just what they are for.
Telegraph Trying to Big Up a £119 Trouser Press
So the Telegraph have this morning got around to looking at Liberal Democrat MP's expenses saying that they "have made claims just as questionable as their Labour and Conservative counterparts". But as the BBC have said on BBC Breakfast none of it amounts to the kind of claims that have been seen from the other parties over recent days.
First off they make no mention of second homes outwith their constituency or Westminster base. There is no accusation of flipping for financial gain. There is no moat cleaning, stable charges, swimming pools or the like.
There is the dubious nature of the occupancy of Andrew George's flat. But claiming that the Sheffield based leader, who has a growing young family should not be allowed to claim a full second home's allowance without giving reasons (such as the above) why that hay have been the case this years. Also while they attack MPs ludicrous amounts for upgrading their house can they at the same time accuse an MP of more than 20 years from claiming significantly less for refurbishing his London flat? Indeed Menzies Campbell refurbishment is on a leased property not one that he has purchased so no personal gain then. As for £1000 for a King Size bed, if it has the most ergonomic mattress like the one I slept on during 2005 that is about right. As a 30 something ex-athlete it sure helped my aches and pains heaven knows what something like that may do for a 70 something ex-athlete.
So apart from George, Clegg and Campbell all claiming housing allowances it is then the level of 'abuses' that is far less that the other parties. We not talking the thousands of pounds that Conservatives have already promised to pay back in fact in many cases the headline price is not included probably because it isn't as exciting as the items. But £119 for a trouser press for Chris Huhne which when you are constantly living out of suitcases yet needing to be smart. Lembit Opik stupidly claiming a whole £40 for his summons for non-payment of council tax. Nick Clegg's mobile phone calls to family in Columbia and Vietnam £100.
The main worry is that the only leather rocking chair I can find find on Heal's website is in Lib Dem yellow which is fine for standing out in a crowd but surely not in Julia Goldsworthy's London flat. She should probably pay that back on the grounds of taste let alone the luxuriousness and unnessecariousness of it. Update: Although Julia has Tweeted "frustrated the papers didn't report that the furniture was bought ahead of moving into an unfurnished flat, & I didn't claim the full costs". If that is the case clearly the Telegraph are expected the MPs to live in monastic spendour in cells beneath Portcullis House. Though if that is the rocking chair in question my comments on taste still hold.
None of this, with the exception of dubious nature of the George flat and that rocking chair, is hardly as questionable as the other parties claims on numerous luxuries. However, the Lib Dems yesterday were also the first party yesterday to say that no MP would benefit financially from their expenses.
First off they make no mention of second homes outwith their constituency or Westminster base. There is no accusation of flipping for financial gain. There is no moat cleaning, stable charges, swimming pools or the like.
There is the dubious nature of the occupancy of Andrew George's flat. But claiming that the Sheffield based leader, who has a growing young family should not be allowed to claim a full second home's allowance without giving reasons (such as the above) why that hay have been the case this years. Also while they attack MPs ludicrous amounts for upgrading their house can they at the same time accuse an MP of more than 20 years from claiming significantly less for refurbishing his London flat? Indeed Menzies Campbell refurbishment is on a leased property not one that he has purchased so no personal gain then. As for £1000 for a King Size bed, if it has the most ergonomic mattress like the one I slept on during 2005 that is about right. As a 30 something ex-athlete it sure helped my aches and pains heaven knows what something like that may do for a 70 something ex-athlete.
So apart from George, Clegg and Campbell all claiming housing allowances it is then the level of 'abuses' that is far less that the other parties. We not talking the thousands of pounds that Conservatives have already promised to pay back in fact in many cases the headline price is not included probably because it isn't as exciting as the items. But £119 for a trouser press for Chris Huhne which when you are constantly living out of suitcases yet needing to be smart. Lembit Opik stupidly claiming a whole £40 for his summons for non-payment of council tax. Nick Clegg's mobile phone calls to family in Columbia and Vietnam £100.
The main worry is that the only leather rocking chair I can find find on Heal's website is in Lib Dem yellow which is fine for standing out in a crowd but surely not in Julia Goldsworthy's London flat. She should probably pay that back on the grounds of taste let alone the luxuriousness and unnessecariousness of it. Update: Although Julia has Tweeted "frustrated the papers didn't report that the furniture was bought ahead of moving into an unfurnished flat, & I didn't claim the full costs". If that is the case clearly the Telegraph are expected the MPs to live in monastic spendour in cells beneath Portcullis House. Though if that is the rocking chair in question my comments on taste still hold.
None of this, with the exception of dubious nature of the George flat and that rocking chair, is hardly as questionable as the other parties claims on numerous luxuries. However, the Lib Dems yesterday were also the first party yesterday to say that no MP would benefit financially from their expenses.
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
Stronger Together Weaker Apart
Nick Clegg has this morning launched the Liberal Democrat manifesto for the European elections on June 4. The message is about Europe, how we are stronger together in a number of areas but the isolationism being preached by the Conservatives, SNP and UKIP in key areas of co-operation will weaken Britain in areas of justice, environment and financial integrity.
One of the lessons on recent times must surely be the interconnectiveness of all of us. This stretches beyond national boundaries the arbitrary lines in the sand drawn up and redrawn as the result of wars down the centuries. But The Tories and the SNP want to withdraw back behind these lines thinking they can do fight the economic storm, climate change, international crime, people-trafficking and terrorism from Westminster or Holyrood.
As for Labour their arrogance that they would do away with boom and bust, that they could lead the way to a brighter European future is breaking down the rapport with the rest of Europe. The message was follow us, and now that leads lemming like over the precipice.
The Liberal Democrats know effective cooperation creates prosperity – more than 3 million jobs in the UK depend on trade with other EU countries.
Liberal Democrats are working with our European neighbours to protect Britain and catch terrorists and criminals who operate across national borders.
Liberal Democrats know that countries have to work together to tackle climate change.
This election is for those that will represent us in Europe after 4 June. The Lib Dems are showing not only do they understand the domestic financial situation but also that we know what European co-operation is about, why it is needed and why we need to be in it at the vanguard.
One of the lessons on recent times must surely be the interconnectiveness of all of us. This stretches beyond national boundaries the arbitrary lines in the sand drawn up and redrawn as the result of wars down the centuries. But The Tories and the SNP want to withdraw back behind these lines thinking they can do fight the economic storm, climate change, international crime, people-trafficking and terrorism from Westminster or Holyrood.
As for Labour their arrogance that they would do away with boom and bust, that they could lead the way to a brighter European future is breaking down the rapport with the rest of Europe. The message was follow us, and now that leads lemming like over the precipice.
The Liberal Democrats know effective cooperation creates prosperity – more than 3 million jobs in the UK depend on trade with other EU countries.
Liberal Democrats are working with our European neighbours to protect Britain and catch terrorists and criminals who operate across national borders.
Liberal Democrats know that countries have to work together to tackle climate change.
This election is for those that will represent us in Europe after 4 June. The Lib Dems are showing not only do they understand the domestic financial situation but also that we know what European co-operation is about, why it is needed and why we need to be in it at the vanguard.
Monday, 11 May 2009
Petition in Support of Scott Rennie
I've just stumbled across a petition in Support of Scott Rennie it is in it's embryotic stages. So please sign and encourage your firneds to sign.
Twenty Firsts Meme
Well see what happens when you take a holiday Jonathan Calder no less links you in the 20 first meme. I've only just noticed as I went through the backlog of my email address over the weekend.
First Job: As a paper boy for a pipe smoking newsagent in Bangor. I covered for a friend for a week at the end of which I was offered a spot that had opened up. I ended up working there for 3 years and also about 2 weeks in had the responsibility of putting out the correct amount of papers for each route (an essential skill later in my political life)
First Real Job (Interesting that Mr Calder wrote for Chess magazine must see if I have any of his) My first real job outside Uni work was working for H. Samuel in Hammersmith. In started as a Christmas job and I got retained. There is a trend here emerging. In fact two subsequent jobs I started as casual or temp and was kept on permanently later on.
First Role in Politics Penrhyn Road Rep on Kingston Liberal Students exec, 1988-9.
First Car My little British racing green Hyundai Accent (called Padraig) . Which was sadly stolen from outside my flat in Whitburn
First Record The first single I was Duran Duran "Is there Something I Should Know?", first Album Michael Jackson "Thriller", first CD was Paul McCartney "The Best of".
First Football Match Was at Loftus Road on a school trip to London in 1984. First time I saw Liverpool play live was at Plough Lane I think in 1988-9 season. First time I saw Livingston play was against Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup in 2001.
First Concert My first pop concert was Duran Duran on the their Notorious tour in the Kings Hall Belfast
First Country Visited Malta in the Summer of 1987
First TV Appearance Walking away from Portrush after the town centre was bombed.
First Political Speech I think it was at a either a London Region or LYDS conference in London sometime in the late 80s just can't remember which came first.
First Girlfriend/Boyfriend Well I did leave a valentines card on Joanne Cudworth's school bag after choir practice once. We ended up going to each other's birthday parties for a few years after that.
First Encounter with a Famous Person was meeting Downtown Radio DJ Candy Devine when aged 10 and we were recording a Radio slot for her show in one of the classrooms on a Saturday morning.
First Brush With Death Being in a mini on the way to a cross country race heading towards Belfast. Spinning across into the Bangor bound lanes just outside the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. But thankful for the lights on the busiest stretch of 4 lane undivided carriageway road in Northern Ireland.
First House/Flat Owned I have yet to get my foot unto the property ladder. Closest I got was a little terrace 2 bed cottage in Woolfords Cottages, South Lanarkshire which might well have changed the political direction of my Scottish existence.
First Film Seen at a Cinema Superman.
First Time on the Radio Aged 10 singing on the Candy Devine show see above.
First Politician I Met The Rev Iain Paisley in Bangor market during the 1987 election campaign. He asked if I would be voting for him. I said no on two counts, first I was mere months too young and two I didn't agree with his politics. Yes I told the Rev he was wrong for the first time aged just 17.
First Book I Remember Reading One of the Paddington Bear series basically because I would underline the words I didn't know and look them up in my Collins Children's dictionary if it wasn't near me at the time..
First Visit to the London Palladium Whilst I have been to a number of London theatres in my 8 years there I never ventured to the Palladium. First theatre visited in London was St. Martin's Theatre to see The Mousetrap on a family holiday in 1984. By the way the murderer is......
Well Jonathan better late than never eh? I should really tag five more bloggers to complete this meme. But as many have already done it, if you haven't feel free to just fill it in.
First Job: As a paper boy for a pipe smoking newsagent in Bangor. I covered for a friend for a week at the end of which I was offered a spot that had opened up. I ended up working there for 3 years and also about 2 weeks in had the responsibility of putting out the correct amount of papers for each route (an essential skill later in my political life)
First Real Job (Interesting that Mr Calder wrote for Chess magazine must see if I have any of his) My first real job outside Uni work was working for H. Samuel in Hammersmith. In started as a Christmas job and I got retained. There is a trend here emerging. In fact two subsequent jobs I started as casual or temp and was kept on permanently later on.
First Role in Politics Penrhyn Road Rep on Kingston Liberal Students exec, 1988-9.
First Car My little British racing green Hyundai Accent (called Padraig) . Which was sadly stolen from outside my flat in Whitburn
First Record The first single I was Duran Duran "Is there Something I Should Know?", first Album Michael Jackson "Thriller", first CD was Paul McCartney "The Best of".
First Football Match Was at Loftus Road on a school trip to London in 1984. First time I saw Liverpool play live was at Plough Lane I think in 1988-9 season. First time I saw Livingston play was against Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup in 2001.
First Concert My first pop concert was Duran Duran on the their Notorious tour in the Kings Hall Belfast
First Country Visited Malta in the Summer of 1987
First TV Appearance Walking away from Portrush after the town centre was bombed.
First Political Speech I think it was at a either a London Region or LYDS conference in London sometime in the late 80s just can't remember which came first.
First Girlfriend/Boyfriend Well I did leave a valentines card on Joanne Cudworth's school bag after choir practice once. We ended up going to each other's birthday parties for a few years after that.
First Encounter with a Famous Person was meeting Downtown Radio DJ Candy Devine when aged 10 and we were recording a Radio slot for her show in one of the classrooms on a Saturday morning.
First Brush With Death Being in a mini on the way to a cross country race heading towards Belfast. Spinning across into the Bangor bound lanes just outside the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. But thankful for the lights on the busiest stretch of 4 lane undivided carriageway road in Northern Ireland.
First House/Flat Owned I have yet to get my foot unto the property ladder. Closest I got was a little terrace 2 bed cottage in Woolfords Cottages, South Lanarkshire which might well have changed the political direction of my Scottish existence.
First Film Seen at a Cinema Superman.
First Time on the Radio Aged 10 singing on the Candy Devine show see above.
First Politician I Met The Rev Iain Paisley in Bangor market during the 1987 election campaign. He asked if I would be voting for him. I said no on two counts, first I was mere months too young and two I didn't agree with his politics. Yes I told the Rev he was wrong for the first time aged just 17.
First Book I Remember Reading One of the Paddington Bear series basically because I would underline the words I didn't know and look them up in my Collins Children's dictionary if it wasn't near me at the time..
First Visit to the London Palladium Whilst I have been to a number of London theatres in my 8 years there I never ventured to the Palladium. First theatre visited in London was St. Martin's Theatre to see The Mousetrap on a family holiday in 1984. By the way the murderer is......
Well Jonathan better late than never eh? I should really tag five more bloggers to complete this meme. But as many have already done it, if you haven't feel free to just fill it in.
Dave Thompson A Question
Dave Thompson the SNP list MSP for the Highlands and Islands region has made his position clear on the Scott Rennie position says in the Sunday Herald:
As Bernard Salmon points out on his blog:
I couldn't have put it better myself, hoisted by his own petard is Mr Thompson.
Of course Mr. Thompson would be aware that nobody really declares themselve a Christian, that declaration comes from God upon the confession of sin from an indivudual; if I were to be really pedantic. Now of course when that declaration as in my case comes at the age of 10 before I was sexually aware let alone active the problem comes when I find out just what my sexual preference is after that point. Put if I'm keeping to teaching of the bible I'll be heading down to the slave market tomorrow so I can be a good master. I'd also say the moderator elected at the 2007 General Assembly the Very Rev. Dr. Sheilagh Kesting should have covered her head in church and not been allowed to speak in let alone lead the church. Of course if I did so Mr Thompson would probably accuse me of being selective in which parts of the bible are still applicable today.
"I have no problem with people who have different beliefs or a different lifestyle.
"I do believe, however, that once someone declares himself as a Christian that they should comply with the teaching of the Bible and that active homosexuality is incompatible with that teaching."
As Bernard Salmon points out on his blog:
"Well, if we're talking about textual purity, I'm interested to see how Mr Thompson squares his beliefs with the following passage from the SNP's Holyrood manifesto in 2007: "the SNP will not promote or support legislation or policies which discriminate on the grounds of race, disability, age, gender, faith or religion, social background or sexual orientation."
"Some might say that once someone declares himself as a Nationalist MSP, he should comply with the provisions of the manifesto and that active bigotry is incompatible with that manifesto. Or is this yet another part of their manifesto that's not meant
to be taken seriously?"
I couldn't have put it better myself, hoisted by his own petard is Mr Thompson.
Of course Mr. Thompson would be aware that nobody really declares themselve a Christian, that declaration comes from God upon the confession of sin from an indivudual; if I were to be really pedantic. Now of course when that declaration as in my case comes at the age of 10 before I was sexually aware let alone active the problem comes when I find out just what my sexual preference is after that point. Put if I'm keeping to teaching of the bible I'll be heading down to the slave market tomorrow so I can be a good master. I'd also say the moderator elected at the 2007 General Assembly the Very Rev. Dr. Sheilagh Kesting should have covered her head in church and not been allowed to speak in let alone lead the church. Of course if I did so Mr Thompson would probably accuse me of being selective in which parts of the bible are still applicable today.
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