Archive for the ‘Sleaze’ Category
When Staying Within the Rules is not Enough
This week, another British Government Minister is in trouble over expenses.
The Mail on Sunday reports Work and Pensions Minister Tony McNulty has claimed over £60,000 (US$87,000) since 2002 of “second home allowance” on a house in which his parents live.
This allowance of up to £24,000 ($35,000) a year goes to MPs who live outside of inner London. It should cover the cost of staying away from their main home when carrying out parliamentary duties.
Mr McNulty has been claiming for the house in his constituency of Harrow East, which is about 11 miles from The Houses of Parliament in Westminster, hardly an arduous commute. He actually lives in Hammersmith with his wife, only eight miles from his “second home.” Hammersmith is even nearer to Westminster than Harrow.
Popularity: 6% [?]
No Ifs, No Buts, It is Still Corruption
There is a TV ad campaign in the UK to deter Brits from committing benefit fraud. Characters rationalise their criminal behaviour with statements such as: “So what if I’m working? It’s not benefit fraud if I only do it now and again, is it? Anyway, everyone is doing it.”
The advert ends with the perps in an interview room, trying desperately to defend themselves: “If…but…”
We should make a similar advert to persuade politicians that corruption is wrong.
Popularity: 4% [?]
A Question of Modernity
This is an article on CiF defending John Prescott, the UK’s Deputy Prime Minister, who is up to his eyebrows in shite, but in true New Labour style can not see any reason to resign.
I added the following as a comment. I thought this could stand alone. I should get a job writing Blair’s speeches. It is so easy once you abandon any moral compass.
Over the last 100 years government budgets have expanded massively, as have the budgets for political campaigning. Also changed beyond all recognition are financial institutions. Theses days, individuals are able to move money around the globe using the internet.
Popularity: unranked [?]
No Way
Way
Does any one (apart from Tony Blair) believe a word of Tessa Jowell explanation of the magically appearing money?
As pointed out in the Guardian one unanswered question:
How she appeared to be unaware of the injection of £350,000 into the household finances for four years despite having made a subsequent joint mortgage application on the same property 18 months later?
Considering she is a government minister (even a New Labour one). You would have expected her to ask her husband about it. Rather than assuming it was a gift from the tooth fairy.
Popularity: 3% [?]
