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Original poster

MPs' expenses: things for policywonk to say if she gets the chance

258 replies

policywonk · 19/05/2009 17:15

So I'm off tomorrow afternoon to this panel discussion thing: here are the details

I'll go through the old thread tonight but post any more stuff here. Y'know, if you want to.

I'm SO OVER MPs' expenses.

OP posts:
justaboutspringtime · 20/05/2009 19:46

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Original poster
policywonk · 20/05/2009 19:46

Thanks mp. I was quite nonplussed by the question. But she did apologise a lot. And I like her dad (the only person whose autograph I have ever solicited).

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ilovemydogandMrObama · 20/05/2009 19:46

Hilarious!

Did you get an answer for who was blocking the requests? Was it the Speaker's Office?

Original poster
policywonk · 20/05/2009 19:44

Thanks Len

Anyway, Norman made a point of answering the second q - he obviously wants the bastards to be named and shamed.

He said: a) look at the list of MPs on the Commons Commission. That's Martin (bye-bye now), Harriet Harman (she really has not covered herself in glory over all this), Nick Harvey (LibDem, North Devon), David Maclean (villain of the piece: Cons, Penrith and the Border), Stuart Bell (co-villain, Lab, Middlesborough) and Alan Duncan (Con, Rutland and Melton).

b) Go to Hansard and look at the MPs who supported the third reading of David Maclean's private member's bill to exempt Parliament from FOI legislation. That's a long list, but I can post it here if you like, or stick it on my MN blog.

OP posts:
morningpaper · 20/05/2009 19:31

Wonka, I love your:

ME: ?

Is she a mother fgs

Well done!

OlympedeGouges · 20/05/2009 19:23

well done wonk. Interesting slip from JH....
What were their answers?

LeninGrad · 20/05/2009 19:16

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Original poster
policywonk · 20/05/2009 19:10

Am back.

Eastbound Jubilee line is a bugger at rush hour, non?

Was very interesting

Sorry for non-response to Tweets, couldn't see what was coming in.

I asked two qs (was quite competitive to get a question in - once again swotty seating placement in middle of front row was helpful):

  1. should the disciplining of MPs be removed from the Standards and Privileges Committee and be made the responsibility of an independent body, or would this be too big a breach of parliamentary sovereignty (nobody answered this one); and
  2. mumsnetters are very interested in Heather Brooke, and would particularly like to know how we can find out which MPs were blocking her FOI requests (this one was ilovemydog's I think). Normie Norm started bouncing in his seat when I asked this one. It also prompted the following exchange:

Julia Hobsbawm: So this is a hot topic on MN then?
Me: Oh yes.
JH: MNetters are interested in Healther Brooke? Is she a mother?
Me: ?
Jenni Russell from Grauniad: Don't be underestimating the intelligence of mothers, Julia!
JH: Oh God no sorry, that's not what I meant. It's just that Heather Brooke's not a mother, I don't think.

(She came up to me and apologised afterwards, and we had a little huddle with Jenni Russell who's a mate of Justine's apparently and very pro-MN.)

OP posts:
LeninGrad · 20/05/2009 16:11

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LeninGrad · 20/05/2009 16:08

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StarlightMcKenzie · 20/05/2009 15:25

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jumpingbeans · 20/05/2009 14:17

pleaseeeeeee get in fango, and i will vote for you to be the pm even if you have to camoflage(sp).. you know, "freinds of mine "fran and joe" type thing

Peachy · 20/05/2009 13:40

nobody should be prevented rom becoming an MP because they don't have access to a willing spouse or live in Anglia! however, halls can quite easily become flatlets; as students with famillies have specially provided accomodations so can they.

The olympic village idea was broadcast on GMTV the day sfter all this leaked

I used to commute from Somerset to London once a week when working; if we were there more than a night we were given £20 for an evening meal (daytime was caterd in), train ticket and HR booked us a room at a motel in Kennington. They were a charity so it seems to me had "exactrly" the same duty of care to the purse as the MP's, the difference is they managed it- amazing the impetud a checking system like the charities commission has.

LeninGrad · 20/05/2009 13:23

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Jux · 20/05/2009 13:23

But if they live in East Anglia, for instance, why are they bringing their kids to London? Male MPs would leave their kids in the constituency home with wife and nanny. Surely female MPs can do the same?

LeninGrad · 20/05/2009 13:19

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Jux · 20/05/2009 13:18

Agree with Leningrad. £1250 is a huge amount; some people (ordinary ones) have trouble finding £400pm.

Unless, of course, the property becomes the property of the people once the MP leaves.

LeninGrad · 20/05/2009 13:15

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MollieO · 20/05/2009 13:15

All MPs expenses should be published on a website (some MPs already do this on their own sites).

LeninGrad · 20/05/2009 13:15

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LeninGrad · 20/05/2009 13:12

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LeninGrad · 20/05/2009 13:10

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ilovemydogandMrObama · 20/05/2009 13:06

Have you seen what's for 1p

Not good.

LeninGrad · 20/05/2009 13:03

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ilovemydogandMrObama · 20/05/2009 13:02

Someone on another thread had a brilliant suggestion: Olympic Village.

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