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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

In not understanding why Maria Miller is not facing criminal charges?

111 replies

NutcrackerFairy · 07/04/2014 13:16

Apparently 80% of voters believe that MM should be thrown out of the Cabinet and forced to give up her Commons seat as punishment for making false expenses claims [according to a recent poll].

Now if a person in receipt of benefits had fraudulently obtained £45,000 of tax payers money I think they would be facing some sort of criminal proceedings as well as being forced to pay back all that is owed and possibly also being fined. Admittedly they may only be required to pay back a nominal sum per week if on particularly low income but the principle is the same.

And if this was someone else in 'normal' employment who had been caught fiddling their expenses [sometimes by a heck of a lot less than £45,000] they would most likely be escorted off the premises, out of a job and possibly facing criminal charges.

So why is Maria Miller let off the hook, only being asked to pay back a fraction of what she obtained fraudulently, keeping her job and not been charged with fraud?

And why the hell is she able to apparently legitimately claim her mortgage interest anyway? On a property she owns, where her parents live and where she is set to make a tidy £1.2 million pound profit [apparently]. Why the fuck are the taxpayers being asked to fund rich MPs second homes? Why can't they stay in a hotel [like other employees who have to travel for work] and claim the cost of this to expenses?

Is it just the tip of the iceberg as per fraud and MPs expenses? Is MM being protected so not too many questions are asked of other MPs and their expenses claims?

I just think it is gobsmacking and infuriating to see what the ruling classes are up to with tax payers money when massive cuts to services and benefits are taking place.

If there is no money in the pot for these then there is no money for MPs to be claiming their mortgage interest surely Angry

OP posts:
Viviennemary · 07/04/2014 17:58

Cameron's totally feeble response to this does reflect very badly on him and absolutely confirms how totally out of touch he is. I think he has backed the wrong horse here.

Custardo · 07/04/2014 18:00

i hope she chokes the whole fucking party, the lot of em are swindling cunts,

emuloc · 07/04/2014 18:01

OP Yanbu I know so many people who have not had a payrise for over 3 years. Yet not only did the MPs just have a payrise to my knowlegde but they still take more from the taxpayer on the sly.

Hedgehogparty · 07/04/2014 18:04

Well put Custardo.

And considering they are basically working part time- considering the number of weeks they are away from Westminster- and the number of lucrative outside interests so many of them manage to procure - one might argue that they are already generously paid.

SeymourBruce · 07/04/2014 19:32

MP's topping up their wages with 'expenses' because someone said they should be paid more?

Well, the nurse I worked with the other day, on her own, running a ward with 18 MH patients, who couldn't leave the ward to get something to eat, who couldn't leave the ward at all for a 12 hour shift, deserves her 1% increment (not a payrise) but has been denied it.

She doesn't even get a free lunch to compensate her.

Greedy pigs, the lot of them!

lessonsintightropes · 07/04/2014 19:45

YANBU - sorry I started another thread on this before I found yours. I think it's obscene.

Quinteszilla · 07/04/2014 20:41

What is the difference between Maria Miller and the benefits cheat who was just recently convicted of fraud for getting 48k in benefits she was not due? The Telegraph - Agoraphobic found guilty of claiming benefits while travelling the world

One of them knows the Prime Minister...

AdeleNazeem · 07/04/2014 21:02

it just is beyond belief that these people continuously keep creaming off expenses of THREE HUNDRED pounds a day when the sick of disabled are expected to live off LESS than that a week

reality check is needed

Misspixietrix · 07/04/2014 21:11

Many MPs feel like they are underpaid Basic starting salary of £60k and £20oddk in expenses and they feel they are underpaid. Ludicrous. They'll be asking for a payrise next that they had no choice in. Oh wait!

letsgomaths · 08/04/2014 09:14

We need another Guy Fawkes; one who is clever enough not to get caught this time.

(I've thought this since the day Bliar was first elected)

Quinteszilla · 08/04/2014 09:24

Well this shows that the pm is a big hypocrite. Not sure why he standing by a fraudster.

Dinosaursareextinct · 08/04/2014 09:48

I don't think things like fraud, tapping people's voicemails, etc are important to him. What's important to him in this case is that MM is 1) fiercely loyal to him - aka does what she's told, 2) a woman (in short supply in the upper echelons of the Tory party), 3) went to a comp (likewise).

Marcipex · 08/04/2014 10:00

You are totally NBU. Why the hell should she get away with it?

Animation · 08/04/2014 16:48

I'm glad this story is still on the front pages of the papers today.

I think the conservative will lose the next election - the general public are not impressed - it's a shame the party are so out of touch.

On another level I can see she has one of those entitled 'do not upset me' faces. Hmm

TruffleOil · 08/04/2014 17:05

I heard an interview with someone defending her on Radio 4 today, and the interviewer was not nearly hard enough on him. He said it was an honest miscalculation.

So, do I have this right - an MP can buy a home in London, be reimbursed for the mortgage interest, and if they decide they need any old home improvement- they can take out a second mortgage, and that's fine?

TruffleOil · 08/04/2014 17:05

^And the second mortgage becomes a part of the mortgage interest calculation for reimbursement, I mean?

Are there some guidelines?

alialiath · 08/04/2014 17:40

No, Mr Ca-Moron, '' We're NOT all in this together'' as you and your inhumane party keep spouting.

FiscalCliffRocksThisTown · 08/04/2014 17:48

Dinosaur, yes, that is what the Times said too!

Hate DC, but Blair was no better. Who can one vote for?

...

MezleyM · 08/04/2014 18:35

What really annoys me is how one of the reasons that she's not been sacked is because Cameron is aware that he has far too few women in the cabinet (but that's another rant!) Does anyone really believe that this woman is better than no woman?

Viviennemary · 08/04/2014 18:48

Well she is certainly better for the opposition parties. My bet is she'll be gone by the end of the week. If not it might be Cameron next.

OTheHugeManatee · 08/04/2014 19:04

YANBU OP.

helenthemadex · 08/04/2014 19:26

YANBU it is pure greed, every one of them caught fiddling their expenses should be kicked out of office and be made to repay every penny. Anyone who wrongly claims benefit has to repay the money and faces prison

Dinosaursareextinct · 08/04/2014 20:56

Oh, PLEASE let it be Cameron next.

AdeleNazeem · 09/04/2014 00:21

email.number10.gov.uk

I've sent a complaint via this link, would encourage others to so the same and if anyone knows of a petition or other good ways to complain, please share it here, id like to keep making a fuss. this is frankly insulting!

Monty27 · 09/04/2014 00:29

Because its from the treasury, and the thieves are MPs, it makes it OK doesn't it? Confused Angry

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