That MPs can afford their own IPads.

[Springtulip]

A free IPad for every single member of parliament, isn't it good when we can give ourselves freebies like this. I wouldn't mind but they'll more than likely already have one.

No I didn't start the thread about expenses but it's all connected. Yes I am angry, I hate injustice. There's people living off fresh air right now in the UK, benefits stopped for no reason whatsoever, meanwhile MPs are getting top of the range IPads as a "general election present" while at the same time it emerges that there's a big fraud scandal going on.
The IPad Air 2 isn't necessary for their jobs, it's just another indulgence.

You don't have any knowledge of the necessity of the IT refresh.
And I work daily with vulnerable people under benefit sanction and spend hours doing my level best to fight their corner.

It's hardly relevant that you work with people who have been sanctioned. But seeing as you mentioned it I'm amazed that you aren't just as disillusioned as I am with a government when you must see first hand the effect of this governments callous policies. Does it not make you angry?

Their policies make me absolutely furious. But I think the iPad issue is directing the anger in the wrong direction. Just my opinion.

Oh and I thought it relevant as you implied I had no knowledge or concerns about people living on next to nothing or under sanction.

In theory I don't have a problem with this, except I work for nhs and have had to buy my own work diary for the last 2 years as there to an assumption that we're paper free, and I should be using my work phone laptop diary. Fine, if I had one. So if NHS can't afford £2 odd for a paper diary for me why should the public purse be used for I pads for MPs?

I didn't imply that, but you haven't answered my question. Are you not disillusioned with a government responsible for sanctioning vulnerable people, given that you work with them?

My anger is mainly directed at the policies not the iPads. I'm annoyed about the iPads obviously otherwise I wouldn't have started the post. I know they need them but the ones they had were imo sufficient for their needs. These latest are just an indulgent present for the stress of the election. But obviously we have digressed from the iPads ( as threads do) and its gone on to the broader picture.

Only around a third of MPs currently have ipads
Well if they've managed this long without them.....they all have laptops though.

Yosaff most lawyers are paid less than 40 k a year and start at 16k a year. Dh got told he was lucky to be paid the 16k when he said he couldnt afford to rent in london on that. Dh has no posh phone but i bought him a blackberry playbook for £35 second hand. Dh also cant claim for any mileage when he sees clients! As for mp ipad yes i can see why if the ipads are loaded with sensitive programs etc for office use only.

No it's other way round. I've digressed from the iPads to the more serious matter of sanctions, treatment of the vulnerable etc, but others want to keep getting back to the iPads. Makes for a better argument I suppose.

Is it any different to teachers being given laptops and iPads to do their job - although they do belong to the schools and have to be handed back if they leave.
Or anyone else who gets given ICT equipment to use as part of their job?

FWIW I have neber played Candy Crush on the iPad I have for work. I can only download apps approved by work (though I am also in charge of doing that downloading for everyone else, but even so...) - only games I have downloaded have been educationally based ones.

Well, now you're confusing Parliament and the government. They're not quite the same thing. Talking about 'policies' of the current govt in a thread where you're bashing MPs is daft and makes you look deeply misinformed.

Can you provide a link to the information that says they get to keep them - kit directly issued by Parliament and compatible with their IT system is clearly different from the free for all with MPs buying on expenses and then keeping? Not that a 2015 ipad would be worth a great deal in 2020 or beyond anyway....

OP: starts thread, gets cross when people discuss the topic.

I have answered it. I suggest you scroll back. I said their policies make me furious. Was that not clear enough for you?

You on the other hand haven't answered my question about whether you have an issue with the role or office of MPs per se - or at least I don't think you have.

Where on earth do you get the idea that they are an indulgent present for the stress of the election?

Right I've decided, I'm hiding the thread. I really cannot bear to read anymore ridiculous waffle about how much MPs are so deserving. Apparently even the MPs who are stepping down will get to keep their new IPads and laptops (hardly essential government hardware then). I don't think there's any job in the country where so much can be claimed through expenses, any one with a sense of fair play would agree with me. The fact that nobody thinks it's obscene that these pampered MPs are getting their new toys while people are going to bed hungry because of their policy's is unbelievable.

Carry on waffling amongst yourselves about how wonderful they all are.