Expense Cheating MP's versus Benefits Cheats
Posted: Friday, June 19, 2009
by LeahG Artist
Cartoon & Illustration Services
One MP, Margaret Moran claimed £20,000 for treating dry rot at her second home.
In the UK we come down hard on benefit cheats. If you work while claiming benefits you can face a prison sentence.
I am wondering why the same severity of punishment doesn't apply to the dishonest expense cheating MP's.
Are they immune from fraud and theft?
Gordon Brown has apparently set up a punishment panel to sift through and boot out cheating MP's.
The linked source reports this:
"The Standard has learned that Elliot Morley and David Chaytor,
who have both been suspended over claims for mortgages, will be the
first to face the new body. Mr Brown's decision to make it easier to
kick out MPs came after a rash of new revelations about claims for
whirlpool baths, holiday cottages and bumper food bills made by his
government whips.
The Labour panel, similar to David Cameron's
own "scrutiny panel", will allow the Chief Whip, party general
secretary and constituency parties the power to refer MPs for an
investigation that could lead to their expulsion. Among MPs facing
disciplinary action are Shahid Malik who claimed £66,000 over three years on a London home while renting a "main home" for an alleged £100 a week."
Suspension?
If this happened in a regular employment situation the employee would face instant dismissal and criminal charges.
What are your thoughts?
Leah left the retail and health management world a few years ago to become a freelance writer and artist. She now enjoys creating funky vibrant cartoons and illsutrations for websites, promotional materials and as gifts. Leah would love to illustrate her own children's books in the future. Presently she is creating cartoon and cartoon mascots for business clients.
Visit LeahG's Cartoon and Illustration Services website here for updates and latest art work.
Personally I think some of the claims MPs have made are so clearly not "expenses" of the job in any way shape or form, that they should be jailed for robbing the tax payer.Not so much the ones who've been a little over-generous kitting out their second home, but definitely the ones who have been claiming large sums for non-existent mortgages, or claiming for properties they do not use, or paying family members huge salaries for little or no actual work.What I don't understand is why they seem to feel it is ok to just say "Oh yes, my mistake, sorry, I'll pay it back" when they get caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Should we extend that to burglars as well..... by letting them give back what they stole if (and only if!) they are caught and then leaving it at that with no further punishment?Fair enough the expenses system itself is terrible, but that is no excuse for MPs who have knowingly exploited it making making "expenses" claims that are simply not actually claims for expenses incurred due to the job.I 100% agree, it's an absolute disgrace and you can only imagine what other dishonest acts these MP's may be capable of that we have yet to hear about!
