Westminster expenses
I'm in the office early to do an interview with Good Morning Ulster about the publication of MPs' expenses online. If you are looking for the details on any of our 18 local MPs you can find them here. Something like 6,600 files are being published with as many as 1000 receipts per MP. But as you will see if you visit the site there are some large black blobs on many pages - evidence of the "redaction" process undertaken by the MPs and the Westminster authorities. So far, for example, I don't see any of the communications between the Fees office and MPs which pointed the Daily Telegraph to particularly interesting information. Nor are there any addresses, which may seem obvious for security purposes. But without them would we have known about the practice of "flipping" which has just cost another minister, Kitty Ussher, her job?
I'm 
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"MPs are listed alphabetically.
Click on Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and you can find claims ranging from painting and decorating at £1,410 down to a sandwich press at £19.99 and a first aid kit at £22.99.
The First Minister Peter Robinson charges for house repairs at £1,504, a tub chair at £235 and a clock at £31.45."
- Interesting that you mention the deputy first minister first, when news stories nearly always mention the first minister first. Are the rules reversed when the politician in question is being accused of something?
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"MPs are listed alphabetically.
Click on Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and you can find claims ranging from painting and decorating at £1,410 down to a sandwich press at £19.99 and a first aid kit at £22.99.
The First Minister Peter Robinson charges for house repairs at £1,504, a tub chair at £235 and a clock at £31.45."
- Interesting that you mention the deputy first minister first, when news stories usually mention the first minister first. Are the rules reversed when the politician in question is being accused of something?
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I've only had a chance to look through my own mp's expenses this morning - Nigel Dodds
I'm surprised at the number of things blanked out, addresses account numbers etc. I expected but lots of items for "other - please specify" have also been blanked out so clearly way too secret or important to be made available to us. I'm trying to think of anything sensitive about an expense claim other than personal details (He also gets way to many taxi's at our expense)
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Mark
2004/05 & 2006/07: THE GRAVY YEARS FOR THE ROBINSONS AT WESTMINSTER [though 2005/06 & 2007/08 weren't too bad either]
The redactions in the MPs' online expenses make scrutiny quite difficult. It's important, therefore, to approach the task systematically. I have decided to carry out my examination by taking our MPs in alphabetical order, so I've started with Ulster's first Couple THE ROBINSONS:
Initial Observations:-
PETER claimed the full 400 pounds per month food allowance in every month of the years [Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator] 2004/05 and 2006/07. Three interlinked questions come to mind:-
- Is it fair then to assume that Peter spent the whole of those two years based in Westminster?
- Did Peter attend Westminster during Parliaments summer, Christmas and Easter recesses?
- Is it reasonable to conclude that Peter did not take any vacation during either of those two years?
IRIS claimed the full 400 pounds per month food allowance in every month of the years [Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator] 2004/05 (except for the 2-month period 1 April 04 31 May 04 when she claimed 780 pounds rather than 800) and [Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator] 2006/7.
The questions I pose in respect of Peter might reasonably apply to Iris.
One further question about Iris relating to [Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator] her claim for Eight Thousand Eight Hundred & Eight Pounds +15p for the period 1 August 2004 31 December 2004.
- Given that the claim is shown twice in the online record begs the question: Has the claim been paid twice?
Mark, even at first glance and despite the best efforts of the Westminster redactors, I can see that there are many little nuggets to be mined from the online expenses details.
More to come, Mark, more to come.
Susie
Carryduff
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Would an 8x10 digital photoframe be an essential piece of office equipment for an MP? See http://ninetyninewords.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/peter-robinsons-photo-frame/
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Did I see things yesterday Mark or is it right that Iris wanted the tax payer to pay for her perfume?
Also she wanted us to pay for her THREE HUNDRED pound pen (yes £300!!)?
Good God how does this woman sleep at night?
In a bed full of our money I suppose is the answer
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Taken from the BBC website:
"A DUP spokesman said the claim had been "submitted in error" by Mrs Robinson's office. "
How on earth can you claim for such things in error?
I am sorry but I dont believe them whatsoever.
They had to fill in a form to claim for these things. A specific form and they had to enter specific details.
Its all pathetic and hopefully she gets punished in the next elections.
The people need to punish such people, and no better way to do this than to kick them out in the next election
If we dont then we are letting them get away with it, and in a way legitimising what they have been doing
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#6 You would think that someone who professes to being a devout Christian would understand the meaning of "I tell you solemnly, it will be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it will be for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven."
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William McCrea put a £1 donation to the Prince's Trust on expenses. He also bought newspapers on public money.
Little wonder he needs so many jobs if money's that tight.
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absolutely JPSLotus79
Looks like she will struggle to get through the pearly gates.
She will most likely try to bring some of our money with her.
Oh and the perfume and super pen
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Re. the Peter Robinson digital photo frame. The DUP say it was bought for his constituency office to display messages or photos.
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Mark
LADY HERMON SHOULD SET AN EXAMPLE ON EXPENSES [but she won't]
The Good Lady Hermon has been all over the media today attacking the Commons' authorities for their redactions of the online databases of MPs' expenses.
I say to this Lady: Okay, Baby, if you're so interested in transparency, let's see you exposed without your redactions.
I shall keep an eye on the UUP website to see if you let us see your expenses minus your redactions (that's if you're still speaking to the UUP).
Sylvia, Baby, I shan't hold my breath.
Susie
Carryduff
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Mark
BY ANY STANDARDS, IT'S FRAUD!
Let's all stop pussyfooting around!
Say what we see!
A number of our MPs, perhaps the majority, have been engaged in fraudulent activities. They make Sir Fred Goodwin look like a pillar of probity.
Right, back to my detailed examination of their expenses claims. It's going to be a long night.
Susie
Carryduff
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Mark
ULSTER MPs IN THE FRAME
Re Post 13, I want to make it absolutely clear that I'm referring to Ulster MPs.
Susie
Carryduff
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SMELLING SWEET...I DON'T THINK SO!
Re the claim for the perfume at 46 pounds and Montblanc pen costing 300 pounds, I note that a spokesman said 'the mistake had been made by Mrs Robinson's office'.
I suppose Mrs Robinson considers it is all right to blame her children. Doesn't she employ them in her office?
I could say more, but I don't want any redactions by the lovely moderators!
Pandora
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from the theyworkforyou website Peter Robinsons expenses read * Regular journeys between home/constituency/Westminster: Rail £799 (458th). Air £10,249 (36th). Other: European £1,503 (24th).
** Car £524 (565th). Rail £1,366 (392nd). Air £14,157 (13th). Other £118 (52nd).
now my point is, with an ongoing threat to a man in his position from dissidents, does he really use a train, surely that would be fool hardy as no weapons detectors/security are in place before boarding trains,just makes me wonder if these claims are genuine?
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Pandora
IRIS'S PERFUME STINKS
You're right.
No amount of perfume could disguise the foul odour emitting from the greed displayed by a number of Ulster's MPs.
An open sewer would smell better.
Susie
Carryduff
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Mark,
These expenses make for interesting reading. It is amazing how many of our MP's claimed for the smallest of things. Take Alastair McDonnell he claimed 20p for staples and 22p for a pencil. Also Eddie McGrady claimed for staples and a notebook.
Then we have Gerry Adams who claimed for a chair and Martin McGuinness who claimed for a sandwich press. I hope the Tories win the next election for the only reason of stopping Sinn Fein expenses.
As for Peter Robinson buying a computer case and brief case costing near £800 is simply silly. He claims it is for value for money. How? For some people that is a months wage. The DUP and other 3 big parties wonder why people didn't vote at the European Election. If they can't work it out they shouldn't stand at the next election.
Stormontspy
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re #18
Message to moderators
Why the delay in approving the post.
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According to the information publish by the House of Commons authorities indicates that the member for East Londonderry submitted and was paid claims for office rental. The rental was £350 per month.
According to information released by the NI Assembly an MLA representing East Londonderry submitted and was paid claims for office rental.
How many constituency offices does this multi-mandated politician have and who owns them?
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