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And this corrupt incompetent liar is our Home Secretary who is supposed to be tha bastion of morality and law and order. She is not fit to stack shelves. Gormless Gordon is in the same mold or he would have sacked her

- Trevn, Abu Dhabi, 22/04/2009 09:35
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"I'm so sowwy, sniffle, sniffle"
You will be, soon, when you are booted out of office.

- Dee Jay, Fleet Hampshire, 21/04/2009 17:51
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Shelf stacking in Tesco awaits her

- David, Fulham London, 21/04/2009 17:17
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Expenses are (supposedly) compensation for money that someone has had to pay out of their own pocket in their duty of work - travel, accommodation, office supplies etc.

That being the case, how on earth is something like a bath plug "fair and reasonable"?

Is the Home Secretary seriously suggesting that she wouldn't need to bath if she weren't an MP?

- John T, London, 21/04/2009 17:11
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Well, YOU lot voted them in, so YOU's lot can suffer the consequences!
New Labour New Scandal.

Can't wait for the next election and see most of 'em on the dole!

- Notananswer, England, 21/04/2009 16:31
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Of course Jacqui can't resign. What would she do? How would she cope on a Job Seeker's Allowance. What happens if she lost her bath plug and had no expenses to claim for a new one? How would her old man cope without his naughties? All too frightening to contemplate but you must Jacqui. You really must.

- Albert Hall, hove england, 16/04/2009 14:33
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She said she never considered resigning and said a private sector boss had written to her saying he would have few employees left if he sacked them for minor expenses errors.
£140,000 is a minor expense error !!!!!!!

- Alan Baker, essex .uk, 08/04/2009 08:56
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It's not their fault! It's 10 years of conditioning with every passing day moving MP's a step further from the living reallity of the very people they are paid to serve. When all your bills are paid and all the money rolls in sans tax. When you get to ride in the state vehicles and shag in company time while the great unwashed work. I guess it all becomes the expected norm of these poor greedy MPs. If only they were worth the money they take. Alas; most are a disgrace to themselves and most certainly the people of the country they serve.
I graft hard for my money, pay tax and budget carefully. I have as much job stability as many at present. This is thieving. The organisation I work for would not stand this behaviour from me. I would be fired.

- Steve, LOUGHTON, 08/04/2009 08:46
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I have been wondering if these Cabinet people also receive a dress allowance as they seem to have different attire for every day of the parliamentary week.

- Robert El-Cid., Hull, East Yorks.,, 08/04/2009 08:18
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No Jacqui we are not going to go away, forget about it, and let you get away with whatever you please. Politicians and, worse still, senior members of the UK government are abusing the expenses system and abusing tax payer’s trust. This is a national scandal and action is needed immediately to stop this, and to punish those responsible.

- Xtremely Worried, UK, 08/04/2009 08:06
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thats no different to the criminals who are robbing the public of our hard earned cash!

- Will, london, 07/04/2009 23:09
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Her appearance on Breakfast TV said it all this morning. She has lost ALL credibility as Home Secretary. She is not fit for purpose. If she were a fridge freezer, I would have rung Curry's and asked for my money back.

- Tangomike, Kensington, London, 07/04/2009 23:04
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Well.. the lesson we learnt is "Just do it, wrong or right". If caught with that "Sorry", Otherwise carry on... Because that the money which belongs to me, And trust me, I m the stupid who pay them (the TAXes) to keep it up.

Question: Will they accept appologies if anyone did the same with them and that was an ordnary public like me?

No!!! They always play by rules.

Shame on me!!!

- Ghulam, Leicester, 07/04/2009 21:39
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Lets just hope that the electorate vote her into oblivion in the next general election.

- Chris, Woking. UK, 07/04/2009 21:21
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Did you see this woman on the Television this evening ??? How did we ever get into the state in this Country whereby people of such low order can hold such High Office ?? Please will someone explain ...............David Smith, Cannes.

- David Smith, Cannes, France, 07/04/2009 21:20
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Shouldn't these 'honourable' mendicants be setting us an example? No wonder the voter turn out is the lowest in the world.

- Keith Harrison, Bury St Edmunds, UK, 07/04/2009 17:43
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Is she sorry that she did it, or sorry that she got caught?

Either way, time to go!

- John, Dorset, 07/04/2009 17:43
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it says everything that the Home Secretary prefers the opportunity to make money on expenses rather than have the chance to live the good life in a grace and favour residence.

- Frances Blackhurst, Dorrington, 07/04/2009 17:20
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How about us? We, home owners have been struggling to meet price increases for our homes. Utility bills have shot up under Labour and we also now have many more tax demands which we have to meet.
If we are late paying we are penalised with interest charges and a fine.
I say that we all (home owners & renters) save each and every receipt for purchases for our homes and claim the costs against our end of year taxes. Document every single receipt and add it to the tax forms.

Why should we put up with people who are supposedly in a position (put there by us (sometimes)) to help us when all they appear to do is look for ways to penalise us and rob us.

Sack the lot, disband government and have a complete re-shuffle. Scrub political parties. If there are all independent MPs then they have to take the majority vote therefore relieving party pressure.

One rule for one and one rule for all.

- Michael, Lincoln England, 07/04/2009 17:16
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I am shocked that there is not one comment defending this [DELETED]. WE WANT A GENERAL ELECTION NOW!

- Tyler Durden, Milan, 07/04/2009 17:11
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How come if I make a small mistake on my income tax, then I am defrauding the government and I have to not only pay the extra but also a fine too, but when the MP's blatantly fiddle the system, claiming for items that cannot be justified they can just walk away?

How Jackie Smith can be Home Secretary after this defies belief. How can her department prosecute anyone for fraud or theft when their boss is appearing to do it all the time?

- John Whitby, Peterborough, Cambs, 07/04/2009 16:28
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For those of you saying the government must resign, etc. read all the stories properly .. it is not just Jacqui Smith who is being outrageous with her expenses, its most of the MPs, tories and labour alike. The government resigning wouldn't stop the expenses problem, far from it, it would just mean bringing in another government who are also doing the same. After all, they are only taking advantage of a legal perk that Maggie created ..

- Louise, Essex, 07/04/2009 16:28
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I wonder what would have happened back in the days of Henry viii or Elizabeth 1 when a high office holder brought the Kingdom into disrepute. There are many examples of these personages ending up in the Tower and literaly putting their head on the block. It would certainly focus the mind for future perpetrators if it happened today.

- Neil, London, 07/04/2009 16:24
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This woman has no shame and not forgetting the rest of her party. The sooner we have a general election the better. Having said that can we really trust these mps , it makes you feel like not voting for anyone.

- Christopher, london, 07/04/2009 16:22
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I'd like to know who the "Private Sector" boss is who condones "expenses errors". I don't think even Sir Alan Sugar would allow his (unfathomable) love for Labour alter his probity and strict views on expenses.

- Steve, London, UK, 07/04/2009 16:19
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Sleaze. The putrid stench of newlabour sleaze.

A rank amateur promoted way beyond her competence.

She's not fit to be a primary school teacher; woud you let this woman loose on your children?

- Robin, London, 07/04/2009 16:16
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The real problem is, How can I trust someone who does not know what is marally right or wrong to represent me on the world stage.

I am in the lucky position of being able to go on a foreign holiday this year, but I am ashamed of the politicians who represent us, so deliberatly hide my nationality these days...!

- Dene Wood, Grays, Essex, That little country by the sea that used to have, 07/04/2009 16:12
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It was obvious from the interview I heard on Radio 4 this morning that Jacqui Smith is wholly unfit for public office. She, like so many others in the current generation of MPs,has no conception of what their title (Honourable or in her case Right Honourable) means. No person of honour would take advantage of the system as she has done. One of the reasons for there being lax supervision is undoubtedly that it was felt MPs could be relied upon to behave with honour; and some years ago that may have been so. But now the pigs have taken over the trough and the cheif hog, Gordon Brown does not think that worthy of his attention. We need a wholesale clear out.

- James Elliott, Eastbourne UK, 07/04/2009 16:10
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Trouble is, they're all at it - with an expenses system DESIGNED to encourage them and (originally) to deceive the public. And you can't vote for someone else instead - constituencies are locked into the freeloaders of all colours. What to do? Start by voting in Euro-elections for any 'party' without freeloading MEPs. That means ANY 'party' without many MEPs now. Should stir 'em all up, and harmlessly too.

- Steve, London, England, 07/04/2009 15:33
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The Home secretary Ms Smith and the rest of the Labour Party are unfit to govern and the sooner we have an election in this country the better.
The US has Obama to bring new hope and change, we have Brown who gives us no hope and no change from incompetence and greed.

- Mr S.Port, London, 07/04/2009 15:32
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MP's can but things on expenses if it is reasonable for there job, still trying to work out how a 32" LCD TV makes politicians better at there job or the new bathroom and kitchen. they are meant to be making the country a better place not a worse one.

- Jay, york, yorkshire, 07/04/2009 15:30
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On the contrary, Jacqui Smith should not resign or be fired. She should stay in her position until the next election because she's one of the greatest assets the Tories could hope to have.

JACQUI MUST STAY!

- Lord Elvis, London, 07/04/2009 15:29
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Why is it that politicians even when faced with incontrovertible evidence do not want to accept it - they make the laws of the land to judge others by but are sadly shown to be lacking in any form of conviction when their own conduct is placed under the spotlight - some may, mistakenly, regard them as role models and what is the message that they are putting out - dishonesty of any kind remains just that and cannot be watered down by excuses - Judges take into account mitigation and one of which is acceptance of wrong doing - clearly the voting public are akin to judges and it follows that there is no need for any clemency when dealing with her when she next comes up before them

- Grace Fernandes, Dubai, 07/04/2009 15:27
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She needs to go. Until she is sacked her party is complicit in her theft. There is no other word for it.

Roll on the next election.

- Ana, hong kong, 07/04/2009 15:26
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What's most galling of all is that, for our Home Secretary, she hardly seems to have the most incisive intellect, or track record...

- Karli, Tottenham, London, 07/04/2009 15:22
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Hardly shocking is it that MP's are unrepentant about wasting public finances! What a waste of time they are, if they worked in the private sector they would have been sacked for theft by now.

- Ian, Dartford, UK, 07/04/2009 15:21
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It is because of leaders like her, this country is in the state it's in with no light at the end of the tunnel.

- V., London, UK, 07/04/2009 15:20
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There is nothing "fair" about screwing the taxpayer for £24k a year to run a 2nd home; there is nothing "reasonable" about claiming for scatter cushions and plasma tellies.

Do Smith and her ilk ever pay for anything out of their own pockets?

- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland, 07/04/2009 15:17
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Indeed OUT OUT OUT With the spineless useless, moneygrabber. Sack her now Brown!

- Wayne, Herts, Uk, 07/04/2009 15:08
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What gets me is the sickening arrogance and utter hypocrisy of Miss "Piggy Smiff" and the rest of the disgusting Nu-Labour shower - Forever ruthlessly pursuing and criminalising law-abiding, tax-paying citizens with Enforcement Squads and Bailiffs whilst those greedy MP's are scamming us rotten.
Luckily it is now not only the working middle-class majority who has seen through this Nu-Labour sham of a government but other areas of society aswell.
Bring on the election and good riddance to these nasty,patronising Nu-Liebours.

- A.Non Pc, London,UK, 07/04/2009 15:04
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This is rich coming from Miss Piggy Smiff. However, it's too little and way too late to save her bacon.

- Enough Greed And Sleaze, London, 07/04/2009 14:28
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A minor expense error,she must be having a laugh.Madam,go play in the traffic.

- David, london, 07/04/2009 14:19
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You can just hear, smith, the useless apology for a minister, Perfectly justified!! within the rules !! how DARE the public complain,as she runs for the trough for second helpings. Dont you just love the comment, its only because the bath plug was on a receipt with other items that it showed up, yes you idiot along with the other items you conned the taxpayer into paying for. Just go smith your useless and way past your sell by date.

- Mark Devreis, Bangkok Post, 07/04/2009 13:58
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Why was she not fired?!?? She is not good at anything she does plus she costs way too much.

- Georgie, Islington, Londlon, 07/04/2009 13:42
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I was surprised to find no receipt for the brass polish she must buy to clean her neck.

- George, Cambridge UK, 07/04/2009 13:22
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Smith has made much of the repayment of £10 for film rental but the cable tv package was a basic £57. This is the most delux package with films and sports channels when she only needs the news for her job and news channels come free. A basic package is £20 monthly including broadband and this is all that was required. Thats £37 a month for the last few years please.

- Jack Spratt, Richmond, England, 07/04/2009 12:40
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The MP's aren't fiddling the odd drink out of their expenses, they're fiddling whole houses, with contents !

How can they possibly think that this is 'within the rules' ?

- Cap, london, 07/04/2009 12:27
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Besides being useless at her job she has no morality/dignity - she should go - the private sector would not put up with such "dishonesty"

- David, SOUTHAMPTON, 07/04/2009 12:05
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Every day yet another MP is alleged to have their sticky finger in the trough of taxpayers' cash.

As for MISS PIGGY SMIFF, the Second Home Secretary, she is the most ineffective Home Secretary ever.

Hypocrite indeed.

Roll on the General Election.

- Reuben Camara, Morecambe/Lancaster, 07/04/2009 11:42
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What do we really expect? The majority of mp's are professional politicians now and have never held a job in the private sector. They have no concept of morality or the way the world and life works for the average working person. The rules allow it, so they dig in, because they consider it's their right to and they don't see why the rest of us consider it is wrong.

- Ken Sington, London, 07/04/2009 11:37
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I wonder who the "private sector boss" might be?

As her husband, Richard Timney, has been known to write letters using his own name to local papers saying what a good job she does without revealing that he was married to her and was employed by her, I would not be surprised to find out it was him!

At least the attention he received after the expenses claim for adult entertainment means he will no longer be able to continue writing such letters.

As for Ms. Smith, her comments only serve to illustrate that she cannot comprehend the disgust and anger felt by the public about her behaviour. It is not a matter of 'minor expenses' at all, it is the repugnance generated by her greed AND the pettiness of claiming such minor amounts.

As a result of her behaviour, rather than focussing upon her job as Home Secretary she has been obliged to spend a great deal of her time answering questions about her expenses. She has not behaved as the public expect while holding one of the great offices of state, and her latest comments show she is unable to exercise the consideration and judgement that are essential in a senior politician.

If she has any sense she will resign now and attempt to regain her dignity, rather than be sacked in the near future.

- Manny Goldstein, London, UK, 07/04/2009 11:20
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Mrs Smith takes us for fools if she believes we accept that the long list of items charged to the taxpayer - and delivered to what she would have us think of as her 'second home' is justified - and is necessary for her to discharge her duties as Home Secretary.
In the real world, all of the items she has charged against expenses would have to be paid for by the rest of us out of either salaries or pensions. The current system of MP's expenses is nothing more or less than legalised theft and it has to change.

- Alan, Essex, 07/04/2009 11:18
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".. minor expenses error." ??

If she feels claiming nearly £140,000 for a second home allowance, while renting a room in her sisters house is minor, then she's on a different planet.

Rich corrupt preachy socialists.

- Frank, Home Counties, England., 07/04/2009 10:43
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They know their days are numbered and will maximise every means to make as much money as possible before being voted out forever.

- Joe, Swanley Kent, 07/04/2009 10:37
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Typical Nu-Labour. You get caught with your hand in the till and then try to avoid any sort of responsibility by making statements condemning others doing the same thing, whilst at the same time doing exactly nothing about the problem. Can't see where things have gone wrong for the last 12yrs, can you?

- Mark, London, 07/04/2009 10:25
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How dare she? Tax payers do not consider that claiming £116,000 for a "main" home which is in fact a spare room in her sister's house is a MINOR expenses error, and that claiming for her husband's porn is a minor error, or that claiming for patio furniture and a barbeque to enable her to "do her job" is a minor error. This woman is guilty of thieving thousands of pounds from the public purse and must be punished and made repay every penny. If she had any sense of decency she would resign. This scandal is reverberating around the world and the government is a laughing stock. Smith herself is a laughing stock as she is trying to punish men who use prostitutes - yet her husband watches porn at tax payers expenhse.

- R.F., Yorks, UK, 07/04/2009 10:24
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I am looking forward to a few weasel words from NuLabour on this one.

- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, 07/04/2009 10:16
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Hypocrites; they are not worth spitting on.

- Mickyinlondon, london, 07/04/2009 10:14
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With her nose stuck firmly in the trough, nothing will happen until after the election.

- Keith Price, Luton, 07/04/2009 10:06
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Stop grovelling Smith, you have lost your credibility

OUT OUT OUT

- Carlo Cusano, Bedford, 07/04/2009 09:49
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