• Brown to unveil reform plans days after elections
• Lumley says Green Party is only obvious choice
• Family affair: Kirkbride in battle over sibling staff

Reader views (88)

 Add your view

I believe it is important that la Kirkbride goes at once, and is not allowed to keep her seat until the next election. Obviously she wants to stay on the gravy train so that she can swallow another enormous gulp of our cash from all the various post-election "severance" fiddles. Hasn't she already extorted enough to keep the lovely l0lly in her trough edible for quite a long time?

- Bob Butterworth, Lamphey, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Standing Down is the 'Do nothing option'. Enough evidence of fraud is in the public domain. For the more brazen and arrogant fraudsters, immediate dismissal from party and parliament. Followed up with an early bye election. Justice needs to be seen to be done if only as 'Damage Control'

- Marcus, Wiltshire, UK

Paul Jardine- "We all need a computer".
Possibly. But REAL people pay for theirs, out of their own money. Give me a wave next time your planet passes Earth

- Lezli, London / ENGLAND

You still have time to send your opinion to the Committee for standards in public life. This "independent" body has a website with the address to send your written comments on MPs allowances/expenses. eg. why do they get 3 months off every summer? Let MPs live on a sliding salary scale to be capped, ditto all public heads of service. They must live by the same rules, terms and conditions that we do.

- Rita Scrap Council Tax London, London

This woman's contemptible behaviour is undermining Cameron's image.Is it true that the "thieving toad" of a husband agreed to stand down if her seat was protected?I am beginning to lose confidence in Cameron now that he has backed off from condemning Kirkbride
Cameron's stance up to now contasted with the "all talk..do nothing"behaviour of Brown who condemns a Minister's behaviour as unacceptable and retains her as a Minister.Indeed Brown sits at a Cabinet surrounded by Ministers the public regard as fraudsters.

- P Doff, audierne france

This is absolutely sickening. While the rest of the country worry over their jobs and homes greedy people like Kirkbride take from the taxpayer.

- Trevn, Abu Dhabi

I'd be pleased if someone could tell me how you can justify the unjustifiable. Resign Julie Kirkbride.

- Len, Perth Australia

Why isn't Clegg espousing 'Power-to-the-People' via a system of Proportional Representation ????????????

- Ian Aitken-Kemp, Lockerbie, Scotland

If Brown had any 'nouse', he would call Cameron's bluff and legislate for a 4-year fixed term for the Commons - and boy, wouldn't Cameron backpeddle furiously !!

- Ian Aitken-Kemp, Lockerbie, Scotland

If Cameron REALLY wanted to return 'power to the people' he would embrace the abolition of the '1st past the post'system, where 65% of the electorate is disenfranched, and endorse some form of PR - but then he DOESN'T really want to relinquish power to the people, does he !!.

- Ian Aitken-Kemp, Lockerbie, Scotland

She should hang her head in shame, no integrity just like her husband, Cameron must sack her.

- A Hartley, stalybridge england

Devastated by recent events? The only reason she is devastated is because she and her husband have been caught out! Her position is now plainly untenable and she should summon up what grain of diginity she may have left and resign with immediate effect. Oh, and pay back the money she and her husband have effectively defrauded from the taxpayers.

- Chris, London

Ever heard of King Canute, love? Step down now, you are damaging yourself, (not that I care about that) and the Tories (now I'm concerned). Shut up and go, you've had your years at the trough, the game's up.

- Johnny, Beijing, China

So what are Gordon Brown & David Cameron doing whilst this travesty unravells? Planning to revamp Parliment in their own transparent hegemony with 10% fewer MP's. Should be more like 50% since EU dictates the laws being passed willy-nilly.
This appears to of happened at an opportunistic moment with Chatham House Rules in abundunce. These MP's have to stop playing Monopoly with taxpayers money - Lol.

- William, Haywards Heath UK

Paul Jardine, Bromley

Her Husband stood down Nobly


Helloooo, where have you been? He was embarrassed out by the good voters of Bracknell.

- James, london

I don't care which party the paper seam to pick on. They are all as bad as each other.
So Mr Greenway i am sure you were very happy to spend taxpayers money to do up your house, even adding that extra touch with potted plants, to ensure your house sold at a profit of £280,000. Oh i am so glad you paid your CGT.
All MP's are the same they set up these rules with loopholes in, get it passed. and then away they go CLAIM, CLAIM, CLAIM. and if they got caught bending the rules that touch to far, the reply would be "Oh sorry i misunderstood the rules".
It sounds like they can claim for anything, and i mean anything at all: from sweets, food, take-aways, garden equip, What is going on!!!!!!! I live outside the UK, and reading what other countries are saying is very hurtful. this is from a country that over the centuries has set rules and laws for others to live by. "WHAT A JOKE"
"GET A GRIP AND MAKE G.B. PROUD AGAIN"

- Rgj Durch, GERMANY

Julie Kirkbride among all other MPs that claimed excessive expenses must go.
The second home allowance should be abolished.
Thousands of people have to work away from home and they do not purchase a second home they spend the week in either a hotel or boarding house.
The tax payer should not fund second homes for any MP or party member

- K B Ramsbottom, Barnsley South Yorkshire

I thought it was reported that David Cameron agreed that if Andrew Mackay stepped down at the next election, his wife would be allowed to keep her seat. Mr Cameron was very supportive of her when originally qustioned. He said her case was entirely different to that of her husband. I wonder what the outcome will be if there was an 'arrangement', but both have to vacate their seats. I cannot see them going quietly, particularly as Michael Gove, Chris Grayling, Alan Duncan and others on the Conservative front bench have got off so lightly. Mr Cameron bought his second home with a £350,000 mortgage when he became MP for Whitney. If he has claimed £87k for interest payments in only 4 years, what has he claimed in total? Ms Kirkbride's claims look like chicken feed compared to his. Pots and kettles!

- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain

Unfortunately for her, she will be hung, drawn and quartered if she calls a public meeting.She should dis-engage immediately.

- William Grierson, Kimpton-UK

B Gare, Norfolk Goreston

For five solid days at the begining of all this the telegraph concentrated solely on the lanour party, what would you have liked them to do? Ignore the tories altogether? On the fifth day didn't you think this unfair and comment on it? Of course not, your blue tinted glasses won't allow you.How much persuading do you need before you accept that they are all the same? What political wilderness do you live in to believe that the Telegraph would in any way shape or form be biased towards the labour party?

- James, london

Leave them alone,things are sooooo expensive these days.

- Jim Fredricks, London Uk

She wont show her face I feel,petetions are being signed on the street,in shops

- Brummie, birmingham

She has the backing of Aln Dent, does she? Hardly surprising as his wife, Rita Dent, is Kirkbride's secretary, at taxpayers expense. AND his daughter, Naomi, previously worked for Kirkbride as a nanny but might have listed as another secretary! It seems Kirkbride holds the family's purse strings. I have written twice to Dent but haven't had the decency of a reply. Now we find we are paying for her leech like family. Kirkbride received 50k to add to her home due to her 'expanding family'. Firstly, at 49, I doubt if is 'expanding' and how, pray tell, does one expand a top floor apartment in a listed buliding? I dread to think how much more money has changed hands 'behind the scenes'.
Get out of our decent town, Kirkbride.

- S Coombes, bromsgrove

Come back Guy Fawkes........all's forgiven.

- Soho, London SW1

Do not just sack her cameron,call the police in.

- John, benidorm,spain

I totally agree with some bloggers that for some peculiar reason the Telegraph and the media in general seem to be honing in the conservatives - making them the headline stories when MPs from other parties have made far worse claims which clearly should be subject of investigation by the police. When the story first broke about MPs expenses the labour party was up in arms saying it was all the fault of the Torygraph paper. I think labour must be as puzzled as anyone else as to why the tories have been targeted for special attention. Yes there is crisis in government but for heavens sake lets have some even handed reporting. In respect of Julie Kirkbride, DC is right. She made the claims with her husband so she should either go quietly or if she is going to brazen it out then face her constituents and explain her actions to them. Her husband did the honourable thing and faced his constituents for which he must be given some credit - she ought to do the same.

- B Gare, Norfolk Gorleston

With respect to all these MP's expenses.

Has anyone consulted the persons in the offices that authorise / sign these expenses off.

Surely these people should be sacked as well as all the MP's who have done the dodgy dealings.

- Peter Gibson, Romford, England

Well if you think Mr Mackay resigned nobly, Mr Tory of Bromley, you obviously did not see film of his constituency meeting and his attempt to claim it as a show of support. David Cameron had to point out to him that his posyion was untenable, there was no sign of a noble gesture.

- A Knight, Farnboro England

Yes indeed, NUlabour are responsible for bringing in the freedom of information act. Little did they know they would be snared along with with the greedy tories and lib dems. Hung out to dry by their own legislation, as it were. Still I can't see this worrying the tory shadow cabinet, they can all rely on their second day jobs in the city.

- James, london

This is all getting boring now...They were all on the fiddle, some were better at it than others as they spent more time and effort screwing the system instead of doing any work... This country stinks, our democracy stinks, get over it....

- Dc, Ealing, London

Antiquated system or not, these people knew exactly what they were doing by abusing it. We are told that two people can live on £196 a week......Thats quite a statement when these MPs go on a rampage such as this after their earnings of between £64,000 - £145,000/ annum. As far as I'm concerned the people have been shafted by the goverment, bank robbers and MPs alike and should be held accountable as would we if we defaulted on a simple overdue payment...where's the balance chaps???

- Tony Carroll, North Cotes England

Is R Rogers of Hampstead on the same planet as us?
Kirkbride is a Tory MP my old son, therefore if Labour had taken over the Torygraph, then it would be filled with information about this disgusting thieving creature. If there is nothing in it about Kilbride that would suggest they (the Torygraph) is going easy on her.
However, I suspect R Rogers is so bigoted and ignorant of what is going on, (He/She clearly hasn't got a handle on this), the Waffen SS weekly wouldn't be Tory enough.
What a numpty.

- Kerry, Purley

Obviously the Kirkbride pair are very relucttant to get their greedy noses out of the lucrative taxpayer-funded pig trough

- Neil45, Gloucestershire, England.

I must say I don't see charging for secretarial work is wrong just because the sister was 100 miles away.

After all with email and internet a secretary can easily work remotely.

- Nick, London

With respect Mr Cameron, it's not "...MY MPs". Maybe it's 'MPs who want to call themselves Conservatives'. Significant for the future, but quite hard to remember, Eh?

- Steve, London, England

If Julie Kirkbride had an ounce of dignity or self-respect she would fall on her sword and retire from parliament thus sparing herself the ritual humiliation of being pilloried in public. Any sordid attempt to cling on to her now tattered career would be an insult to the intelligence of her constituents and Constituency Party.

- Peter, Tivat, Montenegro

I had my suspicions about Julie Kirkbride as an MP when she raised that campagn against MNR and cast doubts in many paents minds. Which led to many children left unimmunised. Perhaps the Hamiltons could set up a counselling service for all these MPs facing such approbium as I have never known before since Neil's time.

- Dhan Raj, basildon

Isn't Alan Hazelhurst than man who "invented" the theme tune for Blankety Blank?

- Paul Smith, harpenden

I agree that MPs found with their hands in the till/public purse shouldn't be allowed to take the easy option and just resign, and probably end up not giving back at least some of their swag. If we make a false Income Tax claim, we are liable to prosecution. Let's see at least an attempt to make it appear that there isn't one law for already well-off, thieving MPs with a flair for 'creative interpretation' of expenses guidelines, and another law for the rest of us.

- Paul Henderson, London, UK

This is out of all proportion.

It is not the people of Bromsgrove who are calling for the delightful Julie to go, but a lynch mob from the nearby home of stone-age survivors - Birmingham.

- John Jones, Westminster

If the public want you out Miss Kirkbride, then out you go and that goes for all other MPs who have claimed these so-called "expenses" no matter what party they belong to. Simple as that.

- Fq, London, UK

that is correct P Doff, audierne france; the french would never dream of mob rule would they, well at least not for the past few weeks.

Sort your own country out first before you blog overear

- Anas, Preston, Kingdon of the free

Chop off her hands

- Anas, Preston, Kingdon of the free

The funniest thing about this is a Tory MP who was laughing about the first Telegraph revelations actually believed that the paper would only publish dirt on Labour and Lib Dems and would respect the privacy of decent god-fearing Tory MP's. It was hilarious when the first Tory embezzlements were published.

- L Vancer, Farnham England

Sisters are doin it for themselves... Sing everyone

- Ge, Cornwall

The woman must go. Sadly she was quite a good constituency MP but democracy demands that those in power with their feet in the trough must go. I have 4 times been made redundant and got not a penny for it. In the last case the company had even spent some of my moneyI was owed. I now feel really angry with all MPs and this scandal sticks to high heaven.

- John Chubb, Bromsgrove

No don't let her quit, sack her and then raise criminal charges against her, why let her keep any benefits?

- Mike, London England

Oh my God, the Telegraph has been taken over by Labour. That must explain why Julie Kirkbride doesn't even get a mention today. Please recommend a real Tory Daily newspaper.

- R Rogers, Hampstead England

Julie is an ex-Telegraph journalist and a modern Tory MP. What normal Mother makes her 8 year old son a Company Director? I've asked loads of parents at our local school and this seems rather outlandish.

- F Fox, Hampstead England

Nobby Clark,

"When are all the Labour MP's going to be hounded out "

Can't you see whats going on the whole Telegraph thing is a smear campaign with Labour to bash the Tories. As ministers are guilty of possible criminal claims they still remain in office and get a 1 line in the papers, whereas a minor Tory claim goes on the front page even though they are the only party paying back the money and de selecting members...... Its a Nazi Country we now live in led by the red nasty party !

- Wayne, Herts, Uk

Trevn,
Surely it is her husband, Dave's senior adviser, who should be arrested, He allegedly claimed for an imaginary second home in his Bracknell Constituency. However as the bloke was convinced that the majority of locals supported him at his public meeting it is obvious that he has a mental condition needing medication.

- F Frinton, Hampton England

It is sickening to hear leading Conservatives by her Christian name rather than her title "Miss Kirkbride".It implies a sympathy with her situation and an unwillingness to condemn her scandalous behaviour.She has played the system to her own advantage and should be brought to justice.This is not "mob rule" nor pre judgement.

- P Doff, audierne france

Nobby Clark,

"When are all the Labour MP's going to be hounded out "

Can't you see whats going on the whole Telegraph thing is a smear campaign with Labour to bash the Tories. As ministers are guilty of possible criminal claims they still remain in office and get a 1 line in the papers, whereas a minor Tory claim goes on the front page even though they are the only party paying back the money and de selecting members...... Its a Nazi Country we now live in led by the red nasty party !

- Wayne, Herts, Uk

Will there ever be any official criminal investigations of all the fraud that has been exposed here? they can all simply say farewell and that's the end of it?

- Pam, Michigan, USA

This thieving cow should be prosecuted, not untill we see prosecutions of these MP's will the public have their faith restored.

- P Staker, London

Get rid of her. Who are all these people MPs are meant to be helping in their constituency. In all my years I have never met one MP and only hear from them when they want my vote mostly by leaflet. They claim to be so busy but doing what exactly ? It used to be a part time role but now it is full time with a whole office supporting them but I struggle to understand what it all produces.

- Stuz Graz, Wimbledon, England

about 7 days ago through this paper i said all partys would use smoke and mirrors and hope this will all blow away. well they are still taking the electorate for a ride.how fast does it take to check things out? delay delay delay.hot air from cameron just so he can be elected but with what policys ? hes saying nothing .labour using sex didcrimination against blears.then backing hoon etc.nothing is happening. 650 mps and i dont know how many lords. parliment is dragging its feet.
come on youre majesty. your subjects want the sleaze to stop dissolve parliment please

- Mikeeee, peterborough uk

Well said Caroline Beveridge from france the whips system is a joke and 100% undemocratic. They will not even consider changing this even though we elect a representative to the house based on the policies within their manifesto, the party can force the MP to vote the opposite way

- Gary, Brentwood

Let's not form a lynch mob. Get it into perspective for Heaven's sake..!

We all need a computer. She's has been a hard working MP. Don't take your hatred out on her.

Afterall, she hasn't tried to evade Capital Gains Tax... and there are lots of people in Parliament who employ family, as their families know them best and can be trusted.

Her husband has stood down nobly. So, leave Julie alone, let's not get a bloodlust... leave it up to her constinuents at the next election to decide. We're still a Democracy right..?

All the best Julie, I know you're a good woman x

- Paul Jardine, Bromley

Reading Julie Kilbride's comments about she thought their expenses would not be queried ....but we claimed correctly sounds dodgy. Why did she think her expenses would not be queried? Think it sound a bit guilty and defensive or why would she have used those words? No MP's unless squeeky clean should be allowed to get away with behavious which is morally wrong.

- Jenna, Colchester Essex

Some of these tawdry politicians deserve jail.

But I find it odd that no serious media corporation has investigated these 'instant' high profile 'local protest groups' lobbying for MP removals, to find out whether they aren't actually being organised by rival political tribes!
Same applies to the minority of noisy [rabble rousers?] that are loudly distrupting 'public' meetings where dodgy or naive MPs are facing their 'constituents'.

Like the highly dubious expense claims, methinks that some of these 'constituents' may well be deliberate, bogus political 'plants'.

- Dave, Cumbria

She should be sacked,tried and jailed like all people who break the law.
Both her and her husband are so crooked and must be tried in a court of law.

- David, Udonthani Thailand

I bet Sir Nicholas Winterton and his wife are not considering repaying any of the money they claimed for rent on a property that they had paid the mortgage off with Tax-payers money. Also they put the House into a trust so the tax-payer will not even be able to reclaim capital gains tax. How many more Tories will opt to take the money and run?

- F Frinton, Hampton England

It seems that publicity mad David Cameron is happy to sack some scalliwags in his party as an example of what a fine man he is, but he doesn't want to make a habit of it. Perhaps she'll organise an all-invited group of Tory supporters to a private Friday afternoon meeting just like Dave did. Whatever she does she mustn't let unsympathetic Bromsgrove voters in.

- G Dukes, Hanwell England

This parliament must be dissolved by autumn. External control and audit must be introduced and expenditures put on line. Westminster must be brought up to date with two elected houses and an ELECTED PRIME MINISTER the party whip system abolished and representatives allowed to act in accordance with their conscience and the priorities of the electorate. Until this happens these crooks will remain in power to make and break their own rules. They are no different from the other incompetents the bankers. This partnership of bankers and m.p.'s has brought the country to it's knees. Of course Mackay and Kirkbride must go NOW........ along with the other dishonourable crooks including the 'flippers' in the cabinet. Why wait until an election?? They are being paid with our money. Let there be no 'fat cat'pensions and peerages they are thieves stealing from the people of the land. The people who voted them into office. Thank God for freedom of press.

- Caroline Beveridge, Roujan France

When are all the Labour MPs going to be hounded out?

- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland

I dont think it is fair to just have a go at Gordon Brown and I think its right David Camron is taking people from the street and making them Conservative MPs. If something is going to be done it should be us, the people. If this cant be resolved then the queen should exert her power and disband parliment and create a new one.

- Cye Fletcher, Halifax

I think Julie Kirkbride will be gone by the end of the week. She has to accept that the public will not let her get away with it or be pushed. David Cameron is wasting his time talking about the future of British politics, if he does not actively seek the resignation of the remaining rotten apples in his party.

- Harry H, London UK

If this was any other set of people in the UK, they would be facing criminal charges never mind a review committee

- Andy, Manchester, UK

I think people are just a little overreacting its really just a drop in the ocean you want the rulers to have a comfortable life so they can rule efficiently, like the queen for example.

- John Doh, durham

Mel Barrows, Tenerife...are you reading the same story as the rest of us?

- Ade, London

Shown up as thieves and morally disgraced - some stand down - but then laugh all the way to the bank and beyond: They retain the profits from dodgy deals, and, their pensions for years to come - the taxpayer still paying for their luxuries.

- Rosemary Jefferies, Colchester, England

Anyone else feel we should bring back Matthew Hopkins?

This is getting out of hand. Just publish the expenses and end this endless dumbing down. About time we celebrated the MP's who have good moral values rather than continuing this witch hunt. This all rests at the PM doors he could not run a party in a brewery. What is wrong with Brown better to be honest now than hope a few wriggle free.

Is Brown aware aiding and abetting is a criminal offence?

- Gary, Brentwood

Don"t these people have any consciences - they have been caught with their hands in the till yet continue to plead innocence.

- Alan Cooke, Kettering England

With both of them claiming for different property's and knowing that they were doing it, to me that is FRAUD, please correct me if i am wrong, but if it is, then as any other person, they should stand trail for fraud charges! It's FRAUD and that is all there is to it.

- Robert Irwin, Clevedon, Somerset

Damn the rules as they were set by MP's for MP's and are obviously very different from those that apply to the rest of us.
I sincerely hope that the press continue this good work when the next round of elections are held so that all of the voting public can be reminded of exactly who behaved so shamefully over expense claims when they thought they could get away with it. That way it matters not a jot if they stand down now - they will not get back in when they are deselected by the voters.

- Alex, Marlborough, Wilts.

Claiming for a non existant mortgage is fraud,are the Police involved with these parasites,if not,why not?

- Terry, London

Is this woman touched in the head or what?!!!...Julie Kirkbride the people have spoken, the jig is up...you've manipulated the rules whilst "acting within the rules"...It's high time you woke up and smelt the Colombian roasted (believe me we can smell its heavy thick aroma even if you claim you can't) and do the decent thing and....STAND DOWN!

- Ali Sichilongo, London

Gordon brown is only hanging on for his own benefit. If he cared about the mess the country is in he would call an election and clean this nest of vipers out and himself too! But no, he's going to hang in there to the last minute despite knowing full well the game is up. The country is desperate for an election but he'll get his good and proper come election day and it's time election dates can no longer be manipulated by any PM in the future or in the case of Brown, desperate to hang on for his own pure selfish reasons. Go now Brown, go!

- Mel Barrows, Tenerife. Canary Islands.

This is a "No Brainer" as they say, the Kirkbrides like so many are stuck to the fly-paper and doomed.
The FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT was a fantastic piece of Government Legislation and although it's blown apart many on expenses claims you must ask yourself would this Act of Parliament ever have been put on the Statute Books by the CONSERVATIVE PARTY or by others .... I think not?.
I say thank you to the Labour Party, yes you may of shot yourself in the foot, but many others are falling on there sword?.
Parliament is for the people of the country, not for the people in Parliament .... get it, got it, good.

- John L., Scarborough North Yorkshire, U.K.

LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE.
Not just Bromsgrove but the whole country.
We need an election to sort out the hav's from the have nots.

- Mr S.Port, London

Ms Kirkbride claimed £147,165 in comons allowances last year her husband claimed Andrew MacKay claimed £11968.39.

They seemed to have employed every relative and family member. It just happens that Ms Kirkbride is a former Telegraph journalist.

How do I get part time work paying 12k a year?

- Ge, Cornwall, Nation of

Of course she must go - clearly, she has been milking the expenses (taxpayer money) under all headings at full throttle.

- Alan, Essex

She simply must go. No use saying she had claimed correctly, how we would all like to employ are friends and families at the tax payers cost. Another Scotish surname it seems, how many more of them on the fiddle?

- Mike, London England

Power to the people!

- Triffidqueen, Desk in London

When are our useless ticky box police going to do something about these corrupt thieves. Get off your backside plod and arrest her. If it was me or joe public you would have us behind bars in double quick time.

- Trevn, Abu Dhabi

This odious woman must be sacked. To allow her merely to step down at the next election would mean tax payers continuing to pay her salary plus obscene expenses for another year, and then for her to be rewarded with a "golden handshake" upon retirement. These crooks MUST NOT be financially rewarded for having made unethical claims for bogus expenses.

- R.F., Yorks, UK

Back in the mid '80s I used to work in the tax office that dealt with the Fees Office of the HofC and MP's own PAYE schemes, and this was fairly regular occurrence even then. One former Home Secretary was using his Secretarial Allowance to have his home decorated!

- Mark, South-East London

Add your comment