Morning:
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Alistair Darling was today forced to repay hundreds of pounds of expenses, damaging his hopes of clinging on as Chancellor.
In an embarrassing U-turn, he announced he would be paying back about £660 that was paid towards running a flat he owned but rented out.
Only an hour earlier, Prime Minister Gordon Brown had robustly defended Mr Darling's expenses claims in a radio interview. And a few hours before that, Mr Darling had issued statements angrily denying new allegations, including that he claimed for the flat while not living in it.
“When I reclaimed the cost of the service charge in July [2007], I was living in the flat,” he said in a statement to the Evening Standard. “However, because the service charge covered the period beyond September until December, I will repay the service charge from September to December.”
The rapid retreat left the impression that the Chancellor had been wrong-footed and had not told the Prime Minister that he was changing his position.
Worryingly for Mr Darling's supporters, his backing from senior colleagues was distinctly lukewarm afterwards. In a later interview, Mr Brown said Mr Darling “has been an excellent Chancellor”, using the past tense.
Business Secretary Peter Mandelson, asked if the Chancellor would be axed, said: “The Prime Minister will make the best choice and allocate the portfolios on the basis of what's good for the country.”
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Vince Cable responded that Lord Mandelson's lack of a ringing endorsement was “more eloquent” than any criticism to date.
Harriet Harman fuelled speculation by suggesting there could be ministerial resignations or sackings over the expenses saga, pointing out that the public demanded “high standards” from ministers.
But Mr Darling showed no signs of quitting this afternoon. Instead he was arranging TV interviews to explain his expenses and deny any impropriety.
The Prime Minister said all disclosures about Mr Darling's expenses have “obviously got to be investigated”. A No 10 spokesman said the Chancellor was repaying the money to avoid “potential ambiguity”. He would not be drawn on whether Mr Darling had broken any rules.
But asked at a Labour briefing whether Mr Darling should remain Chancellor until the general election, his deputy Yvette Cooper said: “All decisions about the Cabinet are a matter for the PM.”
And Housing Minister Margaret Beckett said: “That is a matter for the Prime Minister of the day.”
The Chancellor's disputed service charge was £1,004 for a six-monthly period from July to December in 2007. In September that year, he moved into a free grace-and-favour apartment above 10 Downing Street and rented out the flat to a tenant.
The timing left him open to the charge that he took taxpayers' money at the same time as he was receiving rent.
Meanwhile, the Evening Standard has learned that Home Secretary Jacqui Smith told the Prime Minister a month ago that she had decided to quit the Cabinet at the next reshuffle, expected in a week. Mr Brown is expected to stage a sweeping Cabinet reform in the next week in an attempt to regain momentum after what look certain to be disastrous results for Labour in Thursday's local and European elections.
Among Whitehall insiders there was open speculation that the Chancellor would be replaced by Schools Secretary Ed Balls and offered the Home Office instead.
One aide said the change looked “irresistible” while a minister said Mr Brown would “have to do something spectacular” in the reshuffle to shift attention from bad results.
Asked to confirm there would be a reshuffle, Mr Brown said: “That is for the future.”
The Prime Minister again signalled that he will refuse to quit, even if approached by a delegation of MPs. “I have got a duty to take this country through this downturn and recession,” he insisted. “I have also got to clean up the political system. It offends me.”
Despite speculation, there was no sign of any attempt by senior Cabinet ministers to oust him. Health Secretary Alan Johnson is seen as a caretaker if Mr Brown decides to throw in the towel.
Lord Mandelson heaped praise on Mr Brown, saying that he should stay even if this week's election results are a disaster.
He said: “He has the full backing of the Cabinet and the Labour party behind him. I look around the House of Commons and I do not see a bigger figure, somebody with a better grasp of the challenges facing our country. I do not see anyone with a better grasp of the economics of the very tough recession we are going through.”
Before Mr Darling's repayment decision, he had enjoyed warm support from Mr Brown who told BBC radio: “First of all, Alistair Darling is a very good Chancellor and has been a very good colleague and friend. If he had done anything wrong he would be first to admit it.”
Reader views (112)
I am no fan of Labour, but I do feel a little sorry for Darling, as he has been left to clean up the mess left behind by Gordon Brown and has to live in his shadow.
- Jeremy E, Home Counties
He should be fined & jailed, just like social security & tax cheats
- Sri, London
The correct question is "why shouldn't he step down?".
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke
Should he step-down? Would there be any point, who could do a better job this side of an election.
- Ian, Reading, England
All his financial predictions have been wrong and he has done nothing useful for the economy or country. He must go.
- Edwin Underhill, beaconsfield buckinghamshire
Like all these morally bankrupt M.Ps there should be no question of stepping down, they should all be sacked without any payment.
- Royston Amphlett, Bournemouth England
'...so here we can blame the New Labour Party, for not being the Real Labour Party we all once knew.'
Trouble is Mickeyinlondon that the 'Real Labour Party' that you all once knew would never have got elected. Old Labour style socialism is dead in this country, new labour had to move to the right to get elected! Now everyone's seen through them, they're finished.
Maybe we'll go back to the 19th century with the Tories on the right and the Liberals centre left. I mean, who are new labours constituents now? Apart from a few middle-class champagne socialists?
- Chris, Brighton, England.
No, he shouldn't stand down. He should be sacked. And then prosecuted. As should any politician found with their fingers in the till. We need an end to the two-tiered system of one rule for the rich/powerful/influential/famous (with access to good lawyers) and another for the rest of society.
- Paul Henderson, London, UK
Harvey--you are a very naive Chap !
- Ruck, Myrtle Beach SC USA
Expect to see those donations on their expenses next month.
- John Keating, romsey hampshire uk
No.Why should he?The fact that he paid management fees in advance and then when moving to Downing Street forgot,i would have thought that for any business person that would be the last thing he would be thinking about.I am sure that was a genuine oversight not like most of the other excuses being put forward.Do you think you would remember something like that-i doubt it.
- Harvey Lawrence, London
Why should Darling stand down if Gordo won't!?
- Sandy, Ealing, UK
No doubt at all he should step down as he has just taken the English Residents money tp cover his own payments
- Brian Challis, Southend-on-Sea, UK
Val in Spain - I am astounded at your comments!Clearly your dyed-in-the-wool Labour heart is blinding you to the reality of life here in the UK. We are well and truly stuffed, and this Labour government is entirely to blame. Don't waste your time trying to excuse them by vilifying others.
can't wait for teh elections to turf them out!
Scrapper.
- Scrapper, England
Unreservedly and charged and convicted of fraud!
- Ron, Hong Kong, China
Val - The 18 years of conservative government which you remember may have been bad, but it's because of the state the country was left in by labour all those years ago, and the "success" of the current labour govenrment can be attributed to the "state" the country was left in after the torys went out (after recovering from recession)- the balance sheet was so good labour couldn't believe it - but although they've done good things they've wasted the chance they had...
- Sukh, london
I like Val Daniels of Spain myself; she is articulate, well informed, and she is also very loyal to her beliefs and the Labour Party; more than that; and in my own opinion only, a life long Socialist; which isn’t the same as a life long Labour supporter etc.
I am a life long Socialist as well; but I feel this New Style Labour Party has betrayed all true working class Labour Supporters; New Labour are nothing more than wimpish Tory clones etc; here again Val points this out with Cameron and Blair etc; I differ here from her though; I do see Cameron as another Blair; Bambi MK 2.
Val pointed out long ago; that if Brown had not propped up the British Banks; they would all have failed; and nobody would have been able to draw out any money; or use British Banks at all; they were just three hours away from even closing all cash points all over the country, and abroad etc.
OK we are now indebt for 20 years plus; that was the price that we had to pay to keep from a total closure of all banking services; here the blame was all down to the Banks alone, and not the Government etc.
But had the Labour Party not followed the Tory Ideology of quick profits, unlimited credit, tax cuts, and no regulation in the financial markets; then the Banks would not have failed, or ripped off the Nation as they did with ease; so here we can blame the New Labour Party, for not being the Real Labour Party we all once knew.
Remember those like Clement Attlee; they were the Real Labour Party.
- Mickyinlondon, london
Darling was a dismal failure as transport secretary and as Chancellor. There is no question that he should resign/be fired.
- Georges, London
I agree with Jilly.
But why do they get away with it and other people wouldve got a criminal record?
Why is it in this country, the more you cheat the system, the more you get away with?
- Josh, London
Val really winds you all up Ok. Val's got talent. Just ignore her silly comments in future, she will soon get tired.
- Neil, London, UK
Prime Minister Brown should audition for the next batman movie for the role as Joker, I think he would be excellent for this role. He may even get an oscar if he is lucky. The labour party is a complete mess at the moment and he needs to go fast before it's too late.
- R.Haze, Netherlands
Why on earth is this 'Lord' Mandelsohn being given any coverage. His own reputation speaks for itself. Mendelsohn and this government really do think the "public" (as they call us) are stupid. Not so. It is they - the unelected current PM, his little Lord M. and his little government (including the awful Blears lady who's collar and cuffs certainly do not match ...) who are the stupid ones.
- Crystalclear, london
To Val Daniels. I have along memory as well, under the miserable years of Harold Wilson. Plus years unions always stiking and the winter of discontent. Rubbish piled high in the streets. The rotten labour government we have had since that TBLIAR and his cromies came into power. If it was so good why did you leave. Oh I read your sob story. I dont belkieve a word of it, I bet you were one of those who was always shouting the odds and causing strike action. Causing the misery of no services when needed. Proud Labour nothing to be proud about supporting that lot. The staqe we are in now is awful. A mini police state, centralised government which cannot keep our records safe. Lies and spin when BLIAR was the PM. An illegal war which is causing the deaths of our troops. Proud to support them, nothing to be proud of there. Your the stupid one, do us af avour and stay in spain with your communist ideas. It was people like you that dragged us down for years.
- Ebin Donk, Angus sctoland
Darling admits errors & offers to repay & is potentially kept in Cabinet. Mandelson was obliged to resign TWICE on integrity issues, constantly failed while in UK Govt and had a whole series of failures while in European Commission (he allegedly also requested a EUR70K+ Maserati car as his official car!) His bangers for cash, supply chain guarantee etc etc initiatives have so far been flops...and Gordy with his "Moral Compass" and "Not rewarding for failure" looks set to PROMOTE even him. Please just give the abused British electorate an election NOW. Enough is enough.
- A Britt, Brussels, Belgium
This expenses furore is just part of the long overdue process by which the Westminster Old Boys/Old Girls club is slowly transformed into a proper instrument of democracy. By the way I am totally in agreement with 'Spanish Val'. Who wants Thatcherism back to sort things out? I don't think anyone has the stomach for a conservative government yet. It may happen in my lifetime but it will take at least another decade for those who were affected to make their way to the graveyard. Meantime. It's Labour, Labour, Labour, Thank God!
- Johnnyb, london
Val, I don't think you have grasped exactly where you stand in the country now. A part of a small minority who believe that Brown and the Labour party are a solution for this country when most other people have (finally) realised that he is no more than "Old labour" cleverly presented as a New Labour. ie he is an idiot who believes that dragging the population down to the lowest common denominator (educationally, financially, morally) is a solution for the country. He has been found out as incompetent in financial management and has a serious personality disorder which doesn't seem to allow him to ever admit that he was and is wrong. The last time I looked the UK is a "democracy" of sorts which idiot unelected Brown seems to have forgotten. The population do not want him or the labour party. Perhapssomeof the other parties are not that attractive, but least worst is all we have.
- Jon, london
Before I migrated to Australia in 1983 the then PM Gough Whitlam was sacked by the Governor General, the Queen's representative for failing to get budget measures through Parliament. Didn't Gordon Brown lose the vote on Gurkha residency?
If we want to talk about global solutions let's talk about why National Insurance contributors now pensioners who live in selected countries such as Australia and Canada do not receive upratings each 6 April despite the fact that the National Insurance Fund is 50 billion pounds in surplus. Alistair Darling supported this policy. Wouldn't it be nice if politicians took a fair and moral stand on issues? Come on honest politicians!
Include this in your manifesto.
- Richard Lane, Kariong, NSW, Australia
Without a doubt : The greedy perpritaors ,of the PAYE tax payers ,hard earned money ,should be "PROSSICUTED" and if found guilty by "MAGISTRATES" (for these are people who carry out their duties for FREE ) .Should be sentenced to an apprpriate term ,in one of her majesties HOTELS !!
The Queen then should desolve parliment ,and take over the reigns ,before this land is reduced to total anachy!!
- Anthony Coxon, wolverhampton England
Len of Perth --Yours are the same because ,in all probability,their ancestry is British! We know how to steal from the poor mate!!
- Alan, Chigwell.UK
Careful chaps. Val has got an Ology so obviously we are up against a powerful mind.
Val's grandchildren are at Universities which all used to be Polys, until someone decided to make everyone travel one class.
And if Val thinks Britain's economy and finances will be all sorted by June 2010 she must be living on a different planet.
It will take 20-25 years to rebuild the finances of UK Plc as they were before this raving lunatic Brown was allowed to get his hands on the till.
- Mike, Godalming
Whatever next? a chancellor of the exchequer who can't get his sums right.What hope is there for any of us in this comic opera of a government?
- Ronald Whitten, Chesterfield Derbyshire
Val is programmed - your lot bad, my lot good. Evidence to the contrary will not compute. Loyalty is an admirable trait and Val is certainly displaying loyalty. It becomes misplaced loyalty and devalues her argument when she defends the likes of Blair, and Brown, The first and unprincipled liar, the second a complete nobody, with no ability, all bluff and bluster, his time is up.
- Wills, Soton
"You are all too stupid to see it."
Spoken like a true Nu Labourite,Val.
- Stephen, London
One of the many things to come out of the MP's and their expenses,errors,misjudgments,mistakes,blah,blah,blah is the continuing arrogance and outright refusal to see the big picture.It's one thing to let the public see you as a money grabbing oik who does anything to stay in a job but when it starts to shake the foundation of all things political and parliament can no longer work,then it's time to grow up and attempt at salvaging back a morsel of credibilty.Make no mistake,the public want a lot of MP's sacked,charged with fraud,no pension and no pay off.We have been fed a lie over many years and the idea of 'honourable' in the same sentence as politicians is outdated and whether they like of not,we,the British public will salvage back a decent form of democracy.In the meantime it will be the usual sound bites that are predictable as well as nasuous.At the Westminster village gates, the peasants have decided to burn the ogre,the trouble is finding who to start with...Oh,there is no such thing as MP fatigue,they want us to become bored and move on to the next drama facing our country.Memo to the delusional in both houses..if the bloody Tamil's can cost eight million quid in security,think what a general strike will cause,and in case you all forgot,the rest of the world must be wetting themselves laughing as the great empire that was,is reduced to claiming for a fiver at the battle of Britain memorial service..Churchill would be proud!
- Jonnie Of Brixton, brixton,london,england
I hope they are paying back the interest on what they stole as well as freezing all their assets. I reckon they should go to the worst overcrowded prison that they where so fond of sending others to.
- Angel, London Lewisham
So Val in Spain has a degree in political law.
Oh Dear. Had she studied a decent subject like Maths or Pure Science she would have a better grasp of logic or facts.
The facts are that there are many people around who will always be after grabbing a few bob; whether they are Labour, Tories , Lib Dems or whatever.
Brown said that he was sure that the Chancellor's mistake was inadvertant; ergo Brown thought that Darling had made a mistake. Now Darling is giving money back - presumably because he now admits that he made a mistake.
Now Brown's FSA are paying themselves giant bonuses for the biggest financial cock-up in living memory.
Explain that away Val.
- Sally70, Bedford
I must agree with the others. We should not have this unelected "Prime Minister" show go on! Internationally we are not just bankrupt economically but also we have lost so much credibility over the last 10 years!!
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London
Once I inadvertently underpaid a tube fare. I offered to pay up when I was nabbed. Stony faced refusal and a criminal record. What's the difference between me and them?
- Jilly, London
#Jim Birmingham
No, I don't live on benefits. I am in the fortunate position of having a house here in Spain, and another in the UK. I am 71 and retired and worked hard all my life to earn what I now enjoy. My husband, who is 75, suffers from asbestosis and is recovering from a triple A. It is beneficial for him to live in a warm climate for part of the year. We have never claimed any kind of benefit, not even under the Thatcher years of misery. I would imagine from the amount of tax we have paid and are still paying on our retirement income which, for your information, we choose to have taxed and paid from the UK, and the National Insurance contributions we have made during our working lives (I retired at 66), we have paid more than enough to keep you and people like you in benefits for years. We have three sons, one of whom was killed and the other who has served in 3 wars and is pensioned off as a result. I also have a daughter. My 6 grandchildren are all at Uni, thanks to this Labour government. I have a long memory, unlike you fairweather voters. I have not forgotten the 18 years of Conservative government. I am proud to support the Labour party. You criticise and vilify Tony Blair, yet David Cameron prances around boasting of being 'the heir to Blair'. David Cameron is no Tony Blair. He is a doppelganger in everything he says and does. You are all too stupid to see it.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain
Val from Spain,
Keep out of the sun its really making you say silly things that everyone is laughing at !!
- William, London
Gordon Brown says the mistake of Darling was 'inadvertent'. First, the lesser mortals can not get away with such a excuse. Besides, why do they have an accountant, incidentally paid for by the government. And lastly, after the 'inadvertent' error was pointed out, he still denied it - also inadvertent?
- Nat, New Malden
Val. I love the character your "channeling", Very Borat and Pub Landlord. Love it. I do wonder about who you are in real life; And I've decided you're a student doing your character for their media degree. Something along the lines of "reality" in electronic media. As we can't see you it doesn't matter what's real, it's what perceived as real that's important. I'm right aren't I? At least I hope so, because if you actually really believe the stuff you write...
- Sean, London
Yes, definately a Labour bloodletting soon. The Labour Party Conference will be a sight to watch, assuming the public and press are allowed in. The very last Party Conference by Mr McRuin??
Will it be 'Dear Old Pals, Jolly Old Pals' or will there be a New Dear Leader on the Podium. Somehing gives me the impression that it might be 'Postman Pat' Allan Johnson. But time will tell.
As for Mr Darling, well he will be long gone, along with a few other faces in Brown's current Cabinet.
- Uncle Vanya, East Anglia Area UK
#Jimk
Gordon Brown must indeed be a superman if he managed to do everything you attribute to him in the period since July 2007. Your assertion that the PM,The Speaker and Harriet Harman paid lawyers to prevent exposure under FoI is risible especially as it was the Labour Party who introduced it. You are obviously unaware that the Committee who made the decision based on MPs instructions is made up of the Leader of the House,Ms Harman, Shadow Leader, Theresa May, and the Chief Whips from all three parties. As a retired Councillor, I can assure you that The Speaker acts on the instruction of all MPs in the HoC, and that includes the Tories and the LibDems. He does not call the tune nor does he act in isolation. Read your political law or, better still, earn a degree in it as I had to, then you may be able to speak from an informed position instead of spouting froth.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain
Every time you think the worst has come out, it gets worse. The Chancellor first made a false expense claim. If I had the same in my company, I would have been sacked. Worse still, when Telegraph reported it, he claimed he denied it. But, as the facts stared at him, he has backed down to repay. What greater depths of impropriety, illegality and brazen denial of facts a minister has to sink to before Brown sacks him? Gordon Brown's one excuse for not dissolving the parliament is that he wants to fix the economy that he actually broke. Is this the chancellor who is going to do it?
- Nat, New Malden
Scotty,
proportion about what has actually been done here?
Lets see, Mp's using tax payers money to fund own personal life, then using tax payers money to pay back for what they took in the first place... and still getting away with it with a little slap on their wrists?
and you get all those warnings for benefit thieves.. geez I wonder where they got the idea from in the first place with an MP's like this
- Josh, London
Noooooo, if Darling goes, Brown will promote Balls to Chancellor and Balls is definitely a man who lives up to his name.
- Bob, Cheam
Does anyone really care anymore-i don't think so.
- Harvey Lawrence, London
Why does the Monarch not use her authority and dissolve Parliament which is the majority of her loyal subjects wishes.This is one occasion when the Monarchy can actually flex its muscles and ease public stress?
- Harvey Lawrence, London
Val in Spain seems to have missed the news. Brown has been exposed as immoral and an economic disaster. Perhaps living on Brown's UK welfare, spending UK taxpayers funds in Spain is too much to give up. Val, Brown maxed the UK credit card too much. He signed the UK to such huge loans generations into the future are deep in debt now. Brown's moral mask was ripped off when No 10 officials leaked emails from McBride, Head of UK Strategy that a Labour website was to spread lies to destroy opponents and families in Labour and other parties. Brown's UK strategy was not about improving health, housing, finance world peace...,it was to spread nasty lies about personal opponents. Labourites called the lies and website 'brilliant. So Val..fine people?
Brown, Martin, Harman spent vast sums of taxpayers money on lawyers to hide the fees scandal especially with Ministers like Hoon and Purnell who failed to pay CGT, though Blears did the same and Brown has smeared her.
So both immoral, and a financial disaster. Add UK security where Brown left the borders open, so now the UK has over 300 active terror plots. His and Labour's multicultralism has fostered extreme militants and 80% of UK mulsim schools now teach deobandi islam of surperiority and violent jihad against the hated west.
Val will say Brown is to put 'regulation' in place. Like his 'Regulation Light' of the City. That lead to the biggest banking crisis ever. You know you can trust Brown...for a disaster.
- Jim, birmingham
For those who are confused, Val is what is known as a "Labour supporter". Once they were a common sight in our country, but now the species is almost extinct. Occasionally one can still be spotted, perched forlornly on a fencepost, whistling its mating call, "It's a global crisis that requires global solutions".
- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent
Darlings obviously as financially bent as the rest of them with regard to claiming his 'expenses, so should go!
Also Val Daniels - How many other countries in Europe, not in the EU are not doing well? None of them!
We will not lose out by not being in the EU, indeed we will not have so many costs and daft laws, accepted without comment by Darling and others, foisted upon us, and will be masters of or own destiny!
Be independant, be strong!
- Scooby, England
There has to be a precedent where members of the public can bring a class action suit against MPs for bringing the office into disrepute. All MPs should be forced to resign, with no payoff as it is unlikely that any are untainted by corruption.
- Adam, Harrow, UK
For goodness sake leave Val alone. Too much time in the sun has obviously depleted his batteries, How else can you explain his defence of Gordon and his Darling goafer.
- Mr S.Port, London
Josh,
do you know what Darling is supposed to have done? if you think he'd go to jail for it, then I can only reason that you don't? at which point, why say anything?
I'll be very happy to see the end of Brown and co. not long to go now, but geez can we get a little sense of proportion about what has actually been done here???
- Scotty, london
The thing that is really annoying me about these MP's falling on their swords is that, they will all stay in office getting paid, still making claims until the next Election (whenever that may be).If I was to steal from work I would be gone today not next week or next year. SO why can't they do the same and go now. Rather than flapping their gums about leaving while still thinking how much more they can get from the taxpaper till they qualify for their fat pensions.
- Pedro, Nth London
#William
Do I detect a trace of the green-eyed monster in your comments. I only live in Spain for part of the year and I still have a house in the UK. None of you seem to want to hear the facts. Let me try and explain them to you. The Chancellor had an annual service charge on his flat of £1107, which was payable half-yearly in advance in January and July. He paid the second instalment for the year in question in July 2007 which covered the charge until December 2007. However, in September 2007, Gordon Brown appointed him as Chancellor of the Exchequor and he moved into 11 Downing Street. He did not make a further claim for the service charge as the payment had already been made. As he has explained, he is repaying £660 which covers the charge from September to December 2007 to avoid any ambiguity. Is that clear enough for you. I wonder if you will find it as difficult to understand when David Cameron returns the £22k he fleeced from the taxpayer to pay the mortgage interest on his £1.2m second home. The illusion that most of the cheats in the expenses scam are Labour is just that, an illusion. The Conservatives have always been the same, they think it is their right to steal from us. It is in their genes.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain
NEVER HAS SUCH A GAGGLE OF INCOMPETENT MUPPETS BEEN IN CHARGE OF THE UK.
NOW WE ARE FACED WITH BALLS CREATING A PROPER BALLS-UP AT 11 DOWNING STREET.
IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHO IS THE BIGGEST MUPPET - BROWN OR BALLS, BROWN OR COOPER, BROWN OR JACKBOOT STRAW, BROWN OR HARPERSON, BROWN OR MEDDLESUM, BROWN OR BLUNKETT, BROWN OR PRESCOTT, WHAT A COLLECTION OF DISCREDITED WOMBLES LOITERING WITHIN INTENT IN THE HOUSE OF CONMEN.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe/Lancaster
#Tony Heath
No, I haven't lost touch, I return to my home frequently and will be back again this week to vote for the Labour candidate in the EU elections. I have no wish to see my country collaborating with the right wing fascist rabble David Cameron wants to unite with; few in the Conservative party agree with his plans to isolate the UK in Europe. It seems he only agreed to withdraw from the centre group in order to get backing from the right wingers for the party leadership. Daniel Hannan has been here in Spain, trying to persuade British voters to support one of the most reviled parties in Spanish politics. His shrill attempt to persuade is being ignored, of course, and most of the voters are supporting the social democratic parties. As for your point about the UK economy, again I disagree with you. Let's wait until May 2010, when all this garbage has been cleared away, and the economy is returning to normal, as it will. I suspect that is the reason the Conservatives want an election now because they know things can only get better, and next year the future will look very different. The voters will have to decide who is better equipped to continue the recovery, Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling, or the Do Nothing duo in the Conservative party.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain
Please,haven't you put the good people of this country through enough?Listen to us,we want a general election NOW!!
- Stephen, London
Not sure if I envy Vals expat lifestyle. She moves away for a better life and yet continues to lament about the life she is successfully a fugitive from. Either a sucker for castigation or accepting failure in extraction from our culture. How can she comment on having to live under the tyranny of these out of control Scottish dictators taking over England?
- Ge, Kernow
Brown TV interview-
'I'm getting on with the job, working hard for the UK economy unlike the do nothing conservative party etc. etc. etc.'
Translation:
I'm holding on until the last possible moment in order to fill my bank account with more taxpayers money because no one is going to pay me for after dinner speaking like they do Tony Blair (spits in disgust) or John Major who is generally well liked. I want my money and I want it now or I will get McBride to write emails about your wives and sex toys and then get Derek Draper to put them on his website.
- Undercover Elephant, Dole Farm, Crays Hill, Essex
PAY BACK!?
Any other person who did what he did wouldve been arrested and all he has to do is pay it back with the wages he gets paid from the taxpayers?!
- Josh, London
They are all greedy pigs living off the backs of hard workng UK citizens. Things must change and lets start with this government and take it from there.
- John Joe, Willesden, London UK
A government without credibility is no government!
When will Gordon Brown pull his head from the sand and look at the shambles around him.
If he is so convinced that he is a modern day Moses capable of leading us out this political wilderness let him put this to the test and ask the voters of the country to back his judgement.
Or could it be that he is totally lacking in sort of judgement and that he is the only person left in the country who believes in his own abilities.
With so many named and shamed MP's within all parties this parliament should be dissolved immediately.
- Scotty, Cambridge UK
Funny,how Labour always went on about Tory sleaze back in the nineties,but is silent now.They always called on Major and co to resign.But the tory sleaze was on the backbenches,never to the top of the government.
This is not ordinary sleaze,this is NuLabour right to the top sleaze.
- Nigel, Wimbledon
I think Susan Boyle and Gordon Brown are one in the same. Unfortunately the 'act' is falling apart.
You can fool all of the people some of the time. You can fool some of the people all of the time. BUT, you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
"I have got a duty to take this country through this downturn and recession".
"I will end 'Boom & Bust' in Britain".
We'd love to believe your statements, Mr Brown.... but which ones?
- Haskey, London SE1
"Val - Mijas"
Leave him alone! - why....????
You certainly have a lot to say from Spain - you have obviously lost touch with what is happening over here.
This bunch of incompetants have systematically ruined this once fine country - we are broke and going bust under labour.
Support draing away, and will soon be less popul;ar than the BNP. What an epitaph...
- Tony Heath, Godalming, Surrey.
The bottom line here is that the UK is no longer a democracy. We get no choice in who makes the laws and rules the country. Even when MP's are 'caught with their hands in the till'...there is not a damned thing we can do except moan about it to ourselves.
Gordon Brown will decide when he has an election...not the voters. How dare we even suggest it!
How dare we criticise MP's for anything, who do WE think We are!
To the UK Tax Payer ... just shut up and keep paying your taxes, that's all you are here for.
- Robert Brett, Basildon, Essex, England
Val, can you tell me what pills you are on? I could really do with cheering up.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland
Your wasting your breath Val love. You must be about the only person left in the World that doesn't want to see the back of this odious man and his incompetent government (oh, and Keith Price too). The fact is Val, you've had 12 years and by pretty much every measure, you've failed!
- Chris, Brighton, England
I think William of London, has a few issues with logic.
can't say I was able to read any of Val's life motivations in one paragraph. maybe, I'm just not a clairvoyant enough. or a wonk.
- Scotty, london
Well said William.
Val is obviously a dyed in the wool NuLabourite.
Jeremiah is right. It is not just nominating a house as principal residence, but actually living in it. BUt since these MPs all have their own special HMRC office to deal with their tax affairs, don't expect David Hartnett to do anything about it.
All these MPs (mainly Labour) who have been fiddling the system have NOT been living in the home, like Darling who obviously is not - he's in No 11.
As for Brown spouting his Presbyterian values. Perhaps he might start with the old Presbyterian principle that Prime Ministers should stand for election, not be shoe-horned into office, by that arch liar Bliar, totally against the will of the public.
The guy is a complete joke, rattled, scared, and utterly incompetent.
For God's sake resign!!
- Mike, Surrey
- Steven Dale, London, England
"I find hotels soul-destroying and capable of affecting the ability to work,"
When there are people living on the streets and thousands of homeless refugees all over the world, I can’t say I care if an MP has to stay in a hotel on the odd occasion!
- Paul, London
Val wants to leave the man alone. This is the Chancellor of the Exchequer we're talking about here. The man can't even keep his own finances in order. If he had acted as GB has told us, why is he paying anything back? I can see why you moved to Spain Val but please spare us your thoughts if they are that twisted.
- Rob, London
Val,
"Leave him Alone"
He's the Chancellor and Brown should sack him you numpty!
You live in Spain because you obviously didn't like the way the UK has been ruined under Labour yet you come on here defending the most useless government this country has ever had - look at the opinion polls 22% at best and falling!
The Sun must be getting to you - go and have a dip in your socialist pool !
- William, London
Poor old Gordychov was reduced on the Andrew Marr programme to reciting his Presbytarian values. A very poor imitation of Chairman Tone.
- Bj, London
I do not think that MPs should have to live in hotels - every time I have been away from home for work, I find hotels soul-destroying and capable of affecting the ability to work, depending on the person in question
What we do need are an independent body to administer expenses, a clear code [perhaps the existing code or one that has been tightened] as to what are receoverable expenses and an appeal process open to both the MP and the independent body.
In addition any MP who by taxi [for late-night sittings]can get home from Parliament within 1 hour, cannot have a second house and those who journeys would be longer, the second house has to be within a radius that would enable them to get to that second home within 1 hour. This would mean that someone who lives in, say Broxbourne would be inside the 1 hour whereas the MP for, say, Bishops' Stortford would be outside.
That second home should be bought [subject to a financial limit], furnished and decorated by the Tax Payer. It should be redecorated every 7 years and the white goods and other furnishings kept for the next MP, to be replaced only if broken or have come to the end of their useful lifetime. Any propety sold, for whatever reason, should be sold by Parliament and any profit handed to the Treasury.
- Steven Dale, London, England
For goodness seek leave the man alone. How can he have 'flipped' a property that he sold. How can he charge it as a second home when he no longer owns it. This is all so much flummery. Why aren't you equally concerned about a multi-millionaire who has fleeced the taxpayer to the max on the mortgage interest relief on his £1.2m second home. I wonder if there will be the same furore when David Cameron has to repay over £22k wrongly claimed as opposed to Mr Darling's £660. I doubt it. The real story here is that Alastair Darling was right when he said the economy would recover in the third quarter. In fact we can see the recovery already and the Tories don't want to face the truth, that they were wrong and the government was right in the way it has handled the recession with a view to a speedy recovery. Deal with it.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain
My heart bleeds - NOT!
- Marianne, SW France/London
Bye, bye Darling...oh...don't forget to take Hazel Blears with you...
- Ali Sichilongo, London
GB, his government and more generally, this Parliament, has no right to reform current parliamentary systems, let alone carry out constitutional reform. The only honourable move left for this discredited Parliament and government is to disolve for a general election to make way for a new reforming parliament which can start to rebuild trust with the electorate. This needs to be done immediately, but with enough time for every constituency party with a sitting MP to re-select thier candidate if they so wish.
- Crest, st peter port
Surely we're all missing something here. The rules which govern the single or main residence exemption to Capital Gains Tax do allow the taxpayer to nominate a 'main residence'. But the choice is not purely nominal, it entails actually occupying the property. So what I don't understand is, if Mr Darling resides at No 11 Downing Street, how could he find the time to be moving all his chattels and his 'significant other' around four different adresses in London at the same time?
- Jeremiah, London
Can we not all group together and force the politician's to ban this ludicrous 2nd home "gravy train" once and for all? We can accept taxpayers funding MPs who have to lodge away from home where necessary but it should be limited to hotel accommodation only. This cuts out any doubt about MPs "earning" from expenses (which are supposed to be non profit making)even when the "rules" are obeyed and gives much needed employment to the hotel trade instead of lining MPs pockets. Failing that, second homes for MPs paid for by the taxpayer should be sold once the MP retires and the full proceeds returned to the Treasury.
- Paul, Feltham
"Although a relatively modest sum, his move was seen as an admission of a technical breach of the parliamentary expenses system."
Can you explain why you included the word "technical" in thats entence ?
- Roy Grainger, London
They can run, but they can not hide OUR TIME WILL COME and when it does politics will be shocked with what is left.
- Ge, Cornwall
Enough of this bolsjevik mentality. Nu Labor go away!!
- Georgie, Islington, London
It sure is broke Gordon. The only way to fix it is an election NOW. You must accept that you are not the man to do it. If you have any respect at all for the citizens and taxpayers of this country, in God's name, GO, GORDON, GO!!!!!!!
- Jilly, London
Not only do people like Brown, Darling, J Smith, McNulty, Blears etc; need to be thrown out of office. We must also make sure that they are never able to hold a position in public office ever again.
The biggest change required for the political system is one that permits the public to legally throw an incompetent corrupt Government out of office.
In the meantime I do not intend to vote for either of the two main parties until everybody in this country gets an equal vote. I.e a system of proportional representation, where everybody entering parliament has to face an unrestricted public election to get in.
- Harry H, London UK
So will he be charged? -No, will he lose his job over this? -No, Will he be paid is he stands down? -Yes
As often said one rule for these crooks and another for the rest of us.
House of Frauds and MPs win again
- Mike, London England
Judging by the photo with this article, it looks like Ali Babar and his 40 thieves have taken to robbing charity collecting boxes too. I bet a lot of MP's are kicking themselves for not getting in on the act. What's the betting that these scumbags reclaim their "charity" on expenses.
- Lezli, London / ENGLAND
SELF, SELF, SELF , SERVICE !!!!!!!!
- E. Nuff, london
Brown's last 'best and true friend' was Fred Godwin. Is Brown ill? He is deluded. He proposes 'regulation'. But there is regulation and Codes of Conduct, that just need to be managed properly.
But Brown can not manage, his only trick is more and more taxpayers money to bribe people.
And of course Brown regulated banking. That was a total disaster. The Bank of England regulated fine for centuries. Brown's 'light regulation' was in place 5 years leading to total meltdown of UK banking. Like Labour in meltdown and £15 million in debt with donors running away.
The only way to get trust back is for those at the top, including ministers to be investigated openly by revenue and police and dealt with exactly as they deal with normal voters.
Brown has bankrupt the UK morally, finacially and socially. And on security, before Labour left the borders open, terrorism was defeated. Now Labour have fostered over 300 active terror plots. All due to Bliar, Brown and cronies and phoney multiculturalism that encourages extremism, including terrorists. Brown tried to shift the blame to Pakistan, but he left the borders unchecked so the UK is now the cradle of international terror, and he encouraged Sharia finance that funds terrorism.
What a legacy Brown leaves. Even Guardian die-hards want him out.
- Jimmy, Bethnal Green uk
I am no fan of this administration, but this seems a very minor, and technical oversight.
non-issue.
- Scotty, london
'Alister Darling is a good chancellor"! What planet is Gormless Gordon on. Darling is way out of his depth in the job and he is a blatant expense fiddler and tax dodger. Come on Gormless, election time so we can clear out all the corrupt, incompetent, arrogant ministers
- Trevn, Abu Dhabi
Well said, Ian Glen. This man Brown is the worst thing that has ever happened to Britain. He has bankrupted the country, saddled future generations with debt, corrupted the political system, and pushed millions of pensioners into poverty in old age.
And he is SO ARROGANT and refuses to even hold an Election. The guy should be removed from office on mental health grounds, and consigned to oblivion.
I think next week Lab will be slaughtered and his life will be numbered in weeks not months.
Good riddange to him!!
- Mike, Surrey
There is already a "Code of Conduct"
It states amongst a myriad of other rules "Holders of public office should take decisions solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends.
Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office".
Had they abided by the current codes of conduct, this would not have happened.
- Susan Bayley, London, UK
Having plugged a few holes following the banks and taxation problems Darling has now dug his own hole. The only trouble is that Brown/Darling is taking us all down their rotten holes with them.
Someone please STOP them!
- Tony Islander, Herts
If Brown really wants to reform expanses he could start by firing every last one of the moronic cretins inhabiting the fees office!
Let's face it MP's, like most of us, would try and get somebody else to pay for stuff but the imbeciles who vet the claims appear to think that moat cleaning, duck islands, plasma tv's, pigskin wallets, ride-on lawn mowers, dog food etc are legitimate expenses that are required by MP's in order to perform their duties.
- Ian, Cambridge
So good old Gordon wants to clean up the political system! Why? All we, the general public want is the same benefits and perks that they are wanting. MP's are not the only sector who work away from home for long periods, but they get all the tax breaks,long holidays, free travel etc. So all he has to do is level they playing field, as opposed tp sell them off.
As for a new written constitution, what has this to do with suspect expenses claims, nothing. It smacks of EU constitutions and how does Nulabour con the public into sleep walking into where they think they should be. For goodness sake keep the old constitution, because at least we have freedom of speech/the press. No doubt a privacy law would be included in the 'New' constitution as in france etc, and then we would never be able to discover any corruption. This would not be a forward step.
- Alan, carlisle uk
Gordon Brown, you have said many many time you're going do whatever it take to fix the issues on hand! Well, what is it you are going to do? I don't suppose you know what they are. And whatever it is, it is NOT working.
- Max, Isleworth
Brown is a completely power mad, despicable and insesitive man.Surely he can not be so thick skinned that he can't understand that he is hated and that the vast majority of the Country and the electorate want to get rid of him. He must go down as the worst Prime Minister and Chancellor this Country has ever had.
He has presided over the biggest Bust ,a scandalised parliament , yet he still has the audacity to say he is the man for the job and our Saviour. The Country is longing for a General Election and the opportunity to show just how little he and his Government and Party are wanted.
- Ian Glen., Durham. England.
If Mr Brown is sincere in wanting to clean up the political system, he can start by giving us a general election now. The public will decide and it will sort out the good from the bad immediately.
- Mr S.Port, London
So - now that the searchlight is on them all - and we know what a thieving bunch of toads they are, plonker Brown wants to clean up the political system. !!!!
They still don't "Get It" do they - voters are not retarded in any way - you know what ! - WE the voters will clean up the political scene very quickly on the occasion of the next election as soon as spineless Brown has mustered the courage to call it.
- Alan, Essex
Having been in a senior position in government for over 12 years knowing what the system was like, he only decides to do something about it a couple of months ago when the freedom of information act is passed. That is why his fellow colleagues, principally Straw fought to protect the release of this data for MPs.
He is just not credible. I simply do not believe a single thing this corrupt socialist government has to say.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Those who oversaw the break-down of the banking industry were not entrusted to repair the damage.
How luck are we, that Mr Brown will personally oversee the total overhaul the problems that with great care over 12/13 years he put in place.
No real need for an election then.
- J R J, Glen Vine
The most worrying thing in this article is Gordon Browns continuous use of the first person " I have got to clean up the political system " etc.
Does Gordon Brown really believe that the electorate would entrust this scale of reform to him ?
There is only one thing the British people want to hear from him , an early election date.
- Bryan Odell, Knokke , Belgium
It is not for Brown to dictate, or even set, the agenda for root and branch reform of Parliament and it's discredited and abused system of allowances and expenses. Brown has already shown that he is incapable of holding members of his own party to account with 2 Labour Lords already suspended over financial irregularities, with at least 2 of his backbench MPs suspended for claiming allowances to pay for non existent mortgages, with several senior members of his Cabinet facing an investigation by the police or HMCR over a failure to pay income tax or CGT on taxpayer funded property deals and the forced resignation of a Labour HOC Speaker after his bungled attempts to prevent MPs expenses being subjected to public scrutiny in the first place, all indicate that he is last person who can be trusted with major Parliamentary reform. Such wide ranging reforms are for Parliament as a whole to decide, and should not be one where an unelected Prime Minister is in a position to appoint a Labour dominated Royal Commission into Parliamentary reform. There needs to be a completely independant, and non partisan, Commission appointed with the preordained authority to impose their recommendations on Parliament so that MPs themselves cannot decide on which recommendations to accept and which ones they want to reject.
- Pete, South of England
Heard the one about Susan Boyle heading back to Scotland when when found out that Gordon Brown was overdue for a check-up at the Priory? Just a rumour, of course, but one never really knows, does one?
- Ted, London
Never in the field of human conflict was so much money spent by so few MP's. Mr Brown proclaims to lead and yet fears the public he leads; I just hope he does nothing before he gives the public chance to beat him like a rented mule. All through this war one man has stood out as being a person who understands money The right honourable Vince Cable, shame we do not have a grown up enough political system to be able to give him a greater say in the running of financial matters at Westminster, after all we the people pay him a salary and he is clearly the best person to do the job. Darling is little more than a spitting image puppet like most of the cabinet put in place to protect Brown rather than be experts in the fields they govern. If Brown must continue avoiding the public lets hope he does one thing NOTHING.
- Gary, brentwood
Didn't the MP's already have a binding code of conduct of honour, honesty and dedication to serve the public, made when they were sworn in. Instead you Brits got dishonour, dishonesty and a dedication to cheat the public and do them great dis-service. Take heart folks, our lot in the antipodes are no different and stuff their bags with taxpayer monies and unwarranted perks and lurks.
- Len, Perth, Australia
