Morning:
9°c
- Nothing to hide? What MPs could black out
- Behind the story: How the expense scandal has rocked Westminster
- Free lunch: The food expense claims of MPs revealed
- Crocodile tears as MPs praise Speaker they hounded out
- Departing Labour MP used expenses to pay daughter for work under assumed name
- Comment: Sea of black ink would make Orwell proud
- MPs' expenses - what your MP claimed - A-H
- MPs' expenses - what your MP claimed J-Z
- Comedy claims of MPs
- Campaigner hits out at missing pages
- MPs face possible arrest over expense claims
A blatant cover-up of MPs' expenses caused shock and condemnation today. When the Commons finally unlocked its files, huge sections were blacked out.
In what appeared to be an attempt to protect greedy and slippery MPs from exposure, swathes of their claims and detailed demands were censored or missing.
Officially the reason for the continuing secrecy was to protect the security of Members of Parliament.
But Heather Brooke, the freedom of information campaigner who spent five years fighting for the right to see MPs' expenses, said that argument was totally discredited by leaks of the full material.
"I have seen some original documents and avoiding embarrassment has been the key motivating factor in what has been deleted," she said.
The supposedly detailed records of all 646 MPs were posted on the House of Commons website at 6am but much potential incriminating evidence was concealed by thick black squares of ink.
Click here to see what your MP claimed - A-H
Click here to see what your MP claimed J-Z
The Commons censors removed all mention of such outrages as the moat-cleaning claimed for by Tory grandee Douglas Hogg.
Extraordinarily, some of his pages of claims contained more blacked-out squares than writing.
Similarly, huge sections were blotted out of former minister Sir Peter Viggers's claims, including the notorious £1,645 duck house he put on his estate pond.
The bland version offered for public consumption was stripped of MPs' addresses, which would have revealed those like Hazel Blears who "flipped" homes, allegedly to milk their expenses.
Even the names of companies providing goods and gardening services were blanked out to prevent anyone identifying where the work was done. Often, details of the services provided were vague or just missing.
The bills that were revealed, however, included £1.197 million on free food in 2007-08 - an average of £154 a month for every MP - covering everything from pork pies and scotch eggs to Pot Noodles.
Gordon Brown today set up a helpline to counsel "distressed" Labour MPs worried about their expenses claims.
A leaked email to all Labour backbenchers offered legal advice and support if they contacted Mr Brown's aide, Anne Snelgrove.
It became clear that but for a giant, unplanned leak of the unedited receipts to the Daily Telegraph, few of the scandals that have rocked Parliament in recent weeks would have come to light.
Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman, said: "Had it not been for the Daily Telegraph, a lot of this would never have come out. We would never have been able to identify the flipping of homes etc."
Labour MP David Winnick said: "I think all the information should be released, that is essential for transparency."
He added that it was "absolutely disgraceful" that the Commons had tried to get the courts to exempt MPs from freedom of information laws.
Some 1.2 million documents went online in today's huge exercise in disclosure, which was forced upon MPs when they lost a High Court secrecy battle. Among the new disclosures that survived the censor's pen, were:
¬ Liberal Democrat Lembit Opik claimed £19.99 for "the mother of all wigs" to wear at a charity fundraising event.
¬ MPs were allowed to claim for DVDs of their own speeches and to submit bills for services provided by their local political parties.
In a further revelation, it emerged that shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt submitted a 1p phone bill for a 12-second call. Labour's Bob Blizzard also claimed for a 39p paper clip.
The decisions on what could be kept secret were driven by MPs themselves. On their behalf the Speaker, Michael Martin, attempted to oppose publication at the High Court.
That battle was endorsed by the Commons Commission, which included Harriet Harman and her Opposition counterparts.
On expensive legal advice, the MPs won the right to keep secret details that could affect their personal security.
Commons officials then drew up rules on what could be kept secret, such as the location of second homes. The Commons then paid a firm of security consultants to go through the paperwork and delete anything sensitive.
Some of the most outrageous claims that were ultimately rejected were completely missing from the official record today, including attempts by several MPs to recoup the cost of buying Remembrance Day wreaths.
The latest head to roll was that of Treasury minister Kitty Ussher. She was forced to resign when it was revealed she avoided £17,000 capital gains tax on selling her constituency home.
Reader views (96)
The general modus operandi of some of these corrupt politicians makes one wonder just how much further the media have to dig before major frauds are revealed out of the oceans of public funds some of them have been party to managing and distributing to worthwhile causes?
- Robert El-Cid., Hull, East Yorks.,
hahaha it's so funny watching everybody complain...these scum are stealing our money right from under our noses and we write a few words of vitriol in a newspaper online...lol, you have to laugh, they know there is not a damn thing we can do about it. Right now, as you read this, another MP is filling out their expense claim for your money!
- Robert Brett, Basildon, Essex, England
Maybe the Daily Telegraph could do what this disgusting bunch of trash in parliament seems incapable of doing, which is to publish ALL the details that they have claimed, and then start a campaign to have all the villians involved arrested and charged. Then we would HAVE to have an election, as there wouldn't be enough elected members of Parliament out of prison to run the country. Which in itself would be a huge improvement. Why do we need over 600 thieves in parliament?
- L.Taubler, London / ENGLAND
Why do MPs consistently treat the public like mugs? The system allows them to. A general election every 5 years? Imagine what you can get away with if you are only accountable twice a decade!!
MPs talk a good game but given society is driven by money and having more luxuries than your neighbour - you are never ever going to get away from this.
You need to pay them less so they start to learn the value of money and actually watch where each penny goes.
I mean if they went into this for the love of the job then why do they need huge salaries and tax payer contributions to their future - work for it like the rest of us.... you say you work incredibly hard? Stop deluding yourselves in the ivory tower...
- William Bailey, wgtn
Alleged areas of fraud and abuse:- Claims for the cost of mortgages repaid .Costs of maintaining two residences, one in the constituency and one in London. Nominating second homes: Re-designating second homes:furnishing more than one property. (This practice became widely-known as "flipping"). Renting out homes. Subsidising property development: renovated on expenses and then rapidly sold. Evading Capital Gains tax.Claiming expenses while living in grace and favour homes:Renovating and furnishing properties when already standing down or resigning..Furnishing of other homes: ( MPs were able to claim for items of furniture that were actually delivered elsewhere).
- Frank, Bristol UK
Sack them all, prosecute all those who "mistakenly" claimed. Ensure every penny, plus interest is recovered. Bankrupt all political parties, reform parliament, and hold an election. It will be turmoil for years, but eventually we will have a thriving democracy.
- Kerry, purley
Enough is enough now.
Let's get to work in Governing Britain. They've taken a kicking and it's time to move on.
- Paul, Bromley
"this equates to the worst excesses and outrages of stalin's communist regime". Really? I'm glad people aren't going over the top on this. I don't think Brown is having people sent to concentration camps in Siberia or taken outside and shot.
Take MPs in London that don't claim second homes allowances... should they have their home addresses - where their families live, their home phone number and bank account details published? If the government published taxpayer bank account details we'd all go "oh it's terrible" etc etc.
What some of the 650 or so MPs have done it not acceptable but it's not all of them and we really need to get some sense of proportion into this.
- Saunaing Tic Gill, London, England
Hello! The cat's out of the bag, has been for weeks, and still they lie. Amazing! I don't know about you dear reader but I HATE being treated with contempt.
- Steve King, Brentford
this equates to the worst excesses and outrages of stalin's communist regime and only provides further evidence of the abuses and corruption of the snake oil salesman that masquerade as 'honourable' members.
members most certainly, but honourable, trustworthy and
morally sound?
how many of them would you allow to help a pensioner, or toddler across the road? let alone make decisions on behalf of the country and how come the long arm of the law and h.m customs and revenue aren't rattling cages, as they would for us crude mechanicals?
- M.O'Brien, london.uk
How do we dare criticise other governments about corrupt practices when our bunch of hypocrites, cheats and liars are defrauding UK PLc. They bring disgrace on this country and the Police should prosecute these crooked politicans.
- Mike, Esher, Surrey
The time has come for us , the General Public , to march to Parliament and throw them all out - every single one of them - this attempt to cover up by deleting vast swathes of information and the initial attempt to use the courts to block disclosure shows how discredited they are - It is worse than Iran - but be prepared to pay a price for they will not hesitate to use the Police & Army to cling to their jobs - An election will not solve anything because the same people will present themselves for re - election through their constituency parties - no good - we need a completely new start with completely new faces to form an emergency interim Government -
- Frank, UK
Perhaps we the electorate should refuse to vote for candidates who don't undertake to disclose details of their expenses
In this way our representatives may be considered truly honourable
- Paul Lask, London UK
We were involved in two recent wars , and are still involved in one ,partly to eradicate injustice perpetrated by corrupt politicians. Gordon Brown and his henchmen are not much different to the brigands who were partly defeated in Iraq and Afghanistan.It seems that the Conservatives are not much better, and the politicians elected to the European Parliament are on a gravy train that knows no bounds.These people are, to my mind, the scum of the Earth. They are elected to serve their Country, and have done exactly the opposite. In addition, they have made a mockery of what is still, for some obscure reason, known as the "Mother of Parliaments".What a hideous bunch of hypocrytes they all are.The damage to "democracy" is permanent, and I see no way back. The sooner they are all drummed out of Westminster, the better,but only of course, if they are replaced by "honest" politicians. Is there such a thing?
- Ray King, kassel germany
They say "power corrupts". I believe now, in the light of this, that politicians of all parties are corrupt.
If any candidates from the existing government or opposition are expecting my vote at the next election they can forget it.
This issue should be kept at the forefront of all news reporting until election day and then, a "special news edition" published on that day to remind every voter the nature of who and what they are voting for.
- Ian, Cranbrook, Kent
It's the Black and White Minstrels all over again!
- Peter Seekings-Foster, Mildenhall, Suffolk.
Interesting to find out, in detail, exactly what Brown's "Presbyterian" values are. I had no idea that theft and lying and deviousness was an essential part of ANY religion. I wonder how his fellow Scottish church-goers feel about this expose of their religion.
- L.Taubler, London / ENGLAND
Why should only the last 4 years be investigated when the Inland Revenue go back 7 years for us the public and we get crucified with penalties and even jail if we try to avoid paying tax. This is blatent criminal fraud and the Police had better do their job properly and prosecute all offenders - MP's cannot and must not be allowed to operate under different rules to the public. It is patently obvious they made these rules and colluded with the Fees Office and all these individuals are culpable. Any MP who is forced to resign or found to be guilty of fraudelnt claims should not receive golden pay offs. If we are caught with our hand in the till we get sacked and sometimes don't get any notice payment. It's about time Parliament lived in the real world like the rest of us. I would like to know what the ex PM Tony Blair, his money grasping wife, Cherie and Two Jags Prescott claimed for. Maybe someone out there could tell us??
- Carol, London, UK
It just gets better, eastenders is nothing on this!!!
- C Cusano, Bedford
Is it proposed that all previous "mistakes" or "oversights" or whatever are going to result in repayments?
All seems to have gone quiet on police/HMRC investigations! Oh hum.
- Jb, London
Transparency? Moral compass? Cleaning up Parliament? Doing the right thing? It's an utter disgrace. The PM and his administration are a completely dicredited bunch of thieves, as are the Opposition. This is an insult to the electorate. A new recall law should be brought in without delay and all MPs who've benefitted from such behaviour should be unceremoniously kicked out.
- John, Kew, UK
What a total and utter disgrace!
Martin Sands, Lostwithiel, Cornwall
You sum it up for me Martin. They have no shame and have killed the mother of all parliaments. The house of common thieves.
- Gary, brentwood
I really can't see what the problem is the MPs' claims were within 'the rules'. I intend to follow their lead and filch money from my firm for my dog grooming, furniture, expensive holidays abroad, mortgage payments, or any anything else I can think of. I'll just tell them that my husband will divorce me or it was sloppy accounting.
I'll let you know how I get on in Wormwood Scrubs.
- Sonia M., St Albans, Herts
Of course items in the MP's expenses scandal were blocked out. What did you expect from this disgracefully dishonest Government. The truth? Same with the investigation in to the Donations Scandal. The investigation into WMD. The promised Referendum. Formula 1. And the forthcoming Iraq war investigation. We all know the report will find nobody guilty. However, with a General Election coming up will the people be able to swallow the Labour manifesto? Another stillborn child. Brown you are your own worst enemy, happily. What you say and promise never happens. We know? They are all aspirations (lies in other words).
- Albert Hall, hove england
This is a woodenly asinine act that simply displays yet again how out of touch some MPs really are. Val, I think you have been out in the Costa sun too long once more. If you read the article, it specifically states that the degree of secrecy was driven by MPs themselves, backed by Harriet Harman. Brown is of course to blame for not keeping his Ministers in order: if Harman was not following the Government line she should have been reprimanded by him. Since she was not reprimanded that I can recollect, presumably Brown was happy with her stance or too self-absorbed to notice.
- James Elliott, Eastbourne UK
I looked at my MPs expenses for one year....over 500 pages with many thousands of black boxes - which have been added at presumbably enormous cost solely to obfuscate the very information we want to see.
The waste of public money grows ever longer.......
- Gary Adams, London
The whole mob in parliament have skins like rinos
- Richard Edmunds, Rayleigh Essex
This has now become a mass resignation affair and we need a general election NOW.
- Mr G, Leeds UK
Again the governments own efforts would of covered up most of the wrong doings. So much for transparency,its a case of do as I say not as I do.....
- Jay, york, Yorkshire
Welcome to Nu-Labour Britain, twinned with Banana Republic.
- Ronold, London U.K
What a total and utter disgrace!
- Martin Sands, Lostwithiel, Cornwall
What a sham!!!!!
Lies Lies and more lies, yet another whitewash by the beleaguered government.
Why does he not do the honourable thing and just go.
If this happened to a person claiming u/ben, they would be in court for fraud. how can anyone have any faith with any of them , they all a bunch of thieves.
our political system is a joke!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Tony Hegarty, Newcastle
Val Daniels - where do you get your rose tinted glasses from?
- Chris, Brighton, England.
Are they covered by the Official Secrets Act? If not, what is the reason for the transparent and frank disclosure being so heavily censored. Either we have transparency or not. Everything in this country to do with the government is now censored or covered up. On the other hand, when it comes to the citizens of this country, we are monitored, spied upon, terrorist legislation is used by local authorities to gather information on citizens who are innocent of any crime, e-mails can be read and do not forget the infamous SUS law. Stalin eat your heart out!
- Patricia, LONDON
everything Brown does he treats the electorate with contempt. He must surely know that this behavour will only serve to ensure he never becomes Prime Minister again.
- Satnam Singh, corby
Extrordinary!The evidence seems to be mounting that this country is being governed by a bunch of spives,and those in waiting are of a simular ilk!at least Tony bliars government had the guts to just tell bare faced lies.What is to become of us,or maybe to,what has become of us.
- Kev, London-UK
A very cursory look through and I have spotted internet costs charged to luxury hotel rooms and resorts during parliament's summer recess and christmas break.Why? Bottled water at Canadian luxury hotel-why?Refurbished bathrooms-why?
- Amoreno, luxembourg
Re comment removal.
It is a matter of public record, contained in the MPs allowance link, that Boris Johnson claimed almost one hundred thousand pounds in mortgage payments and other household expenses from the public purse. It is therefore not libel to state this, since it is demonstrably true. Boris claimed the sixteen pound claim for a Remembrance Day wreath was a 'mistake'. Despite his track record, I am prepared to believe him on this matter, but I query why we should have to supplement Boris's lifestyle when he already earns almost half a million pounds a year, and why his claims are reciving so little attention.
- Ben Potter, London
I am organising a collection to pay for a bucket of whitewash. This will be used to cover up the thuth about these tax-dodging tax collectors.
- Neil, London, London UK
Ok this is getting stupid now. I feel that I am being taken for an idiot by these people. We need these people to be accountable and transparent, not hide being the secret veil of "commons rules" by blanking out almost everything. How am I to judge my local MP if all I can see is the cost of the bill and not what the bill was for in the first place.
The House of Commons have a great opportunity to put this behind them but no they have to go and screw up again!!! Is it no wonder that extremists are loving this knowing they will get voted in by default.
Crazy!
- Rob Phee, Luton
If you tried to tell someone back in 1997 the story of the NuLabour government as it has unfolded since they came to power. From Tony Blair`s debacle over F1 advertising right through to the latest disgrace of MPs expenses, no one would have believed a word you were saying. They would have thought you were barking mad. Why we haven`t taken to the streets to get rid of this disgraceful government, I don`t know. Perhaps after twelve years of government spin, lying and cheating we have just got so used to it. I find it hard to reconcile that our leader`s strong Presbyterian upbringing, to which he often aludes, has resulted in the current situation where honesty, truthfulness and all the good things we used to value don`t seem to matter to him or the elected people of this country anymore. Little wonder then that apathy is starting to rub off on the rest of us.
- B Gare, Norfolk Gorleston
I think it should be pointed out that MPs are public
servants voted in by the public,but not with a licence
to steal.
If I worked for a company and cheated on my expenses,I
think I would be sacked.So Mr Prime Minister?
- David Nigel Braham, Milan Italy
Are you all being deliberately obtuse, or are you just ignorant about who holds the power in the House of Commons. It wasn't the government who set the guidelines for the publishing of redacted expenses, it was the 646 MPs from all parties, who voted to withhold specific details under the Data Protection Act. Maybe, in your ignorance, you don't know who to blame, so you choose to place the responsibility with Gordon Brown. He cannot overule a HoC vote, as was pretty obvious from the Ghurka debacle. However, thanks to Gordon Brown, next year all expenses will be unredacted, and scrutinised by independent auditors, before they are published on line for all to see. Of course, because of this transparency, MPs are unlikely to claim on a similar level in future.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain
Silly me! I am looking for Blair under "B".
- David., Chertsey.UK.
Who ever submitted this farcical list of expenses should be arrested on a conspiracy to deceive the general public,lets all make sure at the next general election the labour party comes aleast third in the polls at least with that awful lot they call the BNP you Know what to expect Brown and his bunch of villians are still treating us with total contempt the insult our intelligence every time they talk I heard yesterday labour announced that unemployment was around 2.5M the accidently forgot to mention the other 2.8M on job seekers they can't even tell the truth about that they dont Know how to.go back to scotland Brown and see how long they put up with you
- David, Worthing
I checked my former MP's expenses (Sadiq Khan, Tooting). He seems to have 4 printers in his office and spends hundreds of pounds on toner cartridges each year. Why aren't IT contracts negotiated centrally and consumable items supplied by a single supplier? There is thousands, if not millions, to be saved.
Also, he racks up between £200-400 per month on mobile phone calls. It's good to talk, but not save money.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one
It's all quite simple really. Because New Labour is in fact a communist politburo MPs had to be compensated for losing their testicles. What is really criminal is that members of the politburo were at it too.
- Bj, London
I feel deceived by the labour government, they say they were going to be "whiter than white", but then why is there soo much black in there.
- Kuldipp@Gmail.Com, London, UK
Good, it seems that we have finally got a reaction out of Loser Brown - he knows we all feel nothing but contempt for him and his discredited Government and this appears to be his way of sticking two fingers up at us. I, for one, am glad he has finally realised how much we all want him to go.
- St, London
Please can you advise the expenses incurred on the foreign criminal asylum seeker in UK since 10 years. There are Muslims and non muslims who are enjoying lexrious life on tax payer income.How they meet their expenses to establish secretrial and private mosques.How much govt is financing and how much money laundering involve.
They are also burden on the national economy.Govt is using them for own purposes, for how long. Their expenses should also be censored before Britians are in trouble.
- M A Chishty, London
Well Gordon Brown has kept his word about transparency and honesty over MPs expenses.
They are now so transparent; that you cant even see them.
They are also very honest; you cant see the white from the black.
This is good normal Whitehall political thinking; if you cant see the truth, then there are no lies to tell, are there?
Its a good job the British People are known as mugs to British MPs; any other Nationality would not believe them at all.
I look forward to Gordon Browns new government of investment in the UK when he wins the next election? that should be better than Monty Pythons Circus.
- Mickyinlondon, london
The Goverment should resign. This level of information is not acceptable. Shame on Brown.
- Nigel, Baltimore. USA
So bodger brown strikes again, we owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the Daily Telegraph for exposing this corrupt Government. Brown never had any intention to do as the court ruled and have the information on how our money is spent or better miss spent released, but shock horror its all being revealed. This all began with Tony b liar " let the MP s have enough to keep them quiet while i get on and make the millions " ably assisted by bodger brown who i keep as chancellor because he is too stupid to understand. Time to go Labour the feasting is over.
- Alan Davey, London UK
Another complete sham, and there we are having ago at Iran - I suggest the PM and MP's get their house in order first.
If we see what pension pot that Sir Fred has, why can't we see what the MP's have, as yet agin, it is the public's money.
- Don Elwin, Landeleau France
I was amazed that MPs TV licences, window cleaning etc are paid for. Plus food!! Lets match the blanked out bits with what the Telegraph has found out.
- Jim, London
Join me Oliver Cromwell and my friends Guy Falkes as we head to Parliament to put an end to these corrupt politicians.
Off with their heads, and up the revolution.
O. Cromwell
The Manor Reborn
Middle England.
- Oliver Cromwell, The Countryside
This will help us decide at the ballot box next year. Those that sanctioned this censorship will be put out of power.
Bring on the election.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, Hants
It is correct that it's a whitewash-if so much blacked out information can ever be described as a "white" anything. Yet again most MPs have shown they just don't get it. The only winners are the producers of black printer ink.
- Catherine Scott, London England
The report is more like a thief's charter. Where else would "employees" (for that's what MPs are........OUR EMPLOYEES) be indemnified from answering for conduct that can, in some cases, only be discribed as gross malfeasance ??
In this micro chip/spreadsheet age it should be quite easy to produce an individual report on each MP. ALL expenses to be shown, omitting only addresses of properties involved. However each report should state how far from The House members live to justify a second home. All this information MUST be easily available. As inept as the whole Government machine appears to be, they MUST have individual records for each member. I wonder what sort of accounts set-up deals with all matters relating to MPs expenses? What guidlines they work within? Who is the final word as to the acceptability of claims? The Electorate has the right to know and should be able to monitor how their money is being spent.
This report is shameful in it's shortcomings.
- Marie Pestano, Worcester Park
Well, what did you expect? We have in government and in some other parties a bunch of thieving, lying people with no integrity, honesty or care for this country or its indigenous people.
- Lin, LONDON ENGLAND
Thank god for the Daily Telegraph - keep up the good work. We need you to tell the truth and not rely on Parliament who are obviously corrupt.
- Patricia, London
#B Madeoff
Buy Saturday's Telegraph. They are issuing a 68 page magazine which will give full details of all unredacted expenses for the 640 MPs of all parties.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain
Why did they even bother?
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Thank goodness for the Daily Telegraph. They have done a sterling job and their Editor should get a knighhood!
- Adrian, London
I think we should tell John Simpson to forget about Iranian politics and get back to the UK.
- Mr S.Port, London
What you hide in the darkness will come into the light.
Mps.
Bankers.
Ministers.
Making all these taxes and you lot have been sticking your hands in the trough.
Pigs the lot of you.
- Martin, Sheffield
The Government is corrupt.
If they are not careful we will see what is going on in Iran at the moment over here.
- Chris H, City
DEAR SO CALLED HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF PARLEMENT.
You have been guilty of what anyone else would ternm as theft. You have lied in your gain for money and Gordon Brown has totally shown himself to be a coward and a cheat againts not just the public but also th Labour Party.
Shame on you and more shame.
- Jaberwokie, Switzerland
I looked up my MP's expenses and what she bought was blacked out in a number of cases, suppliers names were also blacked out in some expenses and the price paid was also blacked out on others.
Wo what have I fownd out from this display of free and frank disclosure, well there is still a Parlimentary cover-up, my (Labour) MP has something to hide and that because of this it is highly unlikly that I will vote Labour in the next election.
Open Government ??? Pah !
- Jack, London
I am amazed at the corruption in this country. We need to march on parliament - look at Iran.
- Demo Now, London
CROOKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- A.Txpayer, London
There you have everything you wanted to know about our ruling classes.They are never going to tell you anything.And would not even have change the system if they had not being cuaght out.
- Dave Smith, Croydon
Good God, do they never learn?
- Steven Dale, London, England
What a TOTAL and UTTER WHITEWASH!!!! Every working MP across the land should hang their head in shame....and also what's the point of having a Freedom of Information Act if this is the level of "transparency" that the public receives?? They're a disgusting bunch of liars - the whole lot of them!!!
- Ali Sichilongo, London
A couple of years ago I asked Companies House why Directors had to have their home addresses and dates of birth published as this obviously assisted identity fraud. The answer was tough, Parliament decreed it. Once again, it's us and them
- Louis, London, UK
After seeing the evidence of MP's living expenses published with all the incriminating details blacked out... I can't wait for the verdict of the "behind closed doors" Iraq war inquiry.
Can we really continue to accept a Government that treats its citizens as if they are complete idiots.
How about we all submit tax returns with all the details blacked out and see how the government likes it.
I am astonished by this latest act of lunacy from the Labour government. To say they will publish all the expense claims and then to do so with the details blacked out makes them look like complete fools and us look like complete fools for letting them get away with it.
It is at moments like these that the concept of democracy is shown to be non-existent.
It makes me very sad.
Joe
- Joe, Kiev, Ukraine
Now we know the truth about what MPs are willing to publish.
The real question is... given this redacted information, would any of the gross abuses by MPs have been caught from the redacted list? The answer I fear is that no MP would have any case to answer from this soft politically censored list...
This is not acceptable and is a clear demonstration that organised corruption is at work.
It is one thing being caught out by an unauthorised leak, but it is rubbing salt into the wound when the redacted claims (that MPs have had time to carefully prepare and think about) show no abuses of expense claims Who do they think they are kidding?
We need the unredacted list to be provided to a newspeppaper on a regular basis in order to police these charletans. They have just demonstrated they will never publish the true picture themselves.
- Stephen, Swindon
I think we now know what the report into the Iraq War will now look like....
- Ken, Brighton, East Sussex
What was also instructive was that Andrew Mackay, the first Tory MP to be made to resign was irate that he had been told by the Telegraph that they would not reveal his scam, but the Tory Star Court found out about it and he became a convenient sacrifice for Cameron after his stormy Public Meeting. How many more of Cameron's Cronies were favored by the Telegraph in this way? Surely the Telegraph should now make the original records available to other papers for full research on all MP's, including top Tories, expense claims.
- B Madeoff, Queens Park England
Well I didn't think I would ever see the day when I was grateful to the Daily Telegraph! After everything that has been published by the DT why has Parliament (this is not a government issue) decided to take another step backwards to getting the voters' trust back?
- Andy, london
Our provincial parliament in London is corrupt to the core, but the federal government in Brussels is even more corrupt (by a factor of five, according to one estimate) -- and you can't get even blacked-out information from the latter! The auditors haven't been able to sign off on the federal government's books for the last 13 years.
- Phil Jones, London UK
There is more transparency with the KGB
Thank god for the Daily telegraph, we would never have known how MPs have been taking liberties with the public purse. They were elected to serve the public not themselves.
- Mr S.Port, London
The new theme for the Palace of Wstminster "Nice N Sleazy" This is a whitewash and speaks volumes about Brown and open governemnt. These documents look some historical records from Stalin's government. These documents would not have shed much light (if any) on the merky goings on. WE NEED AN ELECTION NOW AND KICK THEM ALL OUT.
- Jeremy E, Home Counties
They still don't get it!
With all that has ocurred in the past month, the political establishment have still to grasp the true meaning of the word "transparency"!
If they serioussly believe that this heavily censored publication of MPs' greed and venality will suffice, then they really are living in a parallell universe.
We owe a huge debt to the Commons employee who enabled the true picture to enter the public domain. That individual should be honoured by a grateful nation.
- John C, Leatherhead, UK
Alan Green, Woodford Green, I too share your confusion.
The sad and simple truth is that democracy has been replaced in this country by politics, of the New Labour variety.
- J R J, Glen Vine
There cannot be a general election until all this is sorted out. I would like to think my MP is honest but I am now very dubious. Also any MP who has more than 100 constituents who commute to London should have no second home allowance.
After sorting this out they need to look at local councils as I suspect there are probably equally dodgy expenses claims!
- Man U Fan, London
100% yes, goody-goody Gordon's own interpretation of 'transparency' is 'black out' and 'white wash'. What a farce, what a waste of time, manpower and more of taxpayers' money on more lies, spins and secrecy.
- K Lee, Cheshunt, UK
What an absolute bunch of ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨!
They are just taking the ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ out of us mug taxpaying ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨.
The whole shower of ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ should be jailed for theft forthwith.
Yours
Rt Hon ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ MP
Constituency ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
- Edgar, London
This is 'In Your Face' Corruption not to publish the facts of how and where 'Taxpayers Money' is being used and misused by excessive abuse of their corrupt system.
Brown get out you re a disgrace to the country you serve, as are most of these so-called MP's.
You Brown didn't have the 'GUTS' to do your job as PM, so it was left to young Nick Cleg to do your job foe you.
If Joe Public filled in his Tax Returns omitting items as you are doing they would be prosecuted.
The Public, arent interested in apologies or Pay Backs we need the Police to handle this bunch of crooks. Do you the public not agree?
Signed Carl Barron Chairman of agpcuk
- Carl Barron, Christchurch, Dorset
How can we expect these people too run our country when they do not live in the real world what they have done is wrong they have claimed benifits and expenses that everyday honest people would not dream of doing they advertise on tv the radio & posters etc that they are cracking down on benifit fraud and that you should report anyone claiming benifits that you feel they should not be claiming this is no different, they know what they have done is fraud and they should be punished for it at the end of the day thats our money they have wasted
- Lee, Hastings uk
"sloppy accounting".being self employed i have to congratulate eric morley on giving me a perfect excuse as to why my income tax was accidentally wrong.(in my favour of course!)plenty of money to spend on a holiday to hawaii now!thanks eric.
- Russ, luton
Oh what a surprise....
One law for them about what details they have to supply. And another for us, where we even have to supply an inside leg measurement when questioned.
- Gary, London
THEY SAID THEY HAD TO CLAIM FOR FOOD AND TVS, I DID NOT UNDERSTAND.
THEY SAID IT WAS ALL IN THE RULES, I DID NOT UNDERSTAND.
SO WHEN THEY SAID THEY WOULD PAY IT BACK, I DID NOT UNDERSTAND.
NOW THEY SAY I HAVE NO RIGHT TO KNOW, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND.
BUT I DO KNOW ONE DAY WE WILL HAVE DEMOCRACY, THEN I THINK THEY WILL UNDERSTAND. ITS GOODBYE
- Alan Green, Woodford Green
EDITED by admin @ 14.39 on June 18 2009
Libellous comments will be removed
- Ben Potter, London
Gormless Brown spouted that he intended to be more "open" and "transparent" to regain the public's trust.
DID GORMLESS BROWN CLAIM FOR THE COST OF THE THOUSANDS OF BLACK MARKER PENS USED TO OBLITERATE DETAILS IN MP's EXPENSES?
WHAT AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE TO DEMOCRACY.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe UK
Kitty should not only be removed from the Goverment but cease to be Burnley's MP now and a Bye Election Called as there are some prospective candidates already in place, why should she carry on till the Election drawing her expenses and Salary plus her severance package and generous pension
- Arthur Wilkins, Burnley United Kingdom
