Am I the only PB Leftie to defend and feel sorry for Maria Miller? She has been found not guilty FFS.
I somewhat agree, but it doesn't change how the public will see it. I sense we're still at the stage where Joe Public sees any expenses story about a politician and has a knee-jerk furious reaction. Some BBC reporter who went to her constituency to ask for views found virtually noone who defended her ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26878527 ), and the Question Time audience yesterday got very animated by it, which is stark contrast to most of these tedious Westminster bubble stories (Plebgate, Rennardgate, etc.) which usually get very muted audience reactions on those types of shows
Frankly, so what if they didn't defend her? Mob law. She has been tried and found not guilty.
So, she's being forced to re-pay expenses despite being not guilty? The amount was reduced by her fellow MPs from the amount set by the independent investigator. Gosh, that stinks.
And what about the obstruction to the investigation? A sign of innocence in your eyes? Not in mine.
And what about benefit over-claimers? Are they treated with such kid gloves? Do they have the amounts they have to re-pay reduced by their fellow claimants?
Finally, it was strictly against the rules to house your parents in a house paid for by parliamentary expenses. Just ask Tony McNulty.
Fox agreed and hopefully the new rules will tighten MPs expenses, but we should take care not to exaggerate MPs' remuneration. 2 threads back James Bond said MPs earn more than the average City worker, in fact MPs earn £66,396 per annum, the average City wage is now £83,000 http://www.standard.co.uk/business/citys-average-pay-leaps-12-to-83000-6370229.html
Fox agreed and hopefully the new rules will tighten MPs expenses, but we should take care not to exaggerate MPs' remuneration. 2 threads back James Bond said MPs earn more than the average City worker, in fact MPs earn £66,396 per annum, the average City wage is now £83,000 http://www.standard.co.uk/business/citys-average-pay-leaps-12-to-83000-6370229.html
Yebbut.... Do MPs actually put their hands in their pockets for... um... anything?
Fox agreed and hopefully the new rules will tighten MPs expenses, but we should take care not to exaggerate MPs' remuneration. 2 threads back James Bond said MPs earn more than the average City worker, in fact MPs earn £66,396 per annum, the average City wage is now £83,000 http://www.standard.co.uk/business/citys-average-pay-leaps-12-to-83000-6370229.html
Maria Miller has her ministerial salary as well as her MP's salary, though hopefully not for long.
Is that a reason to destroy her life? I don't agree with her politics either but she strikes me as a decent family woman and she has been found not guilty. Shades of the Harriet Harman stuff, such is the feeding frenzy.
I don't want her destroyed. I just object to paying for her life to be enriched,far beyond what she could expect to earn in the real world.
In what respect? She has been found not guilty of any wrongdoing. Just because she is a Tory doesn't mean we should lose sight of that fact.
@Bobafett: Even allowing for the legalistic "not guilty" [ which is not correct. Why is she paying any money back then ? ] verdict, one point still remains:
The mortgage on the house was actually higher than the cost of the house. In other words, she took out the additional money for other investments / spending.
And we are paying for that interest too !
So, even if we agree that at that time MPs were allowed to claim on the mortgage for the second house, should we also pay for other investments too ?
And as far as trying to bully the Standards Commissioner, she behaved like a b!tch !
Comments
And what about the obstruction to the investigation? A sign of innocence in your eyes? Not in mine.
And what about benefit over-claimers? Are they treated with such kid gloves? Do they have the amounts they have to re-pay reduced by their fellow claimants?
Finally, it was strictly against the rules to house your parents in a house paid for by parliamentary expenses. Just ask Tony McNulty.
http://www.standard.co.uk/business/citys-average-pay-leaps-12-to-83000-6370229.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/10746109/BBC-wants-you-to-pay-TV-licence-fee-even-if-you-dont-own-a-set-as-shows-go-on-iPlayer-for-longer.html
The mortgage on the house was actually higher than the cost of the house. In other words, she took out the additional money for other investments / spending.
And we are paying for that interest too !
So, even if we agree that at that time MPs were allowed to claim on the mortgage for the second house, should we also pay for other investments too ?
And as far as trying to bully the Standards Commissioner, she behaved like a b!tch !