UK NEWS

MP: WE WERE TOLD TO SPEND

EXPENSES: MPs are encouraged to spend money

Monday March 30,2009

By Mark Ritson

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(19)

MPs are under orders to “go out boys and spend it” when it comes to expenses, a Labour backbencher said yesterday.

Harry Cohen has claimed more than £300,000 for his constituency home in Leytonstone, east London, since 1990.

He even declares he lives in his Leyton and Wanstead constituency on his website.

But he also lists as his main homes a one-bedroom schoolhouse in Colchester, in Essex, which is 60 miles from London, and a caravan on nearby Mersea Island.

Under Commons rules, MPs are banned from claiming for a property where they spend most nights as it is considered their main home. Mr Cohen said the arrangement was cleared with the Commons authorities.

But he also alleged last night, MPs were told in the 1980s by then Conservative minister John Moore, to “go out boys and spend it”, after he increased allowances to head off a pay revolt by backbench Tories.

Mr Cohen said he had taken advantage of it ever since. He added: “It is part of my salary in all but name. I am doing nothing wrong whatsoever.”

DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH.....PLEASE....SHAME ON YOU ALL!

30.03.09, 11:59pm

Don't believe a word of this corrupt government....they of course will cover everything up and get away with it but all you mugs out there think of your children who will have to pick up the pieces of our undoing.........how for so long have you managed to keep these bas.....thieves in government is beyond me.......! You ain't seen nothin yet.....show the downfall of this pathetic country with its pathetic ideals.....Not For the British person anyway.

• Posted by: RealIstic08 • Report Comment

BEEFY..WAKE UP?

30.03.09, 7:25pm

Listen...from way back to the 80s nothing has been done to change the MP's expenses, regardless of what government was elected.

ALL MP's not only labour have claimed these expenses, just wait and see when everything is disclosed concerning ALL their expenses.

• Posted by: Hiphopper • Report Comment

PART OF SALARY

30.03.09, 6:49pm

If this waste of space Cohen thinks expenses are salary, then it should be taxed as such. The freak owes at least 120k.

• Posted by: patriot100 • Report Comment

MP: WE WERE TOLD TO SPEND!!!

30.03.09, 6:43pm

SPEND IT!!

30.03.09, 6:08pm

Just goes to show how stupid the British are for putting up with all this...Wouldn't happen in France..

• Posted by: Geoff3.

Geoff3, I think you will find that it goes on in every country in the world, albeit in one form or another!

Whatever system is in place to prevent abuse, it will be circumvented by those that have access to it!

What amazes me is that Joe Public is amazed by these revelations, these shenanigans have been going on since Parliament has been in place, why now the big hoo-ha now?

Joe Public has no idea of the vested interests that Politicians/House of Lords have that are in direct conflict with the office that they hold!

But, as the rules were set up by them, they will be abused by them, it's the nature of the beast I'm afraid!

Morality & Politics, an oxymoron if ever there was one!

GERONIMO