Frank63

It appears Tony Blair claimed his TV licence fee on his expenses.

Does the team think he's an 'a*s*h*l*'

" I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception" Groucho Marx

batman

Perhaps he had a lot of late night research to do on Red Hot Xtra or whatever it's called.

I wish I had claws.

Marky B

I thought that before this allegation came up - long,long,long before.
Ta Ta
Marky B

I once shot an elephant in my pyjamas - how he got in my pyjamas,I'll never know

Steve Crook

He's a politician. When did you last see an altruistic politician? They're all out for whatever they can make out of the system

Steve

CaptainWaggett

I'm no great fan of Tony but presumably No 10 only needs one tv licence and there must be a tv in the office bit (weren't they all sitting around watching it in The Queen). So the tv license would be part of legitimate work expenses just as the one at Conservative Central Office is. Would you buy a second tv licence if you didn't need to? Before I leap to same conclusion as the Daily Mail, I think I'd like to know what other MPs do about their licences.

Dame Starry

Who mentioned the Daily Mail? This is a general news item.

Fellwanderer

The good captain is simply well aware of the take that the Daily Hate will have on it.

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

CaptainWaggett

Yes indeed, Fellwanderer. I find MPs ' expenses claims as jawdropping as everyone else (£100 for a bedside table. Seriously?) but a tv licence doesn't seem an entirely unreasonable claim. I'm sure the Mail or Evening Standard would be pretty quick to criticise if a senior MP said he never watched Newsnight. And I'd like to know Cameron's claims before I assume Tony or Gordon are behaving like Imelda Marcos.

On a slightly different note, here's a little story from yesterday's Grauniad about Anthony Asquith's dad. How times have changed.

nandywell

Oh come along CaptainWaggett, you're defending the indefensible here. You'll be telling me next that nouvelle cuisine is the perfect inspiration for making correct political decisions and that expensive wine tasting trips to southern France are organized in the best interests of improving European relations. Why the hell should the poorest of the poor have to pay top dollar for this, that and the other, when wealthy politicians pay for sod all?

I wouldn't pay them frigg all, they'd get a basic salary of between £25k-£50k a year and that is it! no travel expenses, no living expenditures and no bonuses. These bloody rotters are taking the absolute piss!

CaptainWaggett

I'm not claiming that all their expenses are legitimate and some of them clearly behave disgracefully. I don't actually remember saying anything about wine-tasting (though would you turn one down if you were offered it in work-time?). However, before calling for a witch-hunt against one particular MP, I would like to know more about other claims. I'm sure we all have perks in our jobs that seem odd to others and that we would be very unhappy to lose. If Tony is the only MP to get a free tv licence, I'd be very surprised indeed.

And how exactly is an MP who represents an out-of-London constituency supposed to survive on £30,000 a year with no travel expenses? (I live in London and struggle and I don't have to visit Manchester every weekend). I don't like the way they are able to use their housing allowance to invest in property but it doesn't actually seem unreasonable that an MP for the Scottish Highlands should be able to have homes in both his constituency and London. Unless you expect him never to visit his constituency. Or take a second job which then means he's not working for the electorate.

Freddy

An unfair generalisation of MPs, the majority of who go about their work quietly and diligently.

I cannot go as far back as Asquith but the Liverpool MP Terry Fields only drew a worker's wage when he represented the people of Broadgreen in the eighties. Although no MP goes that far now there are good MPs out there, who will help you and represent you when needed and who aren't all out for what they can get.

It's a bit like the classroom, the naughty names are always known and the rest just get on with it.


Freddy

CaptainWaggett

Same with Dennis Skinner and Ken Livingstone (when an MP - don't know what he does now). Both worked out the average salary for their constituency and just drew that.

Lord Lucan

This isn't a party issue, they are all the same they all have their snouts in the trough. They claimed £87 million in expenses last year, no wonder they wanted it kept secret.

Freddy

Cheers Captain, thanks for the update.

Freddy

Freddy

If you look into it further and feel the same way then fair enough!

I just don't like condemning a group or whatever by the actions of others. If there is only one good man amongst thousands then let us acknowledge him.

Freddy