Pensions

[John]

The only plus point for the Conservatives is that every expense receipt and detail is
on the Net and transparent.

This Labour Government spent millions of pounds attempting to hide expenses.

Whoever you vote for, they need to be monitored and if you have the slightest
query then you should email them at a minimum.

The only way that they will take notice is when real interest is taken, not just
in passing at election time.

[Elder Rebel]

John

You make a valid point but it represents only a part of the expenses saga.

Have you studied the subject of Overseas Study groups or the Commonwealth visits where 'STUDY' visits are made to exotic locations having 5 star hotels to study some unknown problem for say a day during the two or three week stay (wives and concubines included)

I will say this for our MP's.  They are assiduous and inventive in  their search for suitable troughs to wallow in.  Would that they were as hard working and dedicated on the subject of sustained challenge to Ministers and their often expensive mad cap schemes.

It is rare for any MP to challenge anything which will bring the MP less reward.  That is why MP's pensions are among the best in the world.  They always put themselves first !!

[cheddar-caveman]

All to true! The MP's today have forgotten that they are elected by US and paid by US to represent OUR views in the government. As soon as they get elected the only person they think about is themselves and what they can get out of the system.

It is very obvious that the system HAS to change

[Papaumau]

All to true! The MP's today have forgotten that they are elected by US and paid by US to represent OUR views in the government. As soon as they get elected the only person they think about is themselves and what they can get out of the system.

It is very obvious that the system HAS to change

Well said cheddar-caveman !

The only way that the system can change is if WE change it !

[Hugh]

The only way things will change if people will only use their own brains and not follow their mums and dads who have followed their mums and dads. Our MP Alan Meale will get in again in our area because he's labour and for no other reason. He milks the system for its worth. He's no more than a fence sitter and I for one hates the sight of him. Still trying to spot him in Parliament I know he clocks in but only to get his money but then what.

[Papaumau]

It is true Hugh, that many politicans get into politics as a way of serving their own selfish needs and it is a great truism that the need/desire to be a politican should be the very first quality that should deny them the entry into that kind of a career.

Having said that and recognising that I can be very cynical at times I do think that at least one in ten of them are really there to be good public servants and to try to do what their constituents want them to do.

The great killer of this desire is the party-political drive that is found in the dogma attached to any of the parties whereby acts of conscience are often crushed under the heels of the party whips.

That is why I have always felt that it is not a good thing for ANY political party to be elected with too big a majority as a big majority means that they are often able to indulge in pet projects and party-political acts instead of actions that are good for the electorate in general.