It’s really all kicking off, isn’t it. If it isn’t Jacqui Smith’s other half craftily shaking hands with the Governor of Love, there’s the frantic house re-alocation in order to gain the most cash out of our pockets.
None of this is illegal, of course, now that Mr Smith has paid for his Gentleman’s Relaxation Videos.
It’s pretty immoral though. No, not the wanking, the spending (of money!).
I occaisionally travel on business. Not gthat often, but sometimes. When I do, I claim expenses. For instance, this trip gives me the following:
1. Mileage to and from there at 40p/mile in my own car, or train/taxi fares, or a fuelled pool car, and parking and tolls paid for.
2. A decent hotel room, B&B paid for, and a meal allowance that’s enough to get something decent.
3. An allowance for incidental expenses. If I supply receipts, I get all of it (£100). If I don’t, I pay tax.
Now that sounds reasonable to me. My expenses are covered, I get a decent room and meal, and I’m not out of pocket. I may even make a small amount for the inconvenience, maybe, but not much. As MarkyB does this sort of thing more, and Bumpkin Andy has been known to, chip in.
You’ll notice how it doesn’t pay for any of those repairs that need doing around the house, or things I’d have to buy anyway (One MP claimed for nappies for a baby, for example). If, for examplemy toilet seat breaks (as a random example), i can’t declare my house to be my second home, and submit an expense claim to get it fixed.
So then. How can they justify it? Anyone?
[edit]
I love this.
Here’s something else. How come the taxpayer has to pay for “repairs” and “TV’s” when all of that stuff has to come out of our pocket for us? And why can’t they have accommodation provided by the Crown Estate (i.e. the Queen) for those that do have to stay over in London? No arguments then as their accommodation could come off the civil list and everybody would have the same.
Darling has had four houses in four years – what’s he doing? Making enough money to fill the budget deficit on his own?
The problem with of all of this is that it might let the BNP in….
^^^^^I agree.
Its all about “rules”.
I claim expenses for my travel accomadation and subsistence. All of these are charged to the client who wants me to travel to Norwich, Italy, Barcelona or wherever. We can also claim “diturbance allowance” off the company for buggering about on Sundays and more than 2 nights away. We also have an unwritten sum of £5 a night for drinks if we want to….being a daft prat, I have never claimed this because if I want a drink at home, I pay for it and feel that this should apply when I am away as well. Perhaps I am too honest. Perhaps, If I started ripping the arse out of the system, the company would clamp down on it.
A lesson for the people’s representatives in parliament maybe?