Has Eric Pickles seen the light on expenses?

SJ, London

So that's alright then? Tosh. All he's done is make barbed remarks against well known cases involving ministers before throwing in some daft Wallace & Gromitism as a sop to those he's trying to win back. You're fools for publishing this.

Ray

The test of Eric's sincerity will be if he votes to end the whole allowances charade.

PS - As an aside, this week it was announced that Ian Pearson MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, is to split from his wife because of the pressure of ministerial work - perhaps a timely reminder that the life of an MP is not always jolly. In the midst of all our rage, I hope we can even so spare a thought also for the pain that our politicians often have to bear on account of their unusual occupation.

Tankus

I would believe him more if he cut out all his expenses.....right now

no ifs, no buts , just a bit of honesty in action ...words mean nowt ..as they say oop north ,

.... and even less if its from a corpulent well seasoned gravy train passenger with an annual pass (claimed on expenses no doubt ! )

George Laird

Dear Fraser

Has Eric Pickles seen the light?

Do you mean the light has suddenly gone on about the fact his career has nosedived?

This sack cloth and ashes routine wouldn't even win back the simple minded never mind the fair among us.

His statement;

""I cannot justify members of parliament claiming flat-screen televisions, buying beds, buying three-piece suites, buying cookers, buying microwaves".

I don't have a problem with an MP having;

A flat screen tv, multiples in the same house, yes, that's wrong with the taxpayers forking it out.

three piece suite, do we want an MP and their guests to sit on the floor? That's fine too.

As to buying a cooker, do we expect an MP to live off cold food, that's okay.

Buying mircowaves is okay as well.

Mr. Pickles reminds us that he is not at it regarding domestic goods but that leaves the elephant in the room.

His second home allowance because it takes him 4 hours to travel 37 miles by mechanised transport.

Rather than going entirely the other way to be as a white knight; he should have taken the time to write a proper argument.

Finally; we are treated to an oily piece of sentiment;

"I buy me own bed".

If you want to play the yokel card Mr. Pickles save it for 'have I got got news for you', then there maybe a context which the public can laugh as well.

Ehh by gum lad best get yourself off down pit!

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Wight Tory

I really don't get whats so difficult about saying those that live more than 40 miles but less than 70 miles are to have rented accomodation, at a maximum level and non-family owned. More than 70 (or 2 hours using quickest public transport (not plane) timetable) miles a basic allowance for first year purchases in a second home. Nothing is perfect, if your a minister you live in the home provided or forego the right to claim anything as the costs of police protect envaribly goes up as a result of this.

There, sorted now how about getting on with getting us out of hole we are up to our necks in....

oldrightie

Eric's decency ended up in that terrible moment. All those carping would more likely be on the Jaqui side of that "claiming " nonsense.
So many carp on but have little in the way of input.

hadrian

I must comfess, without at all wishing to be cruel, but when I saw Eric Pickles' full performance- not just his painful honesty on expenses- on QT I really did despair that this quality of speaker was the best the Tories could have come up with. Now I am fully aware often the best and most deeply thinking MPs actually aren't the slickest in eloquence but Pickles' apparent lack of serious contribution on any issue did greatly perturb.
Still, it may be the straight talking Northerner has bags of 'real life' experience that compensate for the presentation non-skills.
He was certainly noutshone by the others on the Panel, even the gratingly relentlessly facetious Michael Winner.

TrevorsDen

Pickles contribition was not pearticularly bad. He made a meal of the expenses part because the entire audience and the chairman were anti politician on this point. The problem for Pickles was he - quite legally and not corruptly - claimed for a London flat whilst living 37 miles away.

I think the public are getting their nickers in a twist about this - and some commentators are becoming sanctimoniuous beyond belief. The outer london boundary might need changing but this is marginal to the issue. MPs are peripatetic and work all kind of various hours. Indeed a proper MP ought to be always at work.
I do not mind expenses for good MPs good politicians. Bad and fraudulent ones are another thing. Lets be clear - Smith for instance was operating a disgraceful fraudulent scam.

Joey

He's got you hook, line, sinker and copy of angling times.

Mark

@hadrian

Eric Pickles' hole-digging on MPs expenses was the climax of very worrying recent performances by the Tories on Question Time. On just about every major issue that voters are concerned about, the Tories hold almost identical views to Labour. There is no difference between these two parties. From the War on Terror and its illegal wars to Europe, public spending and the environment, these parties' similarities have landed us in a one-party state in all but name. And you don't need Peter Hitchens to tell you this. Anyone with a pair of eyes in their head can see it.

John Lea

George Laird: never thought I would say this, but you are spot on. Pickles may find commuting declasse, but he's on the gravy train alright, like the rest of them. He clearly believes that, by speaking with a regional accent and making a few cute remarks, we're all going to embrace him as a man of the people. The Tories are just as corrupt as Labour on this one.

George Laird

Dear John Lea

"George Laird: never thought I would say this, but you are spot on".

I bet that hurt but thank you.

Yours sincerely

Goerge Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

hadrian

Well, TrevorsDen, if you thought Pickles' Performance was satisfactory you must be easily pleased. I thought his responses woefully shallow and shockingly inarticulate at times. Liam Fox was another poor speaker. Slick presentation and wordiness can all too often conceal threadbare argument, I concede, and empty vessels make the most noise but one at least expects logical compelling reasoning.