Tories tainted by expenses revelations

Opportunity to show the people the Tories stand for decency- BLOWN

This is so depressing. People expect the worst of a government that have been in power as long as this one but they look to the opposition for change and hope and a higher moral standard. That has now been blown out of the water. They are all at it, every last greedy one of them. Cameron spouts change at every opportunity but if they win the election there will be no change. I am disgusted.

Carrie

In 1997 the Tories were mired in sleaze, cash for questions, sex scandals etc. Blair and New Labour were able to claim the moral high ground and promise the people of this country a better future because Labour were 'clean', in other words didn't have any scandals of their own. David Cameron and the Tories cannot claim to be anything other than the same as Labour but wearing blue rosettes. It's so disheartening because this country is in a terrible state in every possible area but how on earth can we claim to represent change and a better futrue when Tory MP's are doing EXACTLY the same as Labour MP's.

TomTom

As a Conservative supporter I fell very very disappointed. Where have the morals of these people gone? Just because Labour do something doesn't mean we should as well. I wish we could get rid of the whole political class, every MP in Parliament and start all over again from scratch.

TGF UKIP

Duncan would be too obviously nowt more than a sacrificial goat. On the other hand if Dave did dismiss Maude and Grayling, or even require them to repay an independently audited portion of what they had fiddled, he would gain huge kudos.

Not that he will do any such thing, though. Instead we'll just have lots more of the untuous, handwringing,sanctimonious, "sincere" crap which fools only Pete's mum.

In Dave's world political incorrectness is a far worse sin than stealing from the taxpayer. Just ask Patrick Mercer and Nigel Hastilow.

Stan, UK

What have we the British people done to deserve these scumbag MP's, of all parties. Surely we deserve better political leadership than what we are being offered now. I feel very let down by a party I have supported all my adult life. Where is the incentive to go out and spend our precious time campaigning to get these people elected, then they can sit there and take us taxpayers for all we are worth. Yeah that's right us TAXPAYERS, who are working our fingers to the bone keeping this country afloat. The very same workers who will be paying of Brown's/Cameron's debt for years to come.

Disgusted

********NEWS ALERT*********

Conservatives snatch defeat from the jaws of victory yet again.

Jessie

I have yet to hear an MP apologise to the people of this country for the behaviour of our so called betters. I wish there was a way to kick all 649 of the out of the Commons.

Johnny

To me this seems worse than the Labour stories because nineteen of the shadow cabinet are millionaires and nearly all have highly paid second third fourth fifth.....jobs. Don't know why it just does.

Daniella Hornby

I hope to God Cameron, Osborne and Boris Johnson are as pure as the driven snow or this is gonna get very nasty indeed.

Tory Toffs P**S OFF

In the words of Hazel Blears Cameron's 'response' was LAMENTABLE!

CAROL-ANN

Parliament should now be dissolved, and let the people deliver their verdict.

Sally

The Times is reporting that the MP's are going to farm out this process to a private company and exempt expenses claims from freedom of information. This is totally wrong and must be opposed by the Conservative party, if they are to come out of this mess with any credibility. We need open and transparent Government to have any confidence in our democratic process.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6262083.ece

Conscious Hypocrite

Cracking - the Labour apologists are out in force to lay it into the Tories. Grayling and Maude must go (prima facie). Gove looks genuine. The real test of Cameron's leadership will be to stand by Gove against the frenzy to 'hang 'em all' and justify his reasons for doing so.

Tim nice but Dim

What I want to know is how they get the banks to lend them hundreds of thousands of pounds in mortgages when they only have a salary of 60 odd grand?? I thought the maximum they would lend was 5 times your salary.

JohnAnt

"If there are going to be no sackings from the shadow Cabinet over this, and word is that there won’t be."
There won't be any sackings?? Is Dave too frit?
You know what Mrs Thatcher would have done? She'd have stonewalled blandly and loudly: e.g. 'This is no time to pick on individuals for the mistakes of a whole sorry system! Let no one try to give this party a lesson, when the party opposite has been behaving with the utmost etc etc' Then she'd have glared
in private round her little bunch of greedy pigs, put the fear of God into all of them, then picked out a couple of Wets she'd disliked for some time, and sacked 'em.

Kirsty

Cameron MUST sack someone and he needs to do it quickly and decisively when it still matters.

Verity

Why on earth did anyone expect better of the self-described heir to Blair?

He's a left wing social democrat masquerading as a Tory because people would believe he's a Tory because he has a posh accent. He was picked for this reason. Anyone would imagine that anyone from Eton would be a Conservative. Good trick! - but it only worked with the naive. Everyone else knows exactly what Cameron is up to. The EUSSR/One Worlder agenda and furtherance of himself.

On another issue, the Cameron choice was doubly stupid because any sane Conservative Leader, once in power, would dismantle the shabby, cheap edifice of "life peers" and bring back the herediteries. This needs to be done. Cameron, I assure you, would oppose it, partly because, by his background, he is automatically disqualified in the minds of the voters, from making a disinterested choice. From every point of view, the appointment of the, in fact, socially disadvantage Cameron was destructive - and I believe intentionally so.

TomTom

i>TomTom
May 11th, 2009 12:37am

As a Conservative supporter I fell very very disappointed. Where have the morals of these people gone? Just because Labour do something doesn't mean we should as well. I wish we could get rid of the whole political class, every MP in Parliament and start all over again from scratch.

TomTom did nOT write this comment

Hayward Maberley

They are all alike, never mind the political cant that they spout. Akin to the Gadarene Swine, not stampeding over the cliff however. They all stampede towards the trough exhibiting a noisome mixture of hypokrisis and pleonexia.

strapworld

Cameron has to prove that he understands the real anger amongst all people towards MP's now.

He cannot allow any of his shadow cabinet- who cannot explain, why they have been highlighted, in a satisfactory manner- to remain in those positions. He must sack them now.

How can we expect to have any respect for any of these, named, if they went on to become Cabinet members.

Sorry is not the only word Mr. Cameron.

"You are fired" are three more words we want and require you to use.

Tiberius

Perhaps we can get cross-party agreement to sack every MP who is criticized by the DT.

We could then elect our government from the 5.3m on benefits, who are all whiter-than-white, and quite capable of running the country.

We have discovered we have a useless system of scrutiny of MPs expenses, and the reaction of some is to want to decapitate British politics of some of its best people.

Whatever we do to stop this malpractice, that course of action seems a bit dumb if you ask me.

Common Place

Dissolve Parliament.

Let the electorate voice their anxiety at the polling booth.

Oscar

I'd say Cameron has had a good expenses war so far. The opinion polls will be the final judge of that.

Mark

Some classic McBride esque stooging going on, predictably, what gets me is how nasty and fearful the Labour types are getting as they fight to claw onto power. Cameron is moving in the correct direction ok this and anyway, what credibility does Blears et al have to make any comment?

Vulture

Maude has long been a boil on the Tory party's backside. A hardline Thatcherite minister, he smartly switched positions like his hero Portaloo and became a dripping wet out of pure opportunism. A disastrous party chariman and a squilllionaire hypocrite: Sack him.
Ditto Duncan: the man who went skiing rather than attend a vital Comons vote. Give him more time to smirk his way through QT. If Dave doesn't make an example of at least these two egregious crooks then we shall know for sure what we all suspect : he's a bag of hot malodourous air and nothing more.

Disillusioned

For once, we need to see our leaders acting with a real moral compass. These Tories that have been involved in this theft from taxpayers should have the good sense to resign. If they don't then Cameron should fire them if they are spokesmen and take the whip from them if they are backbenchers.

I'm personally sick of these revelations and they couldn't come at a worse time. People up and down the country are feeling the pinch and this self serving political class are entirely insulated. Enough is enough.

Liz Brown

The Constituents (from ALL parties) should be demanding a public meeting with their MP's and asking them to defend their claims...........and that should happen NOW and not in the run up to any Elections. time too, to stop the parachuting in of candidates to seats. Local ties should be of primary importance......2nd home would be in London as a result and Leases on flats taken only when Parliament in sitting. The laternative is an hotel such as Travel Inn, Travelodge - Ritz Carlton etc is OUT

Susan Hill

@conscious hypocrite. Agree with every word.

Archie

So there WAS a reason Cameron wasn't screaming from the roof tops over NuLabour's expenses farrago!

mac

Everywhere the clarion calls that "Cameron must do this" and, earlier, "Brown must do that".

Where are the reports of condemnation by constituency chairmen and other local party luminaries, calling for the heads of troughing MPs; are they happening or just not being reported?

TrevorsDen

If Tom Tom did not write 'his' comment it shows that the Labour Party are trolling this thread.

"To me this seems worse than the Labour stories" -- huh?
I think £4000 for repairs to a lawn sounds disgraceful, but shall we compare that to £20,000 replacement of Artex ceiling, or claiming for your parents house?

Gove seems to have acted legitimately and Lansley says he changes his arrangement when his daughter started school. Its fair to change your house if you take your family with you. Thats what the system is for.

Other Tory claims seem mainstream abuse of the system and I think probably a clear majority of MPs will be found to be doing it. They should pay the money back.

If any Tory is found to have behaved as fraudulently bad as Smith and Kitty and one or two others then they should be sacked.

Lord Boyders

Alan Duncan is odious and should be removed somewhere far away just for his HIGNFY efforts, and now for his uphill gardening expenses.

DM

Dave - I sincerely hope you and your mates are reading these comments. For heaven's sake get rid of the snouters in your own camp. The public can do without Maude and Duncan etc. We don't need them, and nor should you. There are enough decent Tories around to do the job. This government's a sitting duck and any Tory worth their salt should be able to oppose them effectively. Show leadership and GET RID OF THEM and make them PAY IT BACK>

Ruth Bonner

David Cameron's suggestion to publishing all MPs receipts online, within 28 days, is by far the most sensible and progressive idea yet.

From what I've seen of the blogosphere, all receipts will be scrutinised to the nth degree, that MPs couldn't hope to get anything through that wasn't legitimate.

It is also the cheapest solution by far, and most transparent, because the bloggers will do it for free (they already feel it is their duty to 'shine a light'). THEY WILL DO IT FOR FREE - THEY ARE ALREADY DOING IT FOR FREE!!!

The Damian McBride episode and now this is the best thing to happen to British politics in a very long time. It's painful now, but if the right choices are made, then I think we could truly have a parliamentary system that the general public will have trust in. Don't we deserve that?

Hereford

Stan, UK: There's an old saying of the 60's: The people always get the government they deserve.

Verity

Pete et Cie ... plse don't let the Moran of Luton story fade away. Her claims are so outrageous they take the breath away and this mewling, self-righteous individual needs to be hung out to dry, in public, pour encourager les autres.

Hereford, given that no one said anything in the Sixties that had one scintilla of original thought attached to it, I suspect that that saying is considerably older. In fact, it sounds like something a Roman would have said.

John Lea

An intelligent politician, caught up in all this, would do the smart thing and apologise immediately, offer to pay the money back, and throw themselves on the mercy of the press pack. An idiot, like Moran, will always try and justify her shameful behaviour. She's too stupid to realise that's she's merely tightening the noose around her neck by defending the indefensible.