Disclosing expenses

maria

Always thought that Tories in glass houses should not fling stones around with such gay abandon....whatever Cameron & Osborne claim there are plenty in their own party (sadly) who do not follow the party line on the distribution of party funds a.k.a dodgy expense claims

peter robinson

Another rotten apple.Is the whole Westminster barrel now bad?Ten days suspension for what would have been a court case in any other job...

David Lindsay

There are worse MPs than Derek Conway, but I suppose he's brought it on himself. However, note how the Cameron-supporting BBC has made a point of mentioning his - vindicated - accuser's BNP membership. I am proud to be an old enemy, and continuing local bogeyman, of the BNP. But why does this membership matter in this context? It doesn't. And would the Beeb have helped out a Labour MP like that these days? It wouldn't. All you Cameron-defenders are going to have ask yourselves what it is about your party that Auntie loves so much.

Nicholas Millman

What a terrible example to set. The best thing Cameron can do is to sack him from the party and send out a strong message about sleaze and strong leadership. Let's see . . . .

Are there any honest people left in this country? Are honour and integrity dead values? I think Delingpole's piece on "Spivvery" in the Speccie is very relevant. It is everywhere - not just in politics but the corporate world too.

Selby

Fifty grand !!! bloody hell - we know what the invisible student didn`t do is turn up to earn it. But what on earth would justify that kind of expense and over what period of time.... answers please a.s.a.p

mark

at the risk of setting myself up - there is an alternative view. As I understand it, the rules allow MP's to claim expenses for researchers, secreataries etc. (Hence many MP's wives are listed as secretaries.) If the rules do not clearly state the roles, responsibilities, deliverables, scope etc etc of what a "researcher is" then it may well be that strictly speaking no rule has been broken. We all know the difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion, right? Could this be an example of the same behaviour driven by some poorly worded rules? I make no moral argument about the rights and wrongs of this - but it is just possible that he has abided by the letter of the law, if not the spirit.

Dave Burns

Tory MPs complain about Benefit Fraud. I don't know if Mark is correct but paying taxpayers money to family members for doing nothing is an abuse of power. Punishment - Derek Is it OK if you keep £37,000?

Nicholas

Mark's comment well describes the current political "culture". No longer a question of propriety, simple decency and right-dealing but "does it comply with the rules ?". What a shower !

TGF UKIP

There was a leaked list and Conway is on the Right of the Tory Party and no lover of Dave, so stand by for fast action by Dave to contrast himself with "ditherer" Gordon - a double whammy for Dave! They're all at it though. There are numerous sons, daughters, wives "partners" etc being paid for by us. The most spectacular being Beckett's 82 year old husband Leo who was shunted everywhere with her at taxpayer expense and was even given his own office in the FO. Talk about the arrogance of power! The only surprising thing is that none of them so far seems to have been able to get his/her dog/cat/horse on the public payroll. But perhaps I speak too soon.

Frank Pulley

TGF: "Talk about the arrogance of power! The only surprising thing is that none of them so far seems to have been able to get his/her dog/cat/horse on the public payroll. But perhaps I speak too soon." Indeed you do. Every time I force myself to watch Parliament through it's TV broadcasts, I see the whole house littered with barking dogs and braying asses, most of them over-fed at public expense.