Forum Topic

The John Lewis List

I wonder what items our esteemed MP for Ealing Southall Mr.Virendra Sharma has chosen from the recently published John Lewis List?Now that the freedom of information legislation can reveal what MPs' expenses consist of, it'll be interesting to know how they stock their homes and offices.I'm beginning to get fed up with our MPs' alleged excessive profligacy - it's our money after all!  :-(

Gerry Tan ● 6776d9 Comments

I can't believe the shameless audacity of MP'. Now the sneaky tax free benefits list has surfaced, they are claiming that they now need an additional £160 tax free daily allowance instead.The cost of their daily allowance when adjusted for tax free payments is £60K a year. That's on top of their £62K salary and a pension calculated to be worth c49% of salary. Which would put an average MP on £152K a year.The fact they can't recognise that their "daily allowance" increment is more than twice as much as most people earn to cover all of their living costs just shows how out of touch they are.They bleat on about "we need good MPs" which of course we do. When you look at a lot of their qualifications an increasing number have done little if anything outside of politics, so their sense of self worth and value is entirely arbitrary. The likes of John Prescott make over £200K, yet in a "real job" didn't even earn £30K. The public need to wake up and start challenging local MPs a lot more to convince as to what relevant experience they have, and why that makes them "worth" more than the average person.

Ed Yelland ● 6776d

I think this is just for second homes needed for MPs who's constituency is far from London isn't it?  Or did I read that wrong?If it is it isn't going to apply to our local MPs.

Jane Salisbury ● 6776d

I think I share your concerns Ed about the greed of some of our MPs.  I'm not knocking just Labour ones - they're all at it, the Conservatives, LibDems and the rest. And they all preach about helping the poor and disadvantaged! What hypocricy!  Having worked as a volunteer for AgeConcern in Ealing I know of many old aged pensioners who have to strictly control their heating and purchase of food and clothes and who'd give their right arms for a small fraction of the "expenses" a lot of MPs are claiming. Shame on them! Sheer greed!  Bah to the lot of 'em!  :-(

Gerry Tan ● 6776d

With respect Jane, there are some MPs who represent London constituencies and who have their main homes in their constituencies, but who nevertheless have purchased apartments in the WestEnd! Notably the MP for Brentford/Isleworth Ann Keen, who together with her husband MP Alan Keen(he represents the constituency of Feltham/Heston) have a second home in Covent Garden, claiming that it's convenient when at all-night sittings to live locally! Here's a view from a poster on BrentfordTW8: "It is understandable why the Keens have nothing to say about the Covent Garden flat. Quite simply, the parliamentary expenses system provides an opportunity for MP's to get rich at the taxpayers' expense. The Labour MP for Hendon, who I must admit I had never heard of before, argued that he could not possibly get to his Westminster office for 8 a.m if he travelled from Hendon. Hundreds of thousands of commuters could have told him that it is possible if you get out of bed in time.Let us hope the Keens make it clear that they will stop claiming this unjustified expense..."Nuff said about snouts in troughs!  :-(

Gerry Tan ● 6776d

The amounts allowed for the various items listed are pretty generous. For example, £600 for a dining table, £90 for dinging chairs. We bought a load of really nice new oak and leather dining chairs from John Lewis last year for a fair bit less than that, and while our large oak dining table cost more, it wasn't much more. Similarly, for other items, such as TVs, hi-fi, etc., the amounts allowed will get good quality equipment. It's nice to know our elected representatives are living in the comfort we're accustomed to..... :^)

David Fox ● 6775d

That's mad.  I assumed it was only MPs whose constituencies were miles away from Westminster who needed, or would get assistance with, second homes.  There's no excuse whatsoever for London MPs.Anyway Covent Garden sounds more convenient for Theatreland than Westminster.

Jane Salisbury ● 6775d

I think the MPs should be entitled to a second home....but they should be state owned...If for whatever reason the stop being MPs....they move out and the new MP moves in.... They should also be made to pay for all their own furniture and fittings,that way when the move they can take their own property with them.

Andy Wright ● 6775d

Response to :- "I think the MPs should be entitled to a second home....but they should be state owned...If for whatever reason the stop being MPs....they move out and the new MP moves in.... They should also be made to pay for all their own furniture and fittings,that way when the move they can take their own property with them. "          xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx      That's certainly a step in the right direction but even better would be for them to be housed in a State owned / run hostel with max 2 bedrooms, one for the missus and one for " the other " of whatever gender as befits their desires. There could be a common lounge where they could all meet, no bar but a 24 hr fish and chip " shop ", to add a bit of ambience! and to remind them of those whom they represent.

Tony Price ● 6774d

I think it is interesting that other organisations use Argos for a price guide.

Philippa Bond ● 6773d