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# Cheerio!
(I helped save b3ta! Three Dog Man, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:29, archived)
# Needs more terrifed MPs hiding behind him
Desperately clutching at any remaining cash they can get their mitts on.
(I helped save b3ta! Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:30, archived)
# I love the MP's thought process...
"The Speaker has been trying to obstruct the release of this information for years. So as soon as the public found out what shits we are, I knew it was time for the Speaker to go."
(I helped save b3ta! Three Dog Man, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:34, archived)
# Oh they all need to be shot.
The thing is, when I was saying "All politicians are lying, self-serving, self-important, selfish scum only in it for themselves at the expense of whoever they can screw" two weeks ago, as I had been doing for years and years and years and years, people would reply with "Oh you're just trying to be fashionably cynical".

I don't know who I hate more - the politicians or the general public for being surprised and shocked.
(I helped save b3ta! Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:43, archived)
# Is the general public surprised and shocked?

(I helped save b3ta! Wasp Box like a nervous random stranger at a glory hole, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:47, archived)
# Well they didn't appear to be concerned before this all kicked off.
(I helped save b3ta! Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:52, archived)
# Because they didn't know about it.
Outrage doesn't mean surprise. But I agree a lot of people seem shocked and I wonder why too.

Then I remember the public are idiots who think what the Sun wants them to think.
(I helped save b3ta! Wasp Box like a nervous random stranger at a glory hole, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:54, archived)
# Ace Top Tip in Viz:
"Daily Mail editors: underline the important words in your headlines to make it absolutely clear what it is you want your readership to think."
(I helped save b3ta! Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 20 May 2009, 10:03, archived)
# It depends
whether you were saying that from the perspective of having looked into a large number of MP's personal arrangements, or from the perspective of just not bothering and writing them all off on some vague impression?
(I helped save b3ta! Finite "Aardvark sorted out my shit!" on, Wed 20 May 2009, 10:06, archived)
# From the knowledge of human nature
And the consequent distrusting anyone who seeks a position of power or leadership.
(I helped save b3ta! Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 20 May 2009, 10:09, archived)
# classic political smokescreen
"shit everyone's looking at us, quick look over there"
(theswollenbeef where there's a will there's a wank, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:44, archived)
# Yes, but people fall for it. Every time.
CF the ID card debate - "Oo look! A pigeon!" *passes laws, passes laws*
(I helped save b3ta! Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:46, archived)
# Do Not Pass Law,
Do Not Collect 200,000 allowance credit!
(MrKane 01234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789, Wed 20 May 2009, 10:15, archived)
# Classic Matt cartoon in the Torygraph today with almost that exact text!
(I helped save b3ta! sm.pl.crt.rs I don't fucking know, do I?, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:45, archived)
# Mista boombastic
Those look like a smaller version of my speakers
They don't look much like it at all
(I helped save b3ta! mediocre ha ha ha, you're reading this, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:30, archived)
# is that the left or right honourable speaker?
(I helped save b3ta! Jeccius Steam Borderlands 2 junkie, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:30, archived)
# you mock this honourable position?
pffft

why do they persist in wearing fancy dress costumes?
(I helped save b3ta! Griffin Saver Something, something, 2006, something., Wed 20 May 2009, 9:31, archived)
# It's not a costume
that's what old men are wearing in the Gorbals these days.
(I helped save b3ta! Wasp Box like a nervous random stranger at a glory hole, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:33, archived)
# better than newspaper vests I suppose
(I helped save b3ta! Griffin Saver Something, something, 2006, something., Wed 20 May 2009, 9:34, archived)
# What did he do or not do?
Every news article I read assumes you already know
(I helped save b3ta! Dixipoos Bye Bye Blackbird, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:32, archived)
# Basically,
with all of this expenses malarkey, he was the figurehead and spokesman for all the MPs who wanted to overturn the freedom of information requests for the claims files.
(I helped save b3ta! Redsushi! Whoop! Whoop! Yes, that one!, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:33, archived)
# So he's just being hung out to dry as a scapegoat?
(I helped save b3ta! Dixipoos Bye Bye Blackbird, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:37, archived)
# Well yes and no.
I personally think that he should go, but at the same time, I want the Queen to walk into Westminster Palace this week, slap Brown, Cameron et al round the face and just dissolve parliament.
(I helped save b3ta! Redsushi! Whoop! Whoop! Yes, that one!, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:39, archived)
# In acid?
That'd be so fucking cool
(I helped save b3ta! Dixipoos Bye Bye Blackbird, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:41, archived)
# Ah man!
You're so fucking right :D
(I helped save b3ta! Redsushi! Whoop! Whoop! Yes, that one!, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:48, archived)
# yup, you got it.
and now Nick Clegg and a few others want an 'independent body' to oversee all expense matters.

So, when this blows over in a few years and they can start claiming things again,plus a 'bit' extra' - if it ever gets out in the open, the MPs can legitimtaley claim that it wasn't their doing, but the 'indepenedent body', thus saving their own reputations.

/cynical
(I helped save b3ta! The Great Architect is still waiting for his account to be deleted on, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:41, archived)
# *once again successfully avoids putting boot through screen*
Good lord, what a ridiculous mess.
(I helped save b3ta! Dixipoos Bye Bye Blackbird, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:42, archived)
# the bit about 'so when this blows over' is purely speculation on my part
but looking forward, it makes sense.

they can't realisitcally up the MPs salries too much in the current climate/media watch to cover the amount they were claiming in expenses, as they'll just be ripped apart further, so, it makes sense for a measure like this, take a hit for 18 months or so until this all dies down, and then start manipulating the 'independent body' to squeeze a bit more for the MPs.
(I helped save b3ta! The Great Architect is still waiting for his account to be deleted on, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:44, archived)
# Of course, the current system
grew out of parliament being scared to put up their own wages in the early 90s because they feared a public backlash (basically, in a similar situation to now, the Tories knew they were on their last legs and didn't want to make it worse), so they came up with other ways to recompense themselves.
(I helped save b3ta! Wasp Box like a nervous random stranger at a glory hole, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:52, archived)
# I don't know.
The fees office, by approving things like bags of manure, moat dredging and such have clearly fucked up majorly themselves. The fact is that 99% of people have fucked up and taken the absolute piss. Michael Martin wont be the last person to go.
(I helped save b3ta! Redsushi! Whoop! Whoop! Yes, that one!, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:43, archived)
# I don't often agree with Anne Widdecombe
But she had a good point when she pointed out that less than 100 MPs expenses have been shown to be morally grey/spurious/fraudulent. Meaning there are around 550 MPs who have not been taking the piss.

Or just haven't been caught.
(I helped save b3ta! Wasp Box like a nervous random stranger at a glory hole, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:46, archived)
# quite right
and to think I narrowly missed elbowing her in the face last week outside norwich train station (purely by accident, I turned around too quickly)
(I helped save b3ta! The Great Architect is still waiting for his account to be deleted on, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:49, archived)
# I do respect Anne Widdecombe,
she is clearly one of the few MPs who seem to have unflappable morals. And is allegedly one of only about 6 MPs who live outside London who has claimed nothing on a 2nd home at all, or a negligible amount at most.

When it comes to what has been published, and who has been guilty, it must be noted that The Telegraph have only published the expenses that will make the best stories, understandably. I am sure that once all the expenses are made public domain, there will be a lot more.

Of course, one can not say that all MPs are corrupt, that is simply unfair. I would still like to believe that the majority of MPs become so for the right reasons.
(I helped save b3ta! Redsushi! Whoop! Whoop! Yes, that one!, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:52, archived)
# Indeed this.
Only, the "independent body" won't have to publish it's results.

Surprised? Of course not.
(I helped save b3ta! Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:45, archived)
# To a small extent
But the fact that he a) chaired a group trying to get MPs totally exempt from FoI requests and b) started attacking in the Commons those MPs who were pushing hard for the expenses figures to be released mean that he clearly isn't suitable for the job. I'm sure some MPs have been calling for his head just to make it appear that they're "doing something" about the expenses issue, but he's not a blameless scapegoat.
(I helped save b3ta! Cassius Kray floats like a butterfly, stings like a trout, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:42, archived)
# His reaction and manner towards
Kate Hoey was nothing short of disraceful and insolent.
(I helped save b3ta! Redsushi! Whoop! Whoop! Yes, that one!, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:46, archived)
# ^ this. "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem"...
is surely the nub of this case: Martin was boss of the Fees Office, and he has -- by the accounts that have come out -- used his considerable powers to obstruct efforts to sort out the crazy mess of MP's expenses rules.

This cess-pit has been whiffing since 2004 (Derek Conway) at least, and instead of urgently working on cleaning it up, Martin has been trying to cover it up.
(I helped save b3ta! Bee Nice |-|, Wed 20 May 2009, 12:20, archived)
# Not so much a scapegoat as a distraction
But, yes more or less
(I helped save b3ta! Wasp Box like a nervous random stranger at a glory hole, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:44, archived)
# well you see
he didn't do something about not doing something else but did do something that people felt he shouldn't do about something.

Effectively he's been forced out by MPs for not stopping them being greedy gits

(I helped save b3ta! Griffin Saver Something, something, 2006, something., Wed 20 May 2009, 9:34, archived)
# I watched Question Time last week and successfully avoided putting my boot through the screen
"Oh, yes there is obviously a need to change the system, since it is allowing me to claim for moat cleanage, and that's not right."

THEN DON'T FUCKING CLAIM

Also, Has Margaret Beckett *never* had a chin??
(I helped save b3ta! Dixipoos Bye Bye Blackbird, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:36, archived)
# This hard^^^^^
I know that normally it is wholly unacceptable to punch a woman, but if ever there was justification it was the unbridled arrogance of Margaret Beckett last week!
(I helped save b3ta! Redsushi! Whoop! Whoop! Yes, that one!, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:38, archived)
# Don't aim for her chin, for fuck's sake
Although I did want to twat the idiot in the audience who when asking her a question, and letting her reply, interrupted her with "How dare you talk to me like that??" - when she was just answering a question.

Fuck me, those audiences have some real mouth-breathers in them.

Still, Beckett needs a solid kick up her cobwebby mimsy.
(I helped save b3ta! Dixipoos Bye Bye Blackbird, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:40, archived)
# Oh yeah,
the audience were really pissing me off last week, by far the worst I have seen in a long while. I understand their frustration, but I don't watch QT every week to hear a bunch of hecklers.
(I helped save b3ta! Redsushi! Whoop! Whoop! Yes, that one!, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:55, archived)
# Well that was the first QT I have watched for almost 15 years
:D
(I helped save b3ta! Dixipoos Bye Bye Blackbird, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:57, archived)
# A fine one to choose ;)
(I helped save b3ta! Redsushi! Whoop! Whoop! Yes, that one!, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:59, archived)
# oh you should watch Nadine Dorries on QT here;
www.b3ta.com/links/317051

The woman is a f*cking liability
/4.30 onwards
(I helped save b3ta! The Great Architect is still waiting for his account to be deleted on, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:42, archived)
# hahahahahaha
Fuck me.

"They want to sit down at the table with us and blow the table up".

Chris Morris couldn't have said it better.
(I helped save b3ta! Dixipoos Bye Bye Blackbird, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:47, archived)
# Is that from the Glenrothes QT the other week?
She is a fucking idiot that woman.

Wasn't there a piece on her in The Telegraph about taking shedloads of expenses for nannies and such too?
(I helped save b3ta! Redsushi! Whoop! Whoop! Yes, that one!, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:56, archived)
# I saw Margaret Beckett wandering around a cemetery muttering something about brains
(theswollenbeef where there's a will there's a wank, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:47, archived)
# hahahahaha!
(I helped save b3ta! Joe Scaramanga with a G-double-O-D vibration, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:52, archived)
# Ha ha ha!
(I helped save b3ta! Redsushi! Whoop! Whoop! Yes, that one!, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:32, archived)
# hahahahhahahahahaah! delightfully mad, with just a just a hint of spang :D
(I helped save b3ta! theoriginalsteve <this space intentionally left blank>, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:37, archived)
# Hahaha
I hear his wife if a right woofer!
(I helped save b3ta! riverghost servicing your mum since, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:47, archived)
# that joke was pretty sub-standard
(I helped save b3ta! WHTRZ Corp dosen't like the sound of Rupert watching porn, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:57, archived)
# If you're going to complain join the Q!
(I helped save b3ta! riverghost servicing your mum since, Wed 20 May 2009, 9:59, archived)