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# 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)