And yet ANOTHER 'scandal'....

tourerfogey · 17th February 2008, 18:14

From AOL News:

Quote

House of Commons Speaker Michael Martin used air miles earned on official business to fly members of his family business-class from Glasgow to London for a New Year break, it has been revealed.

Use of the air miles for family flights goes against official guidelines that MPs should use them to reduce the cost of future business travel paid for from the public purse.

Mr Martin chairs the House of Commons Members Estimate Committee, which oversees MPs' expenses. He is also heading the parliamentary inquiry into MPs' expenses in the wake of the furore over former Tory MP Derek Conway's employment of his sons.

The Sunday Mirror revealed that the return flights were worth a total of £3,090.50, but the family saved around £360 a head by using Mr Martin's air miles.

A spokesman for the Speaker said that his son Paul paid £309 and his daughter Mary Ann £230.50 towards the total flight costs.

Mr Martin last year clocked up £10,587 in parliamentary allowances to cover air travel on official business - much of it covering his journeys with wife Mary between Westminster and their Scottish home.

According to the Sunday Mirror, he has amassed more than one million air miles, and cashed in 54,000 of them for the New Year trip by his children's families.

Mary Ann flew with her husband and son from Glasgow to London on December 28, returning on January 6, while Paul travelled with his wife and two daughters on December 30, returning January 2.

Ministers are banned from using air miles for personal use but MPs, including Mr Martin, are not covered by the same rules. Instead advice from Commons officials is that they should be used only for business.

Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker, who has called for reform of Westminster perks, said: "This will further damage public confidence in the system of parliamentary expenses. A benefit which is accrued because of spending by the taxpayer should be returned to the taxpayer."

majedm75 · 18th February 2008, 11:38

Same thing happened here in France with the minister of foreign territories, who flew on a private jet (on tax payer money) from one place to another in France and outside, instead of using the allocated flights from the government...
Then they tell you the government needs more money for new projects

apywell · 18th February 2008, 19:50

Sadly this goes along with my theory that people in this sort of poition are only in it for what they can get for themselves. It's not about serving the people. Sadly I would expect this to be the tip of the iceberg.

Shame on them all.......

Jamie · 18th February 2008, 20:05

Politics...its just a career like any other.... I suppose in that sense we all work for what we can get....I hate politics almost as much as I hate money...they are both trouble makers

tourerfogey · 18th February 2008, 20:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamie-Biker in a suit

Politics...its just a career like any other.... I suppose in that sense we all work for what we can get....I hate politics almost as much as I hate money...they are both trouble makers

If your money is causing you trouble just send it all to me and your troubles will be over

JohnDotCom · 18th February 2008, 22:35

First step to becoming one of the Idle Rich TF.

Jules · 18th February 2008, 23:32

Sack the lot of them and get some honest people in

majedm75 · 19th February 2008, 10:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamie-Biker in a suit

Politics...its just a career like any other.... I suppose in that sense we all work for what we can get....I hate politics almost as much as I hate money...they are both trouble makers

I agree with that

Quote:

Originally Posted by tourerfogey

If your money is causing you trouble just send it all to me and your troubles will be over

As someone said once: If money doesn't buy happiness, you don't know where to shop

17th February 2008, 18:14	#1
tourerfogey Banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	And yet ANOTHER 'scandal'.... From AOL News: Quote House of Commons Speaker Michael Martin used air miles earned on official business to fly members of his family business-class from Glasgow to London for a New Year break, it has been revealed. Use of the air miles for family flights goes against official guidelines that MPs should use them to reduce the cost of future business travel paid for from the public purse. Mr Martin chairs the House of Commons Members Estimate Committee, which oversees MPs' expenses. He is also heading the parliamentary inquiry into MPs' expenses in the wake of the furore over former Tory MP Derek Conway's employment of his sons. The Sunday Mirror revealed that the return flights were worth a total of £3,090.50, but the family saved around £360 a head by using Mr Martin's air miles. A spokesman for the Speaker said that his son Paul paid £309 and his daughter Mary Ann £230.50 towards the total flight costs. Mr Martin last year clocked up £10,587 in parliamentary allowances to cover air travel on official business - much of it covering his journeys with wife Mary between Westminster and their Scottish home. According to the Sunday Mirror, he has amassed more than one million air miles, and cashed in 54,000 of them for the New Year trip by his children's families. Mary Ann flew with her husband and son from Glasgow to London on December 28, returning on January 6, while Paul travelled with his wife and two daughters on December 30, returning January 2. Ministers are banned from using air miles for personal use but MPs, including Mr Martin, are not covered by the same rules. Instead advice from Commons officials is that they should be used only for business. Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker, who has called for reform of Westminster perks, said: "This will further damage public confidence in the system of parliamentary expenses. A benefit which is accrued because of spending by the taxpayer should be returned to the taxpayer."

18th February 2008, 11:38	#2
majedm75 I really should get out more....... Rover 75 Saloon 2.5V6+Auto - Pack Luxe & Sterling Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Paris-France & Cairo-Egypt Posts: 2,122 Thanks: 6 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Same thing happened here in France with the minister of foreign territories, who flew on a private jet (on tax payer money) from one place to another in France and outside, instead of using the allocated flights from the government... Then they tell you the government needs more money for new projects __________________ Majed [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Member no. 36 - Samarkand, I miss you so much "Miss April 2010"!

18th February 2008, 19:50	#3
apywell Gets stuck in Rover 75 Saloon. 2.0 Diesel Auto. Connoisseur SE. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Derby Posts: 723 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Sadly this goes along with my theory that people in this sort of poition are only in it for what they can get for themselves. It's not about serving the people. Sadly I would expect this to be the tip of the iceberg. Shame on them all....... __________________ If there's one thing I've learned, it's that life is one crushing defeat after another until you just wish Flanders was dead. Now has an S-Type 2.7 diesel V6 twin turbo with Jag voice, bluetooth, sat nav, front and rear park assist, electric fold mirrors etc, etc, etc.....

18th February 2008, 20:05	#4
Jamie Posted a thing or two In Limbo Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,685 Thanks: 4 Thanked 12 Times in 6 Posts	Politics...its just a career like any other.... I suppose in that sense we all work for what we can get....I hate politics almost as much as I hate money...they are both trouble makers __________________ Finally given up trying to buy the last new rover V8 from Bristol, 2 years of haggling got me nowhere!

18th February 2008, 23:32	#7
Jules This is my second home ZT 260 SE Twilight and 10 other 75 ZT's :O Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Conwy NORTH WALES Posts: 11,094 Thanks: 512 Thanked 1,116 Times in 763 Posts	Sack the lot of them and get some honest people in __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Newbies do now!! 1. Plenum drains..all 3 or 4 year dependent 2. Cooling fan..All speeds functioning 3. Bonnet cable divider block

18th February 2008, 22:35	#6
JohnDotCom * Rover 75 FaceLift Tourer CDTi 170BHP Auto ConnSE 2005 Model Starlight Silver Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Abergele Posts: 28,735 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	First step to becoming one of the Idle Rich TF.