I have to admit I was in two minds posting this article.  I have in the past been accused of attacking and disagreeing with Speaker Bercow on a too frequent basis.  Hence I thought long and hard about another critical post.  But this issue has annoyed me so much it shows that the ‘man who will clean up politics’ is desperately out of touch with reality.  So much so I had to pinch myself that this was a real story and not a joke.

When reading this story, please remember three things.  1) John Bercow has had a hefty payrise from £64,766 to £144,520, (his full potential salary but he maybe claiming the same as Speaker Martin of £141,868 but Bercow is refusing to reveal, hence lets presume the higher figure as he feels embarrassed to disclose).  Hence this is an increase in his pay of: £79,794.  (More than double!).  2) John has an apartment just down the road from the House, (which he used to claim 2nd homes allowance for but has now stopped).  3) The Speaker’s Apartment he now resides in is rent free.  That paints the scene.

Lead story in the Daily Telegraph today, (where else ), is the Speaker is having his lavish grace-and-favour apartment, (ie freebie),  in the Palace of Westminster refurbished at a cost of £20,659.36 to the tax payer.  Yes this is the man who in the wake of the expenses row promised to clean up the reputation of politics.

Bercow to his credit stopped claiming for his second home allowance, (no need really with a grace-and-favour freebie apartment in the Palace).  John claims that the costs of refurbishment are because he has a young family and needs to child proof his home, hence a study in the grand apartment, is being converted to a playroom.

A playroom in the Speaker’s Apartments.  This begs some interesting questions.  Speaker Bercow is presuming he will be the Speaker post the next election, otherwise why make these changes now?  He has a perfectly good apartment just down the road from the House, where his kids will have a great home environment already fostered.  So why the need to make changes now?  There is a chance he may not be in the role after the election.  Maybe a new Speaker in 10 months time would not want kids playrooms and then charge the tax payer to re-convert them back!  What a waste.  What a poor sense of timing!

Many would question John’s timing.  He obviously, the moment he was elected Speaker, set straight about altering and improving the Speaker’s Apartments.  The Daily Telegraph shows that the work listed below has been completed and the Speaker is in the process of claiming expenses.  Hence John was making changes the moment he was elected to the role. 

The other element of timing is of course related to the furore of MP’s expenses.  It is a poor sense of timing and sullies the public’s mood still further.  Can the Speaker not read the will of the people?  Surely he could have waited until after the election before making changes…ensuring he is still in the role of Speaker.  Of course ideally he would pay for these changes himself, like we would all have to!

We have a very mobile society.  People go to where jobs are nowadays.  Some companies provide relocation assistance, most don’t.  Hence, Bercow claiming for these changes to help his kids at the cost to the tax payer, wont wash with many.  Can you imagine relocating for a new job and telling your new boss, I need some extra money to make my house child friendly?  You would be laughed out the room.  So why different for Bercow?  This is public daylight robbery.  Dishonourable actions!……

So, I take literally David Cameron’s public test ie would these expenses feel right to the tax payer?  Do they make sense?  No….they stink.  First off he has received a significant pay rise and has a higher net disposable income.  His new apartment is rent free.  He will state he has the costs of running his current apartment just down the road to maintain.  But given he has decided to live at the House he will not incur the costs he previously would ie electricity, wear & tear / depreciation etc!. 

Let’s turn to value for money.  Is he spending tax payer’s money well?  Well, the Daily Telegraph reports a receipt for £7,524.30 for a new sofa and window seat cushions for the drawing room.  Hhhhhmmmm.  That does not feel so good to me.  Perhaps John should make use of the sale at DFS and he could buy a lovely Clarion 4 Seater Leather Corner Manual Double Recliner for £998, as below.  Great for the kids as well as the seats recline.  Of course leather, just as John likes!  But guess what John.  Given your new payrise, you have more take home pay and hence like the rest of the population, buy it yourself.

Remember these apartments are hardly in a state of decrepitation.  Speaker Martin spent £724,000 on refurbishment between 2000-2008, plus £992,000 on the garden and improved security.

So what else is Bercow claiming for?

£3,600 has been spent on fitting locks to the windows and having workmen check that access ducts in the wall panelling are lockable or childproof.

A further £3,880 has been spent on planters to provide additional child safety on the terrace.

One of the two studies is to become a playroom, with £1,087 spent on redecorating it. The note suggests putting washable paint over existing paper.

For the drawing room, a £6,764.30 sofa suite has been ordered, together with window seat cushions costing £760.

In the kitchen, a new large clock is being provided at a cost of £80, together with a noticeboard and blackboard, costing £86.73, a hob guard at £47.88 and an additional high-level pulley clothes airer.

The utility room is being remodelled at a cost of £497 in order to provide more hanging space. The floor in the room, and in the bathroom, is being replaced.

A double bed is being bought from Ikea for the housekeeper’s apartment for £479.

It is understood that a further £20,000 has been allocated to cover general maintenance.

John needs to desperately raise his game and stop taking the British taxpayer for a ride.  I was heavily critical of Speaker Martin.  But boy, I am wishing he was still in office.  Speaker Bercow has so far not brought any honour to the great office of Speaker…….

On yer bike Hazel………

The moment an MP dreads…the Daily Telegraph is investigating you and will reveal your expenses in the next edition…what to do?

TrueBlueBlood to the rescue with a toolkit :

-  Do not under ANY circumstances admit you were wrong

-  First say you are very sorry and express your dedication to serving the public.  State the reasons why you came into politics…to champion democracy and help people in society. Come across as a true public servant.

-  Next use character references…point to your friends and say that ‘my friends and family swear to my honesty and integrity’, then claim real shock as to the accusation.

-  Next—this is the most important part.  Place the blame.  This is imperative to improve your personal brand reputation.  Pick from the following list to blame and stick rigidly to it……

EXCUSES TOOLKIT:  MEMORIZE THOROUGHLY

       -  The system      It is broken, doesn’t work and is at fault.  It needs correcting.  Importantly say that you have been saying this for some time.  But no one else listened.  (This comes across even better with a violin playing behind you).  Claim you warned of this impending crisis and come across as a champion for reform.

       -  The rules          Were not clear.  You thought you were in the right.  How can anyone understand such rules.  They were never enforced and hence un-understandable.

       -  Signed off          This is very popular.  Don’t overuse this one.  All expenses were signed off by the expenses office.  Therefore they must be right.  Blame the office.  It is important to state you wrote to the office several times to clarify that the expenses were valid to be claimed.  Increases your legitimacy in this argument. 

       -  Poor Pay           This may not get sympathy.  Whilst true MP’s are on poor salaries, won’t get public sympathy.  Best to avoid.

       -  The Telegraph   Blame the newspaper.  Sensationalist journalism.  Claim the DT favours your political opponents and this is part of a smear campaign.

       -  Debate the facts   Find a flaw in the DT’s journalism and then turn a big spotlight on that flaw and seek to claim their journalism does not hold up.  Undermine their story.

        -  Blame your PA    Classic excuse.  Claim your PA / Researcher puts in all expenses and you were not aware they did this and are shocked.  because you are too busy serving the country you did not check their submission.

       -  Tears    The public love emotion.  start crying.  bring up personal tragedy.  This may win sympathy.  Maybe say that you were worried for public safety as a dirty moat may attract crocodiles, so you cleaned it for public safety!

       – Deflect   A classic tactic.  Deflect attention from yourself onto your colleagues.  A great way to do this is….’I am sorry for my small indiscretion which in no way compares to the Honourable member for *****’.  Then add some colour.  ‘I would never ever bring myself to claim for cleaning a moat/buying a chandelier/flipping my home’—delete as appropriate…..this makes your offence look smaller in comparison.

       -  Pay Back    Just say ooopppsss and that you have paid back the amount in full.  Then say story over.  Thank you for raising to my attention.  then turn the issue onto something else eg ‘Let’s look at the big issues facing us…like the economy’…….

       -  Forgot    Play on your memory.  Your forgot.  Must be your age.  Make light, laugh….and hope the public will just think you are plain stupid and not a greedy pig!

       -  Be aggressive   When challenged just be aggressive back.  So what is a great response.  If accused of taking money for a £1,500 Home Entertainment system, just say, ‘I was entitled to it’, …’what’s the issue’?  Interviewer will back down.

       -  Call No.10    If a Labour Cabinet Minister, immediately call the No.10 smear Unit and they will put pressure on the newspaper and threaten that they will never get access to exclusive Gordon and No.10 interviews again.  Paper will back down.

       -  Look Honourable    When told of the accusation say ‘when this matter was first brought to my attention, my first reaction was that the right thing to do was speak with…..and step down, whilst I clear my name in the pending investigation…which will clear my name 100% guv!’

       -  Hide  Yes run and hide and hope that the issue blows over.  The paper will publish your story and will be moving on to others the next day.  Hide away and the situation may just go away.

       – The Speaker     Again a popular one.  Blame the Speaker.  He is in all sorts of trouble.  Pile on the pressure and hope that the Speaker gets a bigger headline than you!!! 

       -  The Public     Come across as a people person and side with the general public.  Say something like: ‘I have heard absolutely the outrage and the anger that the public feel about what is going on.  I would never let down anyone or the public that I represent, that is why I am repaying my money today’

       – Play the hero   Say that you have done nothing wrong and are happy with your actions but that you will be repaying some money because you want to ensure the public gets the right message.

       -  Apologise for all.  Don’t just speak for yourself.  Speak for all parties and politicians.  Say something like:  ‘I want to apologise on behalf of politicians, on behalf of all parties, for what has happened’.  You look saintly.  Great to use if a leader.

       – Take action   Quickly publish all your recently made expenses online and conveniently forget all previous claims.  When questioned point to your transparency and keep to the future line when questioned.  Look like someone solving the issue. 

       -  Claim harassment   If you are female, ethnic, Muslim, disabled, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, from Birmingham, fat, have ginger hair, been with Jordan…claim immediate harassment.  Journalist will back down because scared of a massive legal case.

       -  ‘They’   Always—ALWAYS—use the word ‘They’…blame ‘them’.  It allows you to shift attention onto others who are unspecified.

         -  End quote.  Come up with a classic quote to end the story eg  ‘I am as straight as they come’, is a perfect quote.

Shahid Malik….’I am as straight as they come’

Thumbs up.  Cameron takes bold action over expenses

David Cameron has just given his news conference and announced the Conservatives first steps to resolve the expenses issue.  Clearly fuming at some of his MP’s and this situation, David gave bold direction and imposed his leadership on the Party.  Exactly as called for and needed at this time.

David told the ‘electrically charged’ press conference that:

- Senior members of the Shadow Cabinet will repay back thousands of pounds of expenses, including Michael Gove (£7,000), Andrew Lansley (£2,600), Oliver Letwin (£2,000), Francis Maude, Alan Dundan (£5,000) and Chris Grayling

- All Conservative MP’s will have to pay back expenses judged in appropriate by an internal Party panel or face expulsion from the Party

- This internal Party Panel includes Patrick McLoughlin, (Cons Chief Whip), whose purpose is to adjudge whether expense claims, including those which were within Commons rules, meet the “smell test” of public opinion

- All Tories will have to publish every expense claim made online for the public to see

- Finally, we see an end to “flipping” – where MP’s changed their designated second home to make a profit from their allowance.

- Claims for furniture, household goods and food are also banned.

TBB called DC to be bold and this is a great start.  Given the Government were exposed first and had longer to respond, NO….yes…NO Cabinet Minister or Labour MP has offered to repay money as yet.  Given David has stolen the charge on this issue, we will no doubt see Gordon pushed into a corner…grumbling away and announcing Cabinet members will do the same.  BUT the world will know.  Gordon was reacting to the Tories leadership. 

If Gordon does not announce that Labour Cabinet Members and Labour MP’s are to pay back money, then they will be badly discredited.  BUT TBB feels that the amounts involved for the Labour Cabinet members are FAR higher and may prove more of a challenge to repay than the Conservatives amounts. 

One of the things that TBB called for was MP’s who grossly claimed to have the whip withdrawn.  David fairly announced that he is giving members a chance to repay amounts paid.  The Party Panel will judge excessive claims and that member will be given the option to repay.  If they decline, then DC has stated they will be expelled.  That’s a fair system and one the public will resonate with.

In a decent and fair world, many people will see today that David has acted properly and sought to restore pride to politics and being a Conservative MP.  Good start David.  Full respect.  Now let’s all watch with interest to see what Gordon et al do next……over to you Gordon……

David, making his statement on Sky News.

An MP’s life:  Long hours and poor pay, (great summer holiday)

Let’s get to the root of this issue.  It is the elephant in the room.  Let’s out it.  An MP’s salary is far too low.  FAR TOO LOW.  It’s derisory.  It’s a pittance.  Given the responsibility of the role, change needs to be made.

An MP’s basic salary is £64,766 pa.  On top of this an MP gets allowances for running an office and employing staff, having somewhere to live in London, somewhere to live in their constituency and travel between the two.

An MP’s life is long and hard when Parliament is in session.  They have to balance attendance in the House of Commons, (sometimes staying until 11pm to vote), with constituency work, party work, research, media appearances, writing speeches/articles etc etc.  Long hours.  Yes they get Friday off but that is consumed by constituency work and the hours they have worked Monday to Thursday balance out having Friday ‘off’.  Many MP’s work weekends as well.  Yes they do have a long summer break, slightly longer than a teacher but they do have a responsible job.

We expect MP’s to be of the highest integrity, to represent us, ensure our country is well governed, come up with new ideas and ways to enhance our lives.  We want the best people to represent us…and yet we pay the salary of a senior middle manager.  How can we attract the best people to stand as an MP, if we don’t reward them?  I would love to see quality players like Iain Dale in the House, but let’s be honest he would do so for the love of the role, not the financial aspects, as he is better off as a publisher, public speaker and blogger.

Yes…..why become an MP?  Salaries and benefits are far more luxious than that of an MP in BOTH the public sector and private sector.  Look at some of the salaries I published on this blog yesterday.  You will never convince me that those public sector roles are more important or influential than that of an MP, yet they are commanding £10ok salaries.

So when an MP gets into office, of course they look to supplement their income.  They often use their wife/partner as their political secretary.  They are seeking ways to boost their income and this is where expenses come into play.  It’s a way to ‘retain’ their salary by charging costs to the tax payer.

Like everyone reading this blog I hate corruption.  I hate seeing what is happening to Parliament.  But I also understand that MP’s salaries need reform.  Each year, the media jump on the band wagon…anti any raise in MP’s salaries.  Hence why the expenses system makes sense to some members.

The highest most prestigious office of our great nation:  Prime Minister gets….£130, 959, plus on top their House of Commons salary of £64, 766.  So do we really think that the highest office in the land is worthy of only £200k.  Of course not.  That’s the drop in the ocean for a top executive and no executive has the power and influence of a Prime Minister.

As we look for politicians to amend their expenses, let’s hope the white elephant of the room, their poor pay comes onto the table…….

David….seize this moment and the plaudits are yours……

Tonight, as the Daily Telegraph prepares to launch a fresh wave of scandal, focusing on 8 Conservatives and their extravagant spending on their country estates, David Cameron can pull acclaim from the jaws of the current scandal engulfing the palace of Westminster.  Click here for a sneak preview of Telegraph highlights tomorrow:  http://tiny.cc/hMlh1

What is more worrying is that Conservative support is now being hit in the latest opinion poll to be published in The Times tomorrow.  http://tiny.cc/eQDaU  (The poll was carried out between Friday and Monday past).

Labour                    26   Down 4

Conservative        39   Down 4

Lib Dems                 22   Up 4  (Their highest for nearly 4 years)

Other                         13   Up 4  (This mainly includes BNP, UKIP and Greens)

It is clear that both Labour and Conservatives have lost temporary support and being punished to the benefit of the Lib Dems and the fringe parties.  The Lib Dems slice of the scandal is coming.  Their share of the vote will drop as well when they are exposed.  Obviously when people are pissed with the main parties, then they protest in opinion polls and will support extremists like the BNP and fringe parties like UKIP & the Greens.  If there were an election tomorrow, the ‘others category’ would be far less.

Now David’s chance is here to seize this issue and come out of this strongly and with principles.  Gordon Brown has crashed and burned.  He and the No.10 spin machine are failing to win confidence. 

David needs to ensure public confidence is restored and show his strong leadership of the Conservatives by:

- Ensuring Tories repay any expenses that the public would deem as unreasonable expenses

- Resign the party whip from those Conservatives that have been the most dishonourable (tough call but would prove popular)

- Issue clear guidelines for all Conservatives over his expectations on expenses

This would send a powerful message out to the country and show David’s strong leadership.  It will also put Gordon Brown in an untenable position and pressure on him to act and remove / sack Cabinet Ministers & Ministers who have behaved in the worst cases of impropriety.  Gordon would look weak and reacting to Cameron’s leadership.

David showed today his leadership has gravitas.  Remember back a few years and the health service was the Conservatives achilles heel and an issue to beat the Party around the head.  Fast Forward to today.  David spoke to the Royal College of Nursing and received a highly positive response and came across with a man who both cared for the NHS but had a vision.  Who could have foreseen a Conservative leader getting such a rapturous round of applause as David received today from Nurses.

David, add to the good feeling you are creating and seize the moment.  The situation is yours for the taking………

Ah, good old Jacqui Smith, every Tories dream Labour Home Secretary.  Ever wondered why you never hear Tories call for her resignation?  Who else can single handedly create more disastrous headlines for the government?  Be it her expenses claims….don’t you just love the fact that she claims that a flat she lodges in London is classed as her main family home, when the house she shares with her husband and children is her 2nd home for work.  Unbelievable.  In the private sector she would be sacked and tried for breath taking fraud.   

But not one to miss out on more headlines, she is then caught out claiming expenses from the tax payers for her husband’s porn movies at home.  hhhmmmm well at least both husband and wife are equally fiddling! 

But that was not enough.  For her 2nd home she claimed tax payers money to buy 2 new washing machines, tv, and laughably the kitchen sink and an 80p bath plug.

What next?

In all seriousness, while Jacqui is busily defending her ‘reputation’ , she is not concentrating on the rising crime figures, massive fear surrounding the escalating knife crimes and knife culture in the UK, she misses out on the ever growing prison population, with judges giving reduced sentences, because there are no jails to take them.  Both old and young feel unsafe on the streets.  Some London streets past midnight are as much no go zones as the Afgan mountains.

But Jacqui has to have the last word.  She plans to introduce terrorism inspired legislation that allows the government to monitor all our individual phone calls, mobile phones bills, emails, text messages, social networking sites.

Hmmmmmmm big brother writ large?   Jacqui, I am sure you will stand tall with pride when you stand at the next election, the voters of Redditch, will I AM SURE, JUDGE YOU ON YOUR RECORD.  When you seek employment after the next election, I am sure that your expense account will feel very limiting indeed!!!