John Lyon, Westminster's Commissioner for Standards, has received a complaint that Mary Martin claimed over £4000 in taxi bills; that the statement that she was at all times accompanied by a House of Commons official is wholly untrue, she was accompanied by a cleaner; and that the insistence that the taxi bills were necessary expenses in the proffering of official hospitality in the Speaker's house is completely undermined by the fact that official entertaining is catered for by the Commons catering department.
It is not the Speaker who acted, it is his wife.
It seems this woman and her cleaner have spent over £4000 riding round London in taxis and charged the cost to the Speaker of the House of Commons' expense account. It is no business of the Commissioner for Standards to be determining whether or not to launch a full investigation into this matter. If there is suspected fraudulent use of official funds provided for the Speaker's duties, by another person, then the investigation should be carried out by the police.
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3 comments:
Ah, but you see, HG, I suspect Mrs. Martin and her charlady will claim that they are innocent of any *intentional* wrongdoing. As you know, in the New Labour party, this means you haven't broken the law.
Bad to worse every day. Bet they are looking forward to the effects of the next budget coming into force (the one that doubles the base tax rate for the poorest members of our society, pensioners of course included), and the May local elections when we expect much Labour blood to be spilled.
Have you seen the wonderful film, V For Vendetta? If not, do.
Grown-up people tend to come in twos, Elby, and it is accepted in their twosomeness that there is support and assistance offered by each to the other in all aspects, including work, of their lives.
All spouses do this, it's part of the contract isn'† it?, doctors' phones are answered at home and real crises dealt with, masters' and tutors' spouses entertain and advise and help out generally, as do vicars' spouses and so on through every activity known in society.
A properly brought up person would not charge their private taxi rides to a spouse's expenses, and then have lies told about the behaviour to try and hide the act, in itself proof of awareness of impropriety at best, and possibly worse.
And it is upbringing, not class, that determines who can and who cannot distinguish between other people's money and their own.
The Speaker should have chosen his wife more wisely than a woman brought up to think and behave as she has.
Indeed; and the culture is now so deeply embedded within our political culture that none of them understand the outcry when the public purse is filched. I really do not think that my taxes should go towards, for example, Michael Ancram having moss removed from his house. MPs see no problem with this.
And of course, the MEPs are a whole different kettle of fish. How jealous must our poor MPs be of their peers in the European Politburo.
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