The K M Links Game - June 2024 Week 1
Quizzes & Puzzles3 mins ago
Stephen Fry's Opinion
45 Answers
Is Stephen Fry right to say that the MP's expenses story is being blown out of proportion?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8045040 .stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8045040 .stm
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Ice.Maiden � Again, I agree but I think he's misjudged this one. In an attempt to defend politicians (or rather to deflect criticism from them) he's used the rather patronising 'well we've all done it, haven't we?' defence.
Claiming that because you've also done it and that you suspect other people have also done it somehow exonerates the MPs from guilt is a lame excuse.
I would have expected more from a man who is clearly smarter than the average bear.
Claiming that because you've also done it and that you suspect other people have also done it somehow exonerates the MPs from guilt is a lame excuse.
I would have expected more from a man who is clearly smarter than the average bear.
When they can claim �300 for a bath plug.....think it was that amount......was it a gold one???....well it gets ridiculous. Then it gets pathetic when pot plants and bags of compost are claimed for! There are all sorts of things with Joe Public don't realise.
I think Stephen sees "expenses" as just a perk of the job. He's used to getting freebies and folk giving him things, so in the world he moves in, it seems only right that ministers should be able to have what is, basically, a law that they've drummed up for themselves.
I think Stephen sees "expenses" as just a perk of the job. He's used to getting freebies and folk giving him things, so in the world he moves in, it seems only right that ministers should be able to have what is, basically, a law that they've drummed up for themselves.
Pinktwink � Very likely.
What gets me is the self righteous smugness that some of these politicians display. Some of them have been well and truly caught with their hands in the till and the best they can come up with is, 'Well, I haven't broken any rules, so what's the problem?'!
The sheer arrogance is breathtaking.
I don't know about anyone else but my faith (if you can call it that) in politics and in politicians has been badly damaged. If there was a general election tomorrow I honestly would not know who to vote for.
What gets me is the self righteous smugness that some of these politicians display. Some of them have been well and truly caught with their hands in the till and the best they can come up with is, 'Well, I haven't broken any rules, so what's the problem?'!
The sheer arrogance is breathtaking.
I don't know about anyone else but my faith (if you can call it that) in politics and in politicians has been badly damaged. If there was a general election tomorrow I honestly would not know who to vote for.
Ice.Maiden � I agree.
But not Stephen! Nooooooo!
He's one of the few bright lights on TV. A genuinely intelligent chap who does not use his knowledge and experience to denigrate others.
In a morass of mediocrity, he's a bright light of witticism and excellence.
Actually, the more I think about it, I'm not sure that was Stephen Fry. He looked different somehow...
Where is the real Stephen Fry?
What have they done with him???
But not Stephen! Nooooooo!
He's one of the few bright lights on TV. A genuinely intelligent chap who does not use his knowledge and experience to denigrate others.
In a morass of mediocrity, he's a bright light of witticism and excellence.
Actually, the more I think about it, I'm not sure that was Stephen Fry. He looked different somehow...
Where is the real Stephen Fry?
What have they done with him???
I expect to be shot down in flames for this...
...but this whole story seems really unimportant when compared to the stuff we should be really concentrating on right now - international terrorism, the global economic turn-down, escalating street crime and Jordan and Peter's separation.
Finding out that MPs fiddle their expenses was about as surprising as finding out that Kate Moss did coke and that Kylie has had Botox.
Yes, it's unacceptable, and like the next man, I enjoy seeing our elected representatives brought to book when they're caught with their noses in the trough, but this story seems to be more media-led, than public-led.
It's like we can't go two weeks without the papers finding something that we should be 'furious' at, be it crucifixes at Heathrow, Shilpa-gate, Ross/Brand etc etc.
Or perhaps I'm just suffering from 'fury fatigue'.
...but this whole story seems really unimportant when compared to the stuff we should be really concentrating on right now - international terrorism, the global economic turn-down, escalating street crime and Jordan and Peter's separation.
Finding out that MPs fiddle their expenses was about as surprising as finding out that Kate Moss did coke and that Kylie has had Botox.
Yes, it's unacceptable, and like the next man, I enjoy seeing our elected representatives brought to book when they're caught with their noses in the trough, but this story seems to be more media-led, than public-led.
It's like we can't go two weeks without the papers finding something that we should be 'furious' at, be it crucifixes at Heathrow, Shilpa-gate, Ross/Brand etc etc.
Or perhaps I'm just suffering from 'fury fatigue'.
sp......it is all about ratings and selling papers.
Kate Moss? who is she?
Kylie?...wasn't she an old pop star?
Ross/Brand?....been there done it.
Shilpa gate..............eh????
MP.s on the fiddle big time and with OUR money. My honourable friend from Barking North or whever, not so honourable.............c'mon sp1814.....good fun.
Kate Moss? who is she?
Kylie?...wasn't she an old pop star?
Ross/Brand?....been there done it.
Shilpa gate..............eh????
MP.s on the fiddle big time and with OUR money. My honourable friend from Barking North or whever, not so honourable.............c'mon sp1814.....good fun.
There's a stench of sleeze hanging over parliament. In the Lords some Labour peers will take hefty 'retainers' to block or alter bills. In the Commons you'd be hard pressed to find the handful of MP's who haven't been creative with their expenses.
If Stephen Fry can't see that there's a problem with that then he may not be as clever as a lot of us thought.
If Stephen Fry can't see that there's a problem with that then he may not be as clever as a lot of us thought.
No he's not.
You can dismiss any argument by saying there are 'more important issues' - and plenty of people on here do exactly that.
The facts are there for everyone to see - MP's expenses are provided for costs of materials, travel, accomodation etc., that allow them to perform their duties, and THAT'S IT.
The fact that public money has been so flagrantly abused for personal gain is not 'paying for a wisteria' it is cynical and systematic fraud.
I know that if I claimed from the Inland Revenue for expenses to which I was not entitled, they would
a) find out
b) prosecute me
I have no problem with that - it's the law.
MP's are not and never should be above the law.
You can dismiss any argument by saying there are 'more important issues' - and plenty of people on here do exactly that.
The facts are there for everyone to see - MP's expenses are provided for costs of materials, travel, accomodation etc., that allow them to perform their duties, and THAT'S IT.
The fact that public money has been so flagrantly abused for personal gain is not 'paying for a wisteria' it is cynical and systematic fraud.
I know that if I claimed from the Inland Revenue for expenses to which I was not entitled, they would
a) find out
b) prosecute me
I have no problem with that - it's the law.
MP's are not and never should be above the law.
For such an intellectual chap, Mr. Fry seems to be missing the point here. MP's have been ABUSING the expenses system for far too long, and all at the expense of the tax payer. I, for one, am very disappointed in SF, since I have always held him in high regard. Shame about his lack of regard for decent working-class folk who get taxed and rated into oblivion and justifiably oppose this shameful mis-distribution of public funds.
The mps were entitled to claim for these items no matter what they were .The original idea of claiming for expenses was a wrong idea.Can the claiming rights be traced back to a paricular goverment or indeed era ..When I worked in a factory ten years ago I was entitle to the princely sum of �5 tax relief for a protective coat I had to wear.Will I have to give it back .Im sorry .Gordon and myself are sorry .
It should be remembered that Stephen Fry spent 3 months in jail for credit card fraud. It should therefore not be surprising that he sees dishonesty by MPs as acceptable.
Not all MPs have made scandalous claims. Many have behaved honorably. There is the perception that all MPs are crooked which they are not. It should certainly not put people off voting, quite the contrary, it is a chance to punish your MP if they are one of the guilty.
Not all MPs have made scandalous claims. Many have behaved honorably. There is the perception that all MPs are crooked which they are not. It should certainly not put people off voting, quite the contrary, it is a chance to punish your MP if they are one of the guilty.
Firstly let me give you a scenario. You go for a new job and your boss tells you that you as part of your job, your are entitled to �15 for lunch. You have always brought in sandwiches from home. Would you carry on bringing in sandwiches, or would you go out and claim what you are entitled to do?
Second scenario: if your home was searched by the police, would they find anything like a pen or stationary from your work place? Does it matter how much it costs? It is still theft, isn't it?
Third scenario: You are walking down the road and spot a �20 note on the pavement. Do you hand it in to the police or put it in your pocket? Which do you think is the morally correct thing to do?
Yes, of course, it is wrong that MPs can take advantage of a system, and it is perfectly right that the system is being changed.
However - to me SF is perfectly correct. Something like this can cause a government to fall. As opposed to sending us into an illegal war. As opposed to bringing in legislation for locking up people for longer periods that Russia.As opposed to borrowing so much money (and keeping even more money out of the system by PFIs). As opposed to etc, etc, etc.
I don't know why people think that politicians are somehow different from anyone else. Think of all the people you know - are they all perfectly honest people who have really high scruples. Or would they take advantage of something if it was available and within the law?
Second scenario: if your home was searched by the police, would they find anything like a pen or stationary from your work place? Does it matter how much it costs? It is still theft, isn't it?
Third scenario: You are walking down the road and spot a �20 note on the pavement. Do you hand it in to the police or put it in your pocket? Which do you think is the morally correct thing to do?
Yes, of course, it is wrong that MPs can take advantage of a system, and it is perfectly right that the system is being changed.
However - to me SF is perfectly correct. Something like this can cause a government to fall. As opposed to sending us into an illegal war. As opposed to bringing in legislation for locking up people for longer periods that Russia.As opposed to borrowing so much money (and keeping even more money out of the system by PFIs). As opposed to etc, etc, etc.
I don't know why people think that politicians are somehow different from anyone else. Think of all the people you know - are they all perfectly honest people who have really high scruples. Or would they take advantage of something if it was available and within the law?
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