Stephen Fry's Opinion

[birdie1971]

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

[LazyGun]

OEV - and your point is? That we should just excuse / ignore this widespread venality and in some cases possible criminality ? That we should just tut tut, finger wag, shake our heads and sigh at yet more evidence of their little quirks?
That doesnt work for me, nor for a large majority of the electorate, judging from the responses / polls / quoted opinion.
Once more - these are publically elected representatives, more than adequately compensated with salary , pension, food and office allowances who nonetheless find it necessary to submit additional claims for a variety of services and items, ranging from cleaning and gardening to flat screen TVs and silk cushions dog food and horse s h i t, all paid for out of the public purse. It may well be a drop in the ocean when compared to the amount spent on Health, or Benefits, or whatever, but the scale of the offence does not excuse the offence itself.
Your comparison between sales reps and MPs is IMO hardly apt, since it is not comparing like with like for a start ( sales reps versus publically elected representatives dipping into the public purse).

[Oneeyedvic]

the scale of the offence does not excuse the offence itself. - so 'stealing' a pen from work or a stamp is exactly the same as stealing from a shop? Stop being so ruddy blinkered.

No, I don't think that we should ignore it - as I stated the law needs to be changed - and it is being.

That's it. You can vent all the anger and bile you want, but the facts are as follows:

The vast majority of MPs have not broken any law
Some have been 'taking the mick' and have been caught.
The vast majority have complied with the letter of the law - not the spirit of the law.
If they were employees and you tried to sack them, you would lose at any employment tribunal.
This cannot be allowed to happen again, and the law is being changed.

That's it.

Lets move on and try and put some things right instead of moaning about it all the time.

[LazyGun]

OEV - once again, the analogy you use with respect to the abuse of the allowances system is way off base.Stealing a pen / stealing from a shop vs 1,000s and 1,000s of pounds effectively stolen from the public purse over many years by well off individuals is not a fair or apt comparison.

You can call me blinkered if you like . but the system has long been in need of major reforms which would not have happened without the publication of expenses and the public outrage that followed. If you wish to be relaxed and indifferent to it all, thats up to you.. I think you are wildly out of step with the majority however.

Indeed, The various political parties recognise that they cannot be taken seriously on other more important matters unless they have the public trust.. Cameron has unilaterally announced some quite draconian measures to put the conservatives in order and good for him.

[VHG]

If the country was in great shape, and crime was coming down, and the NHS was wonderful, and immigration was under control, you could just about forgive the MPs for abusing their expenses system.

BUT THERE NOT.

These MPs have presided over this country going bankrupt, while lining their own pockets with cash.

I hope some of them go to jail.

[Oneeyedvic]

but the system has long been in need of major reforms which would not have happened without the publication of expenses and the public outrage that followed. If you wish to be relaxed and indifferent to it all, thats up to you.. I think you are wildly out of step with the majority however.

I do agree - but the reforms are happening and that's it.

Of course there is such a public outcry that legislation will be passed too quickly and it will be ill thought out - I am sure if you ask New Judge for some examples of ill though out legislation, he can tell you plenty.

At the moment, the fact that an mp has claimed for a swimming pool seems to be more important than (as an example) unemployment figures hitting 2.2 million.

If you think that this is more important, then fair enough. Personally I don't really care if the MP is taking a few extra quid which he has been entitled toif he can do a good job of running the country.